[Colonel TedParticipant]

Let me get this straight.

You’d be ok buying a new car, and then discover that it periodically stalls on the freeway at the most inopportune time, and the best the manufacturer can do is to suggest you to spend YOUR time and YOUR money to find someone with another car made by them who’d be willing to hook the two of them together to resolve the problem?

Or how about you send your 2 month old car back to the factory so we can fix it for you, and, oh, by the way, we won’t provide a loaner for you.

Anyone who thinks that is an acceptable solution in this day and age is, at best, an A&H apologist.

The AB168 was replaced with a new unit with the upgraded firmware after the retailer went to bat for me.

Thus far, there are no issues, however, we’re going to have to do a few technically flawless gigs before the band has full confidence in the equipment.

In the meantime, we have an analog board as a back up.

[Colonel TedParticipant]

This is a known firmware issue with the AB168. This was passed on to me via a retailer who raised a stink with A&H tech about the issue about a month ago.

“There’s an intermittent issue with the AB168 units during bootup… the expanders will revert to a previous factory firmware version and the Qu is not recognized properly. R&D are currently writing a maintenance update for Qu firmware (as the Qu mixer will automatically update the AB168 firmware), but this will not be available most likely for a few more weeks. Other solution is to send us the AB168 unit, we will update the firmware manually. Or connect the AB168 to a GLD mixer with firmware V1.42 or higher, this will also update the firmware in the AB168. The firmware update will resolve the situation”.

I contacted A&H who pussy footed around the issue for a few weeks. Fortunately, my retailer raised a royal stink with A&H for selling product that didn’t have the bugs worked through. A&H sent them a new, updated unit, which was given to me and took the old one back.

We’ve run it once since with no issues at all.

I would avoid upgrading the QU16 firmware until there is irrevocable confirmation A&H have figured out how to ensure that the firmware upgrade includes the AB168 as well.

You won’t know the issue is lurking until you incur the sort of problems and brain damage we, and others have had to deal with until you are in the midst of a set, which is not a career enhancing situation for any performing band.

For the record, and without me asking. A&H promised me some “swag” to make up for the inconvenience. I’ve seen squat thus far.

This is the sort of stuff that occurs at companies that are losing it. It’s a slippery slope.

[Colonel TedParticipant]

Thanks for that useful information. It remains a $999 ineffectual boat anchor at that, or any other price.

Here’s what I’ve heard from the A&H Rep via a distributor of the product:

“There’s an intermittent issue with the AB168 units during bootup…the expanders will revert to a previous factory firmware version and the Qu is not recognized properly.

R&D are currently writing a maintenance update for Qu firmware (as the Qu mixer will automatically update the AB168 firmware), but this will not be available most likely for a few more weeks.

Other solution is to send us the AB168 unit, we will update the firmware manually.

Or connect the AB168 to a GLD mixer with firmware V1.42 or higher, this will also update the firmware in the AB168.

The firmware update will resolve the situation”.

It’s nice to see A&H are making their problem my problem.

It would be very, very difficult to recommend any of this hardware given this situation. As it stands, the band, who have been playing gigs since the mid 70’s, consider the A&H stuff unreliable crap. The longer the issue goes unresolved, the faster the reputation will spread via word of mouth.

A&H needs that sort of reputation like they need a bad dose of the clap.

The ball’s in their court. Let’s see if they step up and do the right thing.

[Colonel TedParticipant]

Also note that the volume of QDrive recordings OUT to the FOH speakers via the AB168 is fine.

[Colonel TedParticipant]

I’ve experimented with my back up cable and there’s no difference. The volume levels coming via the AB168 are completely different, and considerably muted, compared to direct connections into the desk.

The Ethernet cable is 50′ in both cases.

[Colonel TedParticipant]

I completely agree.

The largest objection I’ve heard from countless analog users is the time it’ll take to get up to speed with the QU16. Outside this forum, the info is very sketchy.

I’d be stunned if A&H couldn’t create a strong business case for this sort of tutorial package. It would undoubtedly result in significantly increased sales.

[Colonel TedParticipant]

I’ve noticed the ST3 and QU Drive buzz periodically. It’s not great but not a deal killer.

I unplugged both the ST3 MP3 player and the QDrive that was recording the show to eliminate them as possibilities.

We also shut down the router, (unplugged it), and the Ipad was turned off. When the static bursts continued, I plugged back in to regain remote access to the board.

I used the Ipad Qu-pad app with our own Apple private network – see pic – bottom of the cabinet.

Didn’t check the RF spectra….that’s beyond me.

There were a lot of power bars on stage. I’d like to see the band pay more attention to what should be plugged in directly to the mains and what can easily be channeled thru extensions and power bars. You know what it’s like when everyone is independently setting up their stage gear. It’s like herding cats….

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[Colonel TedParticipant]

A similar issue happened for us on March 20th 2015.

The AB168 worked perfectly at the home studio. We took it to the show, set it up and the QU16 desk could not “see” any of the active 12 inputs. We tried the back up Ethernet cable, (roughly) 40 feet, and nothing. The “ready” light would not go on.

I was able to play back 16 track recording through the unit from the QDrive through the box though. Just no signal from the stage. Nada.

With 60 minutes prior to show time, we made the decision to relocate the QU16 to the stage and manage sound via the Ipad App, learning this on the fly.

When the unit came home, I tried to recreate the issue, using the same preset scene with all the appropriate inputs, and it worked fine.

I am a little suspicious that the unit was plugged into a power bar, whereas before, it has always been plugged into mains. That is the only change I can think of.

At the price paid, the unit needs to be bulletproof and the band needs to have confidence that the equipment will work. It is NO FUN having to change a stage 60 minutes prior to a gig.

[Colonel TedParticipant]

This has been a great help. Thanks!

Out of curiosity, what happens if I have 4 divas who all want slightly different fx on their FOH sound? Is that possible?

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