D5 Live: Step up to a DiGiCo D5 Live and step into a perfect world of digital mixing

Input Channels

Each D5 Live input channel has its own analogue input gain and digital trim with Gain Tracking™ switch and presets for the whole channel, along with phase reverse, phantom power, six-band EQ and a delay function which allows you to add 240ms of delay to any or all of the channels.

Each channel has four bands of fully parametric 20Hz-20kHz EQ, while the upper and lower bands can be switched between different curve types and shelving characteristics. On top of that are dedicated high and low pass filters, and a preset library which allows you to save an almost unlimited number of EQ presets for instant recall.

The dynamics section for each input channel is called up with another press on the screen, displaying all the settings for the compressor / limiter and gate, and a powerful sidechain equaliser which allows frequency-conscious dynamics. The same press assigns that channel to the group of dedicated dynamics rotary controllers alongside the screen. The sidechain EQ can also be allocated to the compressor, providing a wide range of uses including highly effective de-essing. The section is accompanied by a dedicated user preset library.

Assignable Controls

Three rows of assignable rotary controls, under the screens are designed to give you the option of having the controls you use most often closest to you as physical controls. Functions can be assigned to them as you wish, including auxiliary sends, pans and dynamics controls. Access is available to any of the 40 busses, each of which can be assigned as either auxiliary busses or group busses. Auxiliaries can also be assigned to faders, allowing a visual feedback of aux levels by channel at the master fader section. The console is capable of stereo, LCR(S) and 5.1 mixing, and three 5.1 joystick panners provide instant sound image control. Assignment can be made either by touching the screen or scrolling to the buss required. Touching the aux on-screen brings up an expanded view of all auxiliary sends, and routing buttons show stereo or surround designations clearly. Input routing displays a warning if the signal is already in use, while the analogue output routing includes a -10dB switch.

The lower rotary control (nearest the fader) can be assigned to a dedicated channel function per input bank, by holding down the Assign button and touching the function you want to lock it to on the touchscreen. The same applies to the assignable button below this rotary, which can be assigned to its own, independent, function.

Two more features simplify multiple operations. The All button allows you to apply changes to all channels displayed on that screen. You can, for example, view all aux routings by holding All and touching Aux Routing. Another function of All is to route input channels sequentially: by holding All and routing the first input channel, the console automatically routes the other seven inputs in that input bank to the next seven channels in sequence – a very fast method of routing a complete block of inputs to the console surface. A new group feed button on each input channel indicates mono, stereo or surround busses. The input channel delay also has an on/off switch.

Master Section

The D5 Live master section, as well as the customary output groups and master fader, provides powerful control of the console‚s overall setup via a series of pages instantly selectable on the fourth touchscreen.

SYSTEM PAGE: The first page, System, provides real-time diagnostics which constantly monitor the system, the MADI line, software versions, power supply levels, internal temperature and so on.

SESSION PAGE: This page stores, recalls and sets up individual sessions. As well as the standard default files, it includes features such as Load Preset Library for recalling user presets of EQ and dynamics settings, which can also be merged when, for example, two engineers are using the desk in the same session or show.

LAYOUT PAGE: The Layout page allows you to bring all the correct channels straight to the console’s physical faders. On this page, too, are the extensive labelling facilities, enabling you to type in alphanumeric labelling on screen or the full-size slide-out QWERTY keyboard for the LCD scribble strip, screens, busses and fader banks.

Channel settings may be copied or moved here from one to another, and a channel’s settings can be copied to multiple channels using the Duplicate feature.

More Control

Each screen has an adjacent bank of rotary encoder controls, to allow instant, real-time adjustment of all equaliser and dynamics settings with an accompanying frequency curve display. It’s all simple, direct and instantly displayed.

All three groups of channel faders have a row of illuminated, digitally labelled, fader bank buttons alongside them, allowing each fader group to be switched between six fader banks at a touch, the faders moving precisely to their memorised positions as you change banks. Labelling, in fact, is plentiful throughout: with the touch screen keyboard or the full-size slide-out QWERTY keyboard you can quickly assign names to the LCD scribble strip, screens, busses and fader banks.

Snapshots

The D5 Live’s store-and-recall functions are comprehensive, providing both an unlimited number of desk status ‘snapshots’ and the ability to build these into complete scenes. All of these, along with their associated EQ, dynamics and optional effects preset libraries, can then be transferred to another D5 Live via the USB key.

Snapshots can be triggered either manually or automatically, and can be self-timed for automatic sequencing. The feature also allows you to decide which controllers on the channel will change including input gain and more, how faders and auxiliaries interact and the input level. Direct send routing can also be changed with the snapshot. This is where you can make automated fader bank changes to prepare for the next band on stage or the next song. It also controls fader ganging, control groups and cross-fade times between snapshots.

IPCs

The insertable processing channel (IPC) option, provided as standard with the D5 Live EX versions and the FMX package, adds features for theatre-style venue applications, AV and monitors.

The insertable processing channel (IPC) option, provided as standard with the D5 Live EX versions and the FMX package, adds features for theatre-style venue applications, AV and monitors.

The flexibility of the D5 Live’s touchscreen-controlled work surface is demonstrated by the new IPC module. This additional DSP card adds a range of features that allow the console to perform powerfully as a monitor mixer or for installation in a theatre or other venue. It will also effectively eliminate the need for racks full of processing hardware, saving considerable space and expense.

The module provides a total of 32 IPCs, each complete with 6 bands of fully parametric equalisation, a fully featured compressor / limiter and digital delay of up to 510 milliseconds. The expanded equaliser view now appears across the screen, and is linked to the rotaries for frequency, Q and level below the screen, so as to distinguish output EQ from input channel EQ. The IPCs facilities are displayed and controlled via the console’s backlit TFT touchscreens. When IPC mode is selected, the screen’s background colour changes to alert the engineer to this status.

Metering

Metering is comprehensive, while the 30-segment LED meter overbridge displays input level, gain reduction, gate activity, insert send level and direct output level. It also carries a console illumination strip of white LEDs which, in common with the touchscreens and scribble strips, can be dimmed down in steps when working in a light sensitive environment.

The combination of so much visual and tactile feedback, and the small footprint, makes it a very comfortable console to use live, with no need to stretch or crane your head to see the positions of controls or status settings.

Digital Effects

The versatile digital effects card, fitted as standard to all D5 Live 56EX, 112EX and FMX systems, effectively replaces a rack full of external effects processing units with a fully integrated suite of high quality multi effects.

The D5 effects card features its own powerful, dedicated DSP engine which allows you to run up to six digital effects per channel simultaneously without any load being placed on the console’s central DSP engine. The effects processor has the capacity to support the simultaneous use of every effect on every channel without loss of performance or audio quality.

The first effect slot offers a range of dedicated reverb algorithms of exceptional quality, subtlety and depth.

The next three slots also provide flanging, phasing, double tracking, vocoder and digital delays.

Effects slots five and six provide extra digital dynamics, compression and equalisation for up to 7.1 surround sound and up to twelve 28 band graphic equalisers

All routing, patching, effects parameter adjustments and user memory store and recall functions are performed on the touchscreens. All effects and their settings can be stored as part of the console’s user presets and sessions, and can be saved on the USB key forinstant recall on another D5 Live.