PL+S 2012: DiGiCo unveil new SD5 mixing console

DiGiCo have unveiled their brand new mixing console featuring their proprietary Stealth Digital Processing, the SD5, at this year’s ProLight + Sound event in Frankfurt.

The SD5—which comes a decade after the company’s launch of the D5 live—has been designed to provide a low noise, high dissipation work surface (benefitting from Hidden-til-lit (HTL) technology).

It features five digitally driven full-colour TFT LCD screens of which three are touch sensitive. These screens also have a new configuration in order to allow easy access for single and multiple users.

To speed up navigation, the SD5 also includes two Interactive Dynamic Metering (IDM) displays as well as instant access “quick select” buttons. These are positioned down the left side of the two channel screens for ease of access.

The SD5 also incorporates the master screen into the worksurface meterbridge design. This allows complete user feedback whilst also maintaining a lower profile meter bridge. This also retains clear visibility of those on stage for the user whilst at the same time keeping everything in close reach to the mix position.

The SD5 comes with a 2GB fibre optic system. This is able to handle 448 channels of I/O at 96kHz.The SD5 is also able to handle 56 console-to-console tie lines. This emans that the SD5 is able to be connected up to 14 of the SD-series racks.

Overall, the SD5 has 124 input channels; 56 configurable busses, plus up to 5.1 master; a 24 x 24 fixed matrix; DiGiTubes on every channel, buss and output; 24 assignable Dynamic EQ; 24 multiband compressors; 24 stereo effects; 32 Graphic EQ; 10 x 4 (40) RGB backlit macro buttons; plus the ability to add a Waves upgrade.

As standard, the SD5 comes with a 2Gb fibre optic system, which is capable of running 448 channels of I/O at 96kHz, plus 56 console-to-console tie lines, allowing connection to up to 14 of the SD-Series racks. There are three redundant MADI ports and local I/O includes eight microphone inputs, eight line outputs and eight AES I/O (mono).

As DiGiCo point out, as with all SD range consoles, the SD5’s superior headroom, dynamic range and audio quality are of paramount importance and its feature set surpasses any other console in its class.