[HoodyParticipant]

If you use an iPad to control your QU I suggest for the older iPad a lightning camera adaptor with a RJ45 (LAN) socket. This allows you to connect your iPad to the AP/router if the wireless fails for any reason. (I have a QU SB which has no manual faders or controls.

You can also get a Bluetooth adapter to put in the headphone socket then you are able with shorter ranges to listen in when you solo a channel remotely from an iPad or the like when using the QU pad app.

[HoodyParticipant]

I use the mixing station app on my Cheap Andriod Notepad as well as having the App on my Samsung Galaxy phone for back up.
The Mixing Station App is paid App (about £10.00 when I bought it) The App allows me to use very cheap notepads and has access to features you cannot get to on the Allenand Heath app.

Any iPad will work but for lightness I have a couple of iPad Air.

[HoodyParticipant]

Mixing station for A& H on Android is pretty dam good too.

[HoodyParticipant]

How about QU-control. Great App which allows you to assign basic functions with big buttons! You can lock the setup once you have configured it to your liking. You can even drag the ICOn order around!

[HoodyParticipant]

Yep, bluestacks android emulator (Mac or PC) and Mixing station.

[HoodyParticipant]

No Sound Guv’!
Equipment
1 x QU – 16
4 x RCF 705_ASII Active Subs
2 x JBL 812p Tops
1 x RCF ART 715-A MK4 Active Speaker
4 x LD 400W Monitors

At a pub gig for Buster James Rock Band in 2021, at the end of the first set, the backing music started coming from the left channel only. As I had taken a toilet break, I only noticed this on my return with less than 5 mins left of the break before the start of the second set.

No one else had noticed. First, I checked that the desk and sound source were fine. I then had a close look at the speakers; the power light was on and there was a feint sound from them. Then I started a left to right cable swap on the desk and still no sound! To top it all, the singer told me his monitors had stopped working. The bass and guitar monitors were fine these as the other mains were powered from a different
source.Especially by the second set when alcohol has worked its magic. Unless, of course, you have an insecure band member who announces it on the mic!
No one else had noticed. First, I checked that the desk and sound source were fine. I then had a close look at the speakers; the power light was on and there was a feint sound from them. Then I started a left to right cable swap on the desk and still no sound! To top it all, the singer told me his monitors had stopped working. The bass and guitar monitors were fine.

I was then in a total fluster and panned everything left then boosted the channel. Being a pub the crowd they didn’t notice a thing (experience has taught me that unless the problem is ‘no sound at all’, the crowd very rarely notice.) Especially by the second set when alcohol has worked its magic. Unless, of course, you have an insecure band member who announces it on the mic!

I thought maybe something has blown my speaker amps on that channel (they are powered JBL SRX812p Tops and RCF705-ASII subs). So, I plugged in a spare speaker I brought in and nothing! The power LED’s and Level LED’s on the speakers and monitors were very dim and with the gain at MAX you could hear a little sound from the top.

Well… with sweat pouring, the band finished the set as we had plenty of power to spare. The crowd were pleased and the band, who are seasoned pros, carried on; although fold back was difficult.

The keyboard player had his keys reset at the start of the second set because he had put his pedal plug into the wrong socket. During set-up, the drummer’s monitor – which has a momentary on/off switch – switched off on its own too.

When I got home and scratched my head knowing it was a power problem of some sort, I checked every power cord first and no problems; then every speaker and no problems either.

Many said I hadn’t used low-cut and had my speakers power off through clipping. Others said I had a mix desk problem and had accidentally switched something off (both of which I knew it couldn’t have been as it was just one side of the PA which dropped which drew its power from a separate mains socket to the other as was proved just by switching the L/R XLR’s over but the fault was still there!

All I knew was that it was a power problem. Then I told my brother what had happened. He used to play in a well-known covers band at the time and he told me he had once had the same problem.
When people went outside at the pub, called the Otter in Norwich, to smoke, they put the patio heaters on.
This triggered the same fault with the band. He could see the smokers switching the Halogen Patio heaters on which had a 5-minute timer. So, sound came on briefly then disappeared again. He could see it happening and put two and two together!

Yes, I remembered a very drunk pair of ladies going outside to smoke just before the start of the bands set break and they stayed there for the rest of the evening with the patio heaters on; which I don’t blame them for, as we live on the North Norfolk coast and the wind does blow here. So probably wiring installed by a mate of the pub causing the problem!

That’s my story, a lesson learned, also, I know now to trust my judgment even if it did not help on the night. Thanks to all my friends and sound tech friends out there and finally I hope this never happens to you and if it does, you’ll remember this!

Of course the band blamed the sound engineer which had I tested the power outlets and wiring before hand I might have spotted the spur of a spur of a spur. However, in my defence from 6pm arrival to leaving at 12.30am for £150.00 I didn’t think I was being paid to do that.

[HoodyParticipant]

Hi,
I use a lightning to USB/RJ45 adaptor which gives me back-up should wireless fail.
Cheap Amazon Fire Pad with Google Play store Android hack. running MixPro app about $5.00 when I purchased again I can run a usb to RJ45 adaptor.

Monitoring wirelessly I run a bluetooth adaptor on my QU-SB to send to my headphones. (Being bluetooth the range is not amazing and although just for monitoring it can introduce a little latency). I have not tried to stream from my iPad or other device to the QU-SB ST1 using this arrangement again there is no reason this will not work with the limitations I have previously mentioned. I have yet to get and try BT 5. however my present set-up is fine for the small venues I work at.

[HoodyParticipant]

I see ALWAYS carry a lightning to USB/RJ45 with my iPad when I am using my QU SB. So should the worst happen to my wireless router I can use the SB network port with a nice long cable to connect to my iPad as backup.

I also have a Amazon fire tablet which I have added the Google play store to and use the mixing station pro app (again I have a mini usb to LAN RJ45 adaptor (I use the Amazon one for firesticks) bloody good app as it even has a feed back killer if you’re new to mixing

[HoodyParticipant]

I have installed BLUESTACKS and run Mixing Station for Android on my Macbook.

[HoodyParticipant]

Peter,
My two penny’s for what it’s worth.
I believe you have answered your own question. There is very little of the A&H equipment on the Second Hand market as it is sturdy, and generally reliable and has a long product life compared to its competitors. I purchased a QU and a SB and would only change the QU for an SQ as the premium I paid for the support, forums, and quality of the product have made the initial (I feel it is an investment in my customers and time!) extra cost worth while as my equipment just works!

Would I prefer A&H cheaper? Sure, as long as it wasn’t at the expense of product build quality, design or support.

Just my take Peter, however as the pennies become tighter round the world with increasing inflation I understand your difficulty.

[HoodyParticipant]

All showing now, must have been a problem on the site.

Have a good day

[HoodyParticipant]

4 April 2018 The newer versions of the firmware are not showing in the downloads on the website https://www.allen-heath.com/key-series/qu-series/#tab5 this shows only Version 1.92 for my QU-SB and 1.9 for my QU-16 I did download the previous version 1.94 but now cannot see the maintenance release version, help please?

I have cleared my cache and tried a different browser.

Many thanks

Joe

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[HoodyParticipant]

Hi,
Something which is worth noting in my opinion is the difference in 2.4ghz and 5ghz. 2.4ghz generally works better in an environment where you have obstructions such as posts, walls etc.

However in a crowded environment with lots of devices around 5ghz may be better.

This article helps explain the technical side. https://pocketnow.com/2014/01/23/5ghz-wifi

[HoodyParticipant]

Hi,
never run an ipad on continuous charge as it is not good for the battery even though they are L-ion.

Like anything else you need a charger with the correct power rating, I belive 2.5 amp for Ipad2

The biggest drain is the screen of course and its brightness so for a lower consumption of the charge lower the brightness.

Finally I always have a fully charged power bank to hand as I use my Ipad away from the desk and power supply and if the unthinkable happened and I forgot to charge my Ipad fully I can still be portable with a power bank!

Hope this helps.

[HoodyParticipant]

Don’t turn the Vox up
Turn the rest of the band down!
Perennial problem, the band thinks what they hear on stage is what the audience hears so they ignore the sound tech.
20 years, digital mixers, in ear monitoring and still bands do this!

[Author]

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