How to setup multitrack recording and virtual soundcheck on an Allen & Heath SQ

[@frisokeunen]

Very important note! When you switch to the stage input preset (with the library button) also the gain setting will be recalled from that setup!! So if you are going to do virtual soundcheck after the band soundcheck and you might have changed gains you have to make a new preset!! Otherwise it will recall the gain from when you last saved the routing preset. Unless you’re using the factory library presets because they don’t save the gain!! Great videos and was nice to see you last weekend in Belgium!

[@MONOSoundLab]

Hi friso! It has happened to us as well! So very good advice indeed! Nice meeting you!

[@TimmyP1955]

Only vid I've found that brings the USB back into the original channels :-)

[@gabedestellano]

The SQ5 is such a monster... I love working on it every day... the virtual SC looks super helpful! Thanks for the upload! Now I need to find a KZbin video on how to convince the owners of the club I work at to buy a MacBook for tracking. 😆

[@tonks8526]

You can also do this using the built-in USB recorder to a USB drive and don't need an external MacBook. The SQ with 1.5+ firmware supports multi-track recording of 16 channels at 96kHz and 32 channels at 48kHz.

[@kylerhamilton6676]

Very concise and very understandable. Everything I needed. Thanks so much!

[@worzlegummage9118]

Thanks for coming back- If you or your readers know of any links using cubase artiste 7 please kindly advise of the link. Cheers!

[@roncoleman5007]

well done. the first video i have found that does it right. keep up the great work.

[@DanMcDermott]

This is very helpful and right to the point. Thank you for doing this!

[@chrisweathers2379]

Brilliant. Saving the presets to quickly go back and forth was a light bulb.

[@Roberorozco2003]

Good video! In the future, I hope you could make a video on how to setup the sq for system tuning, using an additional audio interface, as well as using the the noise generator from the mixer itself! How to do physical connections and the I/O routing! Thanks! Keep it up!

[@MONOSoundLab]

Hey Rober. Thank You. Setup for system tuning is a great idea! We added it to our topic pool.

[@marcoantonioselotto3930]

Thanks for sharing knowledge. Congratulations Thanks!!!!

[@JuanAlvarezMusic]

Great info, thanks for sharing!

[@paulevans9104]

Very useful video. Thank you With the effects you have three sliders. Send Return and ch fader. How would you best use these. Send at 0db ch at 0db and return to depend on how much effect. Perhaps a video on.

[@hervemaitres3573]

Hello, Same question here If you have the answer please share it. Thank you

[@paulevans9104]

That’s the way I use efx. Send on zero. Ch on zero. Return to depend on amount of efx. Your driving the efx unit

[@hervemaitres3573]

I do the same, I’ve tried different options but this work best for me too. Thank you.

[@dtheman826]

Saving the setups was a GREAT missing addition for us newbs!

[@roncoleman5007]

I have a video I would like to see......using reaper as the VST host and using the inserts on the SQ5........this is what i am trying to do, (this is for a Broadcast mix) I have the SLink coming into the board from the FOH SQ7, I have the main outputs of my broadcast SQ5 going into the blackmagic audio card on the OBS PC. What I would like to do is use the insert of the main SQ5 output to send via the SQ USB to a reaper stereo channel and the output of the reaper stereo channel back to the main SQ5 insert via the SQ usb. How, or can, you patch the Main output insert through the SQ USB and back while keeping the main output patched to the blackmagic card?

[@igorsim8170]

Hi. Is it possible to use DAW - VSTs live with SQ5. Lets say EQs , Reverbs etc. Thanks.

[@christjo4440]

Hiya. Thank you for your Video. I'm New to SQ6. Quick question. How would record Input on STAGE box and Some vocal on the Local Inputs. And how to patch both for virtual sound check ? thank you

[@willdatsun]

can you show how to record multitrack to the SQ drive?

[@StivenShady]

Hi, thank you for this very informative video. It was much needed. That being said..... I am having some trouble between the virtual soundcheck and live sound part. When i record my virtual sound to cubase 9.5 on my windows 10 computer using tie lines. The playback from the computer through the mixer is a bit hotter than the recorded signal from Tie lines ( SLink) pickup point. So i often have to adjust the trim for most channels while virtual sound checking, however. When i switch back to the live mode, everything is too quiet and i'm having to re-adjust the trim levels back to 0. which makes the whole virtual soundcheck and tuning sort of pointless. Am i doing something wrong here. ( I have an sq7 which streams to youtube throu OBS studio via USB using aux 8.) Thanks for the help in advance.

[@victorventura1006]

Very nice Video. Can you make a tutorial using analog outboard gear like a analog Pré or a compressor its possible with this mixer ? Regards from Portugal.

[@stanleywinston4815]

Hi can you do a video with the Allen & heath qu-32 console and studio one DAW setup ,displaying a virtual soundcheck?

[@gyeongjinkim7754]

Thank you for the interesting video. I’d like ask that it is possible to use the qu console like a remote rack by connecting the SQ console and the QU pac with the sLink as if ab168 does.

[@salaipapa]

Awesome tutorial! is it possible to get click track from DAW to SQ while using tieline setup?

[@MONOSoundLab]

Yes, it is possible! But you don't even have to use tie lines. You can patch it directly. Just make sure you've selected the SQ as your output device in your DAW and route it to an output. On your SQ select IO patch select Inputs on the left of the screen and USB on the top of the screen. Here you can now route your USB (signal coming from your DAW) to the input channel you want.

[@Yaxqb]

Amazing!!!!

[@DJSmoothfingaz]

Hi, trying to connect my SQ6 to Logic Pro & then onto OBS for livestreaming to KZbin/Facebook/Zoom etc. I've set up Logic Pro with soundflower but would appreciate a step by step guide to get the SQ6 to talk to my DAW. Would appreciate any guidance. Thanks

[@brannonclark7763]

Anything on multitrack Dante to Tracktion Wavform?

[@vicadegboye684]

What computer did you use? Mac or Windows? I've seen a couple of videos of people using Macs with the SQs but not windows. I'm hoping I won't have to get a Mac to do this as it'll mess up with our workflow.

[@MONOSoundLab]

@@vicadegboye684 macbook, but works with windows as well

[@dtheman826]

This is gonna be awesomely useful for us!! After I do my soundcheck, should I go back to the "Ip_Stage" preset again for any "live" band sessions? THANKS STIJN!!

[@MONOSoundLab]

Hey. So you make 2 input presents. 1 for live playing (which you can call live), and one for Virtual Soundcheck. Both of them you will find in the user tab. If you are doing a soundcheck with the band, you are doing it on the live preset. If you want to playback the recorded tracks, for a soundcheck, you'll have to use the Virtual soundcheck preset. Don't forget to save changes in patching.

[@lfisher8154]

Thanks. A few of my recorded multi-track channels from SQ have very low signal and I need to add a significant amount of gain in my DAW (Logic). The gain on the SQ seems fine it is just very low on the recording for some track(s). I am taking my outputs to USB B just after preamp without any processing. NOTE: I am also using the ME-1Personal mixer. Any thoughts on getting more consistent levels into the Daw?

[@samgonza1975]

Check that every step in your gain structure is ok. From input to speakers. Keep in mind that getting close to unity is a goal and usually that will be enough gain for everything else. Also remember that if the at unity it is to high, digital trim down and analog gain up so you don’t lose that inputs overall volume going to your tie lines.

[@antonquintus578]

The artist i am working with desires a multi track recording of their live performance. Is that what this is? Your video isn't ver clear on the subject. I need the board to copy the multitrack signals and send them to my daw usb. What i do not need is anything that is going to mess with the setup or sound at an existing venue with a dedicated sound engineer and mixer. Its not my qu-32, so this needs to be plug and play, no playback or control on my end, just want to record multiple tracks to remix later. Great video, I learned some new things. Thanks!

[@MONOSoundLab]

Hi anton, this is indeed a video explaining how you can multitrack a live performance. But more importantly, we use that multitrack recording to do a “virtual soundcheck”. You show up at a venue, as a dedicated sound engineer, you always show up first before the band. After tuning your pa system, you can use that live recording to do a “virtual soundcheck”: you route all of your multitracked inputs back into the console and listen/play around/adjust your mix to the new venue. Or, if you’re not satisfied with parts of your mix, you can practise/adjust your mix at home untill you are satisfied. Or, If you’re doing IEM from foh and a musician was not happy with his mix, you can have him standing next to you and adjust his IEM mix to his needs. It is something that our MONO team does almost every show. It can be also real handy if there was a problem (crack/cut/buzz) on a channel during the show to pinpoint where the problem was situated. Recording you LR mix in tge multitrack recording is a usefull hint also, that way you can send show to substitute musician to practise/listen to it or the light or video guy programming lights on it. But beware, always let musicians know that a LR mix recording straight off the desk is not always a good representation of your mix! For example is guitar player is really loud on stage or the snare is acoustically really loud in a small venue, it might be vert silent in your mix or not there at all. And to answer your last question, no this will not messup your sound, the recording is just a tieline patch patching your inputs to another device (your DAW). But be sure you know how to tieline patch it correctly. Hope that answers your questions? Best, mono soundteam!

[@jetrovie]

Thank You....

[@feedbacker2]

How can you route outboard gear so it can be routed to usb so it can be an insert inside protools.I know protools inserts have a one to one mapping eg input 1 and out put 1 are used , 2 and 2 etc

[@MONOSoundLab]

Hey. the moment you can patch from protools to the SQ through the USB-B (Tielines)on the SQ, you can use outboard which is connected to the SQ. Be aware that all the female XLR connectors on a SQ console have preamps, and therefor have a preamp gain. Be sure to check settings before tuning a mix. Just be aware of the extra DA/AD conversion and therefor the extra time it takes.

[@johnlackner1193]

Can you record in 44.1 or 48 k or is it still 96k only? by the way, good explanation.

[@MONOSoundLab]

Thanks John! Appreciate it! You can also record in 48k. Press the setup button, on the left select the Audio menu and select the USB tab on top. Here you can choose the sample rate of the usb (96 or 48).

[@milanosde]

Do you know how to delete a recorded track (on sq drive)?

[@worzlegummage9118]

Can you demontrate this for Cubase artist please. ps loving the video. GR8!

[@MONOSoundLab]

Thank you so much Worzle! The setup on the SQ stays the same for all DAW, but of course the way you route things is different in every DAW. It's been a long time since we've used Cubase, but if we remember correctly you have to do the following: - Go to Studio / Studio Setup / VST Audio System and select the SQ as your ASIO Driver - Then go to Studio / Audio Connections and make the necessary Input & Output busses in the according tabs. Now you can assign the SQ as input/output device for those busses and select the correct input/output channel.

[@muratisikli9078]

Tnks a lot

[@geneskisanga720]

I m running sq7 I tried to follow you on multitruck recording but on SQ drive I failed . It shows errors on USB record load. Please help me with SQ drive.

[@MONOSoundLab]

Not much experience with sq-drive unfortunately… format the usb stick would be my first guess

[@geneskisanga720]

@@MONOSoundLab thank you very much. At least the problem yes was USB stick. It's something about writing speed of a stick. Not only reading speed. It works now just the way I copied you

[@sopalen]

Can that mixer record what is is playing back at the same time? my 20 year ols digital mixer can, but i do not think this one can, please i need to know this.

[@MONOSoundLab]

Yes it can, if you do the routing correctly. Your USB input patch is independent from your USB output patch. But please be aware for loopbacks! You can create one very easily in this scenario.

[@sopalen]

@@MONOSoundLab Thanks buddy, if i had a place nearby i would ofc go there and play with the desk it self but sadly i do not. Aah loopbacks are new to me but i know what you mean.

[@jeromebonnet]

Why is the background of the screen black on the console? I always had a blue background

[@MONOSoundLab]

I presume the camera setting of the darks on the gopro do that. Background of touchscreen is indeed blue but of course you can adjust brightness. Go to -setup-surface- surface prefs there you find all you need for adjusting.

[@58MrMike]

The SQ is not popping up on audio system and I can’t connect. I set it to USB-B like you showed

[@MONOSoundLab]

Hi mike, have you tried the old “restart computer” trick? Sometimes reaper or other daw needs a restart to see the sq? Maybe restart both console and computer?

[@MONOSoundLab]

If not, try swapping the usb cable!

[@58MrMike]

@@MONOSoundLab got it. Thanks!

[@KVLLIE]

can you explain the tie lines more briefly?

[@MONOSoundLab]

Consider the tieline patch really as old school tielines (analog) where you would take a signal and patch it to somewhere else. So making a tieline is sending a signal to another place. For example: you fysically patched your vocal in local 1 of your sq with an xlr. Next you can send that signal to for example your waves card in the desk or to another device connected to your desk that will receive the signal of your mic then. If you connect two sq’s together for example if you have an sq link card, you can tieline patch all of your inputs through to the other desk.

[@ThePlagueGameing]

Don't you have to create a preset in the library first so you can have something to playback?.

[@MONOSoundLab]

Hey. So the preset in the library is only for inputs. And the reason why we make a preset is to save time. But it is not necessary to make a preset. As soon as you patch in the I/O menu on the SQ, the patch is made. The presets just saves us time so we don't have to do the patching everytime we want to change between live en virtual.

[@curly_]

Well i went rogue when i couldnt find the options on the SQ, and then i found out its running on 1.2.0 Firmware :D f ma life.

[@DbiPro]

I hate tutorials that don’t start from the beginning.

[@MONOSoundLab]

How we can we assist? Which beginning do you want? 😜