The Allen & Heath SQ-7 is a 48-channel, 36-bus digital mixing console well suited for live sound, corporate A/V, recording studios, and houses of worship. The SQ-7 features 32+1 motorized faders and 32 professional-quality microphone preamps. There are also eight stereo FX engines with dedicated return channels and access to the RackExtra FX library. The mixer’s 12 stereo outputs (configurable as groups or auxes) are well suited for in-ear-monitor setups, while the Automatic Mic Mixing function offers quick and easy operation over multiple microphones for conferences, panel talks, and more.
At the heart of the SQ-7 lies the 96 kHz XCVI Core FPGA engine, which delivers professional, high-resolution audio quality, ultra-low latency (less than 0.7 ms), variable bit depth for precision and noise performance, mix coherency down to the sample, and the power to handle high channel/mix counts and ample FX processing. The SQ’s DEEP processing architecture allows you to hand-pick boutique compressor and preamp emulations and embed them directly within the mixer’s inputs and mix channels, all without adding system latency or setup hassles.
The front panel is centered around the mixer’s 7″ capacitive touchscreen and framed by an array of high-grip, illuminated encoders, which offer clear visual feedback and quick, hands-on control. You can drag-and-drop channels and mixes to any strip with custom naming and color coding on the strip display, allowing you to build a mix environment that mirrors your workflow. The SQ-7 offers 16 softkeys, which can be freely assigned to any function for a customized and advanced workflow. The on-board recorder uses a USB Type-A port to record stereo and multitrack sessions to a flash drive. The recorder can also playback stereo and multitrack files, handy for virtual sound checks and studio mixing.
The SQ-7 offers expansion options via Allen & Heath’s stage box expanders, or install an optional Dante or Waves card to adapt and expand using the latest digital technologies. SQ is fully compatible with the ME Personal Mixing System, allowing performers to take control of their own monitor mixes. Any number of ME-1 and ME-500 personal mixers can be daisy-chained from the mixer’s SLink port, or from a connected remote expander. The Allen & Heath SQ-7 includes a power cord.
- Compact digital mixer for live, studio, and installation
- 48 input channels
- 32 local mic inputs (XLR)
- Two 1/4” stereo inputs (TRS)
- One 1/8″ stereo input
- 36 total busses
- 12 stereo mixes (Aux or Group) + Main
- PAFL bus
- 18 assignable local outputs (16 XLR + two 1/4” TRS)
- AES digital output
- Dedicated talkback mic input (XLR)
- 1/4″ TRS headphone out with dedicated control
- SLink EtherCON connection for remote audio using dSnake, DX, or gigaACE protocol (64×64 channels)
- I/O port for option card (including 3rd party protocols – Dante/Waves)
- 8 mute groups
- 8 DCA groups
- 8 stereo FX with dedicated FX returns
- DEEP processing ready
- RackFX effects suite
- 7″ color touchscreen
- 16 assignable SoftKeys
- Eight assignable soft rotaries
- Dedicated physical controls for channel processing (Gain, HPF Frequency, Gate Threshold, Compressor Threshold, Pan, EQ Gain/Frequency/Width)
- 32+1 faders with 6 layers for 192 assignable channel strips
- Motorized faders for sends on faders, GEQ fader flip, and mix recall
- 32 backlit LCD channel-strip displays
- Chromatic channel metering
- Integrated surface illumination
- Single/dual footswitch control
- Input channel linking for stereo sources
- Patchable insert points
- Input processing – Preamp, HPF, Gate, PEQ, Compressor, Delay
- Mix processing – PEQ, Graphic EQ, Compressor, Delay
- Fully integrated Automatic Mic Mixing (AMM)
- 31-band, real-time analyzer (RTA)
- Quick copy/paste/reset for parameters
- User permissions to restrict operator access
- 300 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
- 32×32 channel USB streaming to/from Mac/Windows
- DAW control driver for MIDI control via USB or TCP/IP
- Wireless remote mixing apps for iPad and Android
- Compatible with ME personal-monitoring range
Allen & Heath AH-SQ-7 Specs
| Number of Analog Input Channels | 48 |
| Mix Routing | 8 x Stereo FX Return |
| Groups | 8 x Mute Group 8 x DCA Group |
| Display | 7″ Touchscreen |
| Display Resolution/Color | Main Display: 800 x 480 8-Bit RGB |
| Faders | x 3.9″ / 100 mm Motorized |
| Meters | Main Meter: 2 x 12-Segment LED Channel Meter: Single LED |
| Meter Range | -3 dBFS Peak/Clip (+19 dBu at XLR Output) |
| Meter Calibration | 0 dB on Meter = -18 dBFS (+4 dBu at XLR Output) |
| Gain/Trim Range | Line: ±24 dB (Stereo Channels) Mic/Line: -5 dB to +60 dB (in 1 dB Steps) |
| Input Pad | -20 dB |
| Input Polarity | Normal/Reverse |
| Gate Parameters | Threshold: -72 to +18 dBu Depth: 0 to 60 dB Attack: 50 μs to 300 ms Hold: 10 ms to 5 sec Release: 10 ms to 1 sec |
| Compressor Parameters | Threshold: -46 to 18 dBu Ratio: 1:1 to ∞:1 Attack: 30 μs to 300 ms Release: 50 ms to 2 sec Knee: Soft / Hard Blend: Yes |
| Sidechain Filters | Compressor: High-Pass: 20 to 5 kHz Band-Pass: 120 Hz to 10 kHz Low-Pass: 120 Hz to 20 kHz Gate: High-Pass: 20 Hz to 5 kHz Band-Pass: 120 Hz to 10 kHz Low-Pass: 120 Hz to 20 kHz |
| EQ | FX Returns: 4-Band Parametric |
| EQ Parameters | 1 x HF Shelf: ±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz (Shelf or Bell Selectable) 2 x MF Notch/Peak: ±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz 1 x LF Shelf: ±15 dB at 20 Hz to 20 kHz (Shelf or Bell Selectable) |
| Graphic EQ | 28-Band 1/3 Octave, ±12 dB 31 Hz to 16 kHz |
| Filters | High-Pass: 20 Hz to 2 kHz, 12 dB/Octave |
| Channel Output/Source Monitoring | AFL, PFL, Post-Preamp, Post-HPF, Post-Gate, Post-EQ, Post-Compressor, Post-FX, Insert Return |
| Built-In Effects | Reverb Stereo Delay (Tap) Reverb (Gated) ADT 2 x Chorus Flanger Phaser |
| Real Time Analyzer | 31-Band 1/3 Octave, 20 Hz to 20 kHz |
| Audio Delay | Adjustable Up to 682 ms |
| Automatic Mic Mixing | Yes |
| Sample Rates | 96 kHz AES3 Output: 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 kHz Stereo Record: 96 kHz Stereo Playback: 44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz Multitrack Playback/Multitrack Record: 96 kHz |
| Bit Depth | Up to 96-Bit Stereo Record: 24-Bit Stereo Playback: 16 / 24-Bit Multitrack Playback, Multitrack Record: 24-Bit |
| Latency | < 0.7 ms (Mic Input to Main Output) |
| dBFS Reference Level | +18 dBu = 0 dBFS |
| Headroom | +18 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0/-0.5 dB |
| Max Input Level | Mic/Line Input: +30 dBu Aux Input: +22 dBu (+4 dBu) +18 dBu (0 dBu) |
| Output Level | Analog Output: +4 dBu (Nominal) +22 dBu (Max) |
| Analog Dynamic Range | 112 dB |
| I/O Impedance | 1/4″, XLR Output: < 75 Ohms AES3 Output: 110 Ohms Aux Input: > 7 Kilohms Mic/Line Input: > 5 Kilohms |
| Noise Floor | -90 dBu (with Inputs Muted) |
| THD+N | 0.006% at Unity Gain Mic/Line Input to AES3 Output: 0.002% at Unity Gain 0.003% at +30 dB Gain |
| Signal Generator | Sine, White, Pink, or Band-Pass Noise (Assignable to Any Mix) |
| Analog Inputs | 1 x XLR Talkback Input 32 x XLR Balanced Mic/Line Input 4 x 1/4″ TRS Balanced Aux Input (2 Stereo Pairs, Half-Normalled) 1 x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm Unbalanced Aux Input |
| Analog Outputs | 16 x XLR Balanced Output 2 x 1/4″ TRS Balanced Output |
| Phantom Power | +48 V |
| Digital I/O | 1 x RJ45 (Network) 1 x XLR AES3 Output 1 x etherCON (I/O) |
| USB | 1 x USB Type-A (External Memory) 1 x USB Type-B (USB 2.0, Audio Streaming) |
| Expansion Ports | 1 x I/O Card |
| Max Multitrack Recording | 16 Tracks |
| File Format Support | WAV |
| AC Input Power | 100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz |
| Power Consumption | 110 W (Maximum) |
| Operating Temperature | 32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C |
| Dimensions | 31.7 x 20.3 x 7.8″ / 805 x 516 x 198 mm |
| Weight | 39.3 lb / 17.8 kg |
| Package Weight | 48.5 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 38.25 x 27.3 x 14″ |
