Local I/O
The SD Ten’s rear panel includes eight channels each of analog and digital inputs and outputs on XLR connectors for local I/O.
Other rear-panel features include dual hot-swappable PSUs, BNC and AES word clock I/O, dual redundant BNC MADI ports, 16 channels of GPI /O (expandable to 32).
As with all DiGiCo consoles, a dedicated VGA port allows connection of an external overview LCD monitor to provide a clear view of all channels, buses, metering and fader positions.
Stage Racks
As a 96 kHz console, the SD Ten works with either the 56 x 56 SD-Rack or the compact 32 x 16 D-Rack. The sonic advantage of 96 kHz operation is obvious, but the higher sample rate also reduces I/O through-put to just over 1 millisecond of latency.
This time is remarkable when it is confirmed as being measured from a stage input, through a channel with processing, via a bus with processing back to a stage output!
Using second-generation Optocore fiber optics, up to 14 racks can be networked together, offering up to 448 physical I/Os on a redundant loop at 96 kHz, just like the SD7. Gain Tracking allows secondary consoles to split inputs at stable levels irrespective of mic preamp changes on the primary desk.
Up to five redundant-engined SD Ten consoles can be mated to the SDRacks on the optical loop.
As on the back of the SD Ten, the SD-Rack’s dual sets of BNC MADI ports mean a local console can be connected, as well as an auxiliary connection for recording or broadcast, with either running at 48 or 96 kHz, eliminating the need for analog transformer splitters.
In addition to the usual analog and digital I/O, the modular SD Rack’s slots can also be fitted with eight-channel cards to provide bi-directional AES sample-rate conversion, Audinate Dante I/O, AES -42 for digital mics, optical ADAT , and Aviom A-Net.
Like all DiGiCo consoles, SD Ten software runs on a PC or an Intel Mac, allowing either offline preparation of files or remote control of the console, including wireless VNC operation.
The software’s interface is identical and all console functions are available. Similarly, two SD-Tens can be linked with a standard Cat-5 crossover cable, providing 74 faders and mix-engine redundancy.
On a final note, the SD Ten will also be available as the SD Ten B, with optional broadcast-specific features for live-to-air broadcast applications, such as mix-minus.
Coming up in my next article I’ll have further news from the 2011 PL+S show of yet another new DiGiCo console, the rack-mount SD11.
Mark Frink is editorial director of Live Sound International.