DiGiCo Airs New Digital Broadcast Solutions
UK digital console manufacturer DiGiCo is pleased to showcase its latest digital broadcast offerings at the upcoming NAB Show in Las Vegas. Hosted by its U.S. distributor, Group One Ltd., DiGiCo will feature its newest SD9B Broadcast Upgrade and the DiGiGrid System, a range of audio hardware and software from DiGiCo in collaboration with its studio sound sister company Soundtracs and Waves Audio.
Additionally, DiGiCo has made headlines of late with SD10B console installs in mobile broadcast truck located in the U.S. and Hawaii. Broadcast tele-production outsourcing companies like NEP (X-Games, PGA Tour and NASCAR) and Sure Shot Transmissions (Ryder Cup, Super Bowl and Daytona 500) have come to rely on DiGiCo to provide cost-effective solutions with enough busses to cope with the most demanding level broadcast’s fast-paced demands for top networks including ESPN, NBC, Fox, Turner and Sky Sports.
For our Latin American attendees, DiGiCo’s new bi-lingual Sales Application Specialist, Fernando Delgado, will be on hand in the booth.
What’s New at NAB 2013:
SD9B Broadcast Upgrade
DiGiCo has already had great feedback on its broadcast specific SD10B console, which world-class broadcasters such as NEP and Sure Shot Transmissions have found to be a powerful solution.
“A lot of our events are setup, shoot, and strike in a single, 10-hour day,” says Kory Long, Engineer in Charge at Sure Shot Transmissions. “I’ve got to give individuals that have never operated the console before a generic overview in less than and hour. I believe I’m able to do that rather well because the SD10B is very easy to use and DiGiCo’s training and customer service in that area is exceptional.”
NEP Hawaii General Manager, Rodney Kobayakawa, adds, “The console is the most powerful, problem-free device in the whole truck.”
With such success under its belt, DiGiCo has applied the same set of parameters to the more compact SD9. The new SD9B upgrade adds surround capabilities to the standard SD9 ‘live’ system, providing 48 stereo channels, allowing up to 5.1 bussing, plus a full studio style Monitor Matrix, multiple Mix Minus busses and Backstop PFL functionality. The addition of these new features means that the broadcast market now has a supplementary console option available to it that is placed squarely between the DiGiCo SD11 and SD10, from a price-point and features perspective.
The SD9 comes at a price that makes it the perfect solution for touring bands, schools, conference centers, smaller theatres, houses of worship and a host of other applications where exceptional performance and flexibility need to be realized on a tight budget.
DiGiGrid Hardware & Software Systems
DiGiCo, its studio sound sister company Soundtracs and Waves Audio showcased their new range of audio hardware and software at the 2013 NAMM Show. DiGiGrid systems provide the power and performance needed to meet the most taxing mixing challenges and are expandable and ideal for users of all levels, from budget-minded audio enthusiasts to full-fledged multi-studio facilities. And because they use Intel-based SoundGrid DSP Servers to perform audio processing, DiGiGrid systems ensure maximum versatility and compatibility today, tomorrow, and into the future. Live on stage, DiGiGrid MADI-to-SoundGrid interfaces enable users of any MADI-enabled console to take advantage of low-latency networking and processing, perfect for both FOH and monitor applications. Live processing and recording has never been easier, thanks to the flexibility and simplicity of DiGiGrid systems. Add a SoundGrid DSP server and SWI plus Waves MultiRack application, and now any MADI-compatible live or broadcast console has instant access to real-time processing.
DiGiGrid MGO & MGB models offer a new level of portable MADI. In the most basic mode, connect the SoundGrid network connection to your laptop or desktop. You now have access to the two MADI I/Os. These can be used to record up to 128 channels, through your computer’s 1GB Ethernet port with simultaneous playback of 128 channels. Interface option to allow DigiGrid system devices to access DiGiCo SD Rack and D Racks for massive system input expansion with a wide range of format configuration choices:
MGB MADI-to-SoundGrid Coaxial Interface and MGO MADI-to-SoundGrid Optical Interface both offer 2 MADI ports, up to 128 Inputs & 128 Outputs.
“We have a heritage within the broadcast industry from our Soundtracs days,” says DiGiCo’s managing director, James Gordon. “It’s exciting to be back with products that address the scope of the broadcast market’s needs.”
DiGiCo Broadcast Installs:
Sure Shot Transmissions
Sure Shot recently added an SD10B console to its newest mobile broadcast truck. The SD10B’s price, footprint, versatility, and power were key factors for mid-level mobile production truck. Since hitting the road back in September, the Cynthia Lee has been employed on a range 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.
NEP Hawaii
A DiGiCo SD10B is the latest edition to NEP’s Hawaii-based Supershooter 3 (SS3) mobile broadcast truck. The expanding 53′ trailer outfit with modular workstations and removable equipment racks is a unique and versatile broadcast facility that can serve as either a mobile production truck or as a fly-pack unit. Under the direction of NEP’s General Manager on Oahu, Rodney Kobayakawa, the truck will be used by Oceanic Time Warner Cable to cover mostly high school and University of Hawaii (UH) and high school sporting events as well as a host of other music, comedy and entertainment productions across the islands. With the addition of the DiGiCo console, now even these second- and third-tier productions can affordably offer surround sound and high-definition quality audio to match the video.