Hi everyone, I’m working on setting up a Qu-32 for a live venue with multiple inputs and complex routing. I’m particularly interested in tips for managing multiple audio channels efficiently and avoiding common issues with gain staging and bus routing. How do you approach organising channels and groups to keep mixes clean and avoid overloads during live shows? Any advice or workflow examples would be really appreciated!
Do you have experience in running other sound systems?
While the answer could fill many pages, starting with good input levels trimmed to the proper gain is a big start. As for the routing with in the in mixer and to the various outputs that is very dependent on the needs of the sound system.
I would look at bringing someone experienced in running sound and the QU series to help get the system set up and build up a default starting scene to work from.
I don’t think there is a great way to manage this. Either you try to create a single show file that can stay relatively stable across a variety of different show/events, or you end up creating a “base” show file with things like busses (groups, auxes, etc) and FX racks created, but without audio routed to them, and then have to customize that show to route the various inputs to any needed busses, FX, etc.
Neither solution is right or wrong. It really depends on your situation and how different the various events are going to be.
I am afraid there is no “magic bullet”…
We have configured our SQ with spare channels for additional instruments, vocalists and preachers/leaders/readers at our Church.
The inputs, routing and mute channels are pretty much configured as we want them 80% of the time, and have setup a number of ‘generic’ ‘starter-for-ten’ scenes.
We have also saved various libraries of strip configurations for regular vocalists, instrumentalists etc.
We have more ‘strip’ configurations than we have physical cables at the moment - but we do not (in general) require (say) two flutes, one violin and six vocalists concurrently, so we can patch the physical inputs we need to the preconfigured strips as necessary.
Yesterday we had a wedding and evening ‘do’ that required a specific configuration, so we used one of our closest defaults, butchered it, and saved it for use on the day.
In terms of adjustments, sorry, you just have to understand gain structure and how to get the best out of your equipment.
With sensible training, practice, and a bit of constructive help - this will come…
Dave