Hi
If i couple 2 SQs via SLink does it increase the channel count?
Or does the second SQ just serve as a glorified stagebox (only bringing more Inputs)?
No, it doesn’t increase the channel count. The platform has a fixed set of processing channels, regardless of the number of inputs available.
Thats unfortunate.
So it’s really just an extension of inputs and faders?
How does that work? Are the 48 channels of the second console ‘blanked out’?
For example: Having two SQ6 (with additional SLink card each) and two AR2412.
I tought you could do ‘cross-patching’ e.g.
- local inputs 1-24 of console 1 → channels 1-24 of console 2 (!)
- SLink inputs 1-24 (AR2412 on console 1) → channels 25-48 of console 2
- and vice versa.
- route LR from console 2 into MTX1 of console 1
- also patching AUX1 of console 2 to output would double the AUX channels
How does that approach fail ‘in real life’? 
Mostly you’re right. The S Link cards gives you 128 x 128 channels of PATCHING (not additional channels in the consoles). Each console has 48 channels of processing. You can (if you’re careful) patch any input to any channel in either console. The console will then mix and process the inputs available to it to it’s own LR and Aux’s and groups (depending on how you configure each). Those outputs can then be patched to Direct inputs on the other console. But you’ll quickly get yourself into a right old muddle if you’re not super-organised with your patching.
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Thank you!
So you CAN build an overall system with double capacity.
… but must be aware of some restrictions (i guess):
- seperate scenes
- Routing (mostly? totally? …) inside of one console (i guess you can’t route a channel of console 1 to an aux in console 2, …)
- very intricate patching
- …
AM I right?
For context: I don’t want do use that for a standard installation!
We can cope with our needs with one console in 99,9% all use cases.
BUT for the last 0,1% we COULD use our second console to handle more channels.
Well I’ve never done it - I’ve only connected two SQs in order to give one FOH duties and the other monitors. So there could be some restriction somewhere which would prevent it. Certainly only one of the desks can be the clock master.
Try borrowing one and give it a try before you buy?
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Thank you.
Don’t those ‘additional channels’ occur in your scenario as well?
I guess you use seperate channels (EQ, Comp, …) for you monitor mixes?
- channel 1 / console 1 processes the signal for FOH
- and channel 1 / console 2 processes the signal for monitors.
Or am i missing something?
I would also consider it this way: Through your ‘cross-patching’, you have 96 input channels available.
But I think you can only send the 48 channels of each console to the buses of the same console.
So you have a maximum of 2x 12 aux mixes, but only 48 channels can be sent to each of them.
However, if you want/need to send each of the 96 inputs to each aux mix, you’ll unfortunately have to stick with a total of 12 aux mixes on your quasi-master console.
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Yes that would be a limitation (we could live with).
Thanks.
But I have no idea how to route/patch the channels of console 2 to the auxes of console 1… 
You would have to do your aux mixes separately on each console, but you could then send them from the slave console to the respective EXT-INs of the master console.
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@SQuser : OK,
- so the Aux1-signal/console2 would be
- would be patched into Aux1/console1 as ‘Mix Ext In’ (*)
- as ONE signal (level determined by Aux1Master / Console2).
- And the signals of the console1 would be routed to Aux1 as usual.
Correct?
(*) Where do i patch the Aux1-Output of console2 to? Do the ‘Mix Ext In’ busses of console1 appear as ‘SLink outputs’ in console2?
I haven’t tried it myself in that way yet, but I would patch the EXT IN of Aux 1 on the master console to a free SLink input and the Aux 1 on the slave console to the corresponding SLink output.
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I understand what you are trying to do – it’s the same thing I used to do with Yamaha 01Vs in order to get additional mic inputs.
Each desk has its local inputs, plus whatever stage boxes are connected, from which you can process up to 48 channels of audio. Those signals can be routed to any of the AUX, GROUP, or L/R mixes as you see fit.
You now have two SQ6s with 48 inputs, 12 mixes, and L/R. So far, so good.
To combine those signals, the easiest solution is going to be using the MIX EXT IN function of each bus on Desk B to add the corresponding signal from Desk A. In the I/O screen of Desk A you would go to the tab for the S-Link you are using for the desk-to-desk connection and assign the Mix outputs to sockets on that S-Link. On Desk B, you would got to the Mix Ext In tab of the I/O screen and assign the corresponding S-Link inputs to their busses. Now when you send a source to Mix 1 on either desk it goes to wherever Mix 1 is routed from Desk B, and so on.
A couple of important points.
• It’s REALLY easy to create a feedback loop doing this. Once you have the signal path from Desk A to Desk B, and then to the destination devices, set up and working, do NOT make ANY changes to the output patch. I’d highly recommend having input sources connected the desk you need to mix them on so you don’t have to play around with routing tie lines.
• Make sure you have time to get the setup right and troubleshoot carefully, especially if you don’t have the option of setting up in the shop in advance. Make the connection to one mix first, test it with tone or pink noise, and then move on to the next. Use the METERS screen on an iPad connected to the MAIN desk to help identify errant signals.
• You will not be able to increase the number of mixes using this method.
• You may have to deal with internal latency, even when connected through the S-Link ports. On the Yamaha’s it was 7 samples for each desk, regardless if I used an analog or digital connection.
• There is no way to link the control selection, so you will have to select mixes and layers on each board separately.
I have not created this setup in real life, this is just theory based on the capabilities of the SQ. I might have the ability to test the setup later this week, but only using local input sockets (none of the three SQs have extra S-Link cards).
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