Allen & Heath CQ12T

The Allen & Heath CQ-12T is an ultra-compact 12-in/8-out digital mixer for bands, small venues, home recording, streaming, rehearsals, and speech applications. Its 96 kHz FPGA processing engine, 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, and smart assistants for gain, feedback, and effects help anyone get a great mix quickly, while SD and USB recording, Bluetooth playback, and free remote apps add serious versatility.

Highlights

• 10 mic/line preamps (5 XLR, 5 XLR/TRS combo) plus stereo line input
• XLR main outputs and 6 TRS monitor mix outputs
• 96 kHz FPGA processing engine
• Gain Assistant, Feedback Assistant, FX Assist engines, and Automatic Mic Mixer
• Multitrack recording to SD card or USB interface; stereo Bluetooth playback
• 7-inch touchscreen; CQ MixPad and CQ4You remote apps

Allen & Heath CQ-12T: Pro Mixing, Made Easy

The CQ-12T packs Allen & Heath’s professional processing into the smallest mixer in the CQ range. Quick Channels apply instrument- and application-specific processing with a single knob, while Complete Channels expose full EQ, compression, and gating for detailed control. The 7-inch touchscreen with an associated rotary control makes navigation fast and intuitive.

Smart Assistants

Gain Assistant automatically sets preamp gain and keeps watch for peaks. Feedback Assistant finds and removes feedback frequencies during setup and monitors outputs during the show. FX Assist engines include signal-conscious reverb and delay that respond dynamically to sit correctly in the mix, and the Automatic Mic Mixer improves clarity for meetings and panels on every input.

Setting Up the CQ-12T

Connect microphones and instruments to the 10 preamps and stereo sources to the line input, and connect the XLR main outputs to your PA and the six monitor outputs to wedges or in-ear systems. Run Gain Assistant, then Feedback Assistant, and load Quick Channel presets. Insert an SD card or connect USB to record, and use CQ MixPad on a tablet to mix from the room.

What to Pair With the CQ-12T

Pair the CQ-12T with powered speakers and monitors, vocal and instrument microphones, a high-speed SD card, a tablet for CQ MixPad, and a footswitch for hands-free control.

Recording and Streaming

Record multitrack directly to an SD card without a computer, or connect over USB to record and stream with your DAW. Stereo USB and Bluetooth playback each have dedicated input channels for walk-in music and backing tracks, making the CQ-12T a complete hub for live shows and content creation.

Remote Mixing

CQ MixPad gives the engineer full control from Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS, and CQ4You lets performers adjust only their own monitor mix from a phone. Three custom SoftKeys and dual footswitch inputs add shortcuts for common tasks.

Allen & Heath CQ-12T FAQ

How many mic inputs does it have? Ten mic/line preamps.

Can it record without a computer? Yes. It records multitrack directly to an SD card.

Allen & Heath CQ-12T Specifications at a Glance

• I/O: 12 in / 8 out
• Inputs: 10 mic/line (5 XLR, 5 combo), 1 stereo line (2 x TRS)
• Outputs: 2 XLR main, 6 TRS monitor, headphone
• Processing: 96 kHz FPGA
• Recording: SD card and USB interface
• Playback: stereo USB and Bluetooth
• Display: 7-inch capacitive touchscreen
• Groups: 4 DCAs, 4 mute groups

Who Buys the Allen & Heath CQ-12T

• Bands and musicians
• Small venues and coffee shops
• Churches, schools, and meeting rooms
• Streamers and home studios

Why Buy the Allen & Heath CQ-12T From Metro Sound & Lighting

Metro Sound & Lighting isn’t a catalog-only retailer. We design, install, and service sound systems in-house, so our team can set up your CQ-12T and support your system after the sale. We offer B2B and integrator pricing for churches, schools, and venues.

Browse more options in our Digital Mixers category, or see the full specifications on the official Allen & Heath CQ-12T product page.