# SQ+ feature wishlist: sidechain for DynEQ4/MBC and extra buses for larger bands **URL:** \ **Category:** SQ Feature Suggestions\ **Created:** [7 November 2026 15:11 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/sq-feature-wishlist-sidechain-for-dyneq4-mbc-and-extra-buses-for-larger-bands/33324 "2026-11-07T15:11:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![peterm2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@peterm2](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/peterm2)\ **Post date:** [7 November 2026 15:11 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/sq-feature-wishlist-sidechain-for-dyneq4-mbc-and-extra-buses-for-larger-bands/33324/1 "2026-11-07T15:11:35Z")
I’ve been using the SQ+ for a while now (absolutely love it!) and these are my top feature wishes. The DynEQ4 can’t be set up with a sidechain, for example for the classic “kick vs. bass guitar” ducking scenario. As far as I can tell, no FX engine supports sidechaining though if the Dual Harmoniser can take an external source, the underlying infrastructure might already exist. I knew this wasn’t possible on the original SQ, but since the SQ+ has significantly more processing power under the hood, I’m hoping this might now be feasible. It would be great to have sidechain support for the DynEQ4 and the multiband compressors. Most of the time I don’t need it, but there are moments that I work with larger bands. With sometimes more than 10 musicians on stage, I quickly run out of AUXes, since everyone needs their own in-ear mix. Currently, the total number of groups plus AUXes can never exceed 12. It makes sense that there are at most 12 AUXes (matching the 12 mix knobs on the right of the surface) but when a bus is used as a group rather than an AUX, that physical mix knob matters far less. So my question would be: would it be possible to raise the total bus count from 12 to 16, with the AUX count capped at 12? That would always leave at least 4 groups available. I realise that there’s maybe not enough power in the console to do this, but it would be a great upgrade! A workaround I currently use is the RackUltra FX sends: load an FX that effectively does “nothing”, and the bus works fine as an extra IEM bus or group. Two downsides: SQ+4You only controls the 12 mixes (not FX buses), and it’s a shame to sacrifice an FX slot for it. This is also why I’d love the standard FX sends 1–4 to be stereo, like the RackUltra FX sends. Giving up one standard FX-slot up would feel less painful that way. If there’s a reason they’re mono by design, I’d be interested to hear it! Another workaround could be to use some of the matrices for monitor mixes or other outputs, freeing up the existing 12 AUXes for groups. But that would require the ability to send channels directly to matrices, which isn’t currently possible. Of course I knew the bus count when I bought the SQ+. So this is a wish for a future firmware release, not a complaint about the console I chose. Monitor-wise I always find a way. The only trade-off is that running out of mixes means giving up groups, and it’s groups that I like to use to polish my FOH mix. So, my wishlist for a future SQ+ firmware release: - Sidechain support for the DynEQ4 and multiband compressors - 4 extra buses (AUXes capped at 12), so groups remain available when all AUX mixes are in use - Make FX sends 1–4 stereo, like the RackUltra FX sends - Allow channels to be routed directly to matrices, not just buses No idea what’s feasible within the SQ+'s processing power, but these would make an already excellent mixer even better for larger bands.