Not specifically related to SQ…
Now we’re firmly in the era of IEMs and we have desks that can deliver a large number of stereo buses, the ratio of inputs to outputs that is normally 2:1 (3:1 on GX4816) is often less than ideal.
For example, there’s a 10 piece soul band I mix fairly regularly, all on stereo ears. 8 are mono inputs, 1 stereo keys and drums are 8 channels. That’s 18 inputs and 20 outputs for the band. There’s other inputs such as MC and house music and outputs like FOH and matrixes too of course.
There and other bands I mix that have more mics on the kit and more stereo inputs from keys/guitars and I often have all 32 faders on layer A of my SQ7 in use, but the demand for outputs is increasingly way over the 2:1 ratio.
I know there is the DX012 that recognises that sometimes we need more outputs and I’ll shortly be buying a couple of those along with the GX4816, and there’s also the DX32 that you can load anyway you like (at a way higher price point compared to other GX/DX) but it got me wondering why this imbalance still exists when more and more often it doesn’t reflect the on stage demands.
This isn’t looking for suggestions on what IO would support my needs, I’ve got that figured out, just suggesting that maybe the time for re-evaluating the IO ratio is here? 🙂
As DX can handle 32×32 it would be great if that format existed in the GX4816 form factor, or even a smaller 16×16…
