Allen & Heath Qu16 VS Yamaha 0V196i

[Kush]

Hi,
I'm considering on buying a Mixing Desk for a Home Studio setup
but I'm not sure which one to go for.

On one hand you have Allen & Heath's Qu16 which is just over half a decade old, great for live performance & Sound, 24 Track USB Interface but on the other hand you have the Yamaha 01v96i Or 01v96 Version 2 which is a bit older but has 24bit/96Khz Recording, Midi Interface IN/Out/Thur.

I understand you can route Daw Channels from the PC to sends on the desk apart from that I'm not sure, also could anyone explain the unobvious differences between the
Yamaha 01v96i & Yamaha 01v96 Version 2?

Much Thanks.

[Mike Stranks]

Welcome!

The 'start-off' standard question here to posts like yours is, "Do you really need a mixer?"

A significant number of us - including some who work on fairly complex projects - haven't used a mixer in the studio for some time.

Are you wanting to record many musicians at the same time in the studio?

If you're thinking that you like to mix with faders rather than a mouse then you'd probably be better off with a control surface - eg https://www.presonus.com/products/FaderPort-16 - rather than a full-blown mixer which will have loads of facilities you won't need.

Just a thought...

[Kush]

Hello Mike,

Thanks for the reply & the Presonus link, I understand DAW's VST's & Digital interfaces are the new way forward but using to many DAW's can be a strain on the CPU.

I wouldn't be recording Musicians at the same time but working with Midi & Recording Vocals.

I think Digital Interfaces are cool but lack the aspect of Hardware, still leaving the CPU to do all the work.

Thank you again for your thoughts & input.

[Kwackman]

If you want the tactile feel of faders, that's ok, but you are still going to need a digital interface to get the audio from your mixer into your computer, and back out again.

I'm not trying to change your mind, but these days a DAW doesn't really make a modern computer sweat too much, unless your using a lot of CPU intensive plug-ins, which you don't have to.

Perhaps you're thinking of recording on something other than a computer, in which case ignore the above!!

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Wonks]

Simply mixing and playing back audio tracks puts almost no strain on a CPU. Dealing with MIDI messages puts no strain on a CPU, If you are playing virtual instruments then it's down to the complexity of the instrument as to how much strain it puts on a CPU, but you've got a huge choice, and there are always alternatives to the really CPU intensive ones. And you can't run virtual instruments on a mixer.

So it sounds like you've got a lot of external hardware driven by MIDI which you need a lot of inputs for. But the mixing and basic EQ functions take up almost no processing power.

Pros were making music 'in the box' on computers 10 or even 15 years ago, on much less powerful computers than today.

And if you use a QU16, then for hands-on control, you have only 16 channel faders to play with. You are limited to the built-in effects, which whilst fine for live work, may be limiting for a recording situation.

And you only use one DAW at a time.

[Kush]

Hi Kwackman,

From what I understand you wouldn't need another interface as you can record your mix straight to HD or USB?? I fully understand these interfaces but the real question is which desk is better for studio setup.

Yamaha are tried & tested but I'm not to familiar with A&H although they are a UK brand & show some good prospects with the desk.

Thanks for input & interacting

[ronmac]

The 01V96V2 does not have the ability to stream audio via USB to/from your DAW, the 01V96i does. That is the major difference.

Both 01V96 versions offer ADAT i/o and an expansion card slot for various protocols (mLan, Dante, ADAT, AES, additional analogue in/out, etc.).

The QU series is more limited in the number of inputs, but it does allow CAT5 connection via its proprietary protocol to stage boxes for remote mixing and iPad control over the mixer functions. It also allows direct to DAW USB streaming of audio.

[Kush]

Thanks you Wonks....

Ahhhh, Ronmac, this is what I was trying to figure out with the 0v196i.

Thanks for the info