I’m a big fan of the Allen & Heath SQ and SQ+ series and love how powerful and intuitive these mixers are. However, when mixing live, I often find myself missing a feature that I rely on heavily in my DAW: the ability to use multiple compressors in series on a single channel.
In my DAW, I almost always use two compressors on vocals: one slower RMS compressor to smooth out the overall dynamics, and a faster Peak-based compressor to catch the transients. This combination helps me achieve that consistent, polished vocal sound I’m after. On the SQ, though, I’m limited to just one compressor per channel (unless I route through a group or use a MultiBD4 insert, which are both limited in number). As a result, I sometimes struggle to get the same level of control and consistency, especially for vocals.
I know that with the Avantis or dLive, you can apply dynamics at two points per channel, but unfortunately, this isn’t possible on the SQ range (which I totally understand). That’s why I’d love to see a dual-stage or serial compressor as a new DEEP plugin for the SQ. Imagine a single compressor plugin with two independent stages, each with its own threshold, ratio, attack, release, and RMS/Peak detection mode. Essentially, it would be like having two compressors in one; giving us the flexibility to dial in that perfect, layered compression sound without workarounds. With the larger screen on the SQ+, there is enough space for the controls needed for this compressor.
I think it would be a game-changer to achieve studio-like vocal (or instrument) consistency on the SQ platform.