Allen & Heath CQ-12T Compact Digital Mixer, 5-Inch Touchscreen, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth

Allen & Heath CQ-12T: Pro Digital Mixing in an Ultra-Compact Body

The Allen & Heath CQ-12T is an ultra-compact 96kHz digital mixer with a 5-inch touchscreen, built to put genuinely professional processing, a built-in audio interface and wireless control into a body small enough to carry in one hand. It is aimed at the musician, worship tech or content creator who wants Allen & Heath sound and smart automation without the size, weight or complexity of a large console. The first time its assistants set your gains and clear a feedback ring in seconds, the CQ-12T stops feeling like a small mixer and starts feeling like a smart one.

A 96kHz Engine in a Tiny Footprint

Despite its size, the CQ-12T runs a full 96kHz digital mixing engine, the high sample rate that keeps its processing clean and its effects detailed. That means the compact chassis is not a compromise on audio quality; it is the same class of digital signal path found in far larger mixers, condensed into a desktop unit. For anyone stepping up from an analog mixer or a basic digital unit, the difference in headroom and clarity is immediately audible.

16 Sources: Flexible Input for Real Gigs

The CQ-12T accepts 16 input sources: 5 XLR mic/line inputs, 5 XLR/TRS combi inputs and 2 stereo TRS inputs, a layout that comfortably handles a small band, a worship team or a speech-and-playback event. On the output side you get 2 XLR main outputs, 6 TRS mix and monitor outputs, and 2 assignable headphone outputs for building monitor and IEM mixes. That real-world I/O count is what lets one small mixer cover main speakers, monitors and a recording feed at the same time.

A Built-In 16x16 USB Interface and SD Recording

The CQ-12T doubles as a 16-in, 16-out USB-B audio interface at 24-bit and 48 or 96kHz, so it connects straight to a computer for multitrack recording, streaming or virtual soundcheck with no extra hardware. It also records 16 channels of multitrack audio plus a stereo mix directly to an SD card, capturing the whole show or session for later mixing. For a podcaster, streamer or gigging band, that is a complete capture and playback system built into the mixer.

Wireless Control With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Dual-band Wi-Fi lets you control the CQ-12T wirelessly from a phone or tablet, so you can walk the room and tune monitor mixes or the main system from where the audience actually hears it. Integrated Bluetooth streams audio into the mixer for break music, backing tracks or a quick playback source without patching a cable. Together they make a one-person setup genuinely practical: you are no longer chained to the mix position to get a good result.

Smart Assistants and Smart-FX Do the Heavy Lifting

Where the CQ-12T truly earns its keep is its assistant suite. Gain Assistant automatically sets input gains to sensible starting levels, Feedback Assistant identifies and notches out feedback frequencies before they ruin a moment, and the Automatic Mic Mixer manages multiple open mics to keep speech clear and gain-before-feedback high. The onboard Smart-FX engine adds reverbs, delays and modulation to polish vocals and instruments. For an operator who is also playing, preaching or presenting, this automation is the difference between fighting a mix and simply making music.

Who the CQ-12T Is For

Small gigs, band rehearsals and houses of worship; home recording, podcasting and live streaming; and speech and AV applications that need automatic mic mixing all describe the CQ-12T's ideal users. It is the mixer for the person who needs professional results with minimal fuss, and who values portability and smart automation over a wall of physical faders. When the job calls for real Allen & Heath processing in the smallest sensible package, the CQ-12T delivers.