Allen & Heath CQ series mixers have been designed for musicians and bands, home producers, small venues and AV installers. With a host of inbuilt functionality such as DSP and auto-setup channel strips, the CQ range of mixing consoles caters for a wide variety of user knowledge levels.
CQ-12T - 12 input / 8 output
CQ-12T is the smallest mixer in the CQ range and is therefore suited to home recording and streaming, band rehearsals, small gigs, and speech applications. This mixing desk hosts ten microphone/line inputs split across five 3-pin XLR and five 3-pin XLR/TRS combination connections, plus a stereo input via a pair of 6.35mm jack sockets. A pair of main mix outputs on 3-pin XLR are joined by six 6.35mm TRS jack outputs for use as monitor mix outputs. The 7-inch touchscreen and rotary encoder allow for simple and efficient set up, whilst three custom softkeys allow the user access to commonly used functions without menu navigation.
Each input channel on CQ can be switched between two modes - Quick Channel and Complete Channel. Quick Channels offer instrument and application specific processing with the ability to dial in a full channel of processing via a single knob, whilst Complete Channels are designed for those who require advanced, in-depth tweaking of parameters. Useful functionality such as gain assistant, feedback assistant, and mute groups allow the user quick access to channel setup and control, with gain assistant automatically setting the optimal gain level for one or multiple input channels and continuing to monitor levels during the performance to prevent any nasty peaks or surprises; feedback assistant automatically detects and eliminates problem frequencies using up to sixteen filters per output; and four mute groups enabling the user to mute and unmute multiple channels at once via a single button - often employed to mute all stage mics quickly.
In addition four DCAs, each capable of controlling the level of any combination of inputs, outputs, and FX, for simple single-fader control of multiple channels, such as a drum kit, without affecting their relative levels. An integrated USB audio interface enables multitrack recording, playback and streaming via your DAW, and an SD card slot is provided for 16 channel multitrack recording and playback. Two effects engines allow the user to integrate reverbs, choruses, and other effects into any channel's chain. An integrated automatic microphone mixer (AMM), available on all input channels, suggests the portable mixer can be suited for conferences, podcasts, debates and small-scale theatre productions.
CQ-12T can record and playback stereo files via USB key, and playback from a phone via the built-in Bluetooth functionality. If the mixer is be connected to a router or access point the free CQ MixPad app also gives full control of the mix from anywhere within WiFi range.
Optional accessories: CQ-12T-CASE carry bag, CQ12T-RK19 rackmounting kit.
Input sensitivity: -60 to +0dBu. Line input: -20dB Pad, fixed. Maximum input level: +17dBu, XLR; +30dBu, TRS. Input impedance: Greater than 1.5kohms, XLR; greater than 10kohms, TRS. Phantom power: +48V, +3/-2V. Output impedance: Less than 75ohms. Nominal output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading. Maximum output level: +22dBu. Residual output noise: -88dBu, muted, 20Hz-20kHz. Dynamic range: 110dB. Sampling rate: 96kHz. Bluetooth version: 4.1. Mains power: +12V DC, 5.4A. Maximum power consumption: 35W. Dimensions (WxDxH): 291 x 242 x 89mm. Weight: 2.4kg.
CQ-18T - 18 input / 8 output, with WiFi
CQ-18T is the largest desktop mixer in the CQ range and has been designed for gigging bands, rehearsal spaces, home recording and streaming, speech applications and corporate AV. CQ-18T builds on the feature set of CQ-12T to include greater channel count, three custom rotary encoders, and built-in dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) WiFi. CQ-18T hosts eight 3-pin XLR microphone inputs, eight 3-pin XLR/TRS combination inputs, and two stereo TRS inputs. Output connectivity includes two 3-pin XLR outputs for main left and right channels, and six TRS jack outputs for monitoring. CQ-18T also doubles the number of internal effects processors to four, and increases the number of simultaneous multitrack recording/playback channels to 24.
Optional accessories: CQ-18T-CASE carry bag, CQ18T-RK19 rackmounting kit.
All audio specifications as CQ-12T except - Maximum power consumption: 45W. Dimensions (WxDxH): 346 x 242 x 89mm. Weight: 3.0kg.
CQ-20B - 20 input / 8 output, with WiFi
Designed in a stagebox or rackmount format CQ-20B has all the functionality of CQ-18T except touchscreen and control buttons/encoders, but with greater channel count. Using the inbuilt 2.4GHz/5GHz WiFi, CQ-20B has been designed to be used with CQ MixPad and CQ4You apps. All control that is accessibly on CQ-12T and CQ-18T is accessible from the CQ MixPad app. CQ-20B hosts eight 3-pin XLR microphone inputs, eight 3-pin XLR/TRS combination inputs, and four stereo TRS inputs - with channels 15 and 16 being Hi-Z. Output connectivity includes two 3-pin XLR outputs for main left and right channels, six TRS jack outputs for monitoring, and an assignable Alt output.
Optional accessories: CQ-20B-CASE carry bag, CQ20B-RK19 rackmounting kit.
All audio specifications as CQ-12T except - Maximum power consumption: 45W. Dimensions (WxDxH): 372 x 154 x 134mm. Weight: 3.3kg.