[BradWalkerParticipant]

Wanted to report we had a successful “pop-free” weekend and in the shop this past week after going back to V1.4. The V1.5 scenes all loaded without any real surprises, just had to make some HPF adjustments. Yes, I miss the RTA, but I can set up SMAART from the PAFL buss like I used to if I really need to.

Here’s hoping the quirk is resolved quickly and become solid so a maintenance release can get out the door.
Brad

[BradWalkerParticipant]

But still…even if there’s not an official process for accessing different versions, can you help a brutha out? It would be nice to use an iPad for our events until the 1.5 patch.

[BradWalkerParticipant]

There are some great replies about (what used to be normal) alternate ways to load software. I realize Apple and Google like to limit this in the name of simplicity or whatever, but we really need to have alternate versions available for MANY different reasons.

As @mfk0815 said, remote control is no longer just a “nice to have”, it’s become as essential part of the system designs/functionality the clients expect.

If you can get me files, I can load them.

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[BradWalkerParticipant]

We were able to get the V1.4.3 MacOS (desktop version) installed on a MacBook Pro to handle monitors yesterday, but it was not as easy to use running around the stage as the iPad with the handled case we normally use.

Any help in getting a V1.4.3 iOS download link for the App Store would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Brad

[BradWalkerParticipant]

Hi Keith, I have successfully rolled back my firmware to V1.4.4 on the SQ5, but also need to roll back the iOS Mixpad app version on an iPad we use for monitors.

I’m not seeing older versions available in the Apple App Store, so how do I get access to the older version on my iPad?

[BradWalkerParticipant]

What I am thinking about is whether this issue appears immediately after updating to 1.5 or slow by slow. I am using a early SQ6 with V1.5. Since now I never experienced any noise at home. This weekend I worked with it at home for several ours with audio coming from my Dante card but two DX168 attached just for testing purpose. I did this in preparation of some shows which will happen the next view weeks. So I am asking myself whether to switch back to 1.4 or stay on 1.5.

Hi @mfk0815,

I would have to say that my pop manifested pretty much right away after the v 1.5 update. It was random enough and there were enough other things going on, that I attributed it to other things until we were doing some things in the shop with it on and connected to a monitor.

I’ve mixed several times on a church client’s SQ6 we installed about 18 months ago upgraded to v1.5 about the same time as ours, with no manifestation of the problem. If that’s any indication, I think you’re probably safe, but who knows 🙂 If you’re not using the new v1.5 features, it would be “safer” to switch back, but that’s all about your risk assessment.

[BradWalkerParticipant]

Thank you, Keith, that helps make the decision. I think I’ll plan on needing to spend a little more time in the shop before next event and verify what my settings sound like under 1.4 again.

Again, I appreciate the support!
Brad

[BradWalkerParticipant]

Thanks for the reply,

Glad to hear the team has been able to reproduce it, that’s a huge step in the right direction. Would love to hear what circumstances or what unique hardware/software combination would precipitate the problem on such a small number of consoles.

So V1.4 is noise-free at this time? Will there be any issues with plug-in authorization going back, then forward after maintenance update?

Thanks, and let us know when the update is available.
Brad

[BradWalkerParticipant]

My experience today with the SQ5 was doing a church’s outdoor service with FM transmitter, livestream feed, 5 monitor mixes (3 IEM, 2 wedge) and local PA zone. Very quiet for quite a while, but when it popped, it was full-spectrum and LOUD.

About the only thing I noticed was that stereo input 2 (1/4″ TRS) seemed to be louder on the meters than everything else. I have a Radiol SB5W decora style direct box for iPods, etc. connected to those via stereo balanced outputs. I unplugged them from the mixer, but still got a couple of pops and snaps afterward. Most of these get tamed somewhat because we have MB4 comps and limiters set on all outputs, but it’s really unacceptable.

Going back to V1.4 is also nearly unacceptable, too. It would mean losing a lot functionality of 1.5 features we have integrated into our scenes. No fun at all to rebuild mixes for multiple projects and different clients. The church client has been pretty understanding, but some of the others will not be.

Who do I talk to about becoming a beta tester for the firmware fix?

[BradWalkerParticipant]

Known issue, eh? Moving back to V1.4 vs. living with random clicks and pops is a difficult proposition when the scene files have fully taken advantage of new 1.5 features.

How do we become a beta tester for the firmware fix?

[BradWalkerParticipant]

To answer @SteffenR’s questions about sync settings:

I meant the AES output setting which can be 96K, 88.2K or 48K, not the overall system. We have one system where that’s set to 48K to be compatible with a CD recorder AES input. Another system we installed has two S-Link cards – one connected to a pair of DX168, the other connected to several ME-1s. I did a recording mix on that one yesterday, again with no pops or snaps.

Today in the shop, our SQ5 in question had a pop where I saw the green check mark (indicating sync with the internal clock) stay lit when the pop occurred. Just for fun (since nothing is connected to it), I changed the AES sample rate to 48KHz, and we heard a snap after that.

Are there other “sync settings” I should be looking at, @SteffenR?

[BradWalkerParticipant]

I forgot to add, that we have a Qu-16 as well, and it has been a conferencing workhorse with the AMM. A very respectable little desk! But the internal architecture is very different from SQ, so file transfers would not work. If you get the SQ, buy the DEEP dynamics packages even if you don’t have the money to also get the graphic EQ package. The MB3, MB4, and Dynamic EQ are very useful. The compressor modeling are very useable representations of the analog units I’ve used in the past.

All for well under $4K USD.

[BradWalkerParticipant]

@WaihekeSoundie
Adding to what @Showtime said…

The SQ DEEP plugins provide more flexibility control than you can get on the Qu range or any other competitor’s desks in this price range. I find the sonic difference between 48 KHz and 96 KHz is not subtle (dynamic range and lower noise floor), and you’d hear it on your KV2 rig.

I come from a Midas background, and was looking at M32/ X32 but went with A&H SQ because of architecture flexibility and sound quality. Being able to completely customize the channels on console layers is a huge operational benefit not found on other desks at this price point, very much like POP groups on a Midas Pro desk. The iPad / phone apps were rough at the beginning, but they’re quite good now. I don’t regret the decision to go A&H at all, even though I recently developed a “pop” in our SQ5 after the v1.5 firmware upgrade. The A&H support is better than most, so I know that will be resolved.

My .02

[BradWalkerParticipant]

I will add to this thread because I think the problem I am having with our SQ5 is the same issue.

Unit was purchased new in January of 2018.
Fader Version: 0.35
Firmware Version: 1.5.0 r3883
Build: Release

Environment:
– SQ5 has full DEEP plugin suite installed.
– System runs at 96KHz, often with one DX168 attached.
– The mixer is assigned a static IP address and connected to a TrendNet POE+ switch that also has a blackmagic switcher and some Vaddio camera extenders attached to it.
– Sometimes a Panasonic PTZ controller is also connected.
– We use a Ubiquiti AmpliFi wifi router for iPad control (also connected to the TrendNet).
– SQ5 lives in a 12 RU on top/12 RU in front mixer rack, with a SurgeX UPS and another Surgex PDU providing AC protection.
– We regularly use multi-band compression / dynamic EQ on inserts, a variety of compressor types on different inputs, and phantom power on local and S-Link mics.

All was quiet until after V1.5 firmware was updated in mid-May, then the occasional random pop that lights up all meters started happening.
– Sometimes it doesn’t happen for a whole hour.
– Sometimes it happens 5 times a minute.
– It varies in intensity (level) from distracting to forcing outboard speaker DSP limiters to clamp down hard.
– We have reinstalled firmware twice since, the most recent was yesterday 07-08-2020.

It happens with or without:
– a DX168 connected to it via S-Link;
– any local inputs connected to it;
– all channels (inputs, outputs) open or muted;

Other observations:
– even with all inputs muted, the pop will occur and be heard on unmuted outputs.
– but any muted output prevents the pop from reaching the destination.
– pop is recorded on USB SQ-Drive.
– pop is heard on headphones.
– pop is heard and recorded on blackmagic (Matrix 3 to local A and B outputs)
– pop lights up every meter on Meters tab when I’ve happened to have that displayed and it happened.
– AudioEngine BT receiver and Shure Axient wireless are mounted in rack below mixer, but pop was observed with both turned off.
– We updated a client’s SQ6 about the same time, but had no problem with popping in their system.

Things I haven’t tried, but not sure it would matter:
– running system at 48KHz;
– disconnecting all physical cables from mixer and see if it pops on headphones or meters;
– create a “clean scene” to determine if some DEEP plugin setting is driving the problem;

Attached picture shows the rack. All is the same as now, except we added one more Vaddio next to the existing one in the picture. it’s a compact setup, but the cabling is all good quality, and we had no issues before the V1.5 firmware upgrade. We really like the new features in the firmware upgrade, thanks for listening to us! But this issue is a serious problem we won’t be able to mitigate much longer before it becomes an issue with a client.

My gut feeling is it’s internal to either the firmware or a hardware problem (God forbid!).

Hopefully this helps the troubleshooting, or triggers a thought on what the issue could be or where to test next.

Thanks for your help!
Brad

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[BradWalkerParticipant]

+1 on this!

The SQ platform is the workhorse of the lines, with 96K processing, DEEP, and flexibility. It’s worthy of the effort to provide a complete stable of apps!

Brad Walker

[Author]

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