Frankfurt’s ProLight+Sound 2011 will see the unveiling of two new consoles to DiGiCo’s acclaimed SD Series. The first is the SD Ten which has once again pushed the boundaries of digital mixing as a console that boasts features and benefits instantly distinguishing it from the others in the SD Series as well as every other digital console on the market.
Sitting comfortably between the SD7 and SD8, both in terms of performance and price, the SD Ten comes with all the refinements you would expect in any DiGiCo console, but with some exciting new options.
The new console’s work surface is constructed from anodised aluminium, overlaid with polycarbonate panels to provide clear and concise user feedback. A large 15 inch, touch sensitive screen provides both information and fast control of all the main parameters.
The control surface features 37 100mm touch sensitive faders, providing fast access to the console’s large number of channels. 96 channels with full processing are provided (12 of which can be configured as full Flexi Channels). Outputs that can be assigned across the surface and all inputs have dual mono inputs for fast ‘Main’ and ‘Alt’ channel switching.
Smart Key Macros are provided which can be accessed via four layers of ten backlit keys. The user can program these to control a function of any complexity at the push of a button.
Local I/O, positioned on the rear of the console, comprises eight mic inputs, eight line outputs, eight mono AES I/O, two MADI connections with redundant cabling connections, 16 GPI and GPO connections (with the option to expand to 32 GPI and GPO), MIDI, Wordclock, MADI and Optocore for synchronisation.
As you would expect from DiGiCo, the SD Ten features extremely powerful processing. Standard input channel processing includes channel delay; single and multi channel presets; HPF and LPF with an industry leading 24db per octave; four bands of parametric EQ with band curve selection; compressor and gate; dual insert points and access to all bussing.
Standard output channel processing includes output delay; eight bands of parametric EQ (previously only seen on the SD7); compressor and gate; dual insert points; groups with buss to buss routing, plus Auxes that have direct talk to output with dim control.
Dynamic EQ provides both expansion and compression on all four bands of parametric EQ. These powerful processors can be assigned to any of the input or output channels, whether stereo or LCR, with ten units being allocated as required. In addition, any input or output channel can be mastered via the multi-band compressors – perfect for managing complex in ear monitoring or difficult input channels.
48 assignable busses can be configured as mono or stereo groups, or auxiliary busses. There is also an additional stereo or LCR Master buss and 16×12 output matrix, highlighting the SD range’s renowned routing flexibility. Additionally, dual solo busses come standard allowing monitor engineers the comfort of accurate monitoring security.
Insertable FX and graphic EQs can be routed, controlled and recalled via snapshots enabling the most complex show designs. The 24 graphics can easily be inserted and controlled from the work surface and 10 stereo FX units can be configured at any time from the palette of thirty-three Stealth FX. Integration with Waves plugins offers yet more processing options.
Unlike all other Sound Grid platforms, DiGiCo provide complete control of plug in parameters, as well as the recall of snapshots and single loading / saving, directly from the work surface. 16 stereo Sound Grid racks can be inserted with up to 8 instances per rack.
As with all DiGiCo consoles, the SD Ten software runs on a standard PC or Intel-based Macintosh for offline preparation and remote control of the console. One SD Ten can also be linked to another using a standard CAT5 crossover cable. This provides 74 faders in total for control. In this configuration, the audio engine of the first SD Ten provides complete redundancy for the other.
As if all this wasn’t enough, the SD Ten offers even more expansion options:
- Second-generation Optocore optic connections. Just like the SD7, the SD Ten can connect to up to 14 SD or D-Rack IDs with 448 audio channels on a single redundant optical loop.
- Five redundant consoles can share all inputs from the stage racks, and outputs on the system can be assigned in blocks of eight. For example, a single rack can provide 56 inputs to both consoles with 40 of the outputs assigned to the monitor console and 16 used by Front of House for feeds back to the stage.
- One console can even directly route outputs to another console on the loop, for convenient tie lines.
- D-Rack, SD-Rack, SD7 and SD Ten can operate together at 96khz. The audio advantage here is clear, but also means just over 1ms of latency when routing a stage input through a channel and buss, with processing back to a stage output.
- Sound Grid Waves can be added allowing full connection and control of a Waves Sound Grid which delivers low latency plug-ins on a floating point digital console.
- Connectivity to the outside world isn’t restricted to just the D-Rack and SD-Rack either. The SD Ten comes with different I/O options because tailored DiGiCo systems and complex set ups are completely user configurable.
Finally, the SD Ten also features dual hot swap, switch mode, PSUs as standard.
