The Allen & Heath SQ-5 is the smallest of the company's SQ series of digital consoles, but its performance is no different to the SQ-6 or the flagship SQ-7. The SQ-5 mixing console manages 48 channels via 17 faders and boasts 16 preamps – as well as eight softkeys and eight stereo FX engines. State-of-the-art technology guarantees virtually latency-free and extremely fast operation, and the large number of flexible connection options and interfaces make the SQ-5 the perfect console for multi-track recording, backing tracks, or virtual sound check applications.
The mixing consoles in the SQ series are built for professionals who work in demanding live sound, recording, and streaming settings. Convenient stereo or multitrack recording to USB storage media is possible even without additional software, sound cards, or laptops. There are also extensive connection options for integrating the SQ consoles into professional studio environments. Like all models in the SQ series, the Allen & Heath SQ-5 is also powered by the 96kHz XCVI FPGA engine, delivering premium high-definition audio with an ultra-low latency of <0.7ms.
Those looking for a compact digital live console with flexible multi-track recording need look no further than the Allen & Heath SQ-5. Whether live or in the studio, its 96kHz, 32x32 audio interface and integrated SQ drive for 96kHz multitrack recording directly to USB flash drives mean that it is ready to handle any mixing task.
Allen & Heath started building mixing consoles in London in 1969 and made a name for themselves hand-building mixers for some of the greatest bands of the era, such as Pink Floyd. Since 2014, Allen & Heath has been part of the Audiotonix Group, which in turn is managed by the company Electra Partners. Allen & Heath's headquarters are in Penryn, Cornwall (UK), where production takes place, alongside a second factory in China. The British firm is known for numerous innovations, including the development of modular console designs as well as their subsequent integration into MIDI environments. Today, Allen & Heath offer a wide range of products in almost every field of audio engineering - from the small six-channel ZED-6 mixing console to the full-scale dLive Pro Touring System.
Right out of the box, the Allen & Heath SQ-5 console can be seamlessly integrated into a wide variety of environments, while its extensive expansion and connection options multiply the possible applications. The SQ's fully integrated advanced automatic mic mixers (AMMs) mean that audio does not need to be routed to an internal DSP rack or an external plugin system when mixing conferences, panel talks, or TV shows. The three consoles in the SQ series are also ideal for studio use, as they are capable of multitrack and stereo recording onto USB drives and have an extensive 32×32 USB audio interface.
FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Array. It's a digital integrated circuit based around a matrix of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) connected via programmable interconnects. FPGAs can be reprogrammed to fulfil specific applications or functionality requirements. A powerful FPGA can thus perform a variety of digital signal processing tasks. As a result, mixers that feature a FPGA are highly versatile – while remaining compact in size.