BUENA PARK, Calif.—Built originally as a private high school located in a residential neighborhood of Montreal, the school has transitioned to College Regina Assumpta, recently designing a 705-seat concert hall as part of the revitalization of the college. “An interesting feature of this project is that the concert hall is found inside a courtyard,� states Guy Desmarteaux, main designer and consultant, GO multimedia inc. “This offers the advantage of having the sound of city noise insulated. Specialized in music and dance education, the school now has a powerful tool for development and improvement.�

The Director of the College, Pierre Carle, was on a mission to make the venue a place where the sound quality could compete with the best concert halls. The team of GO professionals listened to the requirements and combining their knowledge, Carle, accompanied by the Director of the Equipment Christophe Bancilhon, and Eric Brunet, responsible for the audio-visual, worked in obtaining the desired result.

Desmarteaux was assisted by Julie Quenneville, architect and scenograph, with Simon Lemieux, Éric Berteau and Pascal Malenfant Tremblay as the consultant team from GO multimédia inc. The architectural firm for the project was Architectes Gagné & Villeneuve. Electrical and structural engineers collaborated with great ease, and always in the interest of the client, to create a professional level concert hall. “From the beginning of the project, the architects and engineers were happy to work with us to achieve a unique space,â€� says Desmarteaux. “The design was a team effort. The shape, volume, and parameters of the hall were the results of our discussions and proposals.”

“Technologically, it seemed normal and unequivocal to install digital,â€� notes Desmarteaux. “The scale of the challenge was mainly in the integration of clusters of speakers; quite a challenge to integrate the main sound system in a non-apparent way at higher proscenium.â€� The main PA consists of four NEXO GEO S1230, eight NEXO GEO S1210, and two RS18 Ray Subs. Three NEXO NXAMP4x4 amplifiers, allowing an active configuration, power the entire system. A set of loudspeakers provides the surround sound reproduction as well as front fills. All signal processing is accomplished using a digital controller with several adjustable settings via a control and management system using a touchpad. Solotech, Montreal, completed the system installation under the supervision of Charles Cadieux and Gilles Côté.

The clusters are installed with a charge differential between the top and bottom speakers. An important physical exercise was necessary in order to integrate them so as to sonically cover the entire audience. NEXO NS-1 software that determines the methods of possible hanging was suggesting that it was an off-standard or impossible installation. Michel Trépanier and his team at Yamaha assisted in facilitating the integration of the clusters. The optimal positioning of the cardioid subwoofers was determined after several tests and measures to match the acoustic phase and frequency response. “The sound image is an important factor not to be neglected,� adds Desmarteaux.

During the concert hall’s construction, interest was raised from internationally known conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Once the project was completed, the venue’s acoustics charmed him, and a three-year agreement was signed between the College and the Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Nézet-Séguin, for the concert hall to be used as their practice space.

For more information on Collège Regina Assumpta, visit http://www.reginaassumpta.qc.ca.

For more information on GO multimedia inc. visit www.gomultimedia.net.

For more information on NEXO products, visit www.yamahaca.com.

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About Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.:
Celebrating 125 years of Passion and Performance, and 25 years in the manufacturer of high quality digital audio consoles, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. (YCAS) provides a full line of integrated professional audio products offering complete systems solutions for the broadcast, sound reinforcement/installed sound, touring, commercial recording, and post production markets. With the addition of NEXO to the product line, the company remains the official U.S. and Canadian distributor for all NEXO speaker models. YCAS offers comprehensive in-house and field product training for its customers, a dedicated dealer network, and 24/7 technical support.

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Initially launched in 2010 the Yamaha M7CL StageMix application for the iPad allowed wireless remote control of M7CL mixing parameters for the first time. The combination of the iPad interface and StageMix concept turned out to be very successful, providing unprecedented monitor setup, freedom and flexibility. Versions for the Yamaha LS9 and CL Series soon followed.

Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. has announced the latest updates available in StageMix Version 4. Version 4 includes new Dynamics Parameter Editing, Output Port Delay Editing, Output Port Levels (Gain/Attenuation), PEQ Copy and Paste, Phantom Power Switching, Mix Send Pre/Post Switching, HPF Slope Parameter (CL V1.5 only), Retina Display Support, and other enhancements.

“StageMix Version 4 will work seamlessly with Yamaha CL, M7CL, and LS9 Series Consoles and bring our end users more convenience and efficiency in setting up for live sound events,� states Kevin Kimmel, Systems Application Engineer, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.

Yamaha StageMix Version 4 is scheduled for release in May of 2013, and will be available from the Apple iTunes Store as a free upgrade. For more information on StageMix Version 4, visit www.yamahaca.com.

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About Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.:
Celebrating 125 years of Passion and Performance, and 25 years in the manufacturer of high quality digital audio consoles, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. (YCAS) provides a full line of integrated professional audio products offering complete systems solutions for the broadcast, sound reinforcement/installed sound, touring, commercial recording, and post production markets. With the addition of NEXO to the product line, the company remains the official U.S. and Canadian distributor for all NEXO speaker models. YCAS offers comprehensive in-house and field product training for its customers, a dedicated dealer network, and 24/7 technical support.

JONESVILLE, NEW YORK – APRIL 2013: For ninety years, the Jonesville Volunteer Fire Department (JVFD) has been protecting the people and property of what was once a farming community and is now a thriving suburb of Albany, New York. In response to the growing population and infrastructure for which it is responsible, the JVFD recently completed construction on a second firehouse. Pro Sound Associates (Guilderland, New York) and Live Sound, Inc. (Troy, New York) worked with electrical contractor Tech Electric (Waterford, New York) and electrical engineers M/E Engineering (Schenectady, New York) to design and install a forward-thinking, robust, sound reinforcement system centered on an Ashly ne4250.70pe combination four-channel amplifier and digital signal processor.

“Of course this was a public bid, and we had to stay very competitive,� said Dominick Campana, owner of Pro Sound Associates. “The two-rack space Ashly ne4250.70pe offered us all the functionality we needed at a very reasonable price. The control room is very small and there was no place for a wall rack. We had to fit all of our equipment in existing cabinetry. Moreover, we had to cover four zones, each with different types of loudspeakers and different acoustics. The Ashly ne4250.70pe has plenty of power to drive the system, and its DSP capabilities allowed us to effectively deal with the different acoustics.�

Two channels of amplification feed three customer-specified Bogen loudspeakers each in the apparatus bay, which is where the trucks are parked and ambient noise is often substantial. The third channel of amplification feeds four more Bogen loudspeakers in the gear room and flex bay, where ambient noise is less of a problem. Finally, the fourth channel of amplification feeds an extended string of eight contractor ceiling speakers in the radio, fitness and training rooms, and the office and corridors.

Inputs to a Shure SCM-262 mixer with priority ducking include a Tascam CD player with iPod input, a feed from the fire radio dispatch, and a desktop paging microphone. In every room, except the apparatus bay, simple wall attenuators provide adequate volume control. Because the apparatus bay loudspeakers were tapped at their highest setting and receiving 250W per string, a wall attenuator wasn’t a good choice. Instead, Campana installed an Ashly WR-1, which provides separate DSP-based control of the apparatus bay volumes via two rotary dials.

“We have a long history working with Ashly and have always found their products to be rock solid,� said Campana. “Moreover, Ashly’s Protea™ DSP software is one of – if not the – easiest to program. They’ve worked out the networking so that all we have to do is plug it and our computer into the network, scan for devices, and it comes right up. You’re right into it. It’s great to have that kind of consistently stable performance to rely on.�

ABOUT ASHLY AUDIO Ashly Audio Inc. is recognized as a world leader in the design and manufacturing of high quality & high performance signal processing equipment and power amplification for use in the commercial sound contracting and professional audio markets. The 37-year old company is headquartered in Webster, New York U.S.A.

www.ashly.com

SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 2013: A new API Legacy Plus Console with Vision automation will find a home at JD Productions in Sanford, North Carolina later this year. The 32-channel console is being built by API with many custom features for the Raleigh-area space. The recording studio’s design is being overseen by the legendary Wes Lachot of Wes Lachot Design for well-known producer John Davenport.

John Davenport grew up in Sanford, where his passion for music soon took him to New York, where he learned the recording business from the ground up. When he began in the late 70s at Secret Sound Studio, he learned the craft from some of the best engineers and producers of the times.

John spent the 80s as a recording engineer at the iconic Hit Factory in New York where he worked with a variety of impressive acts such as the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, John & Yoko, Cindy Lauper, Judy Collins, and Little Steven. He received Platinum Album awards from the United Nations for Little Steven’s Sun City, where he was chief engineer. Now returning to his hometown, it seems John has come full circle, in more ways than one.

Aside from returning to his old stomping grounds, it appears as though John will also be returning to his analog roots. Being a former staff engineer at the Hit factory, John was trained on analog consoles exclusively. After a period in digital, he will connect with his analog past using the API Legacy Plus.

“The smile on my face is because, after three decades of working at professional and makeshift studios, I finally have the opportunity of building my own dream studio,â€� he says. “It didn’t take long to select my choice of console. API, the sound and workmanship, is like no other. Thank you, Dan Zimbelman (of API), Wes Lachot Design, and the craftsmen at API making my dream possible.â€�

John’s recording studio is located along the Deep River in North Carolina where he continues to develop artists and produce films. His skills as an engineer, producer, and artist developer have led him to the title of Co-Founder and Vice President of Music of JD Productions.

The studio will be built from the ground up as a 1,300 square foot space designed by Wes Lachot of Wes Lachot Design. “I can say that I recommend API consoles to my clients because they represent the very best in analog design and sound quality and always make the room sound the best,� said Lachot. “Very best sounding rooms are nothing without the best sounding gear.�

ABOUT API (AUTOMATED PROCESSES, INC.)
Established more than 40 years ago, Automated Processes, Inc. is the leader in analog recording gear with the Vision, Legacy Series and 1608 recording consoles, as well as its classic line of modular signal processing equipment.

www.apiaudio.com

LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK: Set in the breathtaking Adirondack Mountains of New York at the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, the newly-constructed Conference Center at Lake Placid pairs the splendor and story of its surroundings with amenities that far surpass those of most big city convention centers. The architecturally stunning three-story building boasts over 90,000 square-feet of flexible ballrooms, meeting rooms, and pre-function space, not to mention decks and verandas from which to enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Starr Entertainment Group designed and installed a flexible and abundantly powerful A/V system for the center, in part by relying on Ashly ne8250 eight-channel network amplifiers that deliver 250-Watts of power to 104 zones of distributed audio speakers.

The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), which manages the state of the art conference center, tapped Starr Entertainment Group to design a thoroughly modern A/V system that could flexibly accommodate a wide range of uses. Pleased with the company’s competence and communication, ORDA invited Starr Entertainment Group to bid on the installation of its design. The bid was successful, and so the company saw its design through to completion.

The system collects its audio inputs from wireless microphone systems, wired microphones, media input panels, visual media players, and a background music system. In addition, several small-frame consoles in rolling racks accommodate events with live music. The inputs feed a Peavey Media Matrix NION processor, which allows system-wide inputs to be assigned to any output zone. Thirteen Ashly ne8250 eight-channel amplifiers deliver 250 Watts to each of the 104 zones distributed throughout the building. The meeting rooms and common areas use 180 JBL Control 26 in-ceiling loudspeakers, and the ballrooms use sixty 12-inch JBL Control 322 in-ceiling loudspeakers.

“ORDA wanted a high-quality system. They wanted to do it right,� said Peter Starr, owner and chief designer of Starr Entertainment Group. “About a year-and-a-half ago, we used some Ashly ne8250 amplifiers in a hotel system. I loved the fact that we could get 250 Watts per channel. It’s ideal for these kinds of systems. Of course, there are other multi-channel amps on the market, but nothing combines the specs, affordability, and reliability of Ashly’s ne Series. It is certain, the Conference Center at Lake Placid sounds great and is capable of some serious volume when needed.�

A 32 x 32 Crestron digital video matrix processor allow any video input to be shown on any combination of the center’s approximately 120 video output devices. Those devices include Sanyo HD projectors and flat-screen monitors. In addition, a large Visix-based digital signage system provides the conference center guests with way-finding and other information. A Crestron Pro2 system with 22 wall panels allow user control of every aspect of system performance, such as video and audio input selection and volume, room combining, as well as room functions such as room temperature and lighting. In addition, the building’s functions can be accessed via secure Internet and LAN connections. According to Bob Hammond, ORDA’s director of planning and construction, “the Starr Group has exceeded expectations,� and was noted by Ted Blazer, ORDA’s president and CEO, to be “the most dependable and cooperative contractor on the project.�

ABOUT ASHLY AUDIO Ashly Audio Inc. is recognized as a world leader in the design and manufacturing of high quality & high performance signal processing equipment and power amplification for use in the commercial sound contracting and professional audio markets. The 37-year old company is headquartered in Webster, New York U.S.A.

www.ashly.com

PLEASE STOP BY AND SEE US AT INFOCOMM BOOTH #335

PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY: The Hun School of Princeton is a private school for students in sixth grade through high school. Located near Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, the school serves five-hundred students from over a dozen states and nearly two-dozen countries. A third of the students board there. School assemblies, dramatic and musical performances, and other events take place in the Hun School’s 350-seat proscenium theater, but a low ceiling and overly-diffuse loudspeakers had given the it poor sound reinforcement for many years. Recently, the school hired local A/V design and integration firm Reid Sound, Inc. to identify the weak links in its sound reinforcement chain and to make strategic improvements on a budget. Reid Sound installed Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers and a subwoofer. Their combination of high fidelity and excellent pattern control elevated the theater’s sound quality from poor to excellent.

“The theater is used for a variety of events, including musicals, dramas, presentations, dance performances, and more,� said Darren R. Sussman, owner of Reid Sound, Inc. Sussman designed the new system together with Timothy Pearce, Reid Sound’s director of installation services. Sussman continued, “Vocal reinforcement was a major concern, but the system had to deliver excellent music reproduction as well. The space is very wide, but it’s not very deep. Moreover, the ceiling height is only around eighteen feet. Because the loudspeakers would be hanging very near the front of the stage, precise pattern control was critical.�

The previous system consisted of a pair of popular commercial powered loudspeakers mounted to the walls next to the proscenium. Although a number of deficiencies existed within the entire system, the project’s budget only allowed for a partial replacement, and Sussman and Pearce identified the loudspeakers as the most significant weakness. “The old loudspeakers weren’t very directional,� Sussman explained. “They spilled a lot of energy onto the walls and ceiling, which contributed to poor intelligibility, and there were seats that were inadequately covered by direct sound.� In short, the coverage was indistinct and uneven.

The team selected a pair of Danley Sound Labs SH-50 loudspeakers for the center cluster. “The arrayed pair gives excellent 100-degree horizontal coverage to the entire seating area, and the tight 50-degree vertical coverage keeps energy off the ceiling and on the seats,� said Sussman. The center cluster is primarily responsible for vocal reinforcement. They also installed a pair of Danley Sound Labs SH-95s, one on either side of the proscenium, for reproduction of program material or reinforcement of musical instruments. Again, the SH-95s deliver pattern control that excites the listeners, but not the space itself.

Although Reid Sound had done a handful of smaller systems involving Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers, this was the company’s first experience with a Danley subwoofer. “Normally, I would have installed a pair of subwoofers, but when I read the Danley TH-118’s specifications, I realized that a pair would be tremendous overkill,� said Sussman. “Those specifications proved to be accurate. A single TH-118 provides an incredible amount of low-frequency extension in the space. It’s not even turned up halfway, and it can shake the room.� In addition to the Danley loudspeakers and subwoofers, Sussman and Pearce installed a new Biamp Nexia processor and new QSC CX-Series amplifiers.

“We completed the job in February and we’ve heard nothing but great comments from the school,� said Sussman. “They just completed a production of Hairspray using the new reinforcement system. Spoken word was perfectly intelligible and music was full-frequency and engaging. The new Danley system is a great improvement for the Hun School of Princeton.�

ABOUT DANLEY SOUND LABS Danley Sound Labs is the exclusive home of Tom Danley, one of the most innovative loudspeaker designers in the industry today and recognized worldwide as a pioneer for “outside the box” thinking in professional audio technology. www.danleysoundlabs.com

BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS: Signal Hill Lutheran Church is located in Belleville, Illinois, southeast of St. Louis. Its sanctuary is gorgeous and inviting, seating 125 people in rows of wooden pews under a natural wood framework that supports a sharply peaked ceiling. Natural light filters through stained glass, and a beautiful alter forms the focus of the cozy room. However, Signal Hill’s sound reinforcement system was not cut from that same fine cloth, a fact made evident by the church’s recent move toward more contemporary music in worship. The sound quality was not very good and a complete lack of user control meant that if something sounded bad, it stayed that way clear to the end of the service. Committed to remedying the problem, Signal Hill hired A/V integration firm Film Otter Inc. and design firm Design and Ideas Inc. The first round of upgrades is now complete, and a pair of Symetrix SymNet Radius 12×8 Dante network audio DSPs provide sophisticated audio processing and, together with a CommandFusion iPad interface, remote user control from anywhere in the pews!

“Signal Hill is a traditional church with a sound system that was not only old, but no longer an appropriate fit for their style of service,� said Phil Mahder, the semi-eponymous owner of Film Otter Inc. “The most difficult issue was that they have no tech booth and no tech person. The sound system equipment was in a closet that no one touched. If the system worked, it worked. But if it didn’t, there was no recourse.� The church contacted Mahder, a commercial A/V veteran of three decades, keenly aware of their problems but unsure whether an affordable solution existed.

Given the church’s budget constraints, Mahder will execute a complete renovation in stages, only the first of which is completed. Signal Hill’s existing amplifiers, loudspeakers, and lighting will be upgraded as funds become available, but for now things are sounding worlds better with just the inclusion of two Symetrix SymNet Radius 12×8 Dante network audio DSPs. Inputs to the system include spoken word microphones at the pulpit, lectern, and altar, as well as wireless microphones, Praise Band inputs, with microphones for up to five vocalists. The reason for two Radius 12x8s is was to get the input count necessary. The processed outputs feed the amplifiers for the speakers in three independent zones, monitor lines for powered stage monitors, ALS, and a digital recorder. The inputs and outputs at each Radius 12×8 meld via the Dante network into a fluid whole, and their open architecture design allowed for a powerful, customized processing and user control.

“Symetrix processing is excellent, and – critical for this job – the Symetrix automix/gain-sharing algorithms are stellar,â€� said Mahder. “The Radius 12×8 allowed us to create a predominately automatic system with convenient and simple manual controls that communicate wirelessly via a custom configuration of CommandFusion’s iViewer 4 iPad app. This solution is better than giving them a dedicated tech booth because the operator can sit with his family in the pews! Moreover, the tool is simple enough that an usher can easily run sound for the more traditional service and, by simply including additional pages on the iPad app, complex enough to mix sound for the band, multiple singers, and two monitor mixes.â€� CommandFusion iViewer 4 software integrates robustly with the Symetrix hardware and software to provide that customized iPad control.

Mahder continued, “This small traditional church with a small budget had the foresight to invest in tools that will allow them to grow not just in their musical expressions, but also in the technical infrastructure that enables those expressions. They went from an archaic system to one that is way ahead of the curve. The credit for this change goes to the church leadership’s willingness to trust advice even though it is something that they had never heard of, and especially to the system design and programming genius of the system designer, Philip Houser of Designs and Ideas. He not only programmed the DSPs, but actually built a custom interface that provides all the functions that they needed from a traditional audio mixer using the CommandFusion platform. There is no conventional audio mixer in the system; it is entirely the iPad app wirelessly controlling the two DSP units. The church was even able to select fader size, color, labeling, layout, and much more. Have you ever before seen a church that was able to have a mixer built to perfectly meet their needs and imagination?â€�

ABOUT SYMETRIX Symetrix engineers high-end professional audio solutions, specializing in DSP hardware and software. Symetrix products are distributed worldwide, and designed and manufactured in the U.S. at the Seattle area headquarters. Since 1976, customers have enjoyed the benefits of Symetrix’ independent ownership and management.  For more information on Symetrix professional audio products, please visit www.symetrix.co or call +1 (425) 778-7728.

Buena Park, CA – April 2013… Hosa Technology, the leading innovator of analog and digital connectivity solutions for the modern musician and audio/video professional, is pleased to announce the introduction of the PWL-400 Series Power Extension Cords. Equipped with IEC C14 to IEC C13 connectors, the PWL-400 is the ideal accessory for daisy-chaining multiple units off a single power receptacle or for extending the reach of a power cord. The new Hosa PWL-400 is the perfect complement to lighting effects, guitar amplifiers, audio interfaces, wireless audio receivers, and similar equipment. more

Augusta, GA – March 2013… Since 1804—when Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States and Lewis and Clark were exploring the newly purchased Louisiana Territory— First Presbyterian Church has been meeting the spiritual needs of people in the Augusta area and around the world. Music plays a prominent role in the church’s worship activities and to ensure the best possible sound quality for all involved, an impressive assortment of wireless technology from Rio Rancho, NM-based Lectrosonics is utilized. more

Sure Shot Transmissions is a mobile production and satellite services outfit with offices located in New York, Dallas, and Youngstown, Ohio. Last fall, owner Dennis Kunce added a fourth 40′ full-service expandable truck to its offerings. The Cynthia Lee, outfitted with DiGiCo’s SD10B console, will handle sporting and entertainment events under the direction of EIC Kory Loy. Kunce picked the SD10B based on a recommendation from one of the audio principals at ESPN, as the console has been a mainstay in X Games’ submix trucks for the past several years at events around the globe.

Since hitting the road back in September, the Cynthia Lee has made its debut handling install feeds at a host of high-profile events including the 39th Ryder Cup for the UK’s Sky Sports News, the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship and the Daytona 500 for ESPN in the U.S., as well as the 2013 Super Bowl for Nippon TV in Japan. The console’s ability to interface with the other trucks via MADI and fiber networks, as well as its easy learning curve, made it a natural fit for these fast-paced events.

“Our intention when we built the truck was to meet ESPN’s need for a mid-level production truck; one that was more like a 6-8 camera production rather than the typical 10-15 one,” explains Sure Shot owner, Dennis Kunce. “We worked closely with ESPN to determine what audio board would be suitable for them in this specific application and DiGiCo is what they recommended and gave us their blessing. The people at DiGiCo worked with us to meet our price point to stay within the budget. But more importantly, the SD10B’s footprint, versatility, and power—all those things came into play in our decision. DiGiCo was also very supportive with their training; they came to our facility in Ohio and worked with Kory and our chief engineer Scott Tucker to show us the things needed to make the board workable out in the field. You’ve got to have a console that is very user-friendly or else you’re in trouble and the DiGiCo console offers us the kind of flexibility and versatility we have to have as an independent contractor working with all the major networks including NBC, Fox, Turner, ESPN, Sky Sports… right down the line. The exposure we’re getting by having the board in our truck has been very positive. Overall, it has been a very positive experience across the board.”

“As the engineer in charge of the mobile unit,” explains Loy, “I’m tasked with ensuring that all the pieces of equipment in the truck are up and running for the freelance crew to operate—everything from the audio console to the video switchers to the cameras. So, even though I’m not one of the hands-on operators at these events, I do have to train, or at least show the different operators how to use the console, with only a couple days training. A lot of our events are setup, shoot and strike and in a single, 10-hour day and I’ve got to give individuals that have never operated the console before a generic overview in 45 minutes to an hour time before I have to move on to doing other functions in the truck. And I believe I’m able to do that rather well because the console is very easy to use.”

This spring, Sure Shot will be covering a host of major league baseball and basketball events for the major networks and ESPN, as well events as for the NHK channel in Japan. “We will be handling a lot of split feeds for them, the same thing as we did for the Super Bowl,” Loy says. “Nippon TV operator Shuhei Anraku took generic feeds from the NFL, supplemented by several of their own cameras, to create and produce their own game with their own announcers, which was fed to the broadcast headquarters in Japan.”

Loy says the fact that everything can connect via fiber is a huge bonus for them. “Another benefit is that the console is scalable, you can literally have as many inputs/outputs as you want. So, if we ever find a need for more ins or outs, we can add a few and connect them via fiber. Having MADI available in and out (the SD10 has 2 MADI ins and 2 MADI outs), also makes it very flexible to integrate either into a router or an intercom system. Another added benefit of DiGiCo is being able to assign any input to any fader on the console.”

For Janice Stief, a 30-year audio veteran who has worked on sporting and entertainment events ranging from the Olympics to the most recent Ryder Cup in the Sure Shot truck, this was her first outing on a DiGiCo of any variety. “I was handling cut-ins for the Sky Sports news show back in London. I had about 8-10 mics set up around the course, from stick and RF mics to in-studio lavalieres. I was handling EVS inputs into my console for playbacks, as well as program feeds from NBC and the world feed, which added up to about 36-40 inputs on the console in addition to mikes I was controlling. Prior to getting started, I was given a quick tutorial from Kory, who was fantastic and very knowledgeable. There’s a lot to the console that clearly you have got learn over time; you can’t learn it all on one show. It has a lot of depth. I liked that once I would attention a fader, I could do most of my adjustments to that fader input right from the corresponding touchscreen strip, without moving to other areas of the console. Adding delay, which we often need to do on golf in order to sync up on-air talent to RF cameras, is quick and easy.”

“I think the neatest feature of the DiGiCo SD10B is the ability to have MADI interfacing to the trucks and Optocore to the SD Racks,” adds Shawn Peacock, who was the main console operator for the Daytona 500 and has worked with DiGiCo consoles on several X Games events in Los Angeles. “The ability for us to talk across MADI in these situations is huge.”

Ultimately, however, the measure of a good manufacturer goes beyond that of its gear, and Loy says DiGiCo’s customer support is stellar. “When every single thing in the truck is a computer, chances are stuff is going to fail. It’s how a manufacturer supports its products after the gear is sold and installed that gives a good or bad impression. DiGiCo’s training and customer service in that area is exceptional.”