Home (Symbol)
Quick Start – Recall mixer configuration and channel processing for different applications. See the Quick Start section for more information.
Shut Down – Touch to shut down the CQ software before powering off.
Lock – Touch to temporarily lock the CQ-12T or CQ-18T and deter people from making changes to an unattended unit. Also disables Soft Controls to prevent accidental changes.
Headphone Control (symbol) – Adjust headphone output level.
ⓘ Set the headphone output source in the CONFIG / OUTPUTS screen.
RECORD / Stereo
Stereo recording/playback to/from a connected USB drive.
ⓘ USB-A audio/data and SD card recording/playback features utilise the same system resources and cannot be used at the same time.
Stereo Record
The top section of the screen includes level meters for the channels being recorded, recording controls and information (when recording).
ⓘ Choose the channels assigned to Stereo L/R for recording in the CONFIG / USB/SD/BT (symbols) / USB/SD screen.
- Press the Record button to start recording.
- Press the Stop button to stop recording.
Stereo recordings are stored in the AHCQ\USBREC folder on the drive.
Stereo Playback
The bottom section of the screen is for playback of audio from USB-A storage.
The CQ can playback stereo files that were recorded from the CQ to the AHCQ\USBREC folder on the drive or mono/stereo, 44.1/48/96kHz, 16/24bit *.WAV files copied to the AHCQ\USBPLAY folder.
Select Track - Select the track to be played from Playback or Recordings folders.
Playback Mode – Options include Play All (and stop), Play Single (and stop), Repeat All (loop through all tracks) and Repeat Single (loop a single track).
ⓘ When using Play All or Repeat All playback modes, tracks will playback either in the order they were recorded, or in the order they were copied to the drive.
Transport Control – Use to Play/Pause, Stop or skip to Previous/Next. Use the circular playback position marker at the very bottom of the screen to jump to a specific point in the track.
Record/Playback Priority
Stereo USB playback signal will be sent to the dedicated stereo USB Input channel and will take priority over signal from USB-B. When stereo recording/playback is in progress, it is not possible to use SD card record/playback or store/recall data from USB storage.
Folders, files and formats
The USB device must be formatted to FAT32. This can be carried out using a computer, but it is best to format a drive using the CQ before use.
ⓘ Format connected storage in the HOME / SYSTEM / USB and SD (symbols) screen.
Recordings are made to the AHCQ\USBREC folder.
Stereo recordings are made to stereo interleaved 24bit uncompressed *.WAV files, at the sample rate set in the CONFIG / USB/SD/BT / USB/SD screen.
The CQ can playback mono/stereo, 44.1/48/96kHz, 16/24bit *.WAV files from the AHCQ\USBPLAY folder.
Buffer Usage
Buffer usage meters indicate the performance of the connected storage device. If buffers are filled, data will be lost and an error will be counted.
Length of recording
The maximum length of a stereo recording is determined by the maximum file size of 4GB, which equates to approximately 2 hrs at 96kHz or 4 hrs at 48kHz.
RECORD / Multitrack
Record or Playback individual signals to and from individual channels using an SDHC card.
ⓘ USB-A audio/data and SD card recording/playback features utilise the same system resources and cannot be used at the same time.
ⓘ Meters switch automatically to show either signal being recorded or played.
Set where input channel signal is recorded from (the tap-off point) and assign the last pairs of channels to be recorded in the CONFIG / USB/SD/BT / USB/SD screen.
Arm – Use the button under each channel meter to choose whether the channel will be recorded. Armed channels are indicated with a red record symbol. If a channel is armed but cannot be recorded with the current settings or connected SD card, this is indicated with an exclamation mark.
Select Track - Select a multitrack to be played back.
Playback Mode – Options include Play All (and stop), Play Single (and stop), Repeat All (loop through all tracks) and Repeat Single (loop a single track).
Transport Controls – Use to Record, Play/Pause, Stop and skip to Previous/Next. Use the circular playback position marker at the very bottom of the screen to jump to a specific point in the track.
Refer to the information box for details such as elapsed/remaining recording time and errors detected during the recording.
Number of channels
The maximum number of channels which can be recorded depends on the speed of the SD card and the sample rate of the recording.
For best results, use an SDHC card with UHS-I and Class 10 markings.
CQ can record or playback up to 16 channels at 96kHz or up to 24 channels at 48kHz.
‘Armed X of Y’ indicates the number of currently armed channels and total number of channels which could be recorded.
Record/Playback Priority
Multitrack playback signal is sent to the digital source for individual channels and takes priority over signal from USB-B. When multitrack recording/playback is in progress, it is not possible to use USB stereo record/playback or store/recall USB data.
Folders, files and formats
The SD card must be formatted in the CQ before use.
ⓘ Format connected storage in the HOME / SYSTEM / USB and SD (symbols) screen.
Recordings are made to the AHCQ\USBMTK folder. Each recording is stored in its own sub folder as a collection of mono 24bit uncompressed *.WAV files, at the sample rate set in the CONFIG / USB/SD/BT / USB/SD screen.
Files are named with the channel number they were recorded from combined with the channel name. e.g. ‘03SnrTop.WAV’. The channel number of the file is the channel it will be routed to when playing back the recording.
Buffer Usage
Buffer usage meters indicate the performance of the connected storage device. If buffers are filled, data will be lost and an error will be counted.
Length of recording
The maximum length of a multitrack recording is determined by the maximum file size of 4GB (for each mono channel recorded), which equates to approximately 4 hrs at 96kHz or 8 hrs at 48kHz.
SCENES
Scenes are used to store and recall the mix state of the CQ including all processing and send levels. 100 scene slots are available.
ⓘ More information can be found in the Shows, Scenes and Libraries section.
Recall – Replace the current state with the stored state.
Overwrite – Store the current state in the selected scene slot (over the top of a previously stored state).
Store New – Store the current state in the selected scene slot.
Rename – Edit the name of the selected Scene.
Delete – Touch to delete the selected scene.
DATA / Shows
A Show includes the current state of the CQ, along with all stored states (Scenes) and all stored User Libraries. The CQ has one Show loaded at any time, but can store or recall a show to/from a connected USB drive.
Recall – Replace the current Show (state, Scenes and Libraries) on the CQ with the stored Show.
Overwrite – Store the current Show in place of the selected Show on the drive.
Store New – Store the current Show as a new Show on the drive.
Rename – Edit the name of the selected Show on the drive.
Delete – Remove the selected Show from the drive.
DATA / Libraries
The CQ can have up to 128 User libraries stored at any time. These are included when storing or recalling an entire Show, but can also be stored or recalled individually using a USB drive.
‘Mixer Libraries’ lists all the Libraries in the Show currently loaded on the CQ. ‘USB Libraries’ lists all the Libraries stored in the AHCQ\LIBRARY folder of the connected USB drive.
To Mixer – Copy the Library selected (outlined yellow) in the USB Libraries list to Mixer Libraries.
To USB – Copy the Library selected (outlined yellow) in the Mixer Libraries list to USB Libraries.
Delete – Delete the Library that was last selected (highlighted yellow)
SYSTEM / Info
Displays diagnostic information about the unit.
Core temp, Core voltage, DAC temp and FX temp all include Max and Min values. Note that these are not the maximum and minimum ranges of operation, but rather the maximum and minimum values that have been recorded since the unit was last powered on.
SYSTEM / USB/SD (Symbols)
Displays details on any connected USB drive and/or SD Card
Format – Select to Format the connected USB Drive or SD Card. This will delete all data, set the file system to FAT32 and add folders required for use with CQ for audio recording (USB/SD) and data storage (USB).
SYSTEM / Firmware
Shows the firmware currently installed on the unit at the bottom of the screen along with the firmware found on a connected USB drive at the top.
Update – Begin the firmware update process.
SYSTEM / Meters
Chromatic meters are displayed in the CONFIG screen, on Quick Channels and there is one on the CQ-20B which can be set for use with any input or output channel.
They use colour and brightness to express signal level in a smaller space and can also show much lower levels than standard meters (from -72dB), so a source can often be seen before being heard. They can be customised, either to show colours that are easy for the user to distinguish between, or to show when particular signal levels are reached.
Audio Level – Adjust the Audio Level for each Audio Signal State.
Colour – Assign a colour to each Audio Signal State.
Intensity – Select between a Fixed or Variable intensity.
Fixed = Meter switches instantly between states.
Variable 1 = Meter changes close to the endpoints of its range.
Variable 2 = Meter changes across its whole range.
SYSTEM / Preferences
Unit Name – Change the name of the unit, as displayed in the ‘Choose Unit’ connection screen when using remote control apps (CQ-MixPad, CQ4You)
Unit name and the Wi-Fi Access Point network name (SSID) on the CQ-18T and CQ-20B are the same by default, but can be renamed independently.
Confirm Scene Operations – When ‘On’, a pop-up will be displayed when carrying out Scene operations (e.g. Overwrite) to prevent accidental recall or overwriting of settings.
Screen – Adjust the brightness of the touchscreen.
LEDs – Adjust the brightness of selected Screen key and active Soft Keys.
Backlight – Adjust the brightness of the Screen and Soft Key backlight.