AD-DA.ca, FlexFader

Description

FlexFader is a Q-SYS plugin that puts a bank of up to 12 faders in front of a Matrix Mixer. Each fader controls one Matrix Mixer channel (an input, an output, a group or a crosspoint) with its level, +/- buttons, mute and label. When the channels pattern lists more channels than there are faders, the faders scroll through them.

Integrators build tailored mixing interfaces without scripting. They choose the channels and their order with a pattern, limit or hide controls per group of channels, simulate a router where only one channel stays unmuted, and add optional metering.

The plugin is free to use and needs no license key.

Key Features

• Free to use — No license key required.

• Configurable fader count — 1 to 12 faders per plugin.

• Pattern-based channels — Inputs, outputs, groups and crosspoints, in any order, from a single text pattern.

• Bank navigation — Scroll by one channel or by a full set of faders, with or without wrap-around.

• Per-group customization — Level range, disabled or hidden controls and fixed labels for chosen channels.

• Router simulator — Groups of channels where only one channel stays unmuted at a time.

• Adjustable +/- buttons — Hold-to-repeat speed and acceleration.

• Optional metering — Signal presence and level meters per fader.

• Read-only and inverted modes — Read-only level or label, inverted mute button.

Release Notes

2026-10 : 1.3.0.0

New Feature

• Added Volume Speed and Acceleration Speed on the Setup page, to set how fast the +/- buttons repeat while held.

Breaking Changes

• Removed the License and License Backup properties: the plugin is free to use and needs no license key.

Improvement

• Changed the plugin width to 500 px and the header to the AD-DA.ca header artwork.

• Changed the Matrix Mixer Component and Channels Pattern rows of the Setup page so their labels are no longer cut off.

2026-05 : 1.1.1.0

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a script error when the Router Simulator configuration cannot be decoded.

• Fixed a script error when a Router Simulator channel or its mute is missing from the Matrix Mixer.

2026-03 : 1.1.0.0

New Feature

• Added the Bank Strategy controls on the Setup page.

Bug Fixes

• Minor bug fixes.

2025-12 : 1.0.0.0

New Feature

• Initial release.

Properties

Fader Count

Type: integer
Min: 1
Max: 12
Default Value: 12
Description: Number of faders on the Controls page.

Customize Controls

Type: boolean
Default Value: false
Description: Shows the Value, Label and Mute properties.

Value

Type: enum
Choices: Read, Read/Write
Default Value: Read/Write
Description: With Read, the level of each fader (Ch<X>Value) is read-only. Only shown when Customize Controls is enabled.

Label

Type: enum
Choices: Read, Read/Write
Default Value: Read/Write
Description: With Read, the label of each fader (Ch<X>Label) is read-only. Only shown when Customize Controls is enabled.

Mute

Type: enum
Choices: Normal, Inverted
Default Value: Normal
Description: Normal shows a red Mute button that is on when the channel is muted. Inverted shows a green On button that is on when the channel is not muted. Only shown when Customize Controls is enabled.

Metering

Type: boolean
Default Value: false
Description: Adds the signal and meter indicators of each fader, the audio input pins that feed them and the Metering section of the Setup page.

Mono Input

Type: integer
Min: 0
Max: 512
Default Value: 12
Description: Number of mono inputs of the Matrix Mixer. Input meters are pre-fader. Only shown when Metering is enabled.

Stereo Input

Type: integer
Min: 0
Max: 252
Default Value: 0
Description: Number of stereo inputs of the Matrix Mixer. Only shown when Metering is enabled.

Mono Output

Type: integer
Min: 0
Max: 512
Default Value: 0
Description: Number of mono outputs of the Matrix Mixer. Output meters are post-fader. Only shown when Metering is enabled.

Stereo Output

Type: integer
Min: 0
Max: 252
Default Value: 0
Description: Number of stereo outputs of the Matrix Mixer. Only shown when Metering is enabled.

Dev

Type: string
Default Value: (empty)
Description: Reserved for development. Leave empty.

Controls

In the names below, <X> is the fader number, from 1 to Fader Count.

Status

Controls name: Status
Type: Indicator-Status
Pin Style: Output
Pin Name: Status
Description: Displays the plugin's operational status.

Not connected to Mixer means no Matrix Mixer is selected, or the selected one cannot be found. Any other fault describes an error in Channels Pattern, such as Empty pattern.

Controls Page

Bank Controls

Bank Previous

Controls name: BankPrevious
Type: Button-Trigger
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Bank~Previous
Description: Moves to the previous bank of channels. Disabled on the first bank unless Continuous Scrolling is on.

Bank Index

Controls name: BankIndex
Type: Text-Combo Box
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Bank~Index
Description: Displays and selects the current bank. Disabled when all channels fit on the faders.

Bank Next

Controls name: BankNext
Type: Button-Trigger
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Bank~Next
Description: Moves to the next bank of channels. Disabled on the last bank unless Continuous Scrolling is on.

Faders

A fader with no channel to show in the current bank is disabled and cleared.

Channel Index

Controls name: Ch<X>Index
Type: Indicator-Text
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Faders~<X>~Channel Index
Description: Matrix Mixer channel shown on the fader, for example i3, o5 or i2o7.

Volume Plus

Controls name: Ch<X>Plus
Type: Button-Momentary
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Faders~<X>~Volume Plus
Description: Raises the level. While held, it repeats at the rate set by Volume Speed and Acceleration Speed.

Value

Controls name: Ch<X>Value
Type: Knob-Integer
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Faders~<X>~Value
Description: Level of the channel, from 0 to 100 %. Limited to the custom range when a Customize group applies to the channel.

Volume Minus

Controls name: Ch<X>Minus
Type: Button-Momentary
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Faders~<X>~Volume Minus
Description: Lowers the level. While held, it repeats at the rate set by Volume Speed and Acceleration Speed.

Mute

Controls name: Ch<X>Mute
Type: Button-Toggle
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Faders~<X>~Mute
Description: Mutes or unmutes the channel, inverted when the Mute property is Inverted. Hidden when the channel has no mute.

Label

Controls name: Ch<X>Label
Type: Text-Text Edit
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Controls~Faders~<X>~Label
Description: Label of the channel in the Matrix Mixer. For a crosspoint, shows the label of its input and cannot be edited. Hidden when the channel has no label.

Signal Left / Signal Right

Controls name: Ch<X>SignalLeft / Ch<X>SignalRight
Type: Indicator-LED
Pin Style: Output
Pin Name: Controls~Faders~<X>~Signal Left / Controls~Faders~<X>~Signal Right
Description: Signal presence on the left / right channel. Only present when Metering is enabled.

Meter Left / Meter Right

Controls name: Ch<X>MeterLeft / Ch<X>MeterRight
Type: Indicator-Meter
Pin Style: Output
Pin Name: Controls~Faders~<X>~Meter Left / Controls~Faders~<X>~Meter Right
Description: Signal level on the left / right channel. Only present when Metering is enabled, and only shown for input and crosspoint channels.

Setup Page

Component

Matrix Mixer Component

Controls name: Component
Type: Text-Combo Box
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Setup~Component
Description: Matrix Mixer to control, chosen among the mixers of the design that have Script Access enabled.

Channels Pattern

Controls name: Pattern
Type: Text-Text Edit
Pin Style: Input / Output
Pin Name: Setup~Pattern
Description: Matrix Mixer channels shown on the faders, in order, for example i1-i8, o1, g2. The syntax is on the Help page.

Customize

Groups of channels with their own settings. Select a group in the list to edit it. These controls have no pins.

Custom List

Controls name: CustomList
Type: Text-List Box
Pin Style: None
Description: Customize groups. Selecting one shows its settings.

Add

Controls name: CustomAdd
Type: Button-Trigger
Pin Style: None
Description: Creates a Customize group.

Delete

Controls name: CustomDelete
Type: Button-Trigger
Pin Style: None
Description: Deletes the selected Customize group.

Group Name

Controls name: Custom_Name
Type: Text-Text Edit
Pin Style: None
Description: Name of the group in the list.

Channels Pattern

Controls name: Custom_Pattern
Type: Text-Text Edit
Pin Style: None
Description: Channels the group applies to, with the same syntax as the main pattern.

Custom Range

Controls name: Custom_Min / Custom_Max
Type: Knob-Integer
Pin Style: None
Description: Lowest and highest level, from 0 to 100, that the faders of these channels can reach.

Disable Controls

Controls name: Custom_Disable_Plus, Custom_Disable_Value, Custom_Disable_Minus, Custom_Disable_Mute, Custom_Disable_Label
Type: Button-Toggle
Pin Style: None
Description: Disables Vol +, Gain, Vol -, Mute or Label on the faders of these channels.

Hide Controls

Controls name: Custom_Hide_Plus, Custom_Hide_Value, Custom_Hide_Minus, Custom_Hide_Mute, Custom_Hide_Label
Type: Button-Toggle
Pin Style: None
Description: Hides Vol +, Gain, Vol -, Mute or Label on the faders of these channels.

Custom Label

Controls name: Custom_Label_Enable / Custom_Label_Text
Type: Button-Toggle / Text-Text Edit
Pin Style: None
Description: When on, the faders of these channels show the entered text instead of the Matrix Mixer label, and the label cannot be edited.

Router Simulator

Groups of channels where only one channel stays unmuted at a time: unmuting a channel mutes the others of its group. A channel can only be part of a single group. These controls have no pins.

Router List

Controls name: RouterList
Type: Text-List Box
Pin Style: None
Description: Router groups. Selecting one shows its settings.

Add

Controls name: RouterAdd
Type: Button-Trigger
Pin Style: None
Description: Creates a Router group.

Delete

Controls name: RouterDelete
Type: Button-Trigger
Pin Style: None
Description: Deletes the selected Router group.

Group Name

Controls name: Router_Name
Type: Text-Text Edit
Pin Style: None
Description: Name of the group in the list.

Channels Pattern

Controls name: Router_Pattern
Type: Text-Text Edit
Pin Style: None
Description: Channels of the group, with the same syntax as the main pattern.

Bank Strategy

Continuous Scrolling

Controls name: BankContinuousScroll
Type: Button-Toggle
Pin Style: None
Description: When on, Bank Previous and Bank Next stay enabled on the first and last bank.

Scroll by Fader Count

Controls name: BankFaderSizeScroll
Type: Button-Toggle
Pin Style: None
Description: Off, each bank moves by one channel. On, each bank moves by a full set of faders: with 8 faders, bank 2 starts at the 9th channel.

Volume

Volume Speed

Controls name: VolumeSpeed
Type: Knob-Integer
Pin Style: None
Description: Repeat rate of Volume Plus and Volume Minus while held, from -5 (slower) to +5 (faster). Default 0.

Acceleration Speed

Controls name: VolumeAcceleration
Type: Knob-Integer
Pin Style: None
Description: How quickly the repeat rate increases while Volume Plus or Volume Minus is held, from -5 to +5. Default 0.

Metering

Only present when Metering is enabled.

Hide Right Meter for Mono Channels

Controls name: Custom_MonoChannel
Type: Button-Toggle
Pin Style: None
Description: Hides Signal Right and Meter Right on faders showing a mono channel.

Help Page

The Help page has no controls. It summarizes the syntax of Channels Pattern.