Allen & Heath CQ-18T Ultra-Compact 18in / 8out Digital Mixer with Wi-Fi

The Allen & Heath CQ-18T Ultra-Compact 18in / 8out Digital Mixer is the largest desktop mixer in the CQ range and is ideal for gigging bands, rehearsal spaces, home recording and streaming, speech applications and corporate AV. 

CQ draws on technology from Allen & Heath's latest generation of live sound consoles to deliver audio quality previously unimaginable at this level of mixer. Pristine 96kHz audio is partnered with studio-grade onboard processing and an optimised suite of FX to set a new standard for what’s possible with ultra-compact digital mixers. CQ takes Allen & Heath's renowned processing and effects, adds exciting new assistive mixing tools, and packages it all up into Their smallest, and most affordable, digital mixer series yet.

CQ-18T gives you all the tactile control you need to get around the interface quickly. A 7″ touchscreen and rotary control make it simple to set up and get mixing, and the 3 Custom Rotaries and SoftKeys allow you to access commonly used functions with just your muscle memory. The free CQ MixPad app also gives you full control of your mix from anywhere in the venue thanks to the built-in WiFi.

Every input channel on CQ can be switched between two modes. Quick Channels offer instrument and application specific processing with the ability to dial in a full channel of processing via a single knob. Need more control? Switch to Complete Channels for advanced, in-depth tweaking of parameters.

CQ-18T features a Gain Assistant for faster setups. Setting the correct amount of gain for each channel isn’t the most exciting task, and it quickly eats into your setup time with multiple channels to take care of. Gain Assistant quickly and accurately sets the optimal gain level for one or multiple input channels and continues to monitor levels during the performance to prevent any nasty peaks or surprises.

CQ’s Feedback Assistant also automatically detects and eliminates problem frequencies using up to 16 filters per output so you can mix with confidence – and forget about feedback. CQ introduces a new suite of high-quality, user-friendly reverb, delay and modulation algorithms with instrument-specific presets for speedy setup.

CQ packs in multiple recording and playback options to ensure you’re always ready to capture the performance wherever you are.

An integrated USB audio interface enables easy multitrack recording, playback and streaming via your DAW, and an SD card slot is provided for reliable multitrack recording and playback on the go.

You can record and playback stereo files via USB key, and you can even playback from your phone via the built-in Bluetooth functionality.

With its powerful integrated dual-band Wi-Fi you don’t need to bring a bulky access point or router along to use apps with the CQ-18T. Just connect your devices to the CQ’s secure Wi-Fi network and you’re ready to go.

Warranty: 12 Months

Learn more about the new Allen & Heath CQ-18T at the Allen & Heath site.