Allen & Heat SQ-5

Description

Allen&Heat’s SQ-5 is a digital console that supports 48 channels and 36 buses, and is well positioned for live sound, corporate A/V events, recording studios, and churches. The SQ-5 presents features 16+1 motorized faders and 16 professional-quality mic preamps. You can also have 8 effects engines with dedicated return channels and access to an effects library. The 12 stereo Mix outputs, which can be configured as groups or auxes, are useful depending on the workflow required, such as mono or stereo in-ear monitoring, subgroups for mixing processes, etc.

The heart of the SQ-5 is the 96kHz FPGA XCVI processor, which is responsible for providing professional resolution and quality, with ultra-low latency (less than 0.7ms), variable bit depth for greater precision in amplitude representation and noise reduction, coherence in the mix, and power to handle a large number of input and output channels and effects processing. The DEEP processing architecture allows you to manually insert boutique compressors and iconic preamp emulations into mix channels and input channels, without adding additional delay or setup issues to the system.

The front panel is located in the center of the mixer, made up of a 7-inch capacitive touch screen that has a high resolution and illumination, which help visually quickly identify and have control over each parameter. It also features some layers that can be customized in a way as simple as drag and drop, so it fits what you want to have within reach in your workflow. It has two recording ports, a USB-type A port on the front that allows stereo and 16-channel (96kHz) multitrack recording, and a USB-type B port that allows you to have 32-channel multitrack recording. You can also record and play multitracks, which allows you to perform a virtual soundcheck.
The SQ-5 offers options of using Audio Racks or stagebox, or installing option cards such as SLINK, DANTE, WAVES or MADI to adapt and expand its functions with the latest in digital audio. On the other hand, it allows you to manage a large number of ME-1 and ME-500 personal monitoring systems, connected in a cascade configuration to the SLINK port or through a port of the Stagebox expanders.

Characteristics:

The SQ is the centerpiece of a growing ecosystem of applications—Audio Racks, network audio, personal audio monitoring systems, and more—enabling you to connect, adapt, and expand the possibilities of communication across protocols. The option cards (sold separately) allow compatibility with other audio network standards such as Dante, MADI or Waves just by placing it in the 2 optional Slots.
The SQ-5 has the number of physical inputs and outputs necessary for stand-alone operation. Additionally, thanks to its SLink port, the SQ can also be expanded to a total of 48 mic inputs via a family of 96kHz and 48kHz Audio Racks or Stage Boxes (e.g. AB168, AR2412, AR84 and DX168). ), making it a flexible mix ‘n’ Match solution for owners of other Allen & Heath digital systems. You can also link your SQ directly to another SQ, Qu, Avantis or even a dLive system with the corresponding option cards.
There are two essential applications for the SQ: the SQ Mixpad for sound operators and the SQ4You for artists. This application is found for IOS, Android, Windows and macOS devices, providing control over mixing functions remotely just by maintaining a stable wireless network connection. The SQ4You App is a personal monitoring mixing app. It allows up to 8 artists to control their own monitor mixes from their Android or iOS devices, giving the audio engineer more freedom to focus on the FOH sound.

Technical Specification:

Mixer:
Number of Analog Input Channels 48
Faders x 3.9″ / 100 mm
Mix Routing 8 x Stereo FX Return
Groups 8 x Mute Group
8 x DCA Group
Display 7″ / 177.8 mm Touchscreen
Display Resolution/Color Main Display:
800 x 480 8-Bit RGB
Meters Main Meter:
2 x 12-Segment LED

Channel Meter:
Single LED
Meter Range -3 dBFS Peak/Clip (+19 dBu at XLR Output)
Meter Calibration 0 dB on Meter = -18 dBFS (+4 dBu at XLR Output)
Signal Processing
Gain/Trim Range Line:
±24 dB (Stereo Channels)

Mic/Line:
0 dB to +60 dB (in 1 dB Steps)
Input Pad -20 dB
Input Polarity Normal/Reverse
Gate Parameters Threshold: -72 to +18 dBu
Depth: 0 to 60 dB
Attack: 50 μs to 300 ms
Hold: 10 ms to 5 sec
Release: 10 ms to 1 sec
Compressor Parameters Threshold: -46 to +18 dBu
Ratio: 1 :1 to ∞:1
Attack: 30 μs to 300 ms
Release: 50 ms to 2 sec
Knee: Soft, Hard
Blend: Yes
Sidechain Filters Compressor:
High-Pass: 20 to 5 kHz
Band-Pass: 120 Hz to 10 kHz
Low -Pass: 120 Hz to 20 kHz

Gate:
High-Pass: 20 Hz to 5 kHz
Band-Pass: 120 Hz to 10 kHz
Low-Pass: 120 Hz to 20 kHz

EQ FX Returns:
4-Band Parametric
EQ Parameters 1 x HF Shelf:
±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz (Shelf or Bell Selectable)

2 x MF Notch/Peak:
±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz

1 x LF Shelf:
±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz (Shelf or Bell Selectable)

Graphic EQ 28-Band 1/3 Octave, ±12 dB 31 Hz to 16 kHz
Filters High-Pass: 20 Hz to 2 kHz, 12 dB/Octave
Channel Output/Source Monitoring AFL, PFL, Post-Preamp, Post-HPF, Post-Gate, Post-EQ, Post-Compressor, Post- FX, Insert Return
Internal Effects Reverb
Stereo Delay (Tap)
Reverb (Gated)
ADT
2 x Chorus
Flanger
Phaser
Real Time Analyzer 31-Band 1/3 Octave, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Audio Delay Adjustable Up to 682 ms
Digital Audio
Sample Rates 96 kHz

AES3 Output:
44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 kHz

Stereo Record:
96 kHz

Stereo Playback:
44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz
Multitrack Playback/Multitrack Record:
96 kHz
Bit Depth Up to 96-Bit
Stereo Record:
24-Bit
Stereo Playback:
16 / 24-Bit
Multitrack Playback, Multitrack Record:
24 -Bit
Latency <0.7 ms (Mic Input to Main Output)
Performance
dBFS Reference Level +18 dBu = 0 dBFS
Headroom +18 dB
Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0/-0.5 dB
Max Input Level Mic/Line Input:
+30 dBu

Aux Input:
+22 dBu (+4 dBu)
+18 dBu (0 dBu)

Output Level Analog Output:
+4 dBu (Nominal)
+22 dBu (Max)
Analog Dynamic Range 112 dB

I/O Impedance 1/4″, XLR Output:
<75 ohms AES3 Output: 110 ohms Aux Input: >7 kilohms
Mic/Line Input:
>5 kilohms
Noise Floor -90 dBu with Inputs Muted
THD+N 0.006% at Unity Gain
Mic/Line Input to AES3 Output:
0.002% at Unity Gain
0.003% at +30 dB Gain
Signal Generator Sine, White, Pink, or Band-Pass Noise (Assignable to Any Mix)
Connectivity
Analog Inputs 1 x XLR Talkback Input
16 x XLR Balanced Mic/Line Input
4 x 1/4″ TRS Balanced Aux Input (2 Stereo Pair, Half-Normalled)
1 x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm Unbalanced Aux Input
Analog Outputs 12 x XLR Balanced Output
2 x 1/4″ TRS Balanced Output
Phantom Power +48 V
Digital I/O 1 x RJ45 (Network)
1 x XLR AES3 Output
1 x etherCON (I/O)
USB 1 x USB Type-A (External Memory)
1 x USB Type-B (USB 2.0, Audio Streaming)
Expansion Ports 1 x I/O Card
Recording
Max Multitrack Recording 16 Tracks
File Format Support WAV
Power
AC Input Power 100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz
Physical
Operating Temperature 32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C
Dimensions 17.3 x 20.3 x 7.8″ / 440 x 514.9 x 198 mm
Weight 23.1 lb / 10.5 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight 30.3 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH) 27 x 24 x 14.5″