FX send and return signal path tutorial. Allen & Heath QU series

A follow up tutorial explaining the FX send & return signal path.

[@JohnChandler2006]

I've been looking for this tutorial for over 6 months!!! Thank you Lord for letting me find it, and Thanks Rob for creating it!!!! It's easy to follow and understand! Perfections!!!

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx John. Glad you found us and also that you found it helpful.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Ive also started a seperate channel specifically for these QU series tutorials. kzbin.info/door/epIavD0Gu54Vl68iuhroxA

[@joshuagenerationfellowship5499]

None of the Allen Heath tutorials explained that very important lesson. Thank you Sir for making it so simple

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx. Glad it was helpful.

[@jacogreeff4644]

Best explanation! Amazing! Finally a good quality video on this topic!

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Jaco Greeff Thx Jaco

[@wasbeen]

Superb, I didn't understand why I needed separate FX send and Return levels until today.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx Matt. Glad you found it helpful.

[@wasbeen]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 now I’ve found your channel, well channels which why should I look for for more great QU and PA instruction? Thanks for the videos.

[@GerdBerkowitz]

Thanks. Excellent and clear explanation. And also slowly enough delivered that I could follow it, unlike many other mixer videos. After making a little cheat sheet, I could add reverb to the singer's monitor and made her happy.

[@Bob-gm1yq]

Thank You very much. What did we do before youtube and kind helpful folks like you. The number of people who have needed this tells me I am not alone in finding the users manual inadequate for my level of inexperience with digital mixers.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx for the kind words. Glad you found it helpful

[@nskim4381]

Awesome!!! Thank God for Rob's very valuable presentation.

[@marcreus1360]

This video is so simple but a huge teach about sending and return. Plus how to make it work in a digital mixer. Thanks for making this!💯

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx

[@RideTheFuture]

Very helpful Rob, just got called to help a friend balance the room on the QU 32 which I never have touched before - studying up so I don't kill everybody on stage LOL. Nice, concise explanation! Appreciate your work and knowledge very much

[@dfgrain1]

Brilliant brilliant video. Been trying to work out how to do this for so long. This video makes it nice and clear :)

[@davellbruton1901]

Great Info. I was having a issue with my mix 7-8 with returns and sends. This was a big help. Great easy break down video keep on doing what you're doing!

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Davell Bruton Thx

[@thehillybillycat1]

Oh my, this is absolutely a fantastic tutorial, I had my new qu16 on a gig recently and couldn't separate the monitor reverb from the main output, the monitor reverb was all over the place and finished up switching the monitor off. Thank you for this indept tutorial, much appreciated 🙏 💖

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx. Glad you found it helpful

[@lryanmurphy]

I've been trying to understand this for some time... This was everything that I was looking for. Thank you!!

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx Logan. Glad you found it helpful

[@johnnymerritt9544]

Thanks Rob for doing this great info that i needed !

[@luks_-vj8yb]

Great! Really understanding

[@HaharuRecords]

Absolutely brilliant explanation.

[@freemandiaz5123]

Best explanation ever! Hard to stuff for A&H. Thank you!

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx and welcome to the channel. Glad you found it helpful

[@freemandiaz5123]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 Ooh. Forgot to sub. All the Best!

[@deancurk1418]

Thank you so much, absolute lifesaver!!!

[@AjaiAlex]

Very simple instructions. Great job

[@abcbangalorepeter]

Thanks for helping.. Its really a blessing...

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx Peter. Glad you found it helpful

[@Kimenje]

Thank you for this! Very clear explanation.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx Isaac. Glad it was helpful

[@LarryOohLaLa]

❤❤❤ great job brother 🎉🎉🎉

[@joelglaser5657]

Excellent! Thanks Rob.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Joel Glaser Thx Joel

[@dorschtandrew5548]

Trying to find the return on the custom layer was fun 🔥

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Until you know your way around the qu it can be confusing. There are 3 separate layers…the channel fader layer, the upper layer for ST channels FXReturns and mix masters, then the custom layer (accessed by pressing both layer buttons together) where you can assign inputs and outputs to suit your needs.

[@dorschtandrew5548]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 I do mean second layer! I find it a very front facing console and not too much is hidden. It's also really fun to sort out the routing when using USB mode especially! Thanks for this video I send it around all the time to explain what I can't over the phone!

[@superconnie5003]

Always good to start from basics...

[@southamptonunitedchurch1490]

Thank you. It does make sense!

[@sean_gruber]

SO helpful! Thank you!

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx Sean, Glad you found it helpful

[@famiarojas]

A very well explanation.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx

[@williamcorgile9823]

Thanx again dude ! : )

[@wimvanseventer5924]

very helpful, thank you.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Wim van Seventer Thx

[@abcbangalorepeter]

AWESOME

[@lausurfer]

Hi, Thanks alot to take times explain that. I have a question, when you are sending fx on th aux, did you not forgot to push up the master fx fader ? Thx

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx Lau. Glad you enjoyed the video. Good catch by the way... didn’t think anyone would have noticed LOL. At 4:57 I accidentally turned down the FX1 Master. When using the upper layer, the last 9 faders are copies of the 9 master faders (notice the labels all have a box around them). Later when I went back to the FX send layer of course the master had been turned down. Again, good catch LOL

[@mrfishhead1111]

Rob how do i get my reverb assignment out of mix 3 and return Mix 3 to a monitor send. I went to back panel of reverb on screen and unassigned it and re-eq'd it as a monitor send but the eq curve I used for the reverb is making my monitors sound terrible thin as I rolled all the lo end off on the reverb send eq. I cant figure out how to get that old eq curve back to correct the monitor send eq curve.

[@ross102591]

Stellar tutorial and overview. Very well explained and easy for an aspiring sound engineer to understand. I'll share this content/video with our sound team. I'd love to hear some of your recent engineering work. Any concerts, church services, etc. you're able to share? Thank you Rob!

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx very much. Glad you found it helpful

[@creative_by_nature]

thank you

[@caleb6440]

They are called faders... sliders are a type of food faders change audio signal

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx Caleb. Guess it depends on which part of the globe you grew up in LOL. But thx for watching.

[@carrillomusic5733]

Thanks !

[@martboven1994]

Hello rob, for the usb streaming i try to get a diffrent mix, you explained realy well. Now the livestream is on mix 9 and 10. The effects is on post fader for the main outs. (If i soften the channel effects goes with) no for mix 9 and 10 the effect continues how can i make channel 9 and 10 also post fader. Greetings mart

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Hi Mart. Glad you enjoyed the explanation. The pre-post setting is in reference to the main LR faders. With the FX in post fade (as they should) you are reducing the FX send of that channel as you reduce the main fader. As such, the FX is no longer being sent to the FX engine and therefore is reduced everywhere. Not sure it’s even possible that FX would continue in a Mix when you have actually reduced the signal going into the FX. Are you suggesting only the FX continues I. Mix9-10 or does the channel signal also continue?

[@raulglez1540]

Hello, I have a problem, why is the effect applied to all mixes at the same level, I can't control them separately like you in the video, what am I doing wrong? Thank you

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

FX are only applied to any mix via the FXreturn. Make sure that FXreturn on each mix is adjusted accordingly.

[@insrecordingmusicgroup]

Really enjoyed your tutorial, but there is one thing that has me stumped. I follow all the steps and it allows me to get the reverb on my vocal channel but it is not processing with the channel as I record. What happening is Im hearing the reverb but after the vocals with the prerecorded vocals but after words in post it is no longer there. How can I achieve

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx. Glad it was helpful. How are you recording? Via USB? Typically the USB is set to grab the signal pre-processing, which makes sense since you can then apply processing after the fact. In most cases you don’t actually want to be committed to record a processed signal.

[@insrecordingmusicgroup]

Rob McLaughlin I recording USB into pro tools DAW

[@insrecordingmusicgroup]

Rob McLaughlin I want to commit to the signal of a prerecorded vocal or instrument sort of like a plug in in pro tools. This will allow to not use as much DSP on my computer if I can use the Fx on my board

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

2 options to record the channel with FX.... First set the USB io patching to specifically record the FX return where the mic is assigned. Second use a separate FX engine to assign to the specific channel as in Insert. This will change the basic signal of that channel and be recorded as the output of that channel. Once you assign a channel to an FX it becomes an independence signal ( unless you use the Insert option) so that signal must be recorded separately.

[@DelMonacoMat]

hi, Can I ask one more thing? You are so kind.. How can I (in QU16) change the mix outputs 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 in mono separate mix? (if i can)? I work in a music school in Italy and i Invite all my students to follow you :-)... We have also the expand Allen & Heath AB168 and the cable...

[@onzkicg]

Thanks. I noticed reverbs in this unit is very sensitive, it can be noticed even the faders is as low as 25-30db. And also difficult to hear during live, so there’s a tendency to cranking up until heard. What tip can you recommend when trying to listen to effects? Is there such a thing like PAFL that can hear effects only? Thanks

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx. You should be able to PAFL the FX Return channel to hear only the FX

[@onzkicg]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 is it possible to add eq in this reverb? I want to eq the drums tracks reverb only without affecting vocals reverb and of course without affecting the main channel eq of the drums. Thanks 🙏

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

The only way to “eq the drum reverb” would be to assign the drums to a separate eq and have the vocals on another reverb

[@maestro4001]

Got a funny problem. I have a mic for talk back on stage coming through the bands ears, however it bleeds through the stage foldbacks at times, however it the fader isn’t up on the mix sends for stage wedges?

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx for the question. Any chance that mic is included in some other routing that goes to the wedges? Maybe it’s sent to an FX that is going to the wedges? Often the problems that are intermittent are the most difficult to track down. Since you suggest it only happens “at times” can you describe exactly when it happens?

[@maestro4001]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 thanks for replying brother. Finally figured it all out. What happened was, our sound guy was recording our service through logic but had the computer plugged in to the aux. So the mic was being sent to the desk, the desk to the laptop, and the laptop was sending it back through the aux. User error lol. Very amateur moment. Thanks for your help though. Love your content

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

No problem at all. The old user-error has tripped me up too many myself LOL. Glad you found the solution.

[@danbloke2000]

Hi Rob. Great vid. For the life of me, I cannot get any effect to work on LR. I'm using FX 2, delay, and works fine on a mix output. I'm following the same instructions for the LR but nothing. The back panel on the 2 tap delay FX 2 is set to Mix>Returns. My aim is to have a delay on LR but not on any mix. Any help appreciated. Dan

[@danbloke2000]

Update: I have now inserted the delay FX into the LR which obviously applies the FX to everything going through LR. How about if I split the input channel as two separate inputs (not linked). The FX is then inserted on the channel which I send to LR. The other channel has no effect applied and is also not sent to LR - only the mix i need it on.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Thx Dan. If you hear fx2 on other mixes then at least you know the send is wirking correctly. Make sure that the fx2 return on LR isn’t muted (sounds obvious i know). Also with LR selected, and the upper layer selected, press the Assign key and make sure that fx2 is assigned to LR… the sel key shoukd light up

[@bradharris3150]

Is the fx engine independently assigned to each microphone channel? In other words with your example using an outboard fx it would only be useable on a single mic channel. Correct?

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

It can be but is NOT by default. If you set the FX to be insert then it will only be assigned to the channel you choose

[@bradharris3150]

So let’s say you send 2 mic channels to the fx engine won’t the return contain both mics? I guess what I’m confused about is you have a 16 channel board and let’s say you want all 16 to get reverb. Won’t the return for any channel contain all channels? Hope this makes sense.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

@@bradharris3150 If you send 2 mic ch to the same FX, then yes the FX will contain both mics. Unless as I mentioned, you configure the FX to be an Insert, then its only the channel you specify. 2 - Also correct, if you want all 16 to have reverb, the return will contain all 16 channels. The option would be to use the 4 FX engines for 4 "groups" of mic vhannels. (Eg. Send 6 mics to each of the 4 FX engines). Alternately you could set each of the 4 FX to be Inserts and use them on only 4 channels. There is simply no way to get 16 individual FX (eg. One per channel) on the QU series boards. The max is the 4 FX engines available

[@bradharris3150]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 copy that. Thank you.

[@huicheukyiu3505]

may i ask whats the use of FX1 send on layer 1 ?

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Hi and thx for the question. If you are referring to faders on the upper layer they are copies of the nine output master faders. Notice the box around the labels as a reminder that they are copies of existing controls

[@timothykerber3194]

Do I set the fx to a pre or post fader setting?

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

FX should typically be post fader. I have posted another video on pre and post

[@prasadarangath4885]

How do you set different level of fx for different mic ?

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Use the FX send layer to adjust individual mics

[@prasadarangath4885]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 Thank you.. I have one more question. I have a Mix with 2 Wireless Mic and a Backing track (Stereo MP3) , if I pop or speak too close to mic, the backing track level (on speaker ) goes down. Tried multiple mic and couple of mixers, Qu-16, Yamaha MG and Tascam Model 12. Any clue on what might went wrong ?. Issues with Speaker / Amp ?

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

What you are describing is called “Ducking”. When one signal is reduced when another channel has signal. Make sure that Ducking is turned OFF on the backing track channel

[@prasadarangath4885]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 thank you ... But I see it's not the case.... And is not happening always... It's strange behaviour and not seeing it with headphone mix... Only happening with speakers. , No matter what ever the mix bus I use .. Investigating further 😄

[@manvswild_bear_grylls]

Nice

[@tronlady1]

I am really confused here! I always thought the effects returns should be always be at unity and it’s the sends that govern how much you want……not the other way around as on this video???

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Great question. It’s just a matter of tracing the signal path and deciding how you want to adjust it. Since the FXReturn is specific to an output, you can adjust the return if you only want the FX to change in one output but not in another. The FXsend simply puts signal into the FX engine so changing the send level will impact all outputs where you have added the FXReturn. Hope that helps

[@SompornSaiklin]

Why I can not effect send to monitor?

[@HaharuRecords]

Check: Does your monitors are (physically) connected to the selected Aux/Mix/Bus. Also check the internal patching whethere the connected channel has been moved or replaced for some reason!

[@davidhilliard4777]

I still have no FX coming through my monitor 🤷‍♂️

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Glad to help if I can. First, are you getting the fx in LR? If not we can trace back to send to FX and the FX setup. If yes, then it should simply be an issue of FX return on the monitor mix

[@davidhilliard4777]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 Thank you for the reply. Yes. I have FX on Main L/R I’m following your video, but nothing in my monitors.

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

Make sure the FX return channel on your mon mix is not muted

[@davidhilliard4777]

@@soundadvicewithrob3083 Nothing is muted. Now I’ve lost all fx. Out front is gone now. 😫

[@soundadvicewithrob3083]

What was the last change you made

[@jagdishkumarvlogs9242]

Please Hindi language