Recall Filter Recommendations

[Carlos Bustillo]

Hey! Every time I have to build new scene I struggle to confidently keep track of what should be within the recall scope and safes.
Its wonderful how flexible it all is, but its a bit overwhelming.

I am running 1 CDM48 and 2 CTI1500 Surfaces, one at Mons and one at FOH.

Another fear of mine when recalling scenes is messing up the monitor engineers console config, (for example ive had this issue before where i changed all his soft keys when i trigged my scene change.)

I was wondering if anyone has developed a little cheat sheet for recall filters, specifically when using the scenes on a song by song basis.

Basically the main things id want automated are fader levels, mutes, FX settings. Nothing else gets affected.. (mons console, gain, inserts, eqs, routing, etc…)

Thanks in advance!

[Nicola A&H]

Hi Carlos,

It is normal when running Multi-Surface setups for a Scene to affect both FOH and Monitors. You are essentially sharing a mixer, not just a stagebox, so as you say, the filters have to be carefully programmed to avoid conflicts or accidental changes. In the first instance, make sure you have Roles defined for the two Surfaces. I would also recommend starting from the MultiSurface Template Show files, as these already have Role Filters set to sensibly separate channels and resources between FOH and Monitors. I would definitely use Role Filters instead of Recall Filters for this. You can then use Recall Filters to further refine the scope of each individual Scene if needed, for example if you want a Scene to only change FX settings for FX 1-8, but with the reassurance that the Role Filters have priority so the Scene wouldn’t overwrite Monitors-related settings anyway.

Make sure to read the Understanding Multi-Surface Guide here: https://www.allen-heath.com/content/uploads/2023/05/Understanding-Multi-Surface-ISS1.pdf
And to check out the sections on Role Filters here: https://www.allen-heath.com/content/uploads/2024/09/dLive-Firmware-Reference-Guide-V2.0-ISS-3.pdf

[Brian]

Great advice from Nicola.

I would simply add that it is safest to “block” EVERYTHING, and then manually “allow” the couple of parameters that you want to change. In your stated use case, I would start by opening the recall filter on the scene and pressing the “block all” button. Then you can select the specific channels that you want changed in this scene (ie FOH channels but not monitor channels if they are duplicated/double patched) and only select the fader levels, mutes. The FX settings can also be unblocked on a per rack basis, so only unblock the racks you want parameters changed for that song/scene.

Long story short, block everything and then start out small by “allowing” only a few parameters. Once you thoroughly test the filter and it works as expected, then you can “allow” more parameters, retest, and repeat as needed until you get the filter exactly how you want it.

[Carlos Bustillo]

Thank you both! That was a great and easy solution I should have considered, sometimes staring at the filter screen just jumples my brain.

Nicola just to confirm, if I role safe everything on the FOH console, the mon console shouldnt be changed no matter what, since that is completely safed?
Do I also have to role safe everything on the monitor console? Im sure its good practice either way, but just theoretically asking so i can wrap my head around how much the Role Safes do.

I guess in theory im role safing the mix rack so it should be already done on both?

Thanks again!

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