The reason you can't use the effects at the same time as the Send / Return is simply the way it was designed. I'm all for channel-based AUX loops myself, but we'll see what comes out next time. Make a product suggestion (top of every page)!

I've used the EFX500 with plenty of mixers (DJM300, 500, 3000, and 2 Num4rk mixers) and never had any complaints about how they work together.

Play around with the knobs a bit and you'll like them, I prefer them over faders.

...which is why a new unit is on the R&D workbench. No release date is set yet, Karl figures 2005.

If I had an EFX500 I'd be willing to lose the onboard effects. There's more the EFX can do, with better control. You can run 2 layers of effects with the EFX, but not onboard. Why would you want 3 layers?

Can you post those to the TRAX forum instead of here? They'll get lost.

No worries, I'm just sayin' if you are going to post audio samples, most cases it's better to plunk'm in a new thread in a forum which is appropriate for it. The end of this thread isn't the best place.