Rob Bernstein, the sole owner of Hob Sound in Framingham, MA, recently purchased a Soundcraft Si Expression 2 to accommodate his production and mixing needs.
As a one-man business that provides sound equipment for a wide range of events, Bernstein requires a versatile console to match his needs. In addition to recallable features and analog-type controls, the Si Expression Series comes with GEQ effects on every bus as well as built-in Lexicon effects.
Within 15 minutes of working with the Si Expression, Bernstein was impressed with the console. “Its versatility blows anything else out of the water,” he says. “Having the graphic EQs available to all the buses is a huge advantage, and combined with the availability of compressors on each channel, this console replaces a lot of gear. This is critical to my operation, since I cannot haul all those additional racks by myself.”
The console’s ‘1 Control = 1 Function’ ensures that there is never any layering of controls. The One Touch Easy Mix (TOTEM) allows a single key to mix to an AUX, FX or Matrix bus. The Si Expression also imcludes FaderGlow color-coded illuminated faders and a range of connectivity and network cards.
“I love how much faster it is to set up for an event, due to the recallable features,” Bernstein adds. “Even though this is my first digital board, it retains the simple feel and authentic sound of an analog board that I have grown accustomed to in my decades of experience. Also, I no longer have to worry about choosing which channel gets compressed or gated.”
Hob Sound recently mixed a show with the local band The Fools in the Boston area, with Bernstein reporting, “The Si Expression sounded great, and it is everything that I need from a console.”
The console was purchased through Pro Audio Star, based in Brooklyn, NY.