# Softkey to control group assignments **URL:** \ **Category:** SQ General Discussions\ **Created:** [7 September 2026 06:57 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/softkey-to-control-group-assignments/32892 "2026-09-07T06:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dexter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@dexter](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/dexter)\ **Post date:** [7 September 2026 06:57 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/softkey-to-control-group-assignments/32892/1 "2026-09-07T06:57:28Z")
Hi, We are about to upgrade 3 GLDs to SQ6+s at our churches. In most areas this is going to be a significant improvement but there’s one thing I can’t work out if it’s possible. For larger events with lots of vocalists I have used 2 groups for processing, a stereo for backing and a mono for lead. I’d love to bring this workflow into the standard setup all the time as I’m completely redoing the standard showfile when we implement the SQ+ to make use of the additional group processing. On the GLD I had a scene stored which made each vocal channel exclusively a member of the lead group and remove them from the BV group. This was done with the recall filters where I blocked all parameters from being recalled and just allowed the routing for those channels. The SQ series seems to have a much more limited scenes function and I don’t think the combination of local/global filters and safest will do what I need, particularly while keeping it volunteer-friendly. I’ve also seen actions on the dLive used for this but that’s not an option on SQ (would be super helpful if it was). I have an idea to use a tablet with Mixpad on and custom action buttons but it seems a real shame to need this when there are loads of softkeys on the desk. I haven’t been hands on with the desk yet, just playing with the Mixpad app so it’s entirely possible I’m missing something. Thanks David ---
**Author:** ![stix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/stix/32/1486_2.png) [@stix](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/stix)\ **Post date:** [8 September 2026 10:14 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/softkey-to-control-group-assignments/32892/2 "2026-09-08T10:14:04Z")
I have done something similar using Mixing Station with a custom layout where I made assignment buttons that add channels to one group ( say lead vocals) and at the same time remove any assignments from other groups, or vice verse This is super useful and fast for theatre show programming in particular. I have layouts made for Dlive, Sq, iLive, Qu new, and Soundcraft SI It takes a fair bit of time to build the layouts but you only need to do it once! ---
**Author:** ![Brian-1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/brian-1/32/4395_2.png) [@Brian-1](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Brian-1)\ **Post date:** [8 September 2026 12:39 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/softkey-to-control-group-assignments/32892/3 "2026-09-08T12:39:52Z")
> [@dexter](#): > > The SQ series seems to have a much more limited scenes function and I don’t think the combination of local/global filters and safest will do what I need, particularly while keeping it volunteer-friendly. As you have noted, the SQ has many of it’s features “neutered” compared to the higher console lines (Avantis and DLive). The scene system is one place where it is really easy to see the differences. The SQ doesn’t have nearly the same “granularity” that the GLD has when it comes to scene/global recall filters. You can decide to safe/recall _all_ channel processing for example, but you cannot use the scene system to recall the channel processing of specific channel(s). (Or group assignments, etc, etc, etc). Unfortunately, there is no was around this in the A&H ecosystem. I love stix suggestion of using Mixing Station for this, but that obviously requires users interact with a different system. Still, it would be simple enough to create a Mixing Station layout that has just buttons on it that you could program to change various settings like this. Effectively you could create your own touchscreen “streamdeck” type of setup right next to the SQ console. ---
**Author:** ![mdjagg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@mdjagg](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/mdjagg)\ **Post date:** [8 September 2026 15:11 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/softkey-to-control-group-assignments/32892/4 "2026-09-08T15:11:23Z")
Imagine how much money A&H would be making if they just allowed the SQ series to have nice features without all of the limitations, like the consistently backordered Wing. When will companies realise that 5k and 15k are so far apart to most normal people that they’ll literally never be able to afford that jump? ---
**Author:** ![dexter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@dexter](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/dexter)\ **Post date:** [9 September 2026 06:53 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/softkey-to-control-group-assignments/32892/5 "2026-09-09T06:53:48Z")
Thanks. Yes, this was exactly my plan if it was not possible in the desk (I said MixPad but meant Mixing Station, I’ve been using it extensively with my own mixers from a ‘ **B** udget’ brand). I’ve had a quick play with MS and worked out how to do as you said, a custom layout with simply 1 button per vocal channel that adds/removes in 1 step. It’s just a shame that we’d need to invest in a tablet, run a separate app, mount it, hope someone doesn’t walk off with it and train the operators when there are tonnes of softkeys on the desk itself. I guess the other option might be to use Companion to listen for midi and perform the steps but again that introduces and external element to go wrong and I don’t know if the module is update for SQ+ yet. As mentioned it’s a shame that some useful functionality is missing from these consoles, particularly as it’s a seemingly perfect upgrade path from GLD. Overall it’s going to be a massive upgrade with things that have not been possible on the current desks but it’s just little snags like this. I’d have loved an Avantis but it would have been like 3\* the price all in. I’ll add a feature request and hope…