Allen & Heath CQ-18T - Learning From The Complete Channels

[@lynnwoodking]

Great job. Just got this board for live streaming. Very happy with it so far!!

[@noahman27]

Thank you brother, Just got mine the other day. Trying to figure it all out. Everyday making progress. But it can be SO frustrating when you're like, "why can't i see that screen i just saw! Where the hell is the compressor! I was just there a moment ago!" LOL Getting used to the routing! UGH. I know it's just a matter of time, but as I'm sure you know very well when you're used to an analog board and seeing ALL the settings simply laid out right in front of you, adjusting to a multi-screen digital system takes time and practice. And I'm just beginning. Thanks for your upload.

[@JHGurganus]

You're welcome. Yes your 100% correct those are exactly the same feelings I had and still do sometimes. So much to learn to navigate quickly for a recent analog convert like me as well. Yes I'm still learning but definitely easier now. I hope you enjoy it...definitely a lot of board in a small package!

[@MichaelFauvette]

Just got mine yesterday, your explanation is spot on. Thanks for sharing. Mike from Australia 🇦🇺 please keep sharing…🙏🏽

[@JHGurganus]

@@MichaelFauvette Mike I'm glad this was helpful. Cheers from the US, sir!

[@digitaldiezel5870]

Very close to pulling the trigger on a CQ18t, this was super helpful!

[@JHGurganus]

@@digitaldiezel5870 glad it was helpful and good luck if you buy one 👍

[@mogwilson7791]

Converting from analogue desk to the CQ-18T. I was struggling this morning to work this out and came across your brilliant explanation, thanks so much.

[@JHGurganus]

@@mogwilson7791 you're welcome and I'm glad it was helpful 👍

[@colinwatson1282]

I’ve just purchased CQ-20B. The software is the same. Super helpful video for a newbie . Thank you

[@JHGurganus]

@@colinwatson1282 you're welcome and glad it was helpful!! Hope you enjoy your CQ-20B 👍

[@MusicmanGuitar2012]

thanks! just got one so this helped explain what and how to convert channels.

[@JHGurganus]

​@@MusicmanGuitar2012 Awesome glad this helped. You're welcome and hope you end up really liking it!

[@__bam]

Great video that really explained alot for me. That was very helpful. Thanks for sharing! I just got this mixer to upgrade and replace a Yamaha MG12XU that recently had 3 mic inputs quit. I really liked the simplicity and (up until just now) reliability of the Yamaha and will probably get it fixed for a backup. Definitely a learning curve to the Allen & Heath but I think I'm going to really like it. Thanks again.

[@JHGurganus]

@@__bam thanks glad it helped and I'm still learning it too. Sucks to hear about the Yamaha mixer. I still have 2 mg10xus and an mg06x and luckily they're still doing fine.

[@DJKCeaser]

Just Purchased the CQ-12 for my mobile DJing. This video is just what I needed. Def appreciate you for making this 💪🏾

[@JHGurganus]

@@DJKCeaser no problem buddy glad it helped! Hope you're enjoying it 👍

[@TheImageDoctor]

Interesting... I've also been running sound from stage (and practices) for my band with a Yamaha MG10XU for years, and recently upgraded to the A&H CQ-18T (kept the MG10Xy as backup equipment) so that's pretty cool to hear YOU going thru the same sort of transition experience that I am - then I saw your wife's (?) name in your input labels... that's my wife's name too 😲 coincidence or ??? LOL !!! thanks for the vids - like'd and sub'd

[@JHGurganus]

@@TheImageDoctor yeah crazy coincidences for sure...mixers and wives names! I actually keep an mg06x in my gig bag as a spare if the main mixer goes down. I love Yamaha gear I wish they had a small digital mixer in this small format - smaller than the dm3. I've recently spent a little more time with the cq-18t at home just to learn a few more of the operations and also to be able to navigate quicker when needed during a gig. Man I love the simplicity of the mg10xu! I've communicated with Allen & Heath a little bit recently trying to find out if there was a single knob that I could turn to get the foh mix into monitors instead of mixing monitors separately. I'm talking about a single knob like the monitor/phones knob on the mg10xu. It's tough when I do get my wife to practice I don't believe she sings at 100% during practice (we just had that talk today haha) like on the gig so we end up with a good monitor mix but FOH is a little off. I usually don't get a lot of complaints but since we've had this I've been told two or three times that we need to change Erin's mic volume. I know mixing monitors separately is nothing new but that has been my biggest struggle - though admittedly not a big deal but like you I've been using the mg10xu for a while - since 2016 I think. Anyways thank you for the like and sub and continued good luck with your cq-18t 👍

[@TheFendertak]

J thank you so much for this demo , brilliantly explained, by far better than all I have seen so far over the last 24 hours , yep I'm very much contemplating moving from my Presonus 16:4:2 digital giant mixer to this CQ-18T maybe the 12T I really don't know , yes with the 18T you get a bit more extras , but for a Oneman band is it worth the extra cash , my inputs consist of 1 vocal mic acoustic and electric guitars 2 keyboards and backing tracks where I would need 3 inputs , I do have the drums coming out separate on my keyboards and yeah for a Oneman band I play them all , bit overkill but it shows that I'm actually a musician and Not just completely on reliance of backing tracks only , but getting back to the CQ I know you said you are only just getting familiar with it and thanks so much for sharing your knowledge here on what seems to be a super device by Allen & Heath , amongst browsing I happen to land in a video reviewing QSC touchmix and sure as god this got me wondering if this was the one to go for , but it's been a few years since it's release , CQ is newborn tech and your input on this mixer has got me sold and how you don't fly through explaining , it's got this it's got that and can do ,now let's move on , would love if you could do a simple video on how to setup a monitor mix just one and how to get effects through, and also just how to rec your live performance with the SD Card , I'm sure you will agree with me here by just keeping it simple and get the basics done , I would say I watched about 20 maybe more clips and each one more confusing as the next , because of you I am going to buy the CQ but which one , but I do hope to see more tutorials from you definitely, thank you again J 👍

[@JHGurganus]

@@TheFendertak thank you so much. You're welcome and I'm glad it was helpful. Maybe I can get to the monitor mix and recording video I will keep that in mind. Last couple of gigs I went back to my Yamaha mg10xu only because I received a couple comments on the mix not being perfect out front. Reason is, because I have a problem with changing mics and gear all the time (my own fault), the mix with my wife singing isn't perfect out front all the time. I get myself set up perfectly for FOH but she doesn't practice with me as much as I do. We dial in a great monitor mix for us quickly but she's still a little too loud or too quiet out front and I don't catch it because I'm playing and singing as well. What I wish is, for our acoustic duo, there was a way to route an exact copy of our FOH mix to our monitor whether it be a wedge or in-ears. You can do that on the mg10xu with a turn of one knob. On the touchmix, I've read a lot of good about it but one complaint I've read is since the gain knobs aren't digital they sometimes get bumped during transport/setup and have to be re-adjusted. But I agree the CQ is newer tech and I'm glad we went with that one.

[@TheFendertak]

OMG I think we are in the same boat here J always searching for the best , I will tell you this and I don't want to put ideas into your head but I started out with the workhorse road mic we all know the SM58 , then of course I wanted something better and fell in love with the Beta 58A , then while on holiday in Lanzarote, I met a guy one night that said I should definitely try Sev7 , then at home in Ireland I met up with a qualified sound engineer of a concert venue , and he said of all mics that singers bring with them on stage I give them the Sennheiser E945 and they immediately fall in love with it , but the mic I always wanted to try was the Neumann KMS 105 thinking this would improve my voice 10 fold , as expensive as it was it just never seems to work for me , I have given it so many trials on stage but kept going back to the Sennheiser E945 what a vocal mic I absolutely love it and so comfortable singing with it , I'm a baritone / tenor , you might have one yourself , but your mixer story I can completely relate to , my desk was the Dynacord CMS 1000 MK2 , and honestly loved it and never let me down and always stuck with the 5/55 setting for reverb/delay , but then the presonus 16:4:2 came up and still a few nights at the beginning I ended up switching over to the CMS once or twice during sound check and then another night during my break half way , you can imagine the panic and anxiety, but of late I'm beginning to get a handle on the digital desk and now here comes the QC , here we go again 😊 as I said I did not purchase yet cause J I simply don't know what to go for the 18 or the 12 and I want to buy from a sound engineer only 12 miles from me , I'm told he buys them and sets them up , well I'm being told this and then there's the up dating of the software version , this freaks me out 😮 and I'm told this guy will demo the unit and everything, so ! I'm only waiting now on a call back here J , now with regards to monitor mixing ,when I had my 5 piece band this drove me batty so many nights , I find a good monitor mix is vital for you to perform your best especially when your behind front of house , I have seen many bands angle front of house in towards them and this can sound great to you but now your after crossing the sound waves ,getting technical here but you know what I mean , and then it was mentioned to me to buy in ears , yes I did but they spend the nights in the gig case ,tried a few times just can't get used to them , well now I wait and make my decision hopefully within a day or two , hopefully this sound guy will get back to me if not I'll probably end up buying from online musicstore , I'm getting anxious now J , patience is a virtue , and I don't have patience 😉😄👍

[@JHGurganus]

@@TheFendertak yes patience! I struggle with that a lot, too. Clear on everything you said about the mixers. Hopefully you can make the right decision between the 12 or the 18 CQ. Funny you mentioned the e945. So here's my story. I've used the 58 a lot and my wife still prefers it for her voice. But a couple years ago I stayed away from the 58 and tried other mics with great success for my voice. So I got a wired e935 which I like the sound of but unfortunately that mic likes to feed back if using wedges. I've tried different monitor placement and stuff but it is the only mic that gives me feedback issues...the only one. Anyways, we've since went back to in-ears but for the last 2 weeks I've been thinking about getting an e945 capsule for my ew-d system. So I'm glad you're liking your 945. We have a gig tomorrow and I'm using my 835 capsule but I still may consider the 945.

[@TheFendertak]

Best of luck with the gig , hope your using your CQ 18T , be sure let us know how it all went for you ,even try get a video clip for us to listen to , with regards to mic ,in all honesty I never have an issue with feedback with my E945 mic , now unless I really drive my monitor which is the Dynacord AM12 , the only mic that causes me fierce grief is my Neumann Kms105 , I'm told to use this mic your FOH speakers would have to be at least 8 to 10 feet apart , very rarely this is the case , it's now up on an adverts site for sale , I can always say I got it ,I tried it but did not work , it's feedback is weird in that when this happens its not a squeal like a dynamic mic but silent piercing in ones ear , dangerous in fact , and I have withnessed it , at a gig during setting up and testing the usual 1 2 and seeing people putting their hands up to their ears ,even me , so J that finishes me with condensers and phantom power 😊 impulse buying I'm a terror for it , and then when I try selling I lose money , ahh well yes we musicians will never be satisfied 😂 still no call back , I'll give him till tomorrow and then I will just buy direct from my online music store which is Thomann in Germany but I'll be on my own with the unit , but sure I've got you on my side J and yes there are many you tubers here with tutorials ,but I still stand with you as being number one , hope all goes well tonight for ye , chow for now , kind regards, Martin 👍⭐

[@JHGurganus]

@@TheFendertak clear on all that and thank you for the kind words. Setting up right now but I open this and didn't want to forget to get back! 🎤🎸

[@elwinceria8266]

For the live band during mixing the drum mic’s,vox is it better to start QUICK then after convert to complete sir?

[@JHGurganus]

@@elwinceria8266 while I only have minimal experience mixing live bands, I think that is a valid idea. I don't think there is a hard rule about which way you do it. If there is time for a good sound check, you could always start with each instrument separately and get them to sounding good and then mix as you bring everything in and cut where you need to to make room. But if time is an issue and you just need to fire up and go, I would say it's just fine to start with the quick channel and then convert to the complete channel to find tune everything if you need to. Maybe you knew some of that but in case you didn't I hope that helps.

[@elwinceria8266]

@@JHGurganus thank you sir😘

[@JHGurganus]

@@elwinceria8266 no problem 👍

[@adrianfora]

Hi, is it worth switching from analog to this digital mixer? Would you feel improvements? I would like to buy one myself, that's why I'm asking. I mean, does everything sound better?

[@JHGurganus]

@@adrianfora Yes I think there are some improvements over an analog mixer. Having more dynamic control plus being able to save scenes is a big deal for us. But ultimately does it sound better? I have always believed that comes down to the performer and the listening audience. A / B next to each other with the ability to process more on the CQ-18T, yes you should be able to get things to sound better than just a basic analog board. Hope that helps 👍

[@adrianfora]

@@JHGurganus thanks, I think it will be a good investment that will increase the quality

[@JHGurganus]

@@adrianfora you're welcome and I agree.

[@elwinceria8266]

Why did you set first to QUICK or eqsy then convert to complete?if you go directly to Complete is it ok?i’m a beginner still learning sir.

[@JHGurganus]

I think this may have came through twice. I hope you got my other response.

[@elwinceria8266]

@@JHGurganus got it sir It was network problem.sent two times

[@JHGurganus]

@@elwinceria8266 ok cool thx 👍

[@bin5199]

Can you tell me. with vocals. What FX should I use to get the best out of my voice? reveb and delay. you feel good.

[@JHGurganus]

Which mixer are you using? For years and years I just used one of the reverbs provided in the Yamaha mg10xu but now with the CQ18t, I use the echoverb. The echoverb combines reverb and delay and allows you to control multiple parameters.

[@bin5199]

@@JHGurganus i have Allen heath cq18t

[@bin5199]

@@JHGurganus Do you only use 1 FX? Can you just let me know. you send reveb and stereo delay. how much %. -5 or …-1…+1.. I have Allen heath cq18t

[@JHGurganus]

​@@bin5199 here you go: Vocals: echoverb with echo time on mid - level straight up. Reverb size just a little less than half and colour straight up. Delay on 190 ms level about a quarter the way up. Vocal sends at -17dB Acoustic guitar: spaceverb - space set on small hall. FX assist set to deep. Decay time between a quarter and halfway up. Guitar sends at -26dB I sometimes tweak things between shows but I've used these settings the last couple of gigs. Hope this helps!

[@bin5199]

@@JHGurganus Thank you very much. I just sing. don't use guitar

[@elwinceria8266]

Why did you set first to QUICK then convert to complete?if you go directly to Complete is it ok?i’m a beginner still learning sir.

[@JHGurganus]

No problem good question. I have went back to my analog mixer and not used the CQ in about 2 months. I can't remember offhand if you can go right to complete channels or not. Sorry. But, for the video, I definitely went to quick channels and then to complete channels for demo purposes.

[@elwinceria8266]

@@JHGurganus thank you sir❤️

[@elwinceria8266]

@@JHGurganus sir,another question please, Can i trust auto gain for the source?for this technology of this digital mixer which is better auto gain or manual?thank you for you concern sir,😘

[@JHGurganus]

@@elwinceria8266 I tried autogain but I found I could get a couple more decibels of gain doing it manually. I'm definitely not a pro at this but like I said I found I could get a couple more decibels of gain out of doing it myself. But I definitely turn the gain adjust off when I was toying around with the auto gain because it would definitely reduce it if the source got too loud but still under clipping. I always stuck with the manual again hope that helps 👍

[@elwinceria8266]

@@JHGurganus thanks again sir,😘

[@AhmedAli-mw8pb]

I am planning to install this in a house of worship where it may be turned on from outside and no user. Will it work without any human intervention after being set up?

[@JHGurganus]

If I understand the question correctly, you would have to leave all channels unmuted but I'm not sure that's the best way to do things. I really didn't have any experience with installs, though.

[@AhmedAli-mw8pb]

@@JHGurganus yes, want to set volume and leave it unmuted. Its not always possible for an operator to be present and I am worried if this mixer needs to press atleast 1 button before outputting sound. We have an on power switch outside the room for this purpose

[@JHGurganus]

@@AhmedAli-mw8pb I understand. I know when it powers up it doesn't go right to the mixer screen...at least mine doesn't. But, I would think if there is a specific channel that is unmuted with a sound source going to it that it would start outputting sound but I could be wrong. If you don't need all this mixers capability I would think there may be better choices like a more basic analog board, but if you do need this mixer I would think it could be set up to do what you need.

[@JHGurganus]

Is your specific question in reference to playing back some background music or for a vocal microphone for someone who is going to speak?

[@AhmedAli-mw8pb]

@@JHGurganus you are right, analog seems the right way to go, and we do have a behringer analog already installed but was looking to upgrade to get better sound and features for occasions. Thanks alot for your response, really appreciate it