UK - Cadac Electronics Plc unveiled its new S-Digital mixing console at PLASA '06 this week at Earl's Court in London. The Cadac S-Digital, designed from the ground up specifically for theatre sound applications, "sets a new yardstick in digital console design for live sound", say Cadac.
In a major departure from conventional paradigms, the S-Digital is conceived to reflect the surface architecture of Cadac's industry standard J-Type analogue console. It combines the J-Type's hallmark audio quality, tools and features with the operational and creative benefits of audio manipulation and control in the digital domain - producing a digital console that sounds, looks and behaves like a familiar analogue desk.
The Cadac S-Digital builds on the company's 20-year history at the forefront of theatre sound. In its basic configuration, it offers a minimum specification of 72 input channels, 66 mix busses, and 3 stereo listen busses, and is scheduled to enter production in October 2006.
Key features of the S-Digital include single or multi-operator control with multiple listen systems provided as standard, enabling shorter set-ups and show design times. Extra console surfaces can be used for tech and then relocated/removed; the ability to configure multiple control surfaces within a single mixing system, allowing control over all console parameters from multiple locations (such as control room and FOH pit, or FOH and monitor); a proprietary high-speed communications protocol linking the core elements (Control Surface, Multiple Audio I/O Racks, and Processor Rack); a high level of configurability and reliability, with all input and output modules hot swappable. In addition, the on-board CCM computer is only used in system configuration and Sound Manager Automation (SAM) operation.
The Cadac design philosophy ensures that any loss of the on-board CCM does not affect the console operation and, as with the J-Type, an optional CCM backup computer can be used to mirror the on-board unit for added redundancy.
The control surface consists of three components - Input Frame, Output Frame and a Central Control Module. A single Input frame has the capability to control 144 input channels, and a single Output frame has control over all 72 output and listen busses. Additional frames can be utilised to give physical control of every channel input and bus output, mirroring a multiple-frame J-Type.
Also displayed at PLASA '06 was Cadac's 19" Digital Series range, with the spotlight on the Digital Series Stage Rack. Combining the M16 Remote Controlled Microphone Amplifier and the X16 MADI Merge Unit, the Digital Series Stage Rack provides a unique solution to applications requiring a comprehensive multi-channel audio distribution system, across both analogue and digital domains, for live sound, TV and radio broadcast, fixed installations and recording applications.
(Lee Baldock)
