FX Engines
There are 8 RackFX engines in the SQ which can be used for any available FX type, meaning any combination of 8 types can be used at any one time.
Each unit has its own dedicated stereo return with PEQ for routing using Mix -> Return, or a unit can be inserted directly into any input or mix processing channel.
FX units can be controlled from either the FX screen, or from the processing screen with an FX Send or Return channel selected.
ⓘ To always show the relevant FX unit when viewing the FX screen, enable the ‘FX Screen Follow Sel’ option in Surface Preferences.
Loading Units and Presets
Pressing the ‘FX’ screen key displays the front/rear of the currently selected FX engine, with other loaded FX units and any empty slots on the left of the screen.
• Select the slot you wish to use.
• Press the ‘Library’ key on the surface to open the FX Library.
• Select an FX type, then a ‘Factory’ preset. Different presets use different FX types, so to load a different FX type, recall a preset which uses it.
• Touch the ‘Recall’ button to recall the preset and FX type.
ⓘ User presets can be stored and recalled to and from the ‘User’ section of the FX library.
ⓘ By default, the first four FX engine slots have been populated with useful FX presets, but all 8 slots are freely assignable.
Adjusting Parameters
Each FX type has a different set of parameters, but all work in the same way.
• Touch any buttons to switch between modes or states.
• Touch parameter controls or values and use the touchscreen rotary to adjust.
The SMR FX type is a special case – there are 4 different reverb algorithms available and pressing the ‘Expert’ button will give access to much more in-depth control for fine tuning of each. In this mode, cycle through all available parameter settings using the ‘Page’ button.
Using FX Buses and Returns
The SQ has four FX send buses which are routed to the inputs of the first four FX engine slots by default and when using Mix -> Return with ‘FX Send’ selected.
These buses can be used in the same way as any of the mix buses:
• Press an FX key from 1 to 4 to show and adjust the send levels on faders for each fader strip to that FX bus. Or with a channel selected, hold the ‘CH to All Mix’ key to show and adjust all FX bus sends for the selected channel (along with all other sends).
• The master FX send level is controlled with the Master channel (when in ‘Mix Master’ mode and displaying the FX sends on faders).
The output from the FX unit is returned to the matching FX return channel for each FX engine slot. (i.e. the ‘FX Unit 1’ output is routed to ‘Fx1Rtn’).
• All FX return channels are stereo and feature a PEQ.
• FX Returns are assigned and sent to mixes in the same way as any input channel.
The signal path is:
Input/Group/FXRet channel 🡺 FX Send 🡺 FX Unit 🡺 FX Return 🡺 Mix channel
Which gives full control over the amount of each channel being sent to each FX unit, as well as the amount of ‘wet’ affected sound being sent to each mix.
ⓘ FX return channels can be assigned to fader strips but will not be visible unless they are routed to from the output of the FX engine (i.e. set as ‘Mix -> Return’ on the back panel).
Sending to FX from Other Sources
Mix->Return – As well as sending using the four FX buses, you can send to the FX engines using mixes, allowing you to send to any of the 8 FX engines using ‘sends on faders’. This routing type can also be used with channel direct outs.
For any adjustment to routing first press the ‘Back Panel’ button at the top right of the FX screen.
1) Set the routing type to ‘Mix -> Return’.
2) Touch the routing source value to select a source.
Sources = FX Send, Group, Aux, Main, Matrix, Ip Direct Out
3) Touch the channel value and adjust using the touchscreen rotary.
4) Touch the ‘Apply’ button to apply changes.
Inserts – You can insert FX engines into individual channels or mixes. This automatically sets up and uses the insert point of the channel.
1) Set the routing type to ‘Insert’.
2) Touch the routing source value to select a source.
Sources = Input, Group, Aux, Main, Matrix
3) Touch the channel value and adjust using the touchscreen rotary.
4) Touch the ‘Apply’ button to apply changes.
ⓘ Typically, signal processors such as multiband compressors and de-essers are used inserted in this way.
FX Levels and PEQ
Mix->Return –
When routed as ‘Mix -> Return’, the PAFL, Mute and Level settings for the currently selected FX engine slot are displayed at the bottom of the screen for both the FX send and FX return.
• Touch buttons to PAFL or mute channels.
• Touch values and adjust using the touchscreen rotary.
Inserts –
When an FX engine is being used as an insert, the insert ‘In’ button and return wet/dry mix values are displayed.
• Touch the ‘In’ button to switch the insert in or out.
• Touch either wet or dry values to adjust the blend of the dry (unprocessed) signal with the wet (processed) signal.
Dry/Wet individual level = -infinity to 0dB
PEQ –
Press the PEQ button at the bottom centre of the screen to view and adjust the PEQ which affects the output of the FX. This works in exactly the same way as any channel processing PEQ.
ⓘ All level and PEQ settings, presented on the FX screen for convenience, duplicate control available elsewhere in the mixer. The PEQ for example, is the same PEQ that can be accessed when selecting FX return channels in the Processing screen.
FX Screen Follow Sel
The ‘FX Screen Follow Sel’ option means that the selected unit in the FX screen follows channel selection.
It works with FX send and return channels, as well as any channel which has an FX unit inserted.
As an example, selection of an FX Return channel will therefore display the relevant FX unit, and simultaneously enable control of the FX Return PEQ with the dedicated rotary controls. It would also instantly display an inserted dynamic unit if one was being used on the selected channel.
This option can be enabled or disabled in Surface Preferences.
RackExtra FX Types
Spatial Modelling Reverb (SMR)
4 fully configurable complex spatial models: Classic, Hall, Room and EMT.
Stereo Tap Delay
Clean digital delay with link, filters, tap tempo (global or local) and BPM or ms display options.
ADT Doubler
Automatic double tracking unit with double and quad modes, separation, thickness and autopan control.
Chorus
Versatile chorus unit with 3 stereo field options, rate, depth and LFO control, plus autopan option.
Symphonic Chorus
A faithful emulation of the 80’s classic chorus effect with 2 very simple controls.
Flanger
3 classic flanger effects in one unit: ‘Ambient’, ‘Vintage’ and ‘Wild’ with multiple LFO and stereo options.
MOO 12 Stage Phaser
Accurate emulation of a 12 stage phaser, with rich, textured phasing and plenty of control.
Gated Verb
Emulation of the 80’s classic gated reverb, with in-depth control and 2 extra variants: ‘Panned’ and ‘Powerbox’.
RackFX Add-ons
ⓘ Information on how to activate these can be found in the Add-ons section.
MultiBD Compressor 4
Fully featured 4 band compressor for dynamic control on input or mix channels.
MultiBD Compressor 3
Fully featured 3 band compressor for dynamic control on input or mix channels.
DynEQ4
4 band dynamic equaliser, able to carve and shape any sound source.
De-Esser
Classic De-Essing with auto-threshold for natural sibilance reduction.
Bucket Brigade
Stereo analogue delay model with vintage bucket brigade sound.
Echo
Faithful reproduction of the classic tape echo unit.
Hypabass
Very low distortion sub-harmonic synthesizer to generate low end from sources with weaker bass content.