The newly launched Soundcraft Si Performer integrated sound and lighting control console recently made its touring debut in support of a series of U.K. dates by Kyla La Grange.
West Country PA company Amber Audio is the first rental house to pilot the board, with co-owner Paul Bullimore providing the mix.
Amber Audio was already a fan of Soundcraft technology, with an inventory including GB4, GB8, K1 and Series 2—as well as the Si Compact 32, which Bullimore and partner Alan Burgess purchased 18 months ago.
Yet Bullimore believes the Si Performer 3 (32-channel version) is more akin to the superior Soundcraft Vi platform—particularly with its assignable Gain, Pan and HPF functions.
“We had inquired about Soundcraft desk updates with this tour in mind and the timing of the Si Performer launch couldn’t have been better,” Bullimore reports. “When Soundcraft showed us the new desk it contained everything that was good about the Si Compact 32—along with even better features, such as the independent LCD channel screens and eight assignable VCA groups, which the Compact didn’t have.
“But the strongest attribute is the select fader function which allows you to assign any fader to any job, and build the work surface you want specifically for the show you’re working on. The other notable feature is the TOTEM touch [The One Touch Easy Mix] which allows you to get to your mix with one button push; so the board is definitely quicker to navigate enabling engineers to get straight on and use it.”
Since Amber Audio also handles one-off shows and dry hires in addition to touring, Bullimore believes that the lighting function will have a major role to play, providing control of a single DMX512 universe. “There are customers we hire to who will love the ability to do simplistic lighting scenes with this desk,” he predicts.
As for road tours, the physical advantages of the Si Performer stand out. “As a touring desk to have 32 channels measuring under 1 meter in width, which I can carry on my own and put in the back of a splitter bus, is amazing. The Si Performer fits comfortably into small format venues—yet there’s so much under the bonnet.”
In particular, he singles out the 14 mix buses —which when touring small venues and theatres with part-equipped house rigs has enabled him to handle monitor mixes from FOH. “Most in-house desks I’d be working on during this tour would be unable to handle five- or six-way monitor mixes and in ears; they wouldn’t have the physical outputs do it. Being able to bring the Si Performer into small venues enhances stage sound for the band, making a more enjoyable performance for everyone.”
The list of attributes extends to the FX. “Using in-house desks I’d rarely have more than two FX buses to play with but now we can use all four Lexicon FX—vocal hall and plate reverbs, varying delays, drum plate etc on this tour, while the preamps are crystal clear and transparent, the gain pots responsive and the BSS EQ robust.”