Part of the Helix suite of products, the DN9848E processors give Sonix engineers the freedom to roam around their venues, controlling delay times and EQ settings from a wi-fi enabled tablet using the new ELGAR plug-in based remote control software.
The DN9848Es were supplied, along with six KT DN370s graphic equalisers for general inventory top-up, by Shuttlesound. Sonix Audio's Paul Goold says: "It was a two-way choice between different brands, but we felt that the Klark-Teknik unit was ultimately more future-proof than the alternative."
With most of its work in theatre and high-end corporate, Sonix also considered the interface between the system controllers and the many freelance engineers that would be using it. "The DN9848E is a lot easier to use than other systems, everyone who has used it has got on with it without a problem."
Sonix Audio was one of the beta test sites for the Klark-Teknik unit, which explains the enthusiasm for the larger Show Command concept, with full integration of proprietary ELGAR software through Midas consoles. When fully specified, the system, operating on the wireless tablet or laptop, will allow routings to be changed on the desk, as well as settings for matrix mixing, EQ and delay within the DN9848Es. Goold says: "The ELGAR software eliminates the need to have multiple software packages, everything from the desk routing to speaker delays are controlled, it just makes it a lot easier to get on with the job."
The Helix DN9848E brings a new level of flexibility to system control, in particular through the addition of full matrix mixing and AES/EBU connections as standard, says the company. Limiters and compressors on all outputs, plus compressors on all inputs, provide extensive speaker control and protection, and there are 96 bands of fully parametric EQ for both room and system equalisation. The system has sufficient processing power onboard to allow every function to be available all the time. The new 'E' series Show Command system now features a dual port Ethernet communications interface on all units, which facilitates much faster communication, response and metering when controlling multiple units, than was previously possible with serial comms.
(Chris Henry)
