How to Set Up SuperRack SoundGrid with a DiGiCo Dual-Engine Console (Q7/Q852/SD7)

Sep 15, 2025

Follow these instructions to set up a fully redundant DiGiCo dual-engine console (Q7/Q852/SD7) & Waves SuperRack SoundGrid setup, incorporating two mirrored engines with separate yet mirrored SoundGrid setups.

Let’s start with a list of all the hardware, software and peripherals you will need to set this up:
1. One Q7/Q852/SD7 console with two Waves I/Os for DiGiCo consoles, one on each engine.
2. Two computers, running either Windows or Mac that fully support SuperRack SoundGrid, each with:
  - SuperRack SoundGrid installed and licensed separately on each host computer.
  - Two identical bundles of Waves plugins installed and licensed separately on each host computer. Plugins version must be identical on both computers.
    Important note: Mirroring is supported only when both host computers run the same OS version, the same version of SuperRack, and the same version of Waves plugins. For example: two computers, each running Windows 10, SuperRack V12, and V13 Waves plugins; or two computers, each running macOS 10.15, SuperRack V12, and V12 Waves plugins.
3. Two USB Flash Drives for Waves licenses (optional).
4. At least two identical SoundGrid Servers to process plugins, with the option to add more server for additional processing power or redundancy.
5. Two identical SoundGrid recommended network switches (Quantum consoles have built-in switches).
6. Sufficient amount of network cables (you should always have extras with you).
1. Install and Activate Waves SuperRack SoundGrid and Plugins on both host computers:
  - Ensure that both computers fully support running SuperRack SoundGrid and your Waves plugin versions.
  - Install and activate Waves licenses on host computer A:
    - Download Waves Central and follow the steps to install:
    - Open Waves Central and select “Licenses”.
      Select the licenses for SuperRack and any plugin/s or bundle/s you own.
      On the right pane, select the Target Device for Licenses. Either the computer or a USB flash drive.
      Click on Activate.
    - Select “Install Products”.
      Under My Products, select the following to install:
      SuperRack SoundGrid
      Waves bundle/s or plugins you own licenses for and wish to install and activate in this setup.
      Note you should have a second set of licenses available to install and activate on computer B.
      Click “Install”.
    - Repeat on Computer B!
      Version of SuperRack and plugins must be the same on both SuperRack systems.
The Instructions below for Q7 & Q852 are for single-server-per-engine setup using the built-in switch. If more ports are needed, connect all devices to external switch/switches.
- Let’s take a look at the back panel of one Quantum 7 engine. We can see a Waves IO network port and two network switches:
  A pair of network ports in the top blue panel marked 1 & 2 – we’ll call this the “Blue Switch.”
  A pair of network ports in the bottom black panel marked 3 & 4 – we’ll call this the “Black Switch.”
  1. Mark all your hardware and cables! Associate each server to Engine A or B.
  2. Connect the following to Engine A’s Blue Switch:
    Engine A Waves IO
    SoundGrid server A
  3. Connect the host computer running SuperRack SoundGrid to Engine A’s Black Switch.
  4. Connect the following to Engine B’s Blue Switch:
    Engine B Waves IO
    SoundGrid server B
  5. Connect the host computer running SuperRack SoundGrid to Engine B’s Black Switch.
  6. Don’t connect an ethernet cable between Switches A and B yet.
  Important: Each engine’s Waves IO and SoundGrid server must be connected to the same switch and assigned on the same SuperRack instance, per engine. This is why we recommend connecting both sides only after the SuperRack inventory is set up with the Digico I/O, Server and ProLink Console Remote.
- Let’s look at the back panel of one Q852 engine. We can see a Waves IO network port below Optocore, and a 5-port network switch above it.
  1. Mark all your hardware and cables! Associate each server to Engine A or B.
  2. Connect the following to Engine A’s Switch (doesn’t matter which port):
    Engine A Waves IO
    SoundGrid server A
  3. Connect the host computer running SuperRack SoundGrid A to Engine A’s switch.
  4. Connect the following to Engine B’s Switch (doesn’t matter which port):
    Engine B Waves IO
    SoundGrid server B
  5. Connect the host computer running SuperRack SoundGrid B to Engine B’s switch.
  6. Don’t connect an ethernet cable between Switches A and B yet.
  Important: Each engine’s Waves IO and SoundGrid server must be connected to the same switch and assigned on the same SuperRack instance, per engine. This is why we recommend connecting both sides only after the SuperRack inventory is set up with the Digico I/O, Server and ProLink Console Remote.
- 1. Mark all your hardware and cables! Associate switches and servers to Engines A or B.
  2. Connect the following to Switch A:
    DiGiCo Engine A
    Waves I/O A
    Host Computer A
    Server #1 - A Primary
    Server #2 (optional) – A Redundant/additional server
  3. Connect the following to Switch B:
    DiGiCo Engine B
    Waves I/O B
    Host Computer B
    Server #1 - B Primary
    Server #2 (optional) – B Redundant/additional server
  4. Don’t connect an ethernet cable between Switches A and B yet.
  Important: Each engine’s Waves IO and SoundGrid server must be connected to the same switch and assigned on the same SuperRack instance, per engine. This is why we recommend connecting both sides only after the SuperRack inventory is set up with the Digico I/O, Server and ProLink Console Remote.
- On engine A, go to Options > Console tab.
- Under Enable External Waves click YES and make sure the NIC of the console is chosen as Waves network.
- Select ProLink if not already selected. Select Legacy if running SuperRack V14.23 and below.
- Repeat on engine B.
- Power cycle the console.
1. If you already have a SuperRack session file, place it in the SuperRack SoundGrid Integrated session folder location:
  - Windows: C:\Users\Public\Waves Audio\SuperRack SoundGrid\Integrated Sessions
  - Mac: Mac HD > Users > Shared > Waves Audio > SuperRack SoundGrid SoundGrid > Integrated Sessions
2. Launch SuperRack SoundGrid on Computer A.
3. In the Setup tab, under Port, choose the host computer’s LAN port that is used for SoundGrid. Assuming we’ve already connected the SuperRack computer to the network, a valid port’s link status will show “Up” and the speed should show 1GBps.
4. Assign the DiGiCo Waves I/O and server(s) in the I/O and Servers panels respectively.
5. Set up ProLink Console Remote:
  - In SuperRack’s Setup tab under Controllers, assign the ProLink Console Remote Control module to the first slot.
  - Click on the gearbox to open the panel.
  - Assign the console. The status should change to Connected.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 on Computer B!
The instructions below assume that you properly configured network communication between the two consoles/engines about to be mirrored.
1. Connect a cable between Switches A and B.
2. In the SuperRack Setup tab under Controllers, assign the Mirror Control module on both computers.
3. Click on the gear wheel to open the panel.
4. The network port will be assigned automatically (starting from SuperRack v14.30).
5. On DiGiCo engine A, go to Network and click "send session to selected".
6. After both SuperRack B and Engine B have received the session, click 'Mirror to selected'.
7. When done, both Mirror Control modules in SuperRack A & B should read: "Mirroring Established" and the console's network window should show 'Waves Mirrored' with a green OK.

Ran into a problem? See ‘Possible Issues’ section in our DiGiCo Remote Control Integration Guidelines.

Need any assistance, or have more questions? Contact Technical Support.

SuperRack