Allen & Heath CQ-18T: inputs, outputs and connections guide
The CQ-18T is a compact 96 kHz digital mixer with a 7 in. touchscreen and built-in WiFi. The socket panel along the back edge has 16 mic/line inputs, a stereo line input, Main LR on XLR, 6 jack outputs, USB-A, USB-B, an SD card slot and a network port. Click any socket on the drawing below to see what it does.
- 16 mic/line inputs
- Stereo line in
- Main LR XLR outs
- 6 TRS outputs
- 2 headphone outs
- USB-B audio (24x22)
- Built-in WiFi
- Rack kit available
CQ-18T specifications
| Model | CQ-18T |
| Inputs to mix | 19 (16 mono, 3 stereo: ST, USB, Bluetooth) |
| Mic/line inputs | 8 x XLR, 8 x XLR/jack combo, +48 V phantom |
| Stereo line input | 2 x 1/4 in. TRS, balanced (Left/Mono normalled) |
| Main outputs | 2 x XLR (Main L and R), balanced |
| Line outputs | 6 x 1/4 in. TRS, balanced, +4 dBu nominal, +22 dBu max |
| Headphones | 2 x stereo headphone outputs on the front |
| USB-A | Stereo record and playback, data, firmware updates |
| USB-B | USB 2.0 audio interface, 24 sends and 22 returns, 48 or 96 kHz |
| SD card | SDHC up to 32 GB, 24 tracks at 48 kHz or 16 at 96 kHz |
| Network | RJ45, for control from apps |
| WiFi | Built-in dual band access point (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) |
| Bluetooth | 4.1, stereo playback to its own channel |
| Processing | 96 kHz, latency under 0.7 ms, 4 FX engines, 4 DCAs, 4 mute groups |
| Power | 12 V DC, 5 A inlet with switch, external PSU supplied, 35 W max |
| Size (W x D x H) | 346 x 242 x 89 mm (13.6 x 9.5 x 3.5 in.) |
| Weight | 3 kg (6.6 lb) |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40 °C (32 to 104 °F) |
Every socket on the CQ-18T, explained
Click a card to light up those sockets on the panels above.
Inputs 1 to 8 (XLR)8 on the panel
The top row of eight XLR sockets are mic/line inputs with recallable preamps and +48 V phantom power. Use them for microphones and DI boxes.
Inputs 9 to 16 (XLR/jack combo)8 on the panel
The bottom row takes an XLR or a 1/4 in. jack. Plug a mic into the XLR center, or a keyboard, guitar pedal or other line source into the jack. The jack has a fixed 20 dB pad for line level.
Main L and R outputs (XLR)2 on the panel
The two XLR sockets on the right are the Main LR outputs. Run them to your front-of-house speakers or amplifier.
Jack outputs, stereo input and footswitch11 on the panel
Outputs 1 to 6 are balanced 1/4 in. TRS jacks for monitor mixes, in-ear systems or extra zones. They can be linked into up to 3 stereo pairs.
The ST In jacks are a stereo line input for a phone, laptop or playback device. Plug into Left only for a mono source.
The single jack below the output block is for a single or dual footswitch, which you can set to tap tempo, mutes or scene changes.
The two headphone outputs are on the front edge of the mixer.
USB-A and USB-B2 on the panel
USB-A takes a USB drive for stereo recording and playback, archiving shows and firmware updates.
USB-B connects to a Mac or PC as a 24 x 22 audio interface for multitrack recording and virtual soundcheck.
Network port1 on the panel
The RJ45 port connects to a router, access point or computer so you can mix from the free CQ apps on a tablet, phone, Mac or PC.
Jack layout. ST In L and R sit in a column at the left of the jack block, with the footswitch jack below them. Outputs 1, 3 and 5 are on the top row and 2, 4 and 6 are below them.
Recording and playback
- SD card: records up to 24 tracks at 48 kHz (16 at 96 kHz) and plays back up to 22. Use an SDHC card up to 32 GB, UHS-I Class 10.
- USB-B: 24 channels to a computer and 22 back, Core Audio on Mac, ASIO or WDM on Windows.
- USB-A: stereo WAV recording from the outputs, the stereo input or the FX, and playback of mono or stereo WAV files.
Power
The CQ-18T runs from the external worldwide power supply that comes in the box. It plugs into a 12 V DC inlet with its own power switch on the back edge of the mixer. The mixer draws up to 35 W.
Mixing from a tablet over WiFi
The CQ-18T has its own dual band WiFi access point, so a tablet or phone can connect straight to the mixer with no router. Use the network port instead when you want the mixer on an existing network.
Rack mounting
The CQ-18T is a tabletop mixer, 346 mm (13.6 in.) wide. An optional kit from Allen & Heath mounts it in a standard 19 in. rack. Leave room above and behind it for cables, since every socket is on the raised panel along the back edge.
Frequently asked questions
How many mic inputs does the CQ-18T have?+
Sixteen. Eight are XLR sockets and eight are XLR/jack combo sockets, all with +48 V phantom power.
Does the CQ-18T have built-in WiFi?+
Yes. It has a dual band WiFi access point, so you can mix from a tablet or phone without a separate router.
Can the CQ-18T record multitrack?+
Yes. It records up to 24 tracks to an SD card at 48 kHz, or streams 24 channels to a computer over USB-B with 22 coming back.
Where are the main outputs on the CQ-18T?+
Main L and R are the two XLR sockets at the right end of the socket panel along the back edge. The six jack outputs are for monitors or extra zones.
How many headphone outputs does the CQ-18T have?+
Two, both on the front edge of the mixer.
Can I rack mount the CQ-18T?+
Yes, with the optional 19 in. rack kit from Allen & Heath.
Plan this digital mixer in your rack
The CQ-18T is in the Allen & Heath library for DaMatrix, with every port mapped so you can drag it into a rack, patch it and print the documentation.
Related Allen & Heath devices
Summarized from the Allen & Heath CQ-18T Technical Datasheet. This page is a quick reference; check the full manual for safety warnings and model-specific limits.