With the four-console networking facility, FOH and monitor consoles can share inputs with optional gain-tracking, and can each connect via ethernet to a second redundant 'mirror' console. Used like this, the 'mirror' desks copy all live show control, allowing failsafe recovery with no audio loss. The D5's new security modes prevent accidental changes during a live show, with full up-to-date fail-safe recovery from non-volatile memory.
Additional processing options: 32 insertable processing channels are available with an extra slave card, while six graphic EQs (or three stereo) can be added to on-board FX slots 5 and 6, while a new snapshot self-timing features allows automatic sequencing, and Relative Snapshots allow venue adjustments independently of scene changes. Current or master snapshots can be updated with a single button press, and the facility to Update any other snapshot (Replace) now has a confirm stage.
For monitoring, two solo busses are now available. Each channel or output can choose solo 1 or 2. The Aux Output Solo can assign aux sends to rotaries as well as faders; a monitoring delay on/off switch has been added to the monitoring panel; a Monitor Master option switches off monitors when not soloing. Further enhancements have been made to mute groups, input channel delay, dB readouts, talkback sources, talk buttons, MIDI message editing, and much more.
DiGiCo director Dave Webster comments: "We've spent the last year listening to the wonderful feedback we've had from customers around the world. A lot of these comments have been on the lines of 'it's wonderful, but wouldn't it be great if . . . ?' Our response to that has been to implement the changes that people have asked for, along with many fresh ideas of our own. The result is the D5 Version 2 software, and the great news is that existing customers can update to it right now for free."
(Lee Baldock)
