Allen & Heath has expanded its acclaimed Qu compact digital range with the new Qu-SB ultra-compact intelligent mixer / interface. Qu-SB is designed as a Stage Box solution with all the features offered in the Qu series but purely designed for tablet control, freeing the user to mix from anywhere in the venue. Qu-SB provides a smart, portable solution for bands, music venues, project studios, schools and corporate events requiring a pro live and/or recording mixer in a tiny footprint.

A freestanding or rackmount surface-less mixer, Qu-SB has 16 XLR mic inputs, 2 line inputs and 14 outputs but thanks to the powerful Qu-32 core inside, it can be expanded up to 32 mic input channels and 24 outputs, enabling the mixer to connect over a single Cat5 digital snake to AB168, AR84 and AR2412 remote audio racks.

Eliminating the on deck user interface, all control parameters on Qu-SB are provided via a fully-featured iOS tablet app. User permissions can be set up to block the operator’s access to critical settings.

“These days, engineers and musicians are less dependent on physical mixing surfaces. They are digital natives looking for ultra-portable solutions and they want to operate with the familiar interface of a touch tablet,” explains A&H product manager, Nicola Beretta. “Qu-SB is the perfect answer to this demand, whilst still maintaining the premium audio quality and performance Allen & Heath mixers are known for.”

The built-in 18-channel Qu-Drive can record and playback multitrack and stereo audio .wav files to a USB key or drive. This gives the convenience of computer-free recording in live and field applications. Qu-SB’s 32x32, Windows and Mac compliant USB streaming interface also makes it the perfect recording solution for tracking, monitoring and overdubbing in the studio. 

In addition, Qu-SB offers two solutions for personal monitoring: via the Qu-You iPhone app or using ME-1 personal mixers. Other standout features include Automatic Mic Mixing, footswitch controls and the acclaimed iLive FX suite.