The announcement from Allen & Heath, when they released the SQ Series, that it will be compatible with the Madi and Super Madi cards was the point that convinced me to buy one.
I am reading now “We are looking into market demand for an SQ MADI card at present, but there is nothing planned for production at this time.” and I am really disappointed.
The Madi format is the only option for an absolute stable, reliable multichannel long distance audio connection between two (or more) locations. With only one fiber without any repetitors (as you have to use with Dante), I have been able to connect 800 meters distances between several stages and scenes.
It is the preferred format for a lot of broadcast radio & tv trucks and large PA systems.
The SQ Series are not broadcast consoles but can be used in lot of situations where a broadcast mixer is just too much, too big or too expensive for a secondary mix.
Believe me, enabling the SQ series to communicate with already existing Madi configurations would open it a major market.
Not speaking about enabling the SQ Series to replace or double a Digico mixing desk using existing Digico stage boxes for example…
