At this week’s Prolight+Sound 2013 show in Frankfurt, Soundcraft is showcasing the new Si Experession range of digital consoles.
Available in three frame sizes, new Soundcraft Si Expression 1, 2 and 3 consoles offer 16, 24 and 32 fader and mic inputs, respectively. (Check out video coverage of the new Si Expression line below.)
All three are capable of up to 66 inputs to mix by connecting any Soundcraft stagebox, including the two new Mini Stagebox 16 and 32 (16 x 8 and 32 x 16) models, or by connecting additional inputs over MADI or AES/EBU. All external inputs are additional to the connections on the desk itself.
The new mixers incorporate processing from Harman Pro siblings BSS, dbx, Lexicon and Studer, and many top-end professional features like a color touch screen, iPad ViSi Remote control, and Soundcraft FaderGlow, adopted from Soundcraft’s Vi Series large format flagship consoles.
FaderGlow is a patented technology that automatically illuminates specific faders in varying colors according to their assignment enabling you to focus on the mix, not where signals might be.
A powerful DSP engine provides 4-band parametric EQ, delays, gates and compressors on every input, parametric and 30-band graphic EQ, compressors and delays on all outputs, as well as four Lexicon stereo effects devices, all capable of being utilized at the same time. Soundcraft ViSi Remote allows remote control of the console from an iPad.
Freely assignable fader layers allow placing inputs and outputs anywhere on any layer, optimizing mix control for the most important channels.
Andy Trott, Soundcraft and Studer vice president and general manager, states, “A Soundcraft at this low price point is a departure from tradition for us. TThe Si Expression is based on new technology bridging the current Si Compact and Si Performer ranges and meets a totally new price point for Soundcraft making this product highly attractive to those looking for a professional console, at a budget price.
“Other companies will continue to produce ‘cheap’ mixers,” he continues, “we make professional, high-quality, easy to use mixers in the same price range—which makes the customer’s decision easier.”
The console also offers a wide range of networking and option cards, the most recent of which is the BSS BLU Link card, also new, which enables simple and automatic connection to the dbx PMC16 personal monitoring system.
