SD8-24 : Overview
DigiCo SD8-24: Into overdrive and beyond...
The SD8-24 is a particularly versatile console with the same Stealth Digital Processing and floating point Super FPGA technology seen in the flagship SD7. It offers a truly superlative performance at a competitive price and comes in an even smaller footprint than the SD8, something which will appeal to engineers across the board.
Scratching the surface
The SD8-24 has all the same power and functionality as the 37-fader SD8, but in a smaller frame, comprising 24 main channel faders and a master fader.
At the heart of the console's worksurface is a 15-inch, high resolution TFT LCD touch screen with backlit display. Through this user-friendly interface, any bank of 12 faders can be instantly assigned as input or output channels, allowing all 24 main faders to control inputs if desired; equally, any bank of 12 can also be assigned to the touch screen for fine-tuning.
In addition, the SD8-24 benefits from dedicated multi-function control knobs and electronic labelling.
What's under the hood?
Like the SD8, the SD8-24 boasts 60 processing channels at 48kHz/96kHz, all of which are Flexi Channels (configurable as either mono or stereo), which is the equivalent of 120 channels of full DSP processing.
Standard channel processing, whether inputs or outputs, includes Channel Delay, Single and Multi Channel Presets, Dual insert points, Hi- and Lo-pass filters @ 24dB/octave, four-band parametric EQ with band curve selection, DigiCo's DYN 1 (Compressor, De-esser or Multi Channel Compressor) and DYN 2 (Gate, Compressor or Ducker).
The console also benefits from 10 Dynamic EQ processors, all of which can be assigned to any of the input or output channels. These powerful processors offer dynamic processing on each of the four standard parametric bands, plus there are also10 Multiband Compressors and 10 DiGiTubes; and no matter how the console is set up, the user won't lose any resources, as all the channels are equipped to provide the same high quality signal path and feature set.
The master section incorporates 24 gangable 32-band graphic EQs, 12 stereo effects (selectable from a palette of 33), and 12 control groups (VCAs); and using snapshots, engineers can now switch between complete configurations in any live environment easier than ever before, be it at rehearsals, during system setup, or even at a show.
In addition, we've included 24 Flexi busses, all of which are assignable as mono/stereo groups or auxiliary busses; and in addition to these busses, for further configurability, we've provided a 16 x 12 output Matrix, dual solo busses, and a Master buss. Essentially, users have the equivalent of 67 busses of DSP at their disposal.
Unlike all other digital console manufacturers, you don't lose Aux or Group Busses when using the Matrix as they are in addition, including the Master buss.
I/O
The SD8-24 has exactly the same local I/O as the SD8: eight mic inputs, eight outputs, eight mono AES I/O, and two MADI connections.
The console comes as standard with a MaDiRack which is an 8U fixed 48 input with eight analogue outputs, with the ability to increase these outputs to 24 with any combination of analogue AES/EBU or AVIOM.
As with all DigiCo consoles, it can also connect to an SD-Rack, an SD-Mini, and SD-Nano Rack.
There is also a factory fit Optocore option which allows for connectivity to all DigiCo racks and consoles in a redundant loop.
In addition, there is an optional DigiCo SoundGrid module which, when linked to an external PC server such as SoundGrid or DiGiGrid, provides the user with instant access to 16 fully integrated low-latency Waves stereo Multi Racks, each with the ability to have up to eight plugins per rack. That's 64 I/O - and as you'd expect from DigiCo, this is all additional I/O.
All Waves compatible plugins are pre-loaded, and as this is integral within the console, you have the added advantage of touch screen control; and all shapshots and session files are saved within the console.
DiGiCo
DiGiCo (UK) Limited brings together the design and development skills that have helped create some of the world's most popular, successful and ground-breaking live sound consoles, with the digital engineering expertise and manufacturing resources of Soundtracs.
The company was formed in 2002 to develop the D5 Live digital mixing system, a revolutionary approach to both the live sound console and the way it interfaces with both ends of the audio chain.
In basing a console around a powerful DSP engine using proven Soundtracs hardware and software, but with features dedicated to live sound mixing, DiGiCo created the worldâ??s first truly open-ended console system, for which additional features will be made available in new software versions. This design philosophy ensures your investment in state of the art audio technology today will remain state of the art in the future. The D5 Live from DiGiCo: science dedicated to advancing the art of live sound engineering.
Soundtracs was formed in the early 1980s by a group of recording engineers in search of a better studio console than those available at the time. The teamâ??s success led to two decades of audio innovation and, in 1992, its first development of a digital audio mixing console.
In 1996 this program led to the launch of the acclaimed Virtua console, followed a year later by the DPC, in 1998 the DS3 and in 2000 the D4. Since 2000 the companyâ??s product range has been based entirely on digital audio.
Along the way a host of new technologies has been introduced, including the first use by a console manufacturer of the revolutionary Sharc DSP from Analog Devices, a faster, more efficient processor than any then on the market, the first (and still the most comprehensive) use of multiple TFT LCD touchscreens, a pioneer in the use of a 96kHz sample rate, and the first to run multiple sample rates simultaneously.
This is just some of the experience that has gone into creating the D1 Live digital mixing system, the latest innovation from one of the pioneers of professional digital audio.
Used Digital Mixing Consoles
Audio mixers, or sound consoles, are electronic sound mixing boards used to combine two or more audio signals, before directing them to the output channels connected to the device.
Sound consoles do a great deal more than just combining different audio signals they allow users to optimize the sound output in a number of ways adjusting various sound levels, enhancing sound with special effects and equalization etc, allowing for unmatched control over the end product.
