Operation Manual

Qu-16 User Guide 45 AP9031 iss.3
9. Working with a DAW
The Qu-16 can stream audio and send MIDI messages to and from an Apple
®
Mac computer via the rear
panel USB B port. This lets you work with a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) running on your computer.
The Custom Layer can provide 16 control faders and keys. You can work with the standard Qu MIDI
messages or download the Allen & Heath DAW Control driver for the Mac computer to convert these into
one of the popular HUI or Mackie Control protocols.
Note – Qu currently supports only Apple
®
Mac computers. USB MIDI is supported natively by the Mac so
no driver is needed. A driver for Windows
®
computers is not available.
Check the Qu mixer firmware version – This is
displayed on the Home / Home screen. Make sure
you are running V1.20 or higher. Check for the latest
firmware at the Allen & Heath web site.
Set the Qu mixer MIDI channel number – Use the
Setup / Control / MIDI screen. Qu DAW control uses
its own MIDI channel. This is the next number up from
that set for other Qu MIDI messages. Qu defaults to
channel 2 for DAW control.
Connect the Qu mixer to the Mac – Plug a suitable
cable into the rear panel USB B port.
Set the Custom Layer for fader control – Use the
Setup / Control / Custom Layer to assign the 16
faders as MIDI strips.
Download the DAW Control driver from the Allen &
Heath web site. Install this on your Mac and follow the
setup instructions in its Help Manual.
Refer to the Allen & Heath web site for the Qu MIDI
Protocol document and more information on using the
Qu mixer with different DAW systems.
DAW Control converts the Qu MIDI messages into HUI
or Mackie Control protocol.
Two squares in the status bar flash to display MIDI I/O
activity. To check you are connected to the mixer, the
left square should flash when you move any Qu fader.
Stream audio to the Mac – 24 channels of audio are
sent via USB B. Go to the Setup / Audio / Output
Patch screen to check the patch:
1-16 = CH1-16 Insert send (Post-Preamp)
17-22 = Patchable in pairs
23-24 = LR post-fade
Stream audio back to the Qu – 22 channels of audio
are returned via USB B. These are mapped one-to-one
to inputs CH1-16 and ST1-3. Use the Preamp screen
Fn key Source page to patch USB B to the channels.
Make sure you have set ‘USB B Streaming’ as the
global USB source.
DAW control (MIDI channel N+1)):
 Mute key / indicator = Mute
 Sel key / indicator = Select
 PAFL key / indicator = Solo
 Fader movement = Fader
Select the Custom Layer