Mix engineer/musician Steve Jaworowski recently acquired a Harman’s Soundcraft Si Expression 1 digital console for use with classic rock band Vavoom and Tom Petty tribute band Breakdown, both of which are popular performers in nightclubs and pubs throughout Long Island.
Throughout their history, Vavoom and Breakdown have been mixed on analog consoles. Upgrading to the Si Expression 1 console allowed the band members to transport less outboard equipment from venue to venue, with Jaworowski pleased that his new mix tool fits the budget and has exceeded expectations.
“Compared to my previous consoles, where the quality varied greatly, the Soundcraft console is awesome,” he says. “At first I was a little nervous about the motorized faders, but everything worked out perfectly, and I like all the features that come with this board. For example, I really like the Soundcraft FaderGlow lighting when mixing in the dark. Choosing the Si Expression 1 was not a hard decision, because there weren’t too many boards in this price range with all the features that I want.”
He also likes to use the Soundcraft ViSi Remote 2.1 iPad app to set up sound within the audience for sound checks, eliminating the need for transitioning on and off the stage. The full band mix consists of one house and two monitor mixes, which Jaworowski is now able to control from the same console.
“It’s great that I can do everything from the Si Expression 1,” he adds. “The board is convenient, but also powerful. The four FX processors are nice, individual channel EQ is good, plus I can find everything on the board quickly, so the learning curve wasn’t too bad. Not only does the band like it, but people from every venue now prefer it if we manage our own sound.”