Allen & Heath CQ-18T 18-Channel Digital Mixer

Description

The Allen & Heath CQ-18T is an ultra-compact digital audio mixer with 19 inputs, a built-in 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and full 96 kHz processing. It runs Allen & Heath’s XCVI FPGA engine — the same core technology used in their flagship dLive and Avantis consoles — scaled into a 6.6 lb all-metal chassis that fits in a backpack.

The CQ-18T can be operated entirely from its touchscreen and physical controls, remotely from an iPad or laptop over Wi-Fi, or via a wired Ethernet connection on an existing network. All processing, routing, and scene recall happens at 96 kHz with under 0.7 ms latency from mic input to main output.

Inputs

• 8x XLR mic/line inputs — Balanced XLR sockets with fully recallable digitally controlled preamps, +48V phantom power, and input sensitivity from −60 to 0 dBu. Maximum input level: +17 dBu
• 8x XLR/TRS combo mic/line inputs — Balanced XLR/Jack combo sockets with the same recallable preamps. Analogue gain: 0 dB to +60 dB in 1 dB steps. Maximum input level: +30 dBu (TRS)
• 1x stereo line input — Balanced 1/4″ TRS jacks (left/mono normalled), nominal +4 dBu, max +21 dBu
• 1x dedicated stereo USB input — Stereo playback from USB-A (48/96 kHz, 24-bit WAV) routed directly into the mix
• 1x dedicated stereo Bluetooth input — Bluetooth 4.1 high-quality stereo playback for walk-in music, intermission audio, or background tracks
• Total: 19 inputs to mix (16 mono/linkable + 3 stereo)

Outputs

• Stereo Main LR — 2x balanced XLR outputs, nominal +4 dBu, maximum +22 dBu
• 6x aux outputs — Balanced 1/4″ TRS jacks, linkable as up to 3 stereo pairs. Use for monitor mixes, fill speakers, recording feeds, or broadcast sends
• 2x stereo headphone outputs — Independently assignable for FOH monitoring, PFL solo, or dedicated cue mixes

Processing — Per Input Channel

• Polarity reverse
• High-pass filter — Variable from 20 Hz to 2 kHz
• Gate — Self-keyed with threshold (−72 to +18 dB), depth (0–60 dB), attack (50 µs – 300 ms), hold (10 ms – 5 s), release (10 ms – 1 s)
• 4-band fully parametric EQ — 20 Hz to 20 kHz, shelf/bell/HPF/LPF selectable, 1.5 to 1/9 octave width, ±15 dB gain, with real-time analyzer (RTA) overlay
• Compressor — Self-keyed, RMS/Peak detection, hard/soft knee, ratio 1:1 to ∞:1, attack 30 µs – 300 ms, release 50 ms – 2 s, makeup gain 0–18 dB
• Insert point — Assignable to any of the 4 internal FX engines
• Pan, fader, mute, solo/PFL

Processing — Per Output

• 20-band graphic EQ — 1/2 octave, 31 Hz – 16 kHz, ±12 dB, with RTA option. Switchable to parametric EQ
• Feedback Assistant — Automatic feedback detection and suppression with up to 16 notch filters (12 fixed + 16 live), filter width 18 to 116 Q (auto) or 6 to 640 Q (manual), 0–18 dB cut
• Compressor — Same full-featured compressor as input channels
• Limiter — Fast/slow modes, threshold −24 to +18 dB
• Delay — Up to 682 ms for time-aligning distributed speaker systems

Effects

• 4x dedicated stereo FX engines with independent fader, pan, mute, and send routing to LR/outputs/FX
• FX types: Easy Verb, Echo Verb, Space Verb, Echo, Tap Delay, Stereo Delay, Beat Delay, Double Tracker, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser
• FX engines are individually configurable as send/return or inserted into input or output channels

Automatic Mic Mixer (AMM)

• Available on all 16 mono input channels
• D-Classic gain sharing algorithm — automatically adjusts levels across multiple open microphones
• Per-channel priority control (−15 to +15 dB) for chairman/presenter override
• Reduces background noise and cross-talk in multi-mic setups: panel discussions, conferences, boardrooms, worship services

Recording & Playback

• USB-B (multitrack) — 24 channels in / 22 channels out via USB 2.0. Core Audio compliant (Mac) and ASIO/WDM (Windows). 48 or 96 kHz, 24-bit
• SD card (multitrack) — SDHC, 32 GB, UHS-I Class 10. Up to 16 channels at 96 kHz or 24 channels at 48 kHz recording. Playback: 16 channels at 96 kHz or 22 channels at 48 kHz
• USB-A (stereo) — Stereo record at 48/96 kHz, 24-bit WAV. Patchable from outputs, stereo input, or FX units. Stereo playback of WAV files at 44.1/48/96 kHz

Control & Connectivity

• 7″ capacitive touchscreen with 5 dedicated screen keys and a rotary encoder for direct navigation of all mixer parameters
• 3x configurable SoftRotaries with variable-color LED illumination — assignable to input/mix levels, compressor/gate threshold, FX sends, scene controls. Option to auto-map to on-screen controls
• 3x configurable SoftKeys with variable-color LED — assignable to input/mix mutes, tap tempo, scene controls
• Wi-Fi access point — Built-in dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with foldable antenna and auto channel selection. Mixer acts as host — no external router needed
• RJ45 Ethernet — Connect to an existing network for remote control via CQ-MixPad app or direct device connection
• Bluetooth 4.1 — Stereo audio playback from any paired phone or tablet
• Footswitch input — Configurable single or dual footswitch for hands-free scene recall, mute toggling, or tap tempo
• Control apps — Free CQ-MixPad app for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. Dedicated personal monitoring app for performers

Mix Management

• 4x mute groups — Group-mute multiple channels with a single press
• 4x DCAs — Control grouped channel levels without altering individual fader positions
• Scene recall — Save and name full mixer snapshots. Auto-save on power cycle for crash recovery
• Quick Channel mode — Source-optimized presets (vocal, guitar, kick drum, speech, etc.) for fast setup
• Complete Channel mode — Full access to all processing parameters for experienced engineers

Audio Performance

Physical

What’s Included

• Allen & Heath CQ-18T digital mixer
• External 12V DC power supply (worldwide compatible)
• Wi-Fi antenna
• All necessary cabling for your event setup available upon request

For larger events, pair with our Allen & Heath SQ-5 (48 channels) or dLive C2500. For a simpler analog option, see the Allen & Heath ZED-14. Request a quote or call (718) 218-5941.