[ToddLParticipant]

The original post of this thread referenced the following page, which loads with no content. Where is the current list of compatible devices?

https://www.allen-heath.com/usbdevicelist

[ToddLParticipant]

Thank you Keith. I got my feathers ruffled. It is a rant. I’ll own that fact.

I get your point about contacting support directly. However, why host on your own domain a forum which contains topics for new features if the forum is not being sufficiently monitored? I think 18 months is a long time for a thread on new features to go without a response from A&H on their own domain. Thank you for acknowledging that is unacceptable. That lack of attention is what got me worked up.

Look I get it. Eventually, A&H has to move on and stay focused on latest or next big thing. Maybe this is a lesson in smooth disengagement. Maybe the forum needs to close out some of those sections on older series so that no new threads can be added by users. The Feature Suggestions section should be the first to become read only once A&H has decided no new features on an older series. Then, A&H can post a final statement on each thread and then close it for comments. Basically, there comes a time when no new features will happen, so that is the time to wrap up that section.

I am truly bummed that an offline editor will never come from A&H for this mixer. Maybe A&H can look at some sort of open source code model for the apps on these older systems at some point in their life span. That would then put the option into the hands of the community.

[ToddLParticipant]

Thank you Keith. I got my feathers ruffled. It is a rant. I’ll own that fact. Thank you for correcting the comment about pay for support. I meant that if something breaks, I expect a fee for repairs. If there is a defect, I would expect a different resolution as I assume A&H would too.

I get your point about contacting support directly. However, why host on your own domain a forum which contains topics for new features if the forum is not being sufficiently monitored? I think 18 months is a long time for a thread on new features to go without a response from A&H on their own domain. That is what got me worked up.

Look I get it. Eventually, A&H has to move on and stay focused on latest or next big thing. Maybe this is a lesson in smooth disengagement. Maybe the forum needs to close out some of those sections on older series so that no new threads can be added by users. Then, A&H can post a final statement on each thread and then close it for comments. Basically, there comes a time when no new features will happen, so that is the time to wrap up that section.

I am truly bummed that an offline editor will never come from A&H for this mixer. Maybe A&H can look at some sort of open source code model for the apps on these older systems at some point in their life span. That would then put the option into the hands of the community.

Lastly, I did start this second thread in the SQ forum. So, yes there are multiple posts. Once that existed, I felt it appropriate to keep the two threads updated equally. If A&H had responded in the Qu forum in a timely manner, there would never have been a post in the SQ forum causing the duplication. Baring any further comments questing directed to me here, I will cease posts on this thread and only add a concluding comment on the Qu forum thread to close this topic out.

[ToddLParticipant]

Well, given that the A&H reps on their own online forum have still failed to post anything in the Qu Feature thread that I started, I would conclude that they do not have sufficient staff to both stay engaged on prior series while promoting a current, new series. From comments above, this is not an isolated instance.

I truly believe that A&H stands behind their products in the field, in as much as they will provide tech support of product failures, significant bug fixes, etc. until the product is deemed discontinued. After that, they will likely still provide service at a fee as long as parts are available. So, that is not my concern.

My concern was the complete disengagement and loss of any measurable attention in their own forum for the Qu series. They should designate 1 resource for prior models who is not allocated at all to managing the newest product. This separation allows for limited but measurable focus to be retained on prior product and those customers. Surely they have more than 1 software developer. Surely they have more than one customer rep. Leave one of each focused on prior model products.

[ToddLParticipant]

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@davidco – yes, because the response was in the SQ forum. I wanted to make sure users who came here were able to easily find Kieth’s response in the other thread. So, yes, I wanted to connect the dots.

Bottom Line: No off-line editor is expected for Qu series. A&H never responded to this thread during its 1.5 year life. I had to post in SQ to get a response. These are the facts.

I know I am probably coming across like a bitter a$$hole. I am clearly frustrated as much as I am surprised by A&H. Most customers of the sub $3k mixer demographic are churches, clubs, and small bands. They are not likely to upgrade every 4 years. Rather, they want a product which will be considered market active for 10+ years. Customer suggestions for features which can be added via software or firmware should be valuable to A&H and pursued as a function of support for market active products. Heck, I’d pay an appropriate “Pro” app fee to get this as I am sure many others would.

It was just surprising to me that A&H completely ignored this thread for over 1 year on their own forum. That to me is a concern and possibly a shift in their attention to customer support. I will remember this when considering my next mixer. Maybe they will realize their mistake. Maybe they will respond with some solution. Maybe the math just doesn’t work for them to invest in this feature. Still, the lack of response in the original thread is not cool.

These legacy hardware giants in our industry need to really understand the reality of a software world given the pervasiveness of digital. They are no longer just an audio company. They are now a computer company, too. They have to consider hardware and software. This necessitates sustaining support of software. They need to consider the market life of their product and how long they will support the product with firmware and software features, etc. This Qu line is exactly 5 years old. It seems to already be pigeon-holed as “just keep it running” product by A&H.

[ToddLParticipant]

https://community.allen-heath.com/forums/topic/ah-have-you-forgotten-your-qu-customers#post-73024

[ToddLParticipant]

https://community.allen-heath.com/forums/topic/qu-series-offlinecomputer-scene-editor

[ToddLParticipant]

Nearly 2 weeks since my last post and and still no response from A&H. Sad. They have never acknowledged this thread.

[ToddLParticipant]

Thanks, Keith. I’ll take a look the next time I am on site. (Wish we had offline editor so that I could pull it up now and validate/edit – see Qu Feature Suggestions forum section.)

[ToddLParticipant]

As an example of what I am hoping for, A&H should download and explore the free PC Edit software from that other company (B). Out of respect I will not provide a link to it here, but if you search YouTube for “Edit Software Overview” and the manufacturer, you can see what they provide.

Basically, every setting that can be saved in a scene is available for edit off line via a PC. Once edits are made, they can be saved to a scene and then via USB transferred back to the mixer for loading.

Others have asked for this type of off-line edit capability at least via the iPad. I’d prefer a PC solution. However, I understand their request. They already know the iPad interface, so it would be a quick adoption of that solution.

Edit via iPad would only need to solve these requirements:
1) ability for Qu mixer to transmit scene files via wifi to iPad local storage.
2) ability for iPad app to run off-line, not connected to mixer, similar to Demo mode, but rather “Edit” mode.
3) ability for iPad app to open scene files stored locally and load them into the Edit mode.
4) ability for iPad app to allow edits to all parameters of the scene, thus having a live/real-time loaded scene file active.
5) ability for iPad app to allow for saving the edits to a scene file (user can specify a new name or overwrite the loaded scene file)
6) ability for iPad app and Qu mixer to allow the iPad app to transmit a selected scene to the mixer via wifi.

With all of the above, the user can download the mixer scenes, take them with them in the iPad off site. Open a scene, make edits, and then save them as a scene. Later, the user can arrive onsite and transmit the edited scene to the mixer for use.

Make sense?

All of the same functionality would be required in a PC app, and the addition of a new GUI to represent the settings visually.

Regards,
Todd

[ToddLParticipant]

Thank you, @”KeithJ A&H”. Please help A&H management keep the Qu Feature wishlist in focus, excluding any HW limited suggestions. Specifically, is A&H even attempting/considering an off-line editor solution for scenes, PC or iPad?

[ToddLParticipant]

We don’t really use FX much, so I never pursued a solution. However, I have a similar problem. I have successfully setup Reverb to FX1 and Delay to FX2 and they work as expected. I send a channel to FX1 (on and fader up for FX layer), FX send is up, FX return is up for Main mix). Everything works as intended for FX1 and FX2. However, FX3 and FX4 do not work. I have loaded the doubler and chorus to those two FX slots. I have used the same “settings” as FX1 and FX2. Still, I cannot get effected audio for FX3/4 at all. I’m stumped.

[ToddLParticipant]

FWIW – I use this MixStation Qu app every week. I prefer it to the QuPad app. Thank you for such excellent work! @davidgiga1993

[ToddLParticipant]

I feel like A&H sold us “Qu” as their fully supported solution for this price range and are now abandoning it to focus solely on SQ. Tons of Qu products are in their customer’s hands. Please do not stop fulfilling these customer’s wishlist items.

I get that some of the wishlist items are constrained or not feasible due to the physical hardware of the Qu line. However, features which do not require any HW changes should never be shelved. They should stay in scope and be pursued.

If A&H doesn’t continue to develop new features for Qu products, then they are just telling their customers that all purchases are considered temporary and will not be supported once a new product is launched. That’s not a business model which builds loyalty. A&H management – please reconsider your commitment to existing customer satisfaction by ensuring continued investment of enhancements for all existing products.

Regards,
Todd

[ToddLParticipant]

I am amazed how having just two more characters for a total of 8 characters would have helped.

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