The first three screen sections are, by default, input channels, with six fader bank switches allowing blocks of eight input channels or group outputs (if so configured) to be assigned to the worksurface. Each input channel has its own analogue input gain and digital trim with Gain Tracking switch and presets for the whole channel, along with phase reverse, phantom power, six-band EQ and a delay function which allows you to add 240ms of delay to any or all of the channels.

Each channel has four bands of fully parametric 20Hz-20kHz EQ, while the upper and lower bands can be switched between different curve types and shelving characteristics. On top of that are dedicated high and low pass filters, and a preset library which allows you to save an unlimited number of EQ presets for instant recall.

The dynamics section for each input channel is called up with another press on the screen, displaying all the settings for the compressor / limiter and gate, and a powerful sidechain equaliser which allows frequency-conscious dynamics. The same press assigns that channel to the group of dedicated dynamics rotary controllers alongside the screen. The sidechain EQ can also be allocated to the compressor, providing a wide range of uses including highly effective de-essing. The section is accompanied by a dedicated user preset library.

Under the screens are three rows of assignable rotary controls, which are designed to give you the option of having the controls you use most often closest to you as physical controls. Functions can be assigned to them as you wish, including auxiliary sends, pans and dynamics controls. Access is available to any of the 72 busses, each of which can be assigned as either auxiliary busses or group busses. Auxiliaries can also be assigned to faders, allowing a visual feedback of aux levels by channel at the master fader section. The console is capable of stereo, LCRS and 5.1 mixing, and three 5.1 joystick panners provide instant sound image control. Assignment can be made either by touching the screen or scrolling to the buss required. Touching the aux on-screen brings up an expanded view of all auxiliary sends, and routing buttons show stereo or surround designations clearly. Input routing displays a warning if the signal is already in use, and disabled routing buttons distinguish between used and unavailable routes. The analogue output routing includes a -10dB switch.

The lower rotary control (nearest the fader) can be assigned to a dedicated channel function per input bank, by holding down the Assign button and touching the function you want to lock it to on the touchscreen. The same applies to the assignable button below this rotary, which can be assigned to its own, independent, function.

Two more features simplify multiple operations. A button alongside the screen allows you to apply changes to all channels displayed on that screen. You can, for example, view all aux routings by holding All and touching Aux Routing. Another function of All is to route input channels sequentially: by holding All and routing the first input channel, the console automatically routes the other seven inputs in that input bank to the next seven channels in sequence – a very fast method of routing a complete block of inputs to the console surface. A symbol on the group feed button on each input channel indicates mono, stereo or surround busses. The input channel delay also has an on/off switch.

Below these three rows is a row of large, backlit liquid crystal buttons, one at the top of each physical fader. The buttons feed back an immense amount of information about what that individual fader is doing, using a combination of text and backlight colours which change automatically according to the button’s status. The button displays channel number, mono or stereo status, whether the button is currently acting as a solo, fader to aux, safe switch, fader gang, and a fader level readout accurate to 0.1dB, which appears the instant a fader is touched. The LCD multi-function buttons display a tick mark to confirm ‘ON’ status, increases in brightness to indicate fader open in VCA mode, and can be selected to show channel name only in a larger font.

Alongside the button is the LCD assign button, displaying the liquid crystal button’s various functions – Solo, Safe (which removes the channel from a cue and turns the button red as an alert), Aux Send to Master Faders, Fader Ganging, Name Only and Revert To Solo. The Gang function allows similar channels to be locked together in a gang so that level, EQ and dynamics settings can be applied to all of them simultaneously, confirmed by a coloured line in the touchscreen. If, for example, multiple channels require the same high pass filter settings, it’s simple to gang the channels and make a single EQ adjustment and then ungang them again. Multiple gangs can be built within each input section and an individual channel can be temporarily dropped out of the gang for individual adjustment by pressing the Solo button. Fader assign and solo assign are further ways of assigning the channels to the hardware controls.