Option 1 is ideal, but you won’t have enough busses. Is adding a dedicated monitor console an option? I have a QU that I sometimes use for monitor duty. It has less mixes than the SQ, but it completely frees up my SQ’s busses. The only small issue for some is that the channels will share gain unless you add an analog split. Sharing gain is usually fine for my application.
Option 2 using Auxes for ME and DCAs for LR can work. The only thing you loose is the ability to process the channels as a group, but the DCA will at least allow you to control group volume to LR. I’m really hoping A&H add DCA Spill to the SQ in a future update. When you select the DCA, the surface goes to the channels assigned to that DCA. That is my favorite way to mix a lot of channels on a small console. You don’t have to remember what layer you put things on, just use layer A for DCAs and if you need to get to a certain channel, press the DCA. It is fast and for me, less to think about. If you agree, there is a thread requesting DCA spill if you want to give +1 so that they know it is an important feature.
