Digico SD9T Digital Console: True Power for Complex productions"

The SD9T brings all the advanced theatre features of the flagship SD7T to the smaller SD9.

For over a decade, DiGiCo has been working with world-class sound designers, including Andrew Bruce (Les Misérables, Chess, Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins), to develop a software package that provides the tools needed to address the highly demanding discipline of live theatre sound reinforcement. The results have made the SD7T a standard on the majority of productions on Broadway and in the West End. This feature set is now available to an even wider selection of live theatre users around the world, thanks to the impressive specs of the smaller, more cost conscious, SD9T.

Some of the biggest problems in live theatre sound are those of ‘imaging’ as performers move around the stage whilst occasionally donning hats which profoundly affect their sound due to the proximity of the head-worn microphones. As a result, a designer will build a show file with a long cue list and use our theatre specific programming tools, including the Auto Update system and Aliases for cue-to-cue changes, and Matrix nodal delays for precise sound positioning.

The theatre variant of the Auto Update function instantly updates the channel parameters to all cues; and by using Aliases, affects only those cues where that parameter is the same. For example, if you wanted to make an EQ change to character ‘Bob’, but not in the cues where Bob is wearing a hat, you would create an Alias ‘Bob Hat,’ and any changes you made to ‘Bob’ would track through the cues without updating the Alias ‘Bob Hat’ and vice versa.

Additionally, as theatre shows make much more use of Control Groups (CGs - also known as VCAs) than traditional live programming, DiGiCo provide a visual CG programming interface. This, along with the SD9T’s 12 CG channels, allows the engineer to maintain control of the constantly changing cast on stage, by quickly assigning and un-assigning CG members with reference to the cue list.

One of the most time-saving tools in the collection is the Players function. This allows the engineer to quickly deal with cast changes on stage. What was once a process of recalling the proper preset for each Alias is now simply a matter of selecting the actor performing that role. The show is then automatically updated with all the settings for that actor.

Additional features include template sessions and Sets (previously only available on SD7T), which has been enhanced to allow for ‘Set Spill’. This allows the user to create Sets and, with a simple button press, change the console layout to display members of that Set.

Scratching the surface

The SD9T features 24 touch-sensitive motorized faders and benefits from quick access function buttons for faster response times. At the heart of the console's worksurface is a 15-inch, high-resolution TFT LCD touch screen with backlit display.

In addition, the SD9T benefits from dedicated multi-function control knobs and electronic labeling.

What's under the hood?

The SD9T boasts 96 Channels at 48kHz/96kHz. Standard channel processing, whether inputs or outputs, includes Channel Delay, Single and Multi-Channel Presets, Dual insert points, Hi- and Lo-pass filters @ 24dB/octave, four-band parametric EQ with band curve selection, Dual insert points, DiGiCo's DYN 1 (Compressor, De-esser or Multi-Channel Compressor) and DYN 2 (Gate, Compressor or Ducker).

The console also benefits from eight 155 Dynamic EQ processors, all of which can be assigned to any of the input or output channels. These powerful processors offer Dynamic processing on each of the four standard parametric bands, plus there are also 155 Multiband Compressors and 155 DiGiTubes; and no matter how the console is set up, the user won't lose any resources, as all channels are equipped to provide the same high-quality signal path and feature set.

The master section incorporates 16 gangable 32-band graphic EQs, 12 stereo effects (selectable from a palette of 33), and 12 control groups (VCAs).

We've also included 48  busses, all of which are assignable as mono/stereo groups or auxiliary busses; and in addition to these busses, for further configurability, we've provided a 16 x 16 output matrix with crosspoint delays on each of the matrix nodes (that can also be recorded in the cue list), dual solo busses, and a Master buss.

Unlike all other digital console manufacturers, you don't lose Aux or Group Busses when using the Matrix as they are in addition, including the Master buss.

I/O

The SD9T has a vast Local I/O section including eight mic inputs, eight line outs, four mono AES/EBU, one MADI port, and two dedicated D-Rack Ports.

The D-Rack is a 32-input, eight-output remote I/O rack which comes as standard with the SD9B with the option to increase to 16 outputs if desired. Users can also connect a second D-Rack (as with the Rack Pack combination) which will provide a total of 72 mic inputs.

There is also a factory fit Optocore option which allows for connectivity to all DiGiCo racks and consoles in a redundant loop.
In addition, there is an optional DiGiCo SoundGrid module which can be fitted. When linked to an external PC server such as SoundGrid or DiGiGrid. This provides the user with instant access to 32 fully integrated low-latency Waves stereo Multi Racks, each with the ability to have up to eight plugins per rack. That's 128 I/O - and as you'd expect from DiGiCo, this is all additional I/O.

All Waves compatible plugins are pre-loaded, and as this is integral within the console, you have the added advantage of touch screen control; and all snapshots and session files are saved within the console.

• 96 Input Channels
• 48 Aux / Sub-Group Busses
• LR/LCR Master Bus
• 12 x 8 Full Processing Matrix
• 2 Solo
• 155 Dynamic Equalizers
• 155 DiGiTuBes
• 155 Multiband Compressors
• 12 Digital FX
• 16 Graphic Equalizers
• Optional Waves Integration
• 48/96kHz Sample Rate
• Optional Optics

User Manual