Qu-5 takes the ever-popular Qu-16 form factor and adds Allen & Heath’s powerful XCVI processing, new FX engines and Everything I/O connectivity. There’s also a larger capacitive touchscreen, channel strip displays, customisable layers and extra SoftKeys.

Both the Qu-5 and Qu-5D are rack mountable, 32 input channel, 96kHz digital audio mixers, combining high performance audio processing and professional features with ease of use and hands-on control.

The Qu-5 and Qu-5D are multi-purpose mixers suitable for live music/band use, AV and install, studio and broadcast. Workflow and UI have been designed to make operation easy for inexperienced users or volunteers, provide familiarity to those transitioning from analogue mixing and give quick access to more advanced features for the experienced engineer.

Product Features

Processing & FX

96kHz XCVI Core
6 Multi-FX Engines with dedicated Stereo Returns
DEEP Processing Ready

Mix Architecture

38x Inputs to Mix (32x Mono/Linkable, 3x Stereo)
12 Mixes (6 Mono/Linkable Aux/Group, 6 Stereo Aux/Group)
4 Mono/Linkable Matrix
Stereo Main LR Output

I/O

16 XLR/Jack ‘Combi’ Mic/Line Input Sockets
2 Stereo Line Input Sockets (each 2x TRS)
12 XLR Output Sockets
1 XLR Talkback Socket
2 TRS Output Sockets
1 AES3 Stereo Digital Output Socket
128×128 Intelligent SLink Port for Everything I/O expansion and system connections
Stereo Headphone Output

Control

7” Capacitive Touchscreen
17 100mm Motorised Faders
4 Channel Strip Layers
Remote control via free apps – Windows/MacOS/iOS/Android
8 SoftKeys
Configurable single/dual Footswitch Connection

Recording & Playback

USB-A For stereo audio record/playback and data transfer
USB-C Audio interface for multichannel record/playback (32×32)
SD Card Slot for multichannel audio recording or playback (16×16@96kHz, 32×32@48kHz)

Misc

19” Rack Mountable (optional kit available) (Qu-5 & Qu-5D only)
12V Lamp Socket
Configurable Chromatic Channel Meter LED’s

Product Specifications

Inputs

Mic/Line Inputs: Balanced Combi XLR/Jack, fully recallable preamp
Input Sensitivity: -60 to +0dBu
TRS Inputs: -20dB Pad (Fixed)
Preamp Gain: 0dB to +60dB, 1dB steps
Maximum Input Level (XLR/Jack): +16dBu Mic input / +30dBu TRS pad input
Input Impedance: >1.5kΩ MIC / >20kΩ TRS
THD+N, Unity gain 0dB: 0.002% -92dB (20Hz-20kHz, AES Direct Out, @0dBu 1kHz)
THD+N, Mid gain +30dB: 0.004% -88dB (20Hz-20kHz, AES Direct Out, @-30dBu 1kHz)
Phantom Power: +48V (+3V / -2V)
Stereo Line Inputs: Balanced, 2x 1/4" TRS jack
Input Sensitivity Nominal: +4dBu
Trim: +/-24dB
Maximum Input Level: +21dBu
Input Impedance: >6kΩ

Outputs

XLR Outputs: Balanced, XLR
Outputs A and B: Balanced 1/4" TRS Jack
Source: Fully patchable
Output Impedance: <75Ω
Nominal Output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading
Maximum Output Level: +22dBu
Residual Output Noise: -88dBu (muted, 20Hz-20kHz)
AES Digital Output:
- Balanced XLR 2 channel, 96kHz sampling rate (Default with SRC Bypassed)
- Switchable output sample rates, 44.1/48/88.2/96kHz
- 2.5Vpp balanced terminated 110Ω

Slink

Connection Neutrik: EtherCON (RJ45)
dSnake mode: 40 input, 20+40(ME) output channels, 48kHz
DX mode: 32 input, 32 output channels, 96kHz
GigaACE/GX: 128 input, 128 output channels, 96kHz
Inputs: Fully patchable
Outputs: Fully patchable
Sync/SRC: Assignable as audio clock source, 48kHz<>96kHz SRC

USB Audio

Qu-Drive: USB-A or SD Card, recording or playback
Stereo Record (USB-A): 2 channel, WAV, 48/96kHz, 24-bit, fully patchable
Stereo Playback (USB-A): 1/2 channel, WAV, 44.1/48/96kHz 16/24-bit, fully patchable
Multitrack Record (SDHC): 16 channels 96kHz, 32 channels 48kHz, 24-bit, WAV, fully patchable
Multitrack Playback (SDHC): 16 channels 96kHz, 32 channels 48kHz, 24-bit, WAV, fully patchable
SD Card: SDHC, 32GB, UHS-I, Class 10 for maximum channels, 48/96 kHz, 24-bit
USB Audio Streaming: USB-C connection, USB 2.0 Core Audio compliant, ASIO/WDM for Windows
Send (upstream): 32 channels, 48/96kHz, 24-bit
Return (downstream): 32 channels, 48/96kHz, 24-bit

Control

Touch Screen: 7" Capacitive, 800 x 480 resolution, 24-bit RGB
SoftKeys: 8
Mute Groups / DCA Groups: 8 / 8
Network: TCP/IP Ethernet for Control and MIDI
MIDI: USB-C and TCP/IP
Footswitch: Single or Dual, Momentary or Latching

System

38 input, 28 bus, XCVI Core: Measured balanced XLR in to XLR out, 0dB gain, 0dBu input
Dynamic Range: 110 dB
Frequency Response: +0/-0.5dB 20Hz to 20kHz
Headroom: +18dB
Internal operating Level: 0dBu
THD+N, Mic/Line routed to Main L/R Out: Unity gain, 0.005%, -87dB (20Hz-20kHz)
dBFS Alignment: +18dBu = 0dBFS (+22dBu at XLR output)
Meter Calibration: 0dB meter = -18dBFS (+4dBu at XLR out)
Main Meter Type: 2x 12 segment, fast (peak) response, follows PAFL
Channel Meter Type: Chromatic Channel Metering, fully programmable colour/brightness
Peak Indication: -3dBFS (+19dBu at XLR out), Multi-point sensing
Sampling Rate: 96kHz
Bit Depth: XCVI custom bit depths, up to 96-bit
Latency: <0.7ms, Local Mic Input to Main L/R
Operating Temperature Range: 0 deg C to 40 deg C (32 deg F to 104 deg F)
Mains Power: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
Max Power Consumption: (Qu-5 / Qu-5D) 70W / 75W

Input Source Processing

Channels 1-32: Fully patchable
ST1 / ST2 / USB Channels: Fixed patch, ST1 / ST2 / USB1&2
USB Global Source: Qu-Drive or USB-C Streaming (Auto Switching)
Polarity: Normal/Invert
Trim: -24 to +24dB
High Pass Filter: 12/18/24dB per octave 20Hz – 2kHz
Insert: Fully Patchable (Digital/Analogue/-10dBV level)
Delay: Up to 341ms
Gate: Patchable Sidechain
Sidechain filter: Hi-pass (20Hz-5kHz), band-pass (120Hz-10kHz, Q=1), Lo-pass (120Hz-20kHz)
Threshold / Depth: -72dBu to +18dBu / 0 to 60dB
Attack / Hold / Release: 50µs to 300ms / 10ms to 5s / 10ms to 1s
PEQ: 4-Band fully parametric, 20Hz-20kHz, +/-15dB
Band 1, Band 4: Selectable Shelving (Baxandall), Bell, HPF/LPF 12dB/octave
Band 2, Band 3: Bell
Bell Width: Variable, 1.5 Q to 1/9th octave
Compressor: Patchable Sidechain, Ducker mode, DEEP options, +18dB Makeup gain
Sidechain filter: Hi-pass (20Hz-5kHz), band-pass (120Hz-10kHz, Q=1), Lo-pass (120-20kHz)
Threshold / Ratio: -46dBu to 18dBu / 1:1 to infinity
Attack / Release: 30µs to 300ms / 50ms to 2s
Knee: Soft/Hard
Detector response: Peak/RMS switchable
Parallel Path Compression: dry/wet -inf to 0dB
Channel Direct Out: Follow Fader/Mute/Mute Group/DCA (Global)
Direct Out Source: Post-Preamp, Post-HPF, Post-Gate, Insert Return, Post-PEQ, Post Comp, Post-Delay
Direct Out Level: trim -inf to 10dB (per channel)

Mix Processing

Insert: Fully Patchable (Digital/Analogue/-10dBV level)
Delay: Up to 682ms
Feedback Assistant: Automatic feedback suppression, 16 filters per mix, 8 concurrent detectors
Filter Cut: 0dB to 18dB
Automatic Filter Width: 18 to 116 Q
Manual Filter Width: 6 to 640 Q
GEQ: 28 bands 31Hz-16kHz, +/-12dB Gain, Constant 1/3 oct, DEEP options
PEQ: As Input PEQ
Compressor: As Input Compressor

FX

Internal FX: 6x FX engines, Send>Return (4 dedicated FX send) or Inserted (with Wet/Dry)
Types: SMR Reverb, Stereo Tap Delay, Gated Reverb, ADT, Blue Chorus Symphonic Chorus, Flanger, Phaser
6x Dedicated Stereo FX returns: Fader, Pan, Mute, Routing to LR/Mix, 4-Band PEQ

Audio Tools

PAFL: PFL or stereo in-place AFL, 0 to -24dB Trim, PAFL Delay Up to 682ms
Talkback: Dedicated input, Assignable to any mix, Preamp/Trim Control, 20Hz 20kHz 12dB/oct HPF
Signal Generator: Assignable to any input or mix, Sine/White/Pink/Bandpass Noise
RTA: 2x 31-Band 1/3 oct (Stereo) or 61-Band 1/6 octave (Mono), 20Hz-20kHz