Canberra, Australia-based audio/visual company One Vision recently added a Soundcraft Si Compact console to its inventory, purchased through Jands, Soundcraft’s Australian distributor.
“We wanted a console that would be more hands-on than the Yamaha consoles as far as the crossover between digital and analog,” states Frank Meany, managing director of One Vision. “Basically, we wanted a console with knobs on it as opposed to a console with buttons and scrolling pages of menus, it’s more intuitive.”
Meany and his team have found Si Compact consoles to be powerful, and are particularly impressed by the console’s sound, with Meany remarking that it sounds more like an analog console than other digital consoles.
“We purchased a digital multicore for them which makes a huge difference being able to patch things around and also having the soft patch on it,” Meany adds. “I am however a bit sad that the Soundcraft Si Performers were not available at the time we bought them—a simple lighting console built into the desk would have been great. Maybe next time.”
Meany also comments on how easy his team has found the Si Compact to learn, describing it as a straightforward live sound mixer. “Its price range, small footprint and portability also helped seal the decision to purchase,” he says.
In the few months since acquiring the Si Compact, One Vision has had it hard at work mainly on corporate events, and Meany reports that it has been completely reliable and a great asset to the company.