Likelihood of new features (like Mute Groups) coming to CQ?

[John]

Hi guys,
I’ve never owned an Allen & Heath mixer before, so I don’t know their history and approach to updates (bug fixes and feature additions).
I’m about to pull the trigger on a CQ-20B, but there are a few “quality of life” features missing, most importantly- mute groups.
Is this likely to be added in an update? Or do the updates from A&H primarily focus on bug fixes rather than new features?

Thanks,
John

[Anonymous]

It’s not uncommon for AH to add features along the way and, considering the CQ is brand new, I would expect some to come.

Mute groups can be obtained today using the Mixing Station app if you needed it.

[John]

That’s good to hear. And thanks for the tip about mixing station- I’ll take a look.
-John

[BobbyDazzler59]

I will also give mix station a go.
Are you still limited on the CQ to 2 remote devices (mines the CQ20B) one CQ mixer and one Mix station, or does it connect as a third device? I will try this myself soon as I can but wondered in anyothers have tested this out.

[Lee7]

@BobbyDazzler59 – You are still limited to two devices running either Mixapp, MS or both.

[Bhubb]

I have searched the inter webs, but can’t find anything on setting up mute groups in the CQ series of mixers.

I am an experienced user of MS, already have the DCA’s set up, just can’t figure out the mute groups.

Anybody have a link for me?

[Brian]

I have searched the inter webs, but can’t find anything on setting up mute groups in the CQ series of mixers.

I am an experienced user of MS, already have the DCA’s set up, just can’t figure out the mute groups.

Anybody have a link for me?

I think the normal “mute groups” in Mixing Station link to the console’s mute groups. If the console doesn’t support mute groups, then MS won’t either. HOWEVER, the strength of MS is in its flexibility. It is relatively easy to create a custom button with multiple commands – each one set to mute/unmute a particular channel. Long story short, I think you have to “create” your own mute groups using custom buttons.

[Driver_dylan]

I believe the mute groups can be set up through the scene settings on the CQ. It will take up a scene slot but I have found this is the best way to do it.

[Brian]

It is relatively easy to create a custom button with multiple commands – each one set to mute/unmute a particular channel.

Just to clarify what I was trying to say here….. The each individual command within the custom button will be to mute/unmute a particular channel. The custom buttons can have multiple commands set on each button. This means one button can control multiple channels at the same time.

[Chienmort]

Coming from a Soundcraft Ui16, I find it frustrating as both Mote Groups and Sub(Mix) groups are there on the native app (browser). To be fair to A&H, that console is now close to 10 years old, being launched in 2015 and the major firmware update was in 2018 and I seem to remember that is when most of these features were added.

However that knowledge of features in this market segment was known to before the CQ series was launched and a thorough market analysis should have been undertaken before launch.

Do I regret buying the CQ20? No, thge sound quality and the low noise preamps alone are worth it but for a few dollars(GBP) more I could have bought the Ui24R with a much bigger feature set, I/O capability and supposedly better mic pres.

As Brian says we can get around some of these things by using Mixing Station or other “hacks”. However these take time and the CQ is supposed to save time.

[gabo]

If I had the CQ20, I would just use Mixing Station and some of these little annoyances would be gone. However, as a CQ18-T owner, I don’t like switching interfaces.

What I mean is, the onboard touch screen interface is the same as the A&H Mixpad app. So when you go between a computer or phone and back to the device, everything is similar. With Mixing Station, the interface is totally different so you have to switch gears and re-think when you go from your phone/computer back to the device.

For this reason I prefer to stay with the stock Mixpad app. Right now I’m just living with the limitations hoping they eventually incorporate them into the box. I’m still glad I got the 18T instead as I really like being able to just turn it on and use it instead of always having to get a phone or computer set up.

[Author]

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