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2020/10/12 at 4:10 pm #95694
What had confused me and I was trying to establish was the AH documentation and videos frequently state MAC only not compatible with Windows. Yet, there appears to be a DAW Windows driver. What does it do what can it not do?
Also yes I get it, you record and mix on the mixer adding what ever (mixer built in) plugins you choose and then stream (download) to the computer and record your tracks into what ever DAW you choose. Thereafter you cannot change the tracks with built in mixer plugins UNLESS you go back to the Mixer and redo the tracks using the mixer. You cannot use the computer to change the mixer plugins they are locked – hard coded as we would say.
Its not like say waves audio plugins, where the mixer uses waves plugins and if you have them installed on the computer you can then change/alter/manipulate them thereafter from inside the DAW on the computer not having to go through the mixer itself. Also from the mixer you cannot communicate with the mixer plugins inside the DAW. I am not taking about any plugins you then add inside the DAW only the plugins the mixer has built in that you downloaded as part of the track.
I hope that is clear?
AS was stated before, the mixer cannot communicate with the DAW and the DAW cannot communicate with the mixer, they are two separate entities, except for maybe some simple control surface features? what features? I am not confused just a simple windows use trying to understand the limitations of the QU mixers for US windows users. I have 30 yrs IT server admin/development experience I know what is potentially possible if implemented correctly SUBJECT to protocols. If there is no common language there is no communication if there is then subject to scripts, anything is possible
2020/10/12 at 9:15 am #95685yes well xyz, it would appear AH technical support don’t monitor their own forums and provide positive assistance. I need to replace my Yamaha 01x, I have put it off for years and choosing the right mixer is important in functionality, compatibility and what it will actually cost me. I had hoped to find something a little more flexible than the Mackie Uni Pro, which is after all almost as old in design AND LOOKS as my Yamaha. I guess if its not broken why change it
2020/10/12 at 8:03 am #95682Hi once again Volounteer and yes I know it can get confusing so lets break this question down into specific individual logical steps
INPUT – We start with a audio interface to record from the mixer to the computer. This can be dry no effects or wet with the onboard mixer effects internal HARDWARE or pedals etc external HARDWARE – ton of options
Once we start to layer the individual tracks we create whatever we are doing – song etc
MIXING – Once we get the tracks down we start/continue to add what if any effects we need to individual tracks and we layer our tracks if/as required
OUTPUT – Once we have the tracks down with effects we start the process of mastering mixing down to our target output, stereo, surround etc.INPUT is straight forward and not an issue at this stage we are only capturing/recording our tracks.
MIXING, now things start to get interesting. AS a DAW control surface we should have access to the individual tracks on the DAW from the mixer, after all it is a mixer as much as a audio interface. Clearly any external hardware effects cannot be changed ie guitar pedals etc. But any software vst’s plug-ins should be available to control from the mixer via the Mackie control or similar protocol
Question mark over whether you can modify effects used during recording ON the mixer AFTER the tracks have been recorded down on the DAW, I would suggest YES.
WAVES specific expansion card only available on the SQ range of AH mixersOUTPUT Here we are just mixing down, pan volume etc
AS Soren suggests yes the AH QU range of mixers can be used as a DAW control surface but its capabilities are limited. Without the ability to communicate with the DAW software and control plug in effects its use in a studio environment as a “digital” mixer would basically be impractical. But I guess as it only offers a max 48kHz sample rate and AH have the better SQ range of mixers, they would “correctly” assume a studio/producer would buy one of them and not the QU range. to be honest, that is what I should be looking at to. 48kHz sample rate is just not studio quality, like it or not argue all you want, it is not. That is what put me off the Behringer x32 and why I bought the Sapphire Liquid 56. Those chrome knobs on the SQ range look damn right awful
2020/10/12 at 12:52 am #95677I do not expect to be able to control the mixer from the DAW or PC, only the motorised faders should follow the DAW. I do however expect to control the DAW from the mixer to what level/degree/depth I am not sure what the QU16 is capable of. I want to mix using the mixer not the computer as I can do using my Midi keyboards.
2020/10/11 at 8:31 pm #95659I had expected better from this forum rather than some of u arguing like those on the audiophile forums when the discussion is about analogue and digital music, CDs and vinyl. I considered the Qu16 cos I thought AH build quality reliability service and user forums would be great. Well, how disappointed I am. Their DAW control documentation goes on about Macs and windows not available even though a driver appears to be there for windows, and u lot? All I wanted to know was could it be used as a control surface using windows operating system with the additional benefit of it having an integrated audio interface. If so what could it do and not do? I thought it was quite a simple question considering this is the actual Allen & Heath “official” community forum, not twitter which is FULL of twits.
I am British I live in Britain and I like to buy British when and if I can, I have nothing against the competition, but my loyalty is to buy when possible something designed and “hopefully” made here when possible.
2020/10/11 at 1:49 pm #95639Thanks Volounteer. Yes I want the mixer to control the DAW software, against say using a mouse and keyboard or touchscreen. The same as I can control Native Instrument Kontakt instruments from my NI keyboard, or limited control of the DAW or even vsts it can do all three. Why, cos I know I can using certain mixers, its a question of which mixers can do what, or potentially what extra they can do with a little programming. I also know that the AH QU16 will act to some degree as a DAW control surface, but beyond simple fader control and motion (stop start pause) I am not sure.
WHy do I want to make things more difficult for myself? that is exactly what I do not want to do. I want to be a lazy sod and sit at my desk and play music whether its playing recording or mixing. I have almost completed my wish list and bought everything I wanted. AN early JCM800 and a control surface and I have completed it. The x32 is the clear leader at the moment, I just want to compare what else there is, which considering what it can do for the price, looks to be very little else. I had originally looked at the Behringer xtouch, and thought I would go better, I like the idea of the integrated audio interface similar to my Yamaha 01x, remember, that is what I am replacing.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.2020/10/10 at 11:08 am #95609A yes the Behringer Wing, wow what a piece of kit that is but it was released half finished, it has taken some times for the software to catch up be written tested released. It was tempting, SERIOUSLY tempting, but for me just a little too far overkill, but maybe just maybe, I might convince myself, whilst the music industry is closed I guess its harder to know what might be. For now I need to take time out and look a little closer at the protocals they all use and see what drivers config files etc are available and what isnt but can be done. I am sure event he QU series can do more just no one has bothered or cared to push it further – I am saying this blind, a guess but one thing for sure Behringer are pushing the boundaries and few iof anyone else is following them – copying others? maybe but then that was yesterday today they are industry leaders especially with their digital mixers
2020/10/10 at 10:42 am #95608I am certainly not against Behringer half my studio is their kit and I have had zero issues.. My project was to record live bands, rent it out to friends, I have the money they don’t, I have the computer knowledge they don’t, and I have always loved mixing, that is why I bought the Yamaha 01x which to be fair still does what it was originally designed for, except it will not work on native WIndows cos Yamaha never updated their mlan drivers since windows XP !!
The Behringer x32 looks a great mixer/interface, the reason I looked at the Allen QU16 was in hope it would be a similar product. IT has a audio interface it can also be used as a control surface. As for overkill, maybe but the Behringer xtouch is what £400 the Mackie Pro Universal £1000 both are only control surfaces without the audio interface. the X32 and QU16 are not much more money wise for potentially a lot more features. ALso I could take the x32/QU16 and record without lumping about my rack system which is HEAVY.
We are currently still in semi lockdown and the studio/live music industry is all but dead so any projects I had in mind are currently on hold. So I can use the time to decide the way I want or can go forward. I retired last year, I have time to kill and a little money to play with and already had quite a bit of studio gear/amps cabs guitars keyboards etc what do I really want to do? I guess help those less fortunate use my computer/music knowledge and have some fun.
I just wanted to know what experience other QU series users had using windows with DAW software. As for needing a control surface, yes I can use a mouse, a keyboard even my phone or a touch screen , but I have a Yamaha 01x, owned used it for over 20 years, I just wanted to replace it with another unit so I dont have to keep booting between different drives and reconfiguring ever damn time.
I want to control DAW (Studio One) I want to be able to control automate vst, nks (native instruments kontakt instruments) and I want to be able to control the volume on my speakers, I use 7.1 as well as stereo. A control surface that does this would be awesome. and yes the x32 will come close as does my Native Kontrol keyboards – nothing does everything but as a collective I am sure I can achieve what I want some how some way
I am sure Allen Heath could get the QU series to work, I am sure its not that far off even now, but feedback is hard to get and that worries me. I know the Q series can be a control surface with some configuration, question is just what and how far beyond that will it go, compared to the X32 which I think is light years ahead of the competition from what I have seen – I will buy one of them, question is which one. Yes I know its only 48kHz and they do better audio interfaces, but then the x32 is also only 48kHZ and as I have said I have the LIquid 56 so thats not so important…. DAW control with audio interface is what I crave dream of, I like the faders and knob control for automation and general level settings
2020/10/09 at 1:20 pm #95581Many thanks Keith, I only came across the QU16 the other day by accident and thought mmmm interesting, especially as its Allen & Heath but on further reading I realise its just not going to work as I hoped. That was one reason I originally went rack mounted, just need to find a control surface (without the audio interface) that I like and will do what I want. I very nearly ordered one yesterday from PMT, just came away with my new Studio Monitors that choice was easy, Adams T7Vs (maybe not the best but I think there more than good enough for me) , thankfully when PMT rang Allen Heath they couldn’t confirm they actually had a QU16 in stock !!
I guess its back to the drawing board, the Behringer x32 producer is nice but it has reliability issues that puts me right off sadly nothing really bites me, else and hence I have yet to buy one
2020/10/09 at 10:02 am #95576I am more interested in what the QU can control inside the DAW from the mixer itself and maybe some idea of what it cannot do. I am assuming the worse – limited – due do the lack of youtube videos.
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