Allen & Heath SQ-6 48-Channel / 36-Bus Digital Mixer with 24+1 Motorized Faders

The Allen & Heath SQ-6 is a 48-channel, 36-bus digital mixing console well suited for live sound, corporate A/V, recording studios, and houses of worship. The SQ-6 features 24+1 motorized faders and 24 professional-quality microphone preamps. There are also eight stereo FX engines with dedicated return channels and access to the RackExtra FX library. The mixer's 12 stereo outputs (configurable as groups or auxes) are well suited for in-ear-monitor setups, while the Auto Mic Mixing function offers quick and easy operation over multiple microphones for conferences, panel talks, and more.

At the heart of the SQ-6 lies the 96 kHz XCVI Core FPGA engine, which delivers professional, high-resolution audio quality, ultra-low latency (less than 0.7 ms), variable bit depth for precision and noise performance, mix coherency down to the sample, and the power to handle high channel / mix counts and ample FX processing. The SQ's DEEP processing architecture allows you to hand-pick boutique compressor and preamp emulations and embed them directly within the mixer's inputs and mix channels, all without adding system latency or setup hassles.

The front panel is centered around the mixer's 7" capacitive touchscreen and framed by an array of high-grip, illuminated encoders, which offer clear visual feedback and quick, hands-on control. You can drag-and-drop channels and mixes to any strip with custom naming and color coding on the strip display, allowing you to build a mix environment that mirrors your workflow. The SQ-6 offers softkeys, which can be freely assigned to any function for a customized and advanced workflow. The on-board recorder uses a USB Type-A port to record stereo and multitrack sessions to a flash drive. The recorder can also playback stereo and multitrack files, making it well suited for virtual sound checks and studio mixing.

The SQ-6 offers expansion options via Allen & Heath's stage box expanders, or install an optional Dante or Waves card to adapt and expand using the latest digital technologies. SQ is fully compatible with the ME Personal Mixing System, allowing performers to take control of their own monitor mixes. Any number of ME-1 and ME-500 personal mixers can be daisy-chained from the mixer's SLink port, or from a connected remote expander. The Allen & Heath SQ-6 ships with a power cord.

Key Specs

• Max I/O Capacity: 48x Input / 36x Output
• Number of Analog Input Channels: 48
• Number of Mic Preamps: 24
• Number of Analog Output Channels: 16
• Faders & Level Adjustment: 25x 3.9" / 100 mm
• Built-In Effects
• Reverb
• Stereo Delay (Tap)
• Reverb (Gated)
• ADT
• 2x Chorus
• Flanger
• Phaser
• Analog Inputs
• 1x XLR Talkback Input
• 24x XLR Balanced Mic/Line Input
• 4x 1/4" TRS Balanced Aux Input (2 Stereo Pair, Half-Normalled)
• 1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm Unbalanced Aux Input
• Analog Outputs
• 14x XLR Balanced Output
• 2x 1/4" TRS Balanced Output
• Digital I/O
• 1x RJ45 (Network)
• 1x XLR AES3 Output
• 1x etherCON (I/O)
• USB I/O
• 1x USB-A (External Memory)
• 1x USB-B 2.0 (Audio Streaming)
• Rack Mountable: No

Mixer

• Max I/O Capacity: 48x Input / 36x Output
• Number of Analog Input Channels: 48
• Number of Mic Preamps: 24
• Number of Analog Output Channels: 16
• Mix Routing: 8x Stereo FX Return
• Groups
• 8x Mute Group
• 8x DCA Group
• Presets: Yes
• Display: 7" Touchscreen
• Display Resolution/Color
• Main Display: 800 x 480 8-Bit RGB
• Faders & Level Adjustment: 25x 3.9" / 100 mm
• Meters
• Main Meter: 2x 12-Segment LED
• Channel Meter: Single LED
• Meter Range: -3 dBFS Peak/Clip (+19 dBu at XLR Output)
• Meter Calibration: 0 dB on Meter = -18 dBFS (+4 dBu at XLR Output)

Signal Processing

• Gain/Trim Range
• Line:±24 dB (Stereo Channels)
• Line/Mic: 0 dB to +60 dB (in 1 dB Steps)
• Input Pad: -20 dB
• Input Polarity: Normal/Reverse
• Dynamic Processing
• Input Channels: Compressor, Gate
• Master: Compressor, Limiter
• Gate Parameters
• Threshold: -72 to +18 dBu
• Depth: 0 to 60 dB
• Attack: 50 μs to 300 ms
• Hold: 10 ms to 5 sec
• Release: 10 ms to 1 sec
• Compressor Parameters
• Threshold: -46 to +18 dBu
• Ratio: 1:1 to ∞:1
• Attack: 30 μs to 300 ms
• Release: 50 ms to 2 sec
• Knee: Soft / Hard
• Blend: Yes
• Sidechain Filters
• Compressor:
• High-Pass: 20 to 5 kHz
• Band-Pass: 120 Hz to 10 kHz
• Low-Pass: 120 Hz to 20 kHz
• Gate:
• High-Pass: 20 Hz to 5 kHz
• Band-Pass: 120 Hz to 10 kHz
• Low-Pass: 120 Hz to 20 kHz
• EQ
• FX Returns: 4-Band Parametric
• EQ Parameters
• 1x HF Shelf: ±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz (Shelf or Bell Selectable)
• 2x MF Notch/Peak: ±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• 1x LF Shelf: ±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz (Shelf or Bell Selectable)
• Graphic EQ: 28-Band 1/3 Octave, ±12 dB 31 Hz to 16 kHz
• Filters
• High-Pass: 20 Hz to 2 kHz, 12 dB/Octave
• Solo/Mute: Mute, PFL per Input Channel, Bus, Master
• Channel Output/Source Monitoring
• AFL, PFL, Post-Preamp, Post-HPF, Post-Gate, Post-EQ, Post-Compressor, Post-FX, Insert Return
• Built-In Effects
• Reverb
• Stereo Delay (Tap)
• Reverb (Gated)
• ADT
• 2x Chorus
• Flanger
• Phaser
• Real Time Analyzer: 31-Band 1/3 Octave, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Audio Delay: Adjustable Up to 682 ms
• Automatic Mic Mixing: Yes

Digital Audio

• Sample Rates: 96 kHz
• AES3 Output: 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 kHz
• Stereo Record: 96 kHz
• Stereo Playback: 44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz
• Multitrack Playback/Multitrack Record: 96 kHz
• Bit Depth: Up to 96-Bit
• Stereo Record: 24-Bit
• Stereo Playback: 16 / 24-Bit
• Multitrack Playback, Multitrack Record: 24-Bit
• Latency: < 0.7 ms (Mic Input to Main Output)

Performance

• dBFS Reference Level: +18 dBu = 0 dBFS
• Headroom: +18 dB
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0/-0.5 dB
• Max Input Level
• Mic/Line Input: +30 dBu
• Aux Input:
• +22 dBu (+4 dBu)
• +18 dBu (0 dBu)
• Output Level
• Analog Output:
• +4 dBu (2901653169)
• +22 dBu (2901653168)
• Analog Dynamic Range: 112 dB
• I/O Impedance
• 1/4", XLR Output: < 75 Ohms
• AES3 Output: 110 Ohms
• Aux Input: > 7 Kilohms
• Line/Mic Input: > 5 Kilohms
• Noise Floor: -90 dBu (with Inputs Muted)
• THD+N: 0.006% at Unity Gain
• Mic/Line Input to AES3 Output:
• 0.002% at Unity Gain
• 0.003% at +30 dB Gain
• Signal Generator: Sine, White, Pink, or Band-Pass Noise (Assignable to Any Mix)

Connectivity

• Analog Inputs
• 1x XLR Talkback Input
• 24x XLR Balanced Mic/Line Input
• 4x 1/4" TRS Balanced Aux Input (2 Stereo Pair, Half-Normalled)
• 1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm Unbalanced Aux Input
• Analog Outputs
• 14x XLR Balanced Output
• 2x 1/4" TRS Balanced Output
• Phantom Power: +48 V
• Digital I/O
• 1x RJ45 (Network)
• 1x XLR AES3 Output
• 1x etherCON (I/O)
• MIDI I/O: No
• USB I/O
• 1x USB-A (External Memory)
• 1x USB-B 2.0 (Audio Streaming)
• Expansion Ports: 1x I/O Card
• Mobile App Compatible
• Yes: Android & iOS
• App Name: SQ MixPad
• Functionality: Access Stored Files, Adjust Settings, Firmware Update, Remote Control, Setup

Recording

• Max Multitrack Recording: 16 Tracks
• Media Support: USB Drive
• File Format Support: WAV

Compatibility

• OS Compatibility
• Windows 10 (64-Bit Only)
• macOS 10.14 to 11 (64-Bit Only)
• Mobile Device Compatibility
• Android Smartphone
• Android Tablet
• iPad
• iPhone

Power

• AC Input Power: 100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz
• AC Power I/O: 1x IEC Input
• Power Consumption: 90 W

Physical

• Rack Mountable: No
• Operating Temperature: 32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C
• Dimensions: 25.1 x 20.3 x 7.8" / 638 x 514.9 x 198 mm
• Weight: 29.3 lb / 13.3 kg

Packaging Info

• Package Weight: 40.3 lb
• Box Dimensions (LxWxH): 32.5 x 27 x 14.5"