Allen & Heath QU-24 Digital Mixer Chrome Edition

Never has digital mixing been better than with the Allen & Heath QU24 Digital Mixer. With 25 motor faders all under you control from the responsive, high-resolution touchscreen you will find it has never been easier to access channel processing, FX racks and all setup and system management controls. The Qu-Drive multi-track recorder is seamlessly integrated into the mixer as well as the dSNAKE for remote I/O and personal monitoring, multi-channel USB streaming to Mac, Qu-Pad control app, and iLive’s renowned FX library.

Upgrades for the chrome edition

Anyone who owns a QU-24 knows what a great piece of kit Allen & Heath have made. With the upgraded Chrome edition they have listened to people's feedback, revisited the key features and improved on the design with a few new options. The rotary controls and fader caps are high contrast metallic finish (easier to see on stage), You get automatic mic mixing which adjusts your level to give you a more consistent sound level (great for recording meetings and debates etc) and has a few great updates to the app and software for better control over your mix

Here's what Allen & Heath say about the QU-24c:

Allen & Heath has launched new Chrome Editions of its Qu series compact digital mixers to mark the launch of Qu v1.8 Chrome firmware in mid-October, which adds major new features including Automatic Mic Mixing, a Spectrogram and additional monitor mixes.

Chrome Edition Qu-16, Qu-24 and Qu-32 mixers all feature the same high contrast metallic finish rotary controls and fader caps as the premium GLD Chrome series, providing optimal visibility in low lighting scenarios and enhanced tactile control.

AnalogiQTM Preamps

Qu-24’s twenty four AnalogiQTM total recall preamps feature zero crossing detection and an advanced padless 1dB step gain stage, closely allied to the DSP for optimal gain accuracy and audio transparency. The analogue signal is captured by high class, low latency 24bit analogue to digital converters matched to high quality 24bit digital to analogue converters to deliver the required outputs. The AnalogiQTM design has been refined over many months to offer superb transparency, minimal distortion and an ultra-low noise floor, with a warm, musical sound that is missing from some digital consoles.

The Mixing Experience

Having massive processing power and advanced functionality is great, but it counts for nothing if you can’t access the controls you need in a heartbeat. Once you start using Qu-24 you’ll sense the years of research into ergonomics and the hands-on mixing experience that our team has drawn upon to deliver a wonderfully natural layout and workflow. It’s not about recreating an analogue interface, it’s about creating an experience that’s fluid, comfortable and intuitive for novices, digital natives and old school road warriors alike, making all the benefits of digital mixing technology readily accessible to all.

Touch Control

The 800 x 480, sixteen million colour Touchscreen and its dedicated data encoder form the heart of the Qu interface, providing super-fast, easy access to all settings. The user-friendly interface has been designed with clarity in mind. Dedicated keys and screen tabs quickly guide you to meter and RTA views, FX racks, channel processing, USB audio control, scenes, setup menus and much more.

The SuperStrip

All your key processing tools are presented in a clean layout on the SuperStrip, with 1 function per physical control. The SuperStrip is complemented by an onscreen Touch Channel for intuitive access to full processing parameters without clutter or complex menu structures. Processing for Mono and Stereo inputs includes trim, polarity, HPF, gate, insert, 4 band PEQ, compressor and delay. The main LR and the Mono mixes have controls for Insert, 1/3 octave GEQ, compressor and delay. The Stereo mixes provide Insert, 4-band PEQ, compressor, delay and balance control.

Fader Automation

Moving faders started as an expensive option in the studio desks of the 80s, and later became the norm with the advent of digital technology. Nevertheless some entry-level digital mixers lack this precious commodity which is a fundamental part of the Total Recall approach. Fader automation is essential for rapid mixing, especially when you’re dealing with multiple monitor mixes – just press a mix key and the faders immediately fly to the send levels for that mix. Qu-24 features 25 motorized ALPS faders, 24 arranged over 2 layers, allowing instant access to all channels and masters in a compact space, plus a dedicated master fader which dynamically follows the mix selection. A third, Custom layer is available for ad-hoc user strip layout, where any combination of Inputs, FX Sends, FX Returns and Mix masters can be assigned.

Specifications 

• 24 Mono Mic/Line Inputs (TRS + XLR)
• Recallable AnaLOGIQTM Preamps
• 3 Stereo Inputs (TRS)
• 20 Mix Outputs (XLR)
• 2 Stereo Groups (switchable to Mix mode)
• Up to 9 Monitor Mixes (4 mono + 5 stereo)
• 2 Stereo Matrix Outs
• 4 FX Engines
• 4 dedicated FX Sends / Returns
• 4 Mute Groups
• 4 DCA Groups
• AES Digital Out
• 32×30 USB Audio Interface
• dSNAKETM Remote Audio Port
• 25 Motor Faders
• 800×480 Touchscreen
• 10 Soft Keys
• Trim, polarity, HPF, gate, insert, 4-band PEQ, compressor, delay on all Inputs
• Insert, 4-band PEQ, 1/3 octave GEQ, compressor, delay on all Outputs
• Automatic Mic Mixer
• Channel Ducker on all Inputs
• ProFactory Mic Presets
• RackFX Library
• Built-in Signal Generator
• RTA with Peak Band indication
• Spectrogram to aid feedback elimination and room acoustics
• Qu-Drive Direct Multitrack Recording / Playback on USB drives
• DAW MIDI Control
• Qu-Pad iPad App
• Qu-You iPhone / Android personal monitoring app
• Qu-Control customisable iOS app for simple wireless control
• Compatible with ME Personal Mixing System