Looking for a new consle. Not sure why the GLD still sells now the SQ is here… ?
briefly: bigger FX library, more routing options (mono/stereo matrixes and groups, LCR/LR+M options, more aux outputs…), HPF/LPF options on all ins and outs, bigger screen…
… channel encoders, configurable bus layout, user management, better scene handling (cue lists, recall filters), larger channel displays with more information, ganging. The FX Library of the SQ do not have all those insert effects like Transient Controller, Multiband compressors, Dynamic EQ, and so on. Things I desperately miss on the SQ. On the other hand the sound of the SQ is imho better than the GLD. I really hope that the next feature update (scheduled for autumn) will come with a lot of the missing features.
GLD has split fader banks which making some kinds of workflow much easier. GLD has PEQ encoders for every PEQ band (Well, the Q rotaries are missing. Q is accessible with other rotaries. Don’t know why A&H thinks that’s a reasonable tradeoff). GLD has rotaries per channel for functions like pan. Lots of things to set them apart…
On the other side, the SQ has 25 (24 regualr and 1 for the talkback) mic inputs, 6x24 (on my SQ6) fully configurable faders. Also the Mix Keys on the right side are very handy. I was used to work with Yamaha consoles all the past years so the concept with 3 encoders and four buttons to select the band is common to me.
If the SQ would have mono matrices, HPF/LPF on the PEQ, the missing insert effects, ganging and the scene management of the GLD it would be a no brainer to choose the SQ6 which is for me the best form factor of the SQ series. Ok, my wishlist is quite longer than those five features but I hope that tose are also on the top of the feature list for the next feature update;-)