Allen & Heath SQ-6 48-Channel / 25 Faders, 6 Fader Layers, 32 x 32 USB Interface, and Network Audio Support

Allen & Heath SQ-6 – 48-Channel Digital Mixer with 25 Motorized Faders

The Allen & Heath SQ-6 is a 48-channel, 36-bus digital mixing console with 24+1 motorized faders, designed for live sound, corporate AV, houses of worship, recording studios, and installed audio environments. Powered by the 96kHz XCVI Core FPGA engine with under 0.7ms latency and 112dB dynamic range, the SQ-6 delivers professional audio quality in a compact, cost-effective form factor. It is the mid-range model in the SQ series, offering 24 local XLR mic inputs and the full SQ feature set including DEEP processing, Dante expansion, SQ-Drive multitrack recording, and wireless remote control.

Product Description

The SQ-6 provides 24 local XLR balanced mic/line inputs, 14 XLR balanced outputs, and 2 TRS balanced outputs, with an AES3 digital output and dedicated talkback XLR input. The SLink EtherCON port provides 64x64 channels via dSnake, DX, or gigaACE protocols for stage box and DX expander connectivity. An I/O option card slot accepts Dante, Waves SoundGrid, and other third-party protocol cards, integrating the SQ-6 into networked AV systems. 32x32 USB audio streaming to Mac and Windows provides direct DAW integration for tracking and mixing sessions, and the SQ MixPad app (iOS and Android) enables wireless remote control from a tablet.

The 7-inch capacitive touchscreen works alongside illuminated rotary encoders and dedicated physical controls for gain, HPF, gate, compressor, pan, and EQ parameters, giving engineers immediate access to key processing without navigating menus. The 24+1 motorized faders span 6 layers for 150 assignable strips, with motorized recall during scene changes, sends-on-faders, GEQ fader flip, and mix recall operations. DEEP processing embeds compressor and preamp emulations directly in input and mix channels at zero latency. Eight stereo FX engines draw from the RackExtra FX library, each with a dedicated return. Integrated AMM (Automatic Mic Mixing) manages multiple microphones for conference and panel discussion applications. SQ-Drive records up to 16 tracks of 24-bit WAV audio directly to USB. The SQ-6 includes 8 mute groups, 8 DCA groups, 16 assignable SoftKeys, and 300 scene memories per show.

Key Features

• 24+1 Motorized Faders, 6 Layers (150 Strips) — Motorized recall for scene changes, sends-on-faders, GEQ flip, and mix recall; full drag-and-drop strip assignment with custom naming and colour coding.
• 96kHz XCVI Core FPGA, Under 0.7ms Latency — 112dB dynamic range, up to 96-bit variable bit depth, and mix coherency down to the sample.
• 48 Input Channels, 36 Buses — 24 local XLR mic inputs plus stereo and aux inputs; 12 stereo mix outputs as groups or auxes plus main LR.
• DEEP Processing Architecture — Compressor and preamp emulations embedded per-channel at zero additional latency without FX slot consumption.
• 8 Stereo FX Engines with RackExtra Library — Reverb, delay, modulation, and specialty processors with dedicated return channels.
• SLink EtherCON Port — 64x64-channel remote audio via dSnake, DX, or gigaACE for stage box and expander connectivity.
• I/O Option Card Slot — Accepts Dante, Waves SoundGrid, and other third-party protocol cards for networked AV integration.
• SQ-Drive Multitrack Recording — 16-track multitrack and stereo recording and playback to USB; 32x32 USB streaming to Mac/Windows DAW.
• Integrated AMM — Automatic Mic Mixing for conference, panel discussion, and spoken-word applications with 31-band real-time analyzer.
• SQ MixPad App (iOS and Android) — Wireless remote mixing; DAW control via MIDI over USB or TCP/IP also supported.

Typical Applications

• House of worship main sanctuary mixing
• Auditorium and mid-scale venue live sound
• Corporate conference room and boardroom AV with AMM
• Government and commercial meeting space audio
• Multi-purpose room and all-hands venue
• Training room recording and playback
• Broadcast studio audio production
• Recording studio tracking and mixing

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the SQ-6 and the SQ-7?

The SQ-6 has 24+1 motorized faders and 24 local XLR mic inputs. The SQ-7 has 32+1 faders and 32 local mic inputs. Both use the same 48-channel, 36-bus architecture and XCVI Core FPGA engine. The SQ-6 is suited to venues where 24 local inputs are sufficient or where a stage box handles additional channel requirements via the SLink port.

Does the SQ-6 support Dante networking?

Yes. A Dante option card installs in the I/O card slot, integrating the SQ-6 into Dante-networked AV infrastructure. The SLink port provides 64x64 channels via dSnake and gigaACE for stage box and DX expander connectivity.

Can the SQ-6 record multitrack audio?

Yes. SQ-Drive records up to 16 tracks of 24-bit WAV directly to a USB flash drive. Stereo recording and playback are also supported. 32x32 USB streaming to a Mac or Windows DAW is available via the USB-B port.

What is DEEP processing and does it add latency?

DEEP processing embeds compressor and preamp emulations directly in the mixer's channel processing path. It adds no additional system latency and requires no FX slots, licence management, or external plugins.

Is wireless control available for the SQ-6?

Yes. The SQ MixPad app for iOS and Android provides wireless remote mixing over a network connection. DAW control via MIDI over USB or TCP/IP is also supported.

Is the SQ-6 compatible with Allen & Heath ME personal monitor mixers?

Yes. ME-1 and ME-500 personal mixers connect via the SLink port or a connected remote expander, giving performers independent control of their own monitor mixes.

What are the OS requirements for USB audio streaming?

The SQ-6 supports 32x32 USB audio streaming on Windows 10 64-bit and macOS 10.14 through 11 64-bit. Check with Allen & Heath for the most current compatibility information as OS versions are updated.

What warranty applies to the SQ-6?

Allen & Heath products carry a standard manufacturer warranty when purchased through an authorised dealer. Contact Creation Networks for warranty details and support options.