Physical Controls

Keys –

All keys are labelled, and most illuminate to show when they are active. All perform specific functions, aside from the ‘SoftKeys’ which are user assignable.

Faders/Fader Screen –

There are 6 layers of assignable fader strips. For all inputs and FX returns the fader controls the send level of this channel to the selected mix. FX Send, Main LR, Mix (Aux/Group) and Matrix faders control master levels. DCA faders affect the level of the DCA members, and MIDI faders send MIDI level messages. All fader strips are used by the GEQ ‘Fader Flip’ function on the SQ-5, SQ-6 and SQ-7. The SQ-Rack features a dedicated Faders screen in place of physical faders.

Rotary Encoders (Rotaries) –

These illuminate when active and are used to adjust various parameters. Some are dedicated to parameters for the currently selected channel or mix, though the SQ-6, SQ-7 and SQ-Rack feature additional ‘Soft Rotaries’ which are user assignable and there is dedicated touchscreen encoder.

Touchscreen –

The touchscreen allows simple user interaction through on-screen buttons and menus. Parameters can also be selected on-screen and adjusted using the touchscreen rotary. When a parameter is selected, it will turn yellow on the screen, and the touchscreen rotary will illuminate to indicate it can be used.

Channel Types

Inputs – 48 input channels with processing. These can be sourced from local, remote or digital connections, and mixed to any output.

Main LR – This is the main mix. All post-fader modes and options follow this mix.

Mix –12 stereo mix channels with processing that can be used as either auxiliaries or groups.

FX Sends – 4 FX send buses are included for use with internal FX engines.

FX Returns – 8 stereo dedicated return channels for internal FX engines.

Matrix – 3 stereo or up to 6 mono matrix mixes, fed from a combination of other mixes.

DCA – 8 Digitally Controlled Amplifier’s for adjusting the level and mutes of multiple channels with one set of controls.

MIDI – 32 channels strips are available which send MIDI control data using MIDI over USB and TCP/IP.

ⓘ MIDI channel strips only send and respond to MIDI messages, their state is not stored with Scenes or Shows.

On-screen Parameters, Menus and Pop-ups

Adjustable parameters and selections – These are displayed as white text on a black background. Values are displayed as text as well as in a bar.

Libraries –

When available for the screen currently being viewed the ‘Library’ key illuminates. Pressing this displays a library window, allowing you to store or recall settings for things such as FX units, channel processing or input patches. Presets are stored in the Factory libraries, and User libraries are provided to store your own settings. Libraries are also used to load FX unit types, through recall of a preset.

ⓘ Where a library is available, it is noted with the following symbol : 

ⓘ See the full list of library types in the Libraries section.

Menu lists –

With short lists, touch an option to select it. Longer lists can be navigated by touching and dragging, or by highlighting an option and using the touchscreen rotary to scroll through all available options. Where it is not possible to select a list item (as in user permissions lists) you may only touch and drag on screen.

An ‘X’ is displayed to the top right of most pop-up menus, touch this to close the pop-up.

Keyboard –

An on-screen keyboard is displayed when entering names or numbers. Touch and hold ‘^’ (shift) to enable caps lock. Touch ‘Apply’ or ‘OK’ to set the name or number. Touch the ‘X’ at the top right of the keyboard to close it.

The standard keyboard has a separate numerical keyboard, and when entering hex characters, a hex-only keyboard is shown.

When entering a Channel Name, touch the colour button to choose a channel colour.

Confirmation –

Certain actions require confirmation. Where there is an option to apply or cancel changes, buttons will show as active on-screen. In some cases, a ‘pop-up’ with more information and choices will be displayed.

On-screen Title bar

The title bar is always visible at the top of the screen, from left to right it displays the following information:

• The currently selected channel.
• The title of the current screen.
• The last recalled (current) scene.
• The next scene to be recalled.
• An SLink port symbol (when an SLink connection is available).
• A red cross when an error is detected (tap on this to see a pop-up window with the detected error).
• An I/O Port symbol (when an option card is fitted).
• A USB symbol when a USB device is connected to the SQ-Drive port. This is replaced with transport symbols when using SQ-Drive for audio recording or playback.
• The currently selected mix.

Home Screen

This is the first screen shown when powering on the SQ. It is also shown when no channels are selected, and ‘Processing’ or ‘Routing’ screen keys are active.

ⓘ Pressing the ‘Processing’ or ‘Routing’ screen keys in bank view will deselect the currently selected channel and return directly to the home screen.

‘Shut Down’ – Touch to shut down the SQ.

‘Lock’ – Touch to lock the SQ surface and prevent adjustments.

‘Change User’ – Touch to change to another active user.

‘Brightness’ – Touch to go directly to the SQ brightness settings.

Diagnostics

To get to the diagnostics, press the ‘Utilities’ screen key and touch the ‘General’ tab. This displays important information about the SQ, including the current IP address for connecting via TCP/IP, and the unique DNA code for registration and add-ons.

Basic Workflow Concepts

• Press an ‘LR’, ‘Mix’ or ‘FX’ key or select a mix from the ‘Mix Select’ pop-up (SQ-Rack) to display and adjust send levels from each channel to the selected Mix on the Fader Strips or Faders screen (SQ-Rack). Use the layer keys to move through the 6 layers of faders. The Master strip controls the overall send level of the selected Mix/FX send.
• Select a channel by pressing a ‘Sel’ key or touching the channel strip in Processing, Routing or Faders screens. The physical controls can now be used to adjust parameters for the selected channel.
• Press 'Mute' to completely mute a channel. Mute keys are illuminated or flash when a channel is muted.
• Use ‘PAFL‘ (Pre/After Fade Listen) keys to route a channel to the PAFL bus/Headphone output.
• Go to the ‘Processing’ screen to see an overview of the processing for the selected strip. Touch on any part of the processing to see a detailed view, then touch a parameter on-screen and use the touchscreen rotary to adjust.
• Mix sends set to ‘Post-Fade’ follow the LR send levels. To toggle channels between ‘Pre-Fade’ and ‘Post-Fade’ for the selected Mix, hold the ‘Pre Fade’ key and use ‘Sel’ keys where available, or use the ‘Routing’ screen.
• To assign or un-assign a channel from the currently selected mix, hold the ‘Assign’ key and use ‘Sel’ keys where available, or use the ‘Routing’ screen.
• Pressing and holding the ‘CH to All Mix’ key will display the send levels for the currently selected channel to all mixes across the main fader strips.
• Press the ‘FX’ screen key to view and adjust the FX engines. Use the ‘Library’ key to recall FX types and presets - change parameters by selecting them on-screen and using the touchscreen rotary. FX buses 1 to 4 send to FX engines 1 to 4 by default. FX Return channels are routed to Mixes in the same way as input channels.
• Hold the ‘Copy’ key and press an ‘In’ key, a ‘Sel’ key or a ‘Mix’ key to copy parameters or sends. Hold the ‘Paste’ key and press a ‘Sel’ key or Mix key to paste the processing or send assignments to another channel. Hold the ‘Reset’ key and press an ‘In’ key, a ‘Sel’ key or a ‘Mix’ key to reset parameters.
• Press the ‘View’ key to momentarily show alternative information on the channel strip and Soft Rotary LCD’s. Press multiple times to see different information and press and hold to display the information until the key is released.

SQ-Rack Screens

There are two screens and two pop-ups which are unique to the SQ-Rack.

Faders –

Press the ‘Faders’ screen key to view and adjust send levels, panning and mutes, and to PAFL channels.

• Use ‘Layer’ keys A-F to the left of the screen to select a layer
• Touch and drag left and right to see up to 16(+Currently Selected Mix) channel strips per layer
• Touch a channel strip to select it. The selected channel persists through Faders, Processing and Routing screens, and can be used by Soft Controls that are set to adjust parameters for the currently selected channel.
• Touch and drag a fader up or down, or touch a fader to select it, then use the touchscreen rotary to adjust send levels to the currently selected mix.

ⓘ Use the Select Channel Strip and Select Mix pop-ups, explained later in this section, to select different mixes and for quick navigation.

ⓘ The background of the Faders screen will change colour to show when any mix other than MainLR is selected.

• Touch a ‘Mute’ button to mute that channel
• Touch a ‘PAFL’ button to route that channel to the PAFL bus (headphones)
• Touch ‘Pan’ or ‘Bal’ controls (available when a stereo Mix is selected) and use the touchscreen rotary to adjust.

Select Channel Strip Pop-up –

Touch the currently selected channel in the top left of the screen on the SQ-Rack to display the ‘Select Channel’ Strip pop-up.

• Use the physical or on-screen layer keys to navigate
• Touch a channel strip to select it

Select Mix Pop-up –

Touch the currently selected mix in the top right of the screen on the SQ-Rack to display the ‘Select Mix’ pop-up.

• Touch a mix to select it and display send levels to that mix on the Faders

SQ-Control –

SQ-Control offers simplified, customisable control of main mixer functions.

It features 5 'Tabs', each of which can contain up to 48 control 'Widgets'.

There is an accompanying SQ-Control app available for all SQ models, and all instances of the app, along with the dedicated SQ-Control screen of the SQ-Rack, display and use the same widget layout.

ⓘ The layout of all 5 tabs is stored in the current scene. However, by default, changes to the SQ-Control layout when recalling Scenes is blocked by Global Filters.

Each widget controls a single function and depending on the assigned function, can take up 2x2, 2x1, 1x2 or 1x1 widget slots.

• Touch on one of the 5 tabs on the left of the screen to view.
• Touch to select any level, fader or rotary widget and use the touchscreen rotary to adjust.
• Touch any mute, assign, scene recall or SoftKey button to action it.

Level widgets are used to control either a main channel level (e.g. Input to MainLR mix or Mix Output level) or a send level from a source (e.g. an input) to a destination (e.g. a mix).

Mute widgets include channel mutes, along with Mute Groups and DCA Mutes. These mute channels for all mixes or outputs.

A 'standard' assign widget turns the entire signal from a source to a destination on (assigned) or off (unassigned).

A radio assign widget works by only allowing one source (e.g. input channel) to be assigned to each destination (e.g. mix) per SQ Control tab. In practice this is used to choose between a selection of sources for a particular output, for example, switching between background music or a TV audio feed.

Meter widgets display the main channel meter for any input or mix. Note that some level widgets also include meters.

Scene Recall widgets recall one of the 300 Scenes stored in the desk. A Scene is a stored state of the mixer, and includes all processing, routing and level settings.

The SoftKey widgets match the physical SoftKeys controls and are mainly included for use in the SQ-Control app.

Editing the SQ-Control layout -

When logged in as the admin user, press the ‘Edit’ button to enter or exit edit mode. When editing, all empty widget slots will have a + symbol in them.

• Touch the name of the selected tab to rename it

• Touch one of the widget slots or an existing widget to open the editing pop-up.

1. Select a function for the widget
2. Select a source (channel) or secondary option
3. Select a destination (mix) or third option
4. Select the size for the widget. Depending on function and available space, not all sizes will be displayed for selection.
5. Press ‘Apply’ to add the widget
6. Repeat for each widget and each tab as required

Screens Reference