DiGiCo showed its Quantum 7 processing, 32bit DAC, 4REA4 digital audio networking system, L-Isa Source Control and new features for DiGiCo SD consoles at Prolight + Sound 2018.
Quantum 7 was developed with seventh generation FPGA devices that expands an SD7 to more than 600 channels of processing in 96kHz operation that can be connected in the outside world to nearly 3000 potential I/Os. The engine is also equipped with eight newly assignable MADI connections and two DMI slots (DiGiCo Multi-Channel Interface) for AoIP and other connectivity options.
4REA4, first shown at ISE in February, is designed for large entertainment venues, houses of worship, theatres and shared stages at festivals and music venues.
The system is designed around the 4REA4 processing engine with DiGiCo connectivity options and 4REA4 control software, providing routing, processing and mix control via a network of local I/O boxes that allows a performance area to expand across an installation. The 4REA4 processing engine rack has four dedicated mix areas, or zones, each with its own stereo master output, CGs, and allocated FX. It offers 128 input channels and 48 buss output processing strips.
Managing the mixing and routing of each individual local performance area are a new range of hardware control panels and external I/O units that work in conjunction with the 4REA4 processing engine and control software. New Ethernet connected controller options include the wall mounting single rotary ACONTROL1 with a TFT display for small area performance management, and the ACONTROL8 with eight 100m faders designed for more complex mix and function control.
Local I/O boxes are managed via proprietary Ethernet or Dante connectivity for extended reach across a facility, with options including the new A168 STAGE floor rack and the A164 WALL LCD box, both providing mic and line level connectivity for 96kHz audio.
L-Isa Source Control for L-Acoustics L-Isa immersive technology has been natively integrated into SD-Series, adding L-Isa’s object-based mixing technology to the console’s control surface.
D&b audiotechnik has also announced integrations between Soundscape’s central DS100 Signal Engine and digital mixing consoles, including the SD7 and SD12, which open up bi-directional interoperability between the DS100 via plug ins operating on the OSC protocol. The plug in allows engineers to work with their existing sound console workflows, yet have access to a whole new world of creative potential by bringing the settings for object-based positioning and room emulation directly on to the console surface for each individual channel. The settings can then be stored in the mixer's scene memory.