Allen & Heath Qu-3 36-Channel / 12-Bus Digital Mixer with 8+1 Motorized Faders

The Allen & Heath Qu-3 is a compact, professional digital mixer designed mainly for desktop use in AV, conference, broadcast and studio settings. It combines powerful 96 kHz XCVI processing, updated FX and Everything I/O connectivity with a 7" capacitive touchscreen, channel-strip displays, customizable layers, extra SoftKeys and SD-card recording.

It offers 36 inputs to mix (32 mono plus 2 stereo) and 12 mixes (6 mono/linkable aux and 6 stereo aux/group). It can be rack-mounted with the optional rack-ear kit.

All-New Hardware
The new Qu keeps the much-loved look and size of the original Qu series, with multiple hardware improvements for sound and mixing:

• Audio: updated mic preamps and high-performance 96 kHz AD/DA converters deliver clean audio to and from the XCVI core.
• Control: every channel has its own display, showing the channel name, type or socket number. A colour-changing channel meter shows levels at a glance, and a redesigned interface runs on the new touchscreen.

Recording and Playback

• 32x32 USB-C audio interface for multichannel recording and playback
• 32-channel multitrack recording via SD card
• Simple stereo recording and playback through the USB-A port

Updated Workflow
The Qu stays quick to walk up to and mix on, which suits engineers coming from analog. It now adds 6 fully customizable channel-strip layers, more assignable SoftKeys, and flexible routing alongside the classic 1:1 Qu routing, all through a new, fast and responsive user interface.

Everything I/O Compatible
The SLink port connects the Qu to Allen & Heath's Everything I/O rack and stagebox expanders. It can also connect directly to other Allen & Heath consoles, with up to 128x128 channels of 96 kHz audio available for patching.

DEEP Processing and Assistive Tools

• Gain Assistant: quickly and precisely sets the gain on one or more input channels, then keeps watching levels during the show to avoid unwanted peaks.
• Feedback Assistant: automatically finds and removes problem frequencies, with up to 16 filters per output.
• DEEP Processing and RackExtra FX: add-ons from Allen & Heath's flagship dLive system, available on the Qu for the first time.
• Automatic Mic Mixer (AMM): a built-in 32-channel automatic mic mixer with no extra latency. Ideal for conferences, panel talks and TV shows.

Remote Apps

• Qu-MixPad: live mixing app for engineers
• Qu4You: personal monitor mixing app for musicians

Specifications

Processing and FX

• 96 kHz XCVI core
• 6 multi-FX engines with dedicated stereo returns
• DEEP Processing ready

Mix Architecture

• 36 inputs to mix (32 mono/linkable, 2 stereo)
• 12 mixes (6 mono/linkable aux/group, 6 stereo aux/group)
• 4 mono/linkable matrix outputs
• Stereo main LR output

I/O

• 16 combo XLR/1/4" mic/line inputs
• 1 stereo line input (2 x 1/4" TRS)
• 8 XLR outputs
• 2 TRS outputs
• 1 AES3 stereo digital output
• 128x128 SLink port for Everything I/O expansion and system connections
• Stereo headphone output

Control

• 7" capacitive touchscreen
• 9 x 100 mm motorized faders (8+1)
• 6 channel-strip layers
• 8 SoftKeys
• Remote control via free apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
• Single or dual footswitch connection

Recording and Playback

• USB-A for stereo recording/playback and data transfer
• USB-C audio interface for multichannel recording/playback (32x32)
• SD-card slot for multichannel recording/playback (16x16 at 96 kHz, 32x32 at 48 kHz)

Additional Details

• 19" rack-mountable (optional kit available)
• Configurable colour channel-meter LEDs