Powering on and off

Powering on

1. Connect mains power IEC.
2. Power on the Qu using the power switch.
3. Turn down output levels on the Qu.
4. Connect outputs to external equipment e.g. amplifiers or powered speakers.
5. Power on any external equipment and set their input levels correctly e.g. amplifiers, powered speakers, IEM transmitters.
6. Turn up output levels on the Qu.

Powering off

1. Turn down output levels on the Qu.
2. Stop any Qu Drive recordings to USB-A or SD Card.
3. Power down or disconnect any external equipment e.g. amplifiers, powered speakers, IEM transmitters.
4. Touch the Shut Down button in the Home screen (Press the PROCESSING or ROUTING screen key multiple times to deselect any channel and display the Home screen).
5. When prompted, turn off the power using the power switch.

The basic concept

• Input signals, such as microphones or line level signals, are connected to Input sockets.
• Input sockets are patched to Input channels.
• Input channels are used to process and adjust individual signals.
• Input channels are summed together and routed to Mix channels.
• Input and FX Return channels can be routed to Group Mix channels or FX for further processing of the summed signal.
• Input, Group and FX Return channels can be routed to a Main Mix or Aux Mix channels for further processing of the summed signal.
• Group, Aux and Main Mix channels can be routed to Matrix Mix channels for further processing.
• Input Direct Out, FX Return and Mix channels can be patched to Output sockets.
• Output sockets are connected to external equipment, such as amplifiers.

Channel Types

Mono Inputs

32 input processing channels. These can be sourced from local, remote or digital connections, and sent at different levels to any mix.

Stereo Inputs

2 stereo line level inputs (ST1 and ST2) are always sourced directly from the local stereo line input sockets. The stereo USB input is always sourced from USB inputs 1&2, whether using USB-A, USB-C or playing back from an SD Card.

Main LR

This is the main mix. All post-fader modes and options follow this mix.

Mixes

6 mono mix channels (Mixes 1-6) that can be paired for up to 3 stereo mixes. 6 stereo mix channels (Mixes 7-12) that can be switched to mono. Mix channels can be used as Auxes (independent outputs with pre/post fader options) or as Groups (combine multiple input channels into a single group channel for processing and routing).

FX Sends

4 FX send buses are included for use with internal FX engines.

FX Returns

6 dedicated stereo return channels with PEQ sourced from any FX unit being used in a ‘Mix->Return’ configuration. These can be sent to mixes at different levels in the same way as input processing channels.

Matrix

4 mono matrix mixes that can be paired for up to 2 stereo matrix mixes, fed from a combination of other mixes.

DCA

8 ‘Digitally Controlled Amplifier’s for adjusting the level and mutes of multiple channels with one set of controls.

MIDI

32 channels strips are available which send MIDI control data using MIDI over USB and TCP/IP.

ⓘ MIDI channel strips only send and respond to MIDI messages; their state is not stored with Scenes or Shows.

Physical Controls

Keys

All keys are labelled, and most illuminate to show when they are active. All perform specific functions, aside from Soft Keys which are user assignable.

Fader Strips

There are 4 layers of freely assignable channel fader strips. For all inputs and FX returns the fader controls the send level of this channel to the selected mix. FX Send, Main LR, Group, Aux and Matrix mix faders control output levels. DCA faders affect the level of the DCA members, and MIDI faders send MIDI level messages. Fader strips are also used by the GEQ Fader Flip feature.

Dedicated rotary controls

Used to control the most common processing parameters for the currently selected channel.

Touchscreen and touchscreen rotary control

The touchscreen allows simple user interaction through on-screen buttons and menus. Parameters can also be selected on-screen and adjusted using the touchscreen rotary. With a parameter selected, the touchscreen rotary will illuminate to indicate it can be used.

Screen keys

PROCESSING

Select any input or output channel using a green SEL key and the Processing screen will show all audio processing for that channel. Press multiple times to deselect any channel and return to the Home screen.

ROUTING

Select any input or output channel using a green SEL key and the Routing screen will show all routing options for that channel, including send levels and assignments. Press multiple times to deselect any channel and return to the Home screen.

METERS

View all Input, FX and Mix meters. Configure the Chromatic Channel Metering.

FX

Adjust parameters and settings for the 6 internal FX units.

SCENES

Store and recall different mix states. Set recall filters and manage the Cue List.

SETUP

Includes audio, surface, mixer config, network and user setup options.

UTILITY

Includes recording/playback, data transfer, AMM and Gain Assistant tools.

I/O

All input and output patching.

Workflow

The Qu UI has been designed for fast operation during mixing - the most important parameters have dedicated controls and there are shortcuts available on the physical surface to avoid menu diving wherever possible.

• Press a blue LR, MIX or FX key on the right-hand side of the surface to display and adjust send levels from each channel to the selected Mix on faders. Use layer keys to move through the 4 layers of faders.
  The MIX strip controls the overall send level of the selected Mix/FX send.
• Press Mute to completely mute a channel. Mute keys are illuminated or flash when a channel is muted.
• Select a channel by pressing a SEL key. The physical controls to the left of the screen can now be used to adjust parameters for the selected channel.
• Go to the PROCESSING screen to see an overview of the processing for the selected strip. Touch on any processing ‘block’ at the top to see a detailed view, then touch a parameter on-screen and use the touchscreen rotary to adjust.
• Use PAFL (Pre/After Fade Listen) keys to route a channel to the PAFL bus/Headphone output.
• Mix sends set to POST-FADE follow the LR send levels. To toggle channels between PRE-FADE and POST-FADE for the currently selected Mix, hold the PRE FADE key and use SEL keys.
• To assign or un-assign a channel from the currently selected mix completely, hold the ASSIGN key and use SEL keys.
• Pressing and holding the CH TO ALL MIX key will display the send levels for the currently selected channel to all mixes across fader strips.
• Press the FX screen key to view and adjust the FX engines.
  Use the LIBRARY key to recall FX types and presets - change parameters by selecting them on-screen and using the touchscreen rotary.
  FX buses 1 to 4 send to FX engines 1 to 4 by default.
  FX Return channels are routed to Mixes in the same way as input channels.
• Hold the COPY key and press an IN key, a SEL key or a MIX key to copy parameters or sends.
  Hold the PASTE key and press a SEL key or MIX key to paste the processing or send assignments to another channel.
  Hold the RESET key and press an IN key, a SEL key or a MIX key to reset parameters or send levels and assignments.
• Press the VIEW key to cycle through channel and socket information on the channel strip displays as well as see Soft Key assignments on screen.

Home Screen

This is the first screen shown when powering on the Qu. It is also shown when no channels are selected, and PROCESSING or ROUTING screen keys are active. Press the PROCESSING or ROUTING screen key multiple times to return to the Home screen.

Shut Down – Touch to shut down the Qu.

Lock – Touch to lock the Qu surface and prevent adjustments.

User – Touch to change to another active user.

Brightness – Touch to go directly to the touchscreen and LED brightness settings screen.

Screen north bar

The north bar is always visible at the top of the screen, from left to right it can display the following information:

• The currently selected channel.
• The current (last recalled) and next (selected) scene.
• Errors (tap on these for more information).
• Whether any remote-control apps are connected.
• SLink/Dante connection status.
• Qu Drive symbols for USB-A and SD card availability and recording/playback status.
• The currently selected mix.