Allen & Heath SQ Rack

The SQ-Rack 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.

It combines power, flexibility, and intuitive control in one versatile solution.

With exceptional connectivity, SQ-Rack offers unparalleled I/O capability. Featuring local preamps alongside the intelligent SLink port, it integrates seamlessly with Allen & Heath’s Everything I/O ecosystem. Expand your options further with Dante, Waves, MADI, or additional SLink option cards, and enjoy multichannel USB connectivity using a computer or direct-to-drive for straightforward recording and playback.

SQ-Rack also excels when it comes to control. Designed with ease and speed of use in mind, it features plenty of hands-on control, a dedicated fader screen, and a customizable SQ-Control display. For added flexibility, remote control is a breeze with the SQ-MixPad, SQ-4You, and SQ-Control apps, giving you complete command wherever you are and at whatever your level of technical know-how.

Whether you’re equipping a venue, a touring band taking it to the next level, or building a professional in-ear monitoring system, the SQ-Rack is built for any challenge. From installations in bars to cruise ships, or integration with larger systems to bands on the move and IEM/pro touring, SQ-Rack is the perfect solution to provide premium sound every time.

 

FEATURES

• Rack-mountable 4U digital mixer for Live, Studio and Installation use
• 48x Input Channels
• 16x Local Mic/Line Inputs (XLR)
• 2x ¼” Stereo Inputs (TRS)
• 1x 3.5 mm Stereo Input
• 36x Total Busses
• 12x Stereo Mix (Aux or Group) + Main
• PAFL Bus
• 14x Assignable Local Analogue Outputs (12x XLR + 2x ¼” TRS)
• AES Digital Output
• Dedicated Talkback mic input (XLR)
• ¼” TRS Stereo Headphone out with dedicated control
• SLink EtherCON connection for remote audio using dSnake/ME, DX or GigaACE/GX protocol (128x128 channels)
• I/O Port for Option Card (including 3rd party protocols -Dante/Waves/MADI)
• 8x Mute Groups
• 8x DCA Groups
• 8x Stereo FX with dedicated FX Returns
• DEEP Processing Ready
• RackExtraFX Effects suite
• 7" capacitive touchscreen
• 8x Assignable SoftKeys
• 4x Assignable Soft Rotaries
• 6x Layers for 96 assignable Channel Strips across Fader, Processing and Routing screens
• Dedicated Faders screen
• Dedicated SQ-Control screen
• Single/Dual Footswitch Control
• Input channel pairs switchable mono/stereo
• Patchable Insert points
• Input processing – Trim, HPF, Gate, PEQ, Compressor, Delay
• Output processing – Graphic EQ, PEQ, Compressor, Delay
• DEEP Automatic Mic Mixing
• 2x 31/61 Band Real Time Analysers
• Quick copy/paste/reset for parameters
• User Permissions to restrict operator access
• 300x Scene memories per Show
• Channel Safes, Global and per Scene Recall Filters
• FX, processing and channel Libraries
• SQ-Drive for stereo and multitrack recording/playback direct to USB drive
• USB transfer of Scenes, Libraries, Shows
• 32x32 channel, class compliant USB-B audio interface
• A&H MIDI Control driver for MIDI control via USB or TCP/IP
• Remote mixing apps for iPad, Android, Mac and PC
• Compatible with ME personal monitoring range

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)

Stereo Line Inputs:

• ST1, ST2 connectors: Balanced, 1/4" 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: 1/4" 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: 2 x 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

Dimensions (Width x Depth x Height & Weights):

• Unit only (rack ears not fitted): 430 x 214 x 173 mm (16.9" x 8.4" x 6.8")
• Packed in shipping box: 545 x 350 x 265 mm (21.5" x 13.8" x 10.5")
• Unpacked weight: 5.8 kg (12.8 lbs)
• Packed weight: 8 kg (17.7 lbs)

Control:

• Touch Screen: 7" 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:

Source:

• CH1-48: Fully patchable
• USB Global Source: SQ-Drive or USB-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 1/9th 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 1/3 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 1/3 octave (Stereo) or 61-Band 1/6 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

CONTENTS

• (1) Allen & Heath SQ Rack