With a portfolio of more than 198 industry accolades, the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) is Australia’s most awarded convention venue. Positioned in the heart of Brisbane’s cultural entertainment precinct and surrounded by major art institutions, the BCEC offers a dynamic stage for world-class conventions, exhibits and major concerts. Spanning three decades of operation, the BCEC has forged a best-in-class reputation and a standard of excellence that is reflected in every aspect of its technical workflow. Already a longstanding DiGiCo partner, BCEC has further strengthened its console inventory with the addition of the manufacturer’s flagship Quantum 852 digital mixing console, reinforcing the venue’s commitment to world-leading AV performance.
Trusted as a rider-friendly, premier events destination, the BCEC’s existing DiGiCo inventory already comprised a fleet of consoles from the brand’s proven SD range. Working with DiGiCo’s Australian distributor Group Technologies, the BCEC’s investment in the Quantum 852 was an ideal addition to a venue committed to maintaining industry-leading production capabilities, as Michael Duckworth, BCEC’s Technology & Innovation Director, explains:
“At BCEC, we’re committed to providing our clients and touring productions with the very best technical capabilities and event experiences. We’re continually seeking innovative solutions that enhance our offering and keep us at the forefront of the industry. The Quantum 852 is a significant addition to our audio inventory, and our longstanding partnership with Group Technologies has played an important role in helping us deliver this investment for our clients.”
Reflecting on the BCEC’s expanding audio capabilities, Group Technologies’ Director of Sales, Shane Cannon, explains why the console was a fitting choice for a venue experiencing significant growth and increased technical demands:
“For the BCEC, expanding on an already robust DiGiCo inventory meant that upgrading its existing console to the Quantum 852 was a natural progression. From originally utilising one of the previous flagship consoles in the SD range, to now enjoying DiGiCo’s newest flagship, the BCEC have always demanded the best-of-the-best, which is what the Quantum 852 offers. Driving their move into the Quantum range was a desire to harness the console’s large channel and fader counts. The built-in redundancy is essential for a venue of this scale, plus continuing within the DiGiCo ecosystem is a huge advantage for multiple reasons; they’ve scaled the system right up with this console and new racks, so the operators and techs already fluent with SD workflows have had a seamless transition thanks to the familiar interface. Helping them embrace and fast track their experience- and offering DiGiCo’s most advanced mixing console- means the BCEC is equipped with tier one, widely sought-after technology for touring riders.”
The Quantum 852 brings a wealth of flexibility, comprehensive control and expansive channel density thanks to DiGiCo’s cutting-edge FPGA processors and fully redundant dual-engine system. Offering 384 input channels, 192 Aux / Sub-Group busses and a 64 x 64 full-processing matrix, the 852 merges tried and tested workflows with immense processing muscle. A newly-designed worksurface offers 52 physical faders and 3 x 21.3” LCD high-resolution touchscreens, whilst advanced internal tools like Nodal Processing, Mustard Processing, True Solo, and Spice Rack enhance its versatility and sound-shaping capabilities. The Quantum 852 has local I/O in abundance, including 12 Ultimate ‘Stadius’ 32 bit analogue inputs, 12 Stadius 32 bit analogue outputs, and 12 Bit Perfect AES I/O (6 stereo). On the back of each engine there are eight single or four redundant BNC MADI ports, Word Clock, AES Sync and Video Sync inputs, along with Dual DMI slots per engine and Optocore inputs as standard, with space for an optional second Optocore loop.
Recognised as a pioneering platform in digital mixing, the Quantum 852 aligns with BCEC’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of professional audio, with Shane summarizing:
“The deployment of this flagship console in such a large, demanding and respected venue has been a great match. For its scale and requirements, the BCEC has acquired a best-in-class console that will serve it well for years to come, and the customer is delighted with its operational performance.”
See more about the Quantum 852 on the official DiGiCo website.
