Allen & Heath SQ-6 48 Channel 36 Bus Digital Mixer

Allen & Heath SQ-6: 48-Channel 96kHz Digital Mixer for Live Sound, AV, and Installation

The Allen & Heath SQ-6 is a powerful 48-channel digital mixer engineered for professional live sound, AV, and installation applications. Featuring 24+1 motorized faders, 24+1 onboard mic preamps, and ultra-low latency 96kHz XCVI FPGA processing, the SQ-6 delivers exceptional sound quality and intuitive workflow in a compact, road-ready chassis. Perfect for small-to-mid-sized productions, it combines hands-on control with deep processing and flexible expansion options.

Designed with a high-resolution 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, 16 assignable SoftKeys, and 4 assignable Soft Rotaries, the SQ-6 puts everything you need at your fingertips. Every input channel includes high-pass filter, gate, 4-band parametric EQ, and compressor, while mixes offer both parametric and 28-band graphic EQ plus compression. Eight stereo RackFX engines provide world-class effects including reverbs, delays, and modulators, with dedicated stereo returns that preserve your input channel count.

Built for the demands of live performance, the SQ-6 includes integrated SQ-Drive for direct USB recording and playback, a 32x32 96kHz USB audio interface for multitrack recording, streaming, and DAW control, plus advanced Automatic Mic Mixing (AMM) for conferences and events. Expandable via SLink and a 64x64 I/O port, this rugged all-metal mixer is ideal for FOH, monitors, and hybrid setups alike.

Key Features

• 48 input channels with 96kHz XCVI FPGA processing for pristine audio quality
• 24+1 motorized 100mm faders with 6 layers for total control
• 24+1 onboard fully recallable mic/line preamps with +48V phantom power
• 7" high-resolution capacitive touchscreen with intuitive dashboard interface
• 16 assignable SoftKeys and 4 assignable Soft Rotaries for custom workflow
• Chromatic Channel Metering with programmable color and brightness
• Powerful per-channel processing including Gate, 4-Band PEQ, Compressor, and Delay
• 8 stereo RackFX engines with dedicated returns featuring classic reverb, delay, chorus, and more
• Integrated SQ-Drive for direct stereo or multitrack USB recording/playback to a USB drive
• 32x32 channel 96kHz USB-B audio interface for recording, playback, and streaming
• Advanced Automatic Mic Mixer (2x24ch or 1x48ch) with gain sharing
• SLink port for expansion and ME Personal Mixing System compatibility
• 64x64 I/O port for optional Dante, Waves, MADI, or SLink cards
• DEEP Processing add-ons and RackExtra FX library available
• Rugged 3-tier all-metal chassis built for the road

Technical Specifications

Mixer Specifications
Inputs: 48 fully patchable input channels
Outputs: 12 stereo mixes + LR, 3 stereo matrix
Faders: 24+1 x 100mm motorized faders with 6 layers
Touch Screen: 7" Capacitive, 800 x 480 resolution, 24 bit RGB
SoftKeys: 16
SoftRotarys: 4
Mute Groups / DCA Groups: 8 / 8
Sampling Rate: 96kHz
Bit Depth: Uses XCVI core custom bit widths in algorithms, up to 96bits
Latency: <0.7mS, Local Mic Input to Main L/R
Dynamic Range: 112 dB
Frequency Response: +0/-0.5dB 20Hz to 20kHz
Headroom: +18dB
Internal Operating Level: 0dBu
dBFS Alignment: +18dBu = 0dBFS (+22dBu at XLR output)
Meter Calibration: 0dB meter = -18dBFS (+4dBu at XLR out)
Main Meter Type: 2 x 12 segment, fast (peak) response
Channel Meter Type: Chromatic Channel Metering, fully programmable colour/brightness
Peak Indication: -3dBFS (+19dBu at XLR out), multi-point sensing
Operating Temperature Range: 32°F to 104°F
Mains Power: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
Max Power Consumption: 90W

Inputs Mic/Line Inputs
Balanced XLR, fully recallable
Input Sensitivity: -60 to +0dBu
Switchable Pad: -20dB
Analogue Gain: 0dB to +60dB, 1dB steps
Maximum Input Level: +30dBu
Input Impedance: >5kΩ
THD+N, Unity gain 0dB: 0.002% -92dBu (20Hz-20kHz, AES Direct Out, @0dBu 1kHz)
THD+N, Mid gain +30dB: 0.003% -91dBu (20Hz-20kHz, AES Direct Out, @-30dBu INPUT 1kHz)
Phantom Power: +48V (+3V / -2V)

Stereo Line Inputs
ST1, ST2: Balanced, 1/4" TRS jack
ST3: Unbalanced, stereo 3.5mm Mini Jack
Input Sensitivity (ST1, ST2 / ST3): Nominal +4dBu ST1,ST2 / 0dBu ST3
Trim: +/-24dB
Maximum Input Level (ST1,ST2 / ST3): +22dBu / +18dBu
Input Impedance: >7kΩ

Outputs
XLR Outputs: Balanced, XLR
Outputs A and B: Balanced 1/4" TRS Jack
Source: Patchable
Output Impedance: <75Ω
Nominal Output: +4dBu = 0dB meter reading
Maximum Output Level: +22dBu
Residual Output Noise: -90dBu (muted, 20Hz-20kHz)
AES Digital Output: Balanced XLR 2 channel, 96kHz sampling rate (Default with SRC Bypassed)
Switchable output sample rates: 44.1kHz / 48kHz / 88.2kHz / 96kHz
2.5Vpp balanced terminated 110Ω

SLink Connection
Neutrik EtherCON (RJ45)
dsnake mode (48kHz devices): 40 input 20+40(ME) output channels
dx mode (96kHz devices): 32 input 32 output channels
gigaACE/GX (96kHz devices): 128 input 128 output channels
Inputs: Fully Patchable
Outputs: Fully Patchable
Sync/SRC: Assignable as master audio sync for all modes, SRC 64 channel

I/O Port
Multi-channel I/O option module
Inputs: Fully Patchable
Outputs: Fully Patchable
Sync/SRC: Assignable as master audio sync

Input Source Processing CH1-48
Fully patchable
USB Global Source: SQ-Drive or USB B Streaming
Polarity: Normal/Invert
Trim: -24 to +24dB
High Pass Filter: 12/18/24dB per octave 20Hz – 2kHz
Insert (Pre EQ/Comp): Fully Patchable
Delay: Up to 341ms
Gate: Patchable Sidechain, Sidechain filter Hi-pass (20-5k), band-pass (120-10k), Lo-pass (120-20k)
Threshold / Depth: -72dBu to +18dBu / 0 to 60dB
Attack / Hold / Release: 50μs to 300ms / 10ms to 5s / 10ms to 1s
PEQ: 4-Band fully parametric, 20-20kHz, +/-15dB
Band 1, Band 4: Selectable Shelving (Baxandall), Bell, HPF/LPF 12dB/octave
Band 2, Band 3: Bell
Bell Width: Variable Q, 1.5 to 1/9th octave
Compressor: Patchable Sidechain, DEEP options, Sidechain filter Hi-pass (20-5k), band-pass (120-10k), Lo-pass (120-20k), Q=1
Threshold / Ratio: -46dBu to 18dBu / 1:1 to infinity
Attack / Release: 30μs to 300ms / 50ms to 2s
Knee: Soft/Hard
Detector response: Peak/RMS switchable
Parallel Path Compression: dry/wet -∞ to 0dB
Channel Direct Out: Follow Fader, Mute, Mute Group, DCA (global all ch)
Source select: Post-Preamp, Post-HPF, Post-Gate, Insert Return, Post-PEQ, Post-Comp, Post-Delay
Trim: -∞ to 10dB per channel

Mix Processing
Mix Insert (Pre EQ/Comp): Fully Patchable
Processing Delay: Up to 682ms
GEQ: 28 bands 31Hz-16kHz, +/-12dB Gain, Constant 1/3 oct, DEEP options
PEQ: As Input PEQ
Compressor: As Input Compressor

FX
Internal FX: 8 x RackFX engine, Send>Return or Inserted (4 dedicated fx bus)
Types: SMR Reverb, Stereo Tap Delay, Gated Reverb, ADT, Blue Chorus, Symphonic Chorus, Flanger, Phaser
8 dedicated Stereo FX returns: Fader, Pan, Mute, Routing to Mix/LR, 4-Band PEQ

Audio Tools
PAFL: PFL or stereo in-place AFL, 0 to -24dB Trim, PAFL Delay Up to 682ms
Talkback: Dedicated input, Assignable to any mix, Gain, Pad, 48V, 12dB/oct HPF
Signal Generator: Assignable to any input or mix, Sine/White/Pink/Bandpass Noise
RTA's: 2x 31-Band 1/3 octave (Stereo) or 61-Band 1/6 octave (Mono) 20-20kHz. PAFL/Selected Channel or Fixed Source

USB Audio
SQ-Drive USB-A:
Stereo Record: 2 channel, WAV, 96kHz, 24-bit, source fully patchable
Stereo Playback: 1/2 channel, WAV, 44.1, 48, 96kHz 16/24-bit, source fully patchable
Multitrack Record: 1-16 channel 96kHz, 1-32 channel 48kHz, 24-bit, WAV, fully patchable
Multitrack Playback: 1-16 channel 96kHz, 1-32 channel 48kHz, 24-bit, WAV, fully patchable
USB Audio Streaming USB-B: Core Audio compliant, ASIO/WDM for Windows
Send (upstream): 32 channel, 48/96kHz, 24-bit
Return (downstream): 32 channel, 48/96kHz, 24-bit

AMMs
Configuration: 2x 24ch or 1x 48ch, freely assignable
Type: Gain Sharing
Sidechain Filter: HPF / LPF 12dB/octave 20Hz – 5kHz / 120Hz - 20kHz
Priority: -15dB to +15dB per channel

Add-ons
DEEP Preamps: Tube Stage
DEEP Compressors: Opto, 16T, 16VU, PeakLimiter76, Mighty
DEEP GEQ's: Proportional-Q, DiGi-GEQ, Hybrid
RackFX units: De-Esser, DynEQ4, MultiBD3, MultiBD4, Bucket Brigade, Echo, Hypabass

Dimensions & Weights - SQ-6
Desk mounted: 25.1" x 20.3" x 7.8"
Packed in shipping box: 32.3" x 26.8" x 14.2"
Unpacked weight: 32 lbs
Packed weight: 38.1 lbs

What’s Included

Allen & Heath SQ-6 Digital Mixer