Fountain City Church • Allen & Heath Avantis

Audio Board Reset / Build Guide

A visual, step-by-step checklist for rebuilding the Avantis scene from a clean starting point. Use this as a booth-ready resource for structure, routing, DCAs, groups, FX, layers, and service workflow.

Avantis FCC Worship Checklist Guide Visual Workflow

Section 1

Backup & Prep

This section stays basic because most prep may already be done. The goal is to make sure there is a safe fallback before changing routing, groups, layers, or processing.

Section 1 Checklist

1.1

Save the Current Board State

Before rebuilding anything, make sure the current setup can be recovered.

  • Save the current show / scene with a clear name.
  • Use a date in the name so it is easy to find later.
  • Export to USB or external backup if available.
  • Do not start major routing changes until this is done.
Done when: You can reload the old setup if the rebuild goes sideways.
1.2

Document the Existing Setup

Keep this simple. The goal is to have enough reference material to undo or compare later.

  • Take photos of current surface layers.
  • Take photos of routing screens that matter.
  • Write down anything unusual or easy to forget.
  • Mark known fader or channel issues.
Done when: You have enough references to rebuild the previous setup if needed.
1.3

Confirm Critical Outputs

Before changing the structure, confirm the destinations that must keep working.

  • Main LR
  • Sub mix or sub output
  • Livestream mix
  • Tech mix
  • Comms mix
  • IEM mixes
  • Talkback destinations
Done when: You know what outputs must survive the reset.
1.4

Make a Recovery Plan

This does not need to be fancy. It just needs to keep you from getting stuck.

  • Know which show file to reload.
  • Know where your reference photos are.
  • Know the first things to recover: LR, stream, pastor, speaking mics, IEMs.
Done when: You are comfortable starting Section 2.

Section 2

Create Structure

This is the board skeleton. Before detailed EQ, FX, soft keys, and service flow, build clean control and routing using DCAs, Groups, Mixes, and FX returns.

Section 2 Checklist

Structure Legend

Use these colors to quickly see what each item does.

Input DCA Group Mix / Destination FX Return Talkback

Simple Signal Flow

This is the big-picture structure before detailed processing.

Inputs → Groups → Main LR
Inputs → FX Sends / Returns → Main LR / Stream
DCAs → control level only — they do not pass audio
Mixes → actual destinations: LR, Sub, Stream, IEMs, Tech, Comms

Layer Concept • Main Service Surface

Visual draft of how the Avantis surface could feel during a normal service.

Left Bank • Inputs

Channels you may touch song-to-song.

Vox L BGV / Utility Vox C Vox R BGV 1 BGV 2 Acoustic Lead Elec Rhythm Elec Bass Piano Pad Kick Snare Toms Cymbals Tracks Low Tracks Mid Tracks Perc iPad HH A HH B HH C Pastor

Right Bank • High-Level Control

DCAs, FX returns, and key masters.

Main Vocals BGV Drums Guitars Keys Tracks All Band Speaking Pastor / Host FX Vocal FX Drum Stream Tech / Comms Sub LR Main Spare

DCA Map

DCAs are for fast level control during service.

All Band Drums Guitars Keys Tracks Main Vocals BGV Speaking Mics Pastor / Host FX Vocal FX Drum

Group Map

Groups are for shared processing and audio flow.

Main Vocal Group BGV Group Speaking Group Drum Group Band Group

Destination Mixes

Mixes are actual destinations. They are not the same thing as DCAs.

Main LR Sub Livestream Tech Mix Comms Mix IEM Drums IEM Bass IEM Gtr 1 IEM Gtr 2 IEM Piano IEM Vocals
2.1

Understand the Structure Before Building

Before touching routing, separate the jobs of each console tool.

Core Rules

  • DCAs control level only.
  • Groups pass audio and allow shared processing.
  • Mixes send audio to a destination.
  • FX sends / returns add ambience or delay.

Avantis Workflow Thinking

  • Build routing before styling the surface.
  • Keep right bank for high-level controls.
  • Use groups for shared cleanup, not drastic fixes.
  • Use DCAs for fast service control.
Done when: You know what controls level, what passes audio, and what feeds destinations.
2.2

Create DCA Masters

On the Avantis, create DCA masters as the fast control buckets for service.

DCA Assign These Use During Service
All Band Drums, bass, guitars, acoustic, piano, pad, tracks Duck the band under host / pastor transitions
Drums Kick, snare, toms, cymbals Fast whole-kit control
Guitars Lead electric, rhythm electric, acoustic Control guitar section together
Keys Piano, pad Prayer, sermon response, atmosphere
Tracks Tracks low, tracks mid, tracks percussion Pull tracks back quickly if they muddy the mix
Main Vocals Vox L, Vox C, Vox R Control the main vocal stack
BGV BGV 1, BGV 2 Keep support vocals controlled
Speaking Mics HH A, HH B, HH C, Pastor Fast spoken-word control
FX Vocal Vocal reverb return, vocal delay return Reduce / mute vocal FX when singers speak
FX Drum Drum room / drum verb return Control drum ambience
Important: DCAs do not route audio. If a source is not routed to LR, assigning it to a DCA will not make it audible.
Done when: Each DCA exists, is labeled clearly, and controls only the intended sources.
2.3

Create Audio Groups

Groups are where audio passes through for shared processing and cleanup.

Group Members Purpose
Main Vocal Group Vox L, Vox C, Vox R Shared EQ cleanup, light glue compression, resonance control
BGV Group BGV 1, BGV 2 Control BGVs separately from lead vocals
Speaking Group HH A, HH B, HH C, Pastor Keep spoken word clear, controlled, and dry
Drum Group Kick, snare, toms, cymbals Make the digital kit feel more cohesive
Band Group Drums, bass, guitars, acoustic, piano, pad, tracks Optional music bus / high-level processing path
Done when: Groups exist, are labeled clearly, and are ready to receive the correct inputs.
2.4

Confirm Group Routing

After assigning channels to groups, confirm the groups feed Main LR correctly.

Check These Routes

  • Main Vocal Group → Main LR
  • BGV Group → Main LR
  • Speaking Group → Main LR
  • Drum Group → Main LR
  • Band Group → Main LR, if used

Watch For

  • Inputs accidentally routed both directly to LR and through a group.
  • Groups receiving audio but not feeding LR.
  • IEMs being affected by house-only group processing if routed post-group.
Watch out: Double-routing can make the mix confusing and harder to troubleshoot.
Done when: Every source reaches the intended group and is heard once through the correct path.
2.5

Confirm FX Return Routing

FX should be send-based for vocal reverb, vocal delay, drum ambience, and optional instrument verb.

FX Return Route To DCA Control
Vocal Reverb Return Main LR, Livestream as needed FX Vocal
Vocal Delay Return Main LR, Livestream as needed FX Vocal
Drum Room / Drum Verb Return Main LR, Livestream as needed FX Drum
Instrument Verb Return Main LR, Livestream if useful Optional separate FX control
Done when: FX returns route where needed and can be controlled quickly.
2.6

Confirm Talkbacks Stay Out of House

  • Drum talkback does not route to Main LR.
  • Guitar 1 talkback does not route to Main LR.
  • Guitar 2 talkback does not route to Main LR.
  • Piano talkback does not route to Main LR.
  • Bass talkback does not route to Main LR.
  • Comms-only signals stay out of house.
Done when: Talkbacks are only heard in intended IEM / comms paths.
2.7

Confirm Speaking Mics Stay Dry

  • HH A is not sent to vocal reverb.
  • HH B is not sent to vocal reverb.
  • HH C is not sent to vocal reverb.
  • Pastor is not sent to vocal reverb.
  • Pastor is not sent to vocal delay.
Done when: Host and pastor mics are clear, controlled, and dry.
2.8

Confirm Livestream Access

  • Livestream mix can be selected quickly.
  • PAFL works correctly.
  • You can adjust stream sends quickly.
  • You can return to Main LR workflow without getting lost.
  • Stream receives vocals, pastor, speaking mics, band, and needed FX.
Done when: Stream can be checked and adjusted quickly.
2.9

Run Final Structure Test

Test DCAs

  • All Band controls only band sources.
  • Main Vocals controls only Vox L / Vox C / Vox R.
  • BGV controls only BGV 1 / 2.
  • Speaking controls only speaking mics.
  • FX Vocal controls only vocal FX returns.
  • Tracks controls only track stems.

Test Groups / Routing

  • Main Vocal Group receives main vocals.
  • BGV Group receives BGVs.
  • Speaking Group receives spoken mics.
  • Drum Group receives drum sources.
  • No talkbacks are in house.
  • No accidental double-routing.
  • FX returns route correctly.
Done when: The board has a clean audio skeleton and is ready for layer building.

Section 3

Layer Visual Guide

This is a suggested Avantis layer layout. Strips 23 and 24 stay locked across every layer: 23 = Vox FX and 24 = Main. Strips 1–22 change depending on the layer.

Section 3 Checklist

Toggle Layer View

Click through each layer to preview what strips 1–22 should show. Locked strips stay on the far right.

Layer Preview

Layer Title

Layer purpose will appear here.

Use This Layer For

    Watch Outs

      3.1

      Committed Layer Strategy

      This layout commits to a practical workflow: mix on the early layers, access private/utility sources in the middle, and run the show from the final control layer.

      Layer Flow

      • Layer 1: Public Mix A — main band and primary worship inputs.
      • Layer 2: Public Mix B — overflow, speaking, groups, and returns.
      • Layer 3: Private / Utility — talkbacks, click, guide, comms, spare channels.
      • Layer 4: Mixes / Outputs — stream, IEMs, tech, comms, sub, matrices.
      • Layer 5: Show Control — important DCAs and live-service controls.

      Locked Strips

      • Strip 23: Vox FX — always available for speaking moments.
      • Strip 24: Main — always far right for consistent master control.
      • Strips 1–22 change by layer.
      • Use this as the starting version and tweak after testing on the console.
      Done when: Every layer has a clear job and the locked strips feel natural during rehearsal and service.

      Section 4

      Soft Keys & Snippets

      Soft keys should make the console faster during service. This layout separates global controls, IEM access, lead vocal focus snippets, and reliable “get me back home” clear buttons.

      Section 4 Checklist

      Soft Key Visual Guide

      Toggle through each soft key zone. This is a suggested layout for faster service operation.

      Soft Key Zone

      Soft Key Title

      Soft key purpose will appear here.

      Use This Zone For

        Watch Outs

          4.1

          Committed Soft Key Strategy

          The soft key plan is built around three physical zones: right-side service/IEM keys, middle vocal focus snippets, and left-side clear/return keys.

          Soft Key Zones

          • Right 16: first 6 are global controls, last 10 are IEM access.
          • Middle 3x2: lead vocal focus snippets for Vox L, Vox C, Vox R.
          • Left 2: reliable clear / return buttons.

          Big Rule

          • Soft keys should make service faster, not more dangerous.
          • Snippets should only change the intended vocal levels.
          • All clear / return keys should help you recover quickly if you get lost.
          Snippet Warning: Lead vocal snippets must be tested before live use. They should only affect Vox L, Vox C, and Vox R fader levels. Do not let them change gain, EQ, routing, mutes, FX sends, or processing unless intentionally programmed.
          Done when: Every soft key has a clear job, has been tested, and is documented in the table below.
          4.2

          Soft Key Documentation Table

          Use this as the written map for volunteers and future troubleshooting.

          Zone Key Function Purpose Warning / Note
          Right 1 Stream Select / PAFL Quickly check and mix livestream Return to LR when finished
          Right 3 Vox FX Mute Kill/reduce vocal reverb and delay when singers speak Unmute before next song
          Right 7–16 Band IEM Access Jump directly to individual monitor mixes You are not mixing the house while in IEMs
          Middle 1–3 Lead Vox L/C/R Snippets Feature the lead and lower the other two main vocals Must be tested before relying on live
          Left 1–2 All Clear / Return LR Reliable escape buttons Use when you get lost in PAFL/mix workflow