Allen & Heath launches Qu Chrome Series

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 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 metallic finish, rotary controls and fader caps as the brand’s GLD Chrome series, which are said to provide optimal visibility in low-lighting scenarios and enhanced tactile control.

The v1.8 firmware’s new Automatic Microphone Mixer (AMM) is meant to help the engineer to manage the levels of multiple mic inputs, ensuring that each speaker’s contribution is heard but with priority settings to establish an order of precedence, which should be helpful for applications such as conferences, meetings and panel discussions where a number of microphones are open at the same time, reducing background noise and minimising the risk of feedback.

The new Spectrogram tool is described as providing a fast, visual means of hunting down and dealing with problem frequencies, helping to eliminate feedback and tame difficult room acoustics.

Qu v1.8 Chrome firmware also unlocks more monitor mixes by allowing Stereo Groups to be switched to Mix mode, taking the maximum number of discrete monitor sends to 9 on Qu-24 (4 mono, 5 stereo) and 11 on Qu-32 and Qu-Pac (4 mono, 7 stereo), making them well suited to compact touring as dedicated monitor consoles.

The Qu-Pad app receives further enhancements with the inclusion of new controls, views and functions, such as remote control over AMM settings. Qu-Pad is one of a series of control apps which also includes Qu-You for personal monitoring.