Allen & Heath SQ-5

A 48 channel digital console on a 96 kHz FPGA core with latency under 0.7 ms, and 17 motorised faders to drive it. Hire across Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Type	Digital mixing console
Input Channels	48
Mix Busses	36
Latency	Under 0.7 ms
Core	96 kHz XCVI FPGA
Preamps	16 plus 1 onboard
Faders	16 plus 1 motorised 100 mm, 6 layers
SoftKeys	8 assignable
FX Engines	8 stereo with dedicated returns, RackExtra FX library
USB Audio Interface	32 x 32
AES Output	Balanced XLR, 2 channel at 96 kHz
Touchscreen	7 in capacitive, 800 x 480, 24 bit RGB
Expansion	SLink port for ME personal mixers, optional Dante card
Mic Mixing	Automatic mic mixing
Dimensions	440 x 514.9 x 198 mm
Weight	10.5 kg
Brand	Allen & Heath

Downloads Spec Sheet (PDF)

Overview

About the Allen & Heath SQ-5

The SQ-5 runs its whole signal path at 96 kHz on an XCVI FPGA core, and the number that follows from that is latency under 0.7 milliseconds from a socket on the back to a socket on the back. That is low enough that in-ear performers stop noticing the console exists, which is the entire point of building a desk this way.

Typical applications

Front of house and monitors for corporate events, awards and galas
Live bands at clubs, festivals and functions
Theatre and musical productions with dense scene recall
Conference rooms with automatic mic mixing across many open mics
Multitrack recording and virtual soundcheck over the 32 x 32 USB interface

48 channels on a surface that fits in a car

10.5 kg and 440 mm wide, with 16 plus 1 motorised faders across six layers and dedicated keys per layer, so inputs, mixes, FX sends, FX returns and DCA masters are one press apart rather than buried. A 7 inch capacitive touchscreen does the deep work. Sixteen onboard preamps handle a small stage on their own, and the AB168 stagebox adds sixteen more over one Cat5 run when the stage is further away than a multicore wants to go.

What comes built in

Eight stereo FX engines with their own return channels, drawing on the RackExtra library, so reverbs and delays do not eat input channels. Automatic mic mixing for panels and lecterns. AES output on balanced XLR at 96 kHz. An SLink port that daisy-chains any number of ME-1 and ME-500 personal monitor mixers, and an option slot for Dante when the job is networked.

Hire the SQ-5

Available across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and South East Queensland, dry hire or supply and operate with an engineer. Pairs with the AB168 stagebox and the speaker range.