Allen & Heath SQ-Rack 48 Channel Rack Mount Digital Mixer

The Allen & Heath SQ-Rack 48 Channel Rack Mount Digital Mixer is the ultimate tool for audio professionals, delivering Allen & Heath’s renowned 96kHz SQ core in a compact, rack-mountable design. Perfectly crafted to meet the demands of live sound and installation environments, SQ-Rack combines power, flexibility, and intuitive control in one versatile solution. SQ-Rack packs SQ’s 96kHz XCVI core into a shallow 4U rack-mount form factor with built-in I/O, powerful SLink connectivity, option cards, and multichannel USB. Enjoy hands-on controls and customisable screens, along with remote access via SQ apps for ultimate control of your audio.

SQ-Rack is built on Allen & Heath’s renowned 96kHz XCVI FPGA engine, delivering exceptional high-resolution audio quality, ultra-low latency of <0.7ms and variable bit depths for optimised dynamic range. XCVI allows SQ to handle 48 input channels at 96kHz, with massive mix headroom thanks to a 96bit accumulator, and the sheer power to embed our acclaimed DEEP plugins into all 48 input channels and all mixes.

SQ-Rack features 16 high-quality onboard mic preamps and 3 stereo line inputs, and thanks to the integrated SLink port, adding more inputs and outputs is easy. Up to 48 mic inputs can be added via Allen & Heath’s extensive “Everything I/O” range of audio expanders.

Allen & Heath SQ-Rack 48 Channel Rack Mount Digital Mixer Features

- 19-inch Rack Mountable (4U)

Audio and Processing:
- 96kHz XCVI FPGA processing
- 48 input channels
- 12 stereo mixes + LR
- 3 stereo matrix (split to 6 mono)
- 8 stereo FX engines + dedicated stereo returns
- DEEP processing ready

Onboard I/O:
- 16+1 built-in mic preamps
- 3 stereo line inputs
- 12 XLR line outputs
- 2 TRS line outputs
- AES output

Control:
- 7-inch capacitive touchscreen
- 8 assignable SoftKeys
- 4 assignable soft rotaries
- SQ-MixPad app
- SQ-Control app
- SQ4You app

Expandability and Integration:
- SLink port for remote audio / expansion
- 64×64 I/O port for audio networking cards (Dante, Waves, MADI, SLink)

Recording and Streaming:
- SQ-Drive direct recording to USB
- 32×32 96kHz USB interface

Allen & Heath SQ-Rack 48 Channel Rack Mount Digital Mixer Specifications

Inputs:
- Mic/Line Inputs: Balanced XLR, fully recallable
- Input Sensitivity: -60 to +0dBu
- Switchable Pad: -20dB
- Analogue Gain: 0dB to +60dB, 1dB steps
- Maximum Input Level: +30dBu
- Input Impedance: >5kΩ
- THD+N, Unity gain 0dB: 0.002% -92dBu (20Hz-20kHz, AES Direct Out, @0dBu 1kHz)
- THD+N, Mid gain +30dB: 0.003% -91dBu (20Hz-20kHz, AES Direct Out, @-30dBu INPUT 1kHz)
- Phantom Power: +48V (+3V / -2V)
- ST1, ST2 connectors: Balanced, ¼-inch TRS jack
- ST3 connector: Unbalanced, stereo 3.5mm Mini Jack
- Input Sensitivity (ST1, ST2 / ST3): Nominal +4dBu ST1, ST2 / 0dBu ST3
- Trim: +/-24dB
- Maximum Input Level (ST1,ST2 / ST3): +22dBu / +18dBu
- Input Impedance: >7kΩ

Outputs:
- XLR Outputs: Balanced, XLR
- Outputs A and B: Balanced ¼-inch TRS Jack
- Source: Patchable
- Output Impedance: <75Ω
- Nominal Output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading
- Maximum Output Level: +22dBu
- Residual Output Noise: -90dBu (muted, 20Hz-20kHz)
- AES Digital Output:
  - Balanced XLR 2 channel,
  - 96kHz sampling rate (Default with SRC Bypassed)
  - Switchable output sample rates,44.1kHz/ 48kHz/ 88.2kHz/ (96kHz)
  - 2.5Vpp balanced terminated 110Ω

SLink:
- Connection: Neutrik EtherCON (RJ45)
- dsnake mode (48kHz devices): 40 input 20+40(ME) output channels
- DX mode (96kHz devices): 32 input 32 output channels
- GigaACE/GX (96kHz devices): 128 input 128 output channels
- Inputs: Fully Patchable
- Outputs: Fully Patchable
- Sync/SRC: Assignable as master audio sync for all modes, 48kHz<>96kHz SRC

I/O Port:
- Multi-channel I/O option module
- Inputs: Fully Patchable
- Outputs: Fully Patchable
- Sync/SRC: Assignable as master audio sync

System:
- Measured balanced XLR in to XLR out, 0dB gain, 0dBu input
- Dynamic Range: 112 dB
- Frequency Response: +0/-0.5dB 20Hz to 20kHz
- Headroom: +18dB
- Internal operating Level: 0dBu
- THD+N, Mic/Line routed to Main L/R Out: Unity gain faders@0dB, 0.006%, -84dBu (20 - 20kHz)
- dBFS Alignment: +18dBu = 0dBFS (+22dBu at XLR output)
- Meter Calibration: 0dB meter = -18dBFS (+4dBu at XLR out)
- Main Meter Type: 2x 12 segment, fast (peak) response
- Channel Meter Type: Chromatic Channel Metering, fully programmable colour/brightness
- Peak Indication: -3dBFS (+19dBu at XLR out), multi-point sensing
- Sampling Rate: 96kHz
- Bit Depth: Uses XCVI core custom bit widths in algorithms, up to 96bits
- Latency: <0.7mS, Local Mic Input to Main L/R
- Operating Temperature: Range 0 deg C to 40 deg C (32 deg F to 104 deg F)
- Mains Power: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
- Max Power Consumption: 75W

Control:
- Touch Screen: 7-inch Capacitive, 800 x 480 resolution, 24 bit RGB
- SoftKeys: 8
- SoftRotarys: 4
- Mute Groups / DCA Groups: 8 / 8
- Network: TCP/IP Ethernet for MIDI and Control
- MIDI: TCP/IP and USB-B
- Footswitch: Single or Dual, Momentary or Latching

Input Processing:
- CH1-48: Fully patchable
- USB Global Source: SQ-Drive or USB-B Streaming (Auto Switching)
- Polarity: Normal/Invert
- Trim: -24 to +24dB
- High Pass Filter: 12/18/24dB per octave 20Hz – 2kHz
- Insert (Pre EQ/Comp): Fully Patchable
- Delay: Up to 341ms
- Gate: Patchable Sidechain
- Sidechain filter: Hi-pass (20-5k), band-pass (120-10k), Lo-pass (120-20k)
- Threshold / Depth: -72dBu to +18dBu / 0 to 60dB
- Attack / Hold / Release: 50μs to 300ms / 10ms to 5s / 10ms to 1s
- PEQ: 4-Band fully parametric, 20-20kHz, +/-15dB
- Band 1, Band 4: Selectable Shelving (Baxandall), Bell, HPF/LPF 12dB/octave
- Band 2, Band 3: Bell
- Bell Width: Variable Q, 1.5 to &frac19;th octave
- Compressor: Patchable Sidechain, DEEP options
- Sidechain filter: Hi-pass (20-5k), band-pass (120-10k), Lo-pass (120-20k), Q=1
- Threshold / Ratio: -46dBu to 18dBu / 1:1 to infinity
- Attack / Release: 30μs to 300ms / 50ms to 2s
- Knee: Soft/Hard
- Detector response: Peak/RMS switchable
- Parallel Path Compression: dry/wet -infin to 0dB
- Channel Direct Out: Follow Fader, Mute, Mute Group, DCA (global all ch)
- Source select: Post-Preamp, Post-HPF, Post-Gate, Insert Return, Post-PEQ, Post-Comp, Post-Delay trim -infin to 10dB per channel

Mix Processing:
- Insert (Pre EQ/Comp): Fully Patchable
- Delay: Up to 682ms
- GEQ: 28 bands 31Hz-16kHz, +/-12dB Gain, Constant ⅓ oct, DEEP options
- PEQ: As Input PEQ
- Compressor: As Input Compressor

FX:
- Internal FX: 8 x RackFX engine, Send>Return or Inserted (4 dedicated FX bus)
- Types: SMR Reverb, Stereo Tap Delay, Gated Reverb, ADT, Blue Chorus Symphonic Chorus, Flanger, Phaser
- 8 dedicated Stereo FX returns: Fader, Pan, Mute, Routing to Mix/LR, 4-Band PEQ

Audio Tools:
- PAFL: PFL or stereo in-place AFL, 0 to -24dB Trim, PAFL Delay Up to 682ms
- Talkback: Dedicated input, Assignable to any mix, Gain, Pad, 48V, 12dB/oct HPF
- Signal Generator: Assignable to any input or mix, Sine/White/Pink/Bandpass Noise
- RTA's:
  - 2x 31-Band ⅓ octave (Stereo) or 61-Band ⅙ octave (Mono) 20-20kHz.
  - PAFL/Selected Channel or Fixed Source

USB Audio:
- SQ-Drive: USB-A
- Stereo Record: 2 channel, WAV, 96kHz, 24-bit, source fully patchable
- Stereo Playback: 1/2 channel, WAV, 44.1, 48, 96kHz 16,24-bit, source fully patchable
- Multitrack Record: 1-16 channel 96kHz, 1-32 channel 48kHz, 24-bit, WAV, fully patchable
- Multitrack Playback: 1-16 channel 96kHz, 1-32 channel 48kHz, 24-bit, WAV, fully patchable
- USB Audio Streaming: USB-B, Core Audio compliant, ASIO/WDM for Windows
- Send (upstream): 32 channel, 48/96kHz, 24-bit
- Return (downstream): 32 channel, 48/96kHz, 24-bit

AMMs:
- Configuration: 2x 24ch or 1x 48ch, freely assignable
- Type: Gain Sharing
- Sidechain Filter HPF / LPF: 12dB/octave 20Hz – 5kHz / 120Hz - 20kHz
- Priority: -15dB to +15dB per channel

Add-ons:
- DEEP Preamps: Tube Stage
- DEEP Compressors: Opto, 16T, 16VU, PeakLimiter76, Mighty, OptTronik, Bus
- DEEP GEQ's: Proportional-Q, DiGi-GEQ, Hybrid
- RackFX units: De-Esser, DynEQ4, MultiBD3, MultiBD4, Bucket Brigade, Echo, Hypabass

Physical:
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 430 x 173 x 214 mm
- Weight: 5.8 kg