California State University, Bakersfield recently purchased a Soundcraft Si Performer 3 console for its growing music and theatre programmes.

The desk is used for live mixing shows in the 485-seat Doré Theatre, which include jazz and other music productions, theatrical events, musicals and opera. The board was purchased through Full Compass Systems.

To accommodate the wireless microphones for the Music and Theatre Department productions, performing arts technician Frank Robinson chose an Si Performer 3 with 32 channels for sufficient capacity and room for future expansion. The sound booth where the console sits also allows for a simplified wiring network, and will permit elimination of much of the internal house wiring at a later date.

“We chose Soundcraft because we wanted a brand new system within our budget that works consistently and reliably,” said Robinson. “From my decades of tour sound experience, I know that Soundcraft makes solid consoles, and the Si Performer is a good combination of intuitive design and great sound for the money.”

The theatre features continental seating that is both wide and shallow, creating ideal acoustics for theatrical and musical applications. Robinson capitalised on these favourable conditions by specifying a console that Soundcraft says "is great not only in sound quality but also workflow." So far, onboard tools such as FaderGlow have been well received by students and staff alike.

“At our venue, not a lot of reproduction is needed, but we still wanted to get the perfect mix, and this board delivers on that,” Robinson continued. “Since installation, events for which we used the Si Performer went smoothly, partly thanks to how quickly the students learned how to operate the board. Compared to some of the more expensive Yamaha consoles, this Soundcraft console sounds great and makes mixing easier, especially when it comes to patching.”

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