Description
FEATURES
- 48 Flexi Input Channels
- 16 Flexi Aux / Sub-Group Busses
- LR Master Bus
- 10 x 8 Full Processing Matrix
- 2 Solo
- 4 (To Follow) Dynamic Equalizers
- 4 Assignable DiGiTuBes
- 4 Assignable Multiband Compressors
- 8 Digital FX
- 16 Assignable Graphic Equalizers
- Optional Waves Integration
- 96kHz Sample Rate
- N/A Optics
OVERVIEW
Since it’s inception in 2002, DiGiCo has always tried to innovate
and push technology to deliver more in terms of flexibility and audio quality.
There are limitless highlights, but two immediately come to mind; DiGiCo was
the first console manufacturer to use TFT touch screen technology, and then
went on to pioneer Stealth Digital Processing’s FPGA technology to replace DSP
as the main audio processor. Stealth Digital Processing has been instrumental
in the SD Series range, where, in a recent independent survey, DiGiCo played a
pivotal role in eight of the top ten international grossing tours of 2014;
evidence enough that when it comes to live sound consoles, DiGiCo pioneers the
way. ‘Cutting edge’ means leading the world against the norm by demonstrating
what can be possible with new unharnessed technology. That’s exactly what the
vision of FPGA and Stealth Digital Processing promised and the thousands of
users today will confirm the reality. The flexibility of being able to
reprogram devices from switch on to taking advantage of new compiling tools has
allowed the SD range functionality to expand beyond expectation.
Using SD9 as our reference example, those investing at the time of launch of this
ground breaking product have seen their console evolve into something more
comprehensive and powerful, ie: Channels – at launch 40 Flexi channels, today
48 flexi channels (20 % more). Busses – at launch 16 flexi busses, today 24
flexi busses (50 % more). Output Matrix – at launch 8 In / 8 Out, today 12 In /
8 Out. On board FX – at launch 4 FX, today 8 FX. Dynamic EQ – at launch 4 DYN
EQ, today 8 DYN EQ
No other console has evolved in terms of core processing to this level, and to take it further the complete sample rate shifted from 48kHz to 96kHz. This sample rate increase, in any ordinary console, would mean a reduction in audio processing. This is not the case with Stealth Digital Processing. When SD9 switched to 96kHz in 2012, there was no reduction in audio processing. All these updates were provided to existing owners at no additional cost, allowing them to make an exceptional return on their investment.
DiGiCo’s belief in audio quality and road worthy mechanical design has limited their ability to release an affordable introductory product. These values have required the same pioneering approach to design, not to follow the trend but to deliver the flagship for a price point – and change expectations. DiGiCo’s S21 does exactly that. By using new, lower cost FPGA components programmed with the same audio algorithms, and combined with a new form of control processor, DiGiCo is able to deliver the S21 with the fundamental technological values at it’s core. Running in harmony with the FPGA core is a new ARM QuadCore RISC processor. Delivering faster processing with lower power consumption, this efficient tool, combined with the audio core, has allowed the development of a cost effective console worthy of carrying the DiGiCo brand to existing and new owners and users.
How to make the step
To date, it has been the Tiger SHARC controlling the FPGA, but integrating
these three technologies, along with networking capabilities, was a brand new
challenge. Using the high power QuadCore SoC, associated with high bandwidth
memory, S21 connects to a low power 484-ball array FPGA which in turn connects
to fourth generation control SHARC DSP, capable of not only controlling the
FPGA, but offering the potential for additional processing in the future. The
compact footprint of the S21 has no relationship to the scale of processing
power going on under the polycarbonate worksurface.
Two Touch Screens
Touch screens are now part of our daily lives, but if you go back to our
digital beginnings, DiGiCo incorporated them in designs as long ago as 1997.
Continuing their integration, with the advantages of speed of control and user
feedback, meant that S21 had to bend the rules again. We utilised the latest
P-CAP multi-touch screens for clear visual feedback and gesture control, but
also did not limit the user to a single screen – by providing multiple
multi-touch screens!
The compact dual screen design of S21 provides 10 channel strips per screen
allowing the operator instant feedback and control on 20 simultaneous channels.
This amount of instantaneous feedback offers total reassurance when mixing
large shows, but the newly designed drag, swipe and drop channel layout system
makes it simple for operators to move channels and busses across the surface to
design their own custom fader layouts.
Whatever function you are using, there is an interactive meter where you would
expect it, and helpful colour coding so you know which section you’re looking
at, be it channel, aux, or group.
Visual feedback is all reinforced with the HTL functionality of the encoder
rings, and anything not in use is automatically greyed out on the console so
operator’s attention is drawn to the right controls.
The beauty of having two screens not only gives you more channels to view at
any one time, but it allows you to utilise one as a setup or master screen,
while still operating with the other. You are always looking in the same
location, whatever function you have highlighted.
Touch the EQ screen, and you can choose to pinch, touch and drag your curves on
the touch screen, or for a more tactile experience, use the rotary encoders to
fine-tune your frequencies, then press to change function or switch on/off.
It’s the same philosophy for all other processing functions within the console.
The new look screen designs are all developed under the flat designs
philosophy, to aid the user learning curve and take away distraction from an
operator. These new designs will still be familiar to existing DiGiCo users,
but allow new operators to feel at home and ready to take advantage of the
wealth of integrated processing.
Channel Bank Layout: as with all DiGiCo products, you can alter where the banks
are located, and mix and match any channel, aux, group, control group, or
matrix within a bank, with the ease of drag and drop, at the touch of a screen.
Interfacing
S21 comes complete with dual DMI (DiGiCo Multichannel Interface) option card
slots, perfect for expandability, as it can interface with industry formats be
it Analogue expansion, MADI, Dante, Waves SoundGrid, or Calrec’s Hydra 2
Network. All bases are covered.
Construction
As an audio engineer, when you first stand in front of an S21, it looks and
feels remarkably inviting. You want to touch and control the audio. This level
of connection with the audio sources and their manipulation is something the
world’s leading audio engineers experience when they harness the powerful SD7.
From the aerospace graded aluminium extrusion, the durable polycarbonate
overlays, the RGB LED Hidden Til Lit technology coupled with touch sensitive
faders / encoders and integrated LED light bar, you know it’s a DiGiCo before
you turn the PA on. The S21 redefines industry expectations at its price point.