DiGiCo SD8

Product Overview:

Live Digital Console Stealth Digital Processing™

Overview

DiGiCo SD8: “Into overdrive and beyond...”

The SD8 is a particularly versatile console with the same Stealth Digital Processing and floating point Super FPGA technology seen in the flagship SD7. The SD8 offers a truly superlative performance at a competitive price, something which will appeal to engineers across the board.

Scratching the surface

There are two versions of the SD8: a 37-channel version, which boasts three banks of 12 motorised faders and one master fader; and the SD8-24, which has all the same power and functionality but in a smaller frame comprising 24 main channel faders and a master fader.

At the heart of each console's worksurface is a 15-inch, high resolution TFT LCD touch screen with backlit display. Through this user-friendly interface, any bank of 12 faders can be instantly assigned as input or output channels, allowing all 36 main faders to control inputs if desired; equally, any bank of 12 can also be assigned to the touch screen for fine-tuning.

In addition, the SD8 benefits from dedicated multi-function control knobs and electronic labelling.

What's under the hood?

Both SD8 models boast 60 processing channels at 48kHz/96kHz, all of which are Flexi Channels (configurable as either mono or stereo), which is the equivalent of 120 channels of full DSP processing.

Standard channel processing, whether inputs or outputs, includes Channel Delay, Single and Multi Channel Presets, Dual insert points, Hi- and Lo-pass filters @ 24dB/octave, four-band parametric EQ with band curve selection, DiGiCo's DYN 1 (Compressor, De-esser or Multi Channel Compressor) and DYN 2 (Gate, Compressor or Ducker).

The console also benefits from 10 Dynamic EQ processors, all of which can be assigned to any of the input or output channels. These powerful processors offer dynamic processing on each of the four standard parametric bands, plus there are also10 Multiband Compressors and 10 DiGiTubes; and no matter how the console is set up, the user won't lose any resources, as all the channels are equipped to provide the same high quality signal path and feature set.

The master section incorporates 24 gangable 32-band graphic EQs, 12 stereo effects (selectable from a palette of 33), and 12 control groups (VCAs); and using snapshots, engineers can now switch between complete configurations in any live environment easier than ever before, be it at rehearsals, during system setup, or even at a show.

In addition, we've included 24 Flexi busses, all of which are assignable as mono/stereo groups or auxiliary busses; and in addition to these busses, for further configurability, we've provided a 16 x 12 output matrix, dual solo busses, and a Master buss. Essentially, users have the equivalent of 67 busses of DSP at their disposal.

Unlike all other digital console manufacturers, you don't lose Aux or Group Busses when using the Matrix as they are in addition, including the Master buss.

I/O

The SD8 and SD8-24 both have plenty of local I/O: eight mic inputs, eight outputs, eight mono AES I/O, and two MADI connections.

The console comes as standard with a MaDiRack which is an 8U fixed 48 input with eight analogue outputs, with the ability to increase these outputs to 24 with any combination of analogue AES/EBU or Aviom.

As with all DiGiCo consoles, it can also connect to an SD-Rack, an SD-Mini, and SD-Nano Rack.

There is also a factory fit Optocore option which allows for connectivity to all DiGiCo racks and consoles in a redundant loop.

In addition, there is an optional DiGiCo SoundGrid module which, when linked to an external PC server such as SoundGrid or DiGiGrid, provides the user with instant access to 16 fully integrated low-latency Waves stereo Multi Racks, each with the ability to have up to eight plugins per rack. That's 64 I/O - and as you'd expect from DiGiCo, this is all additional I/O.

All Waves compatible plugins are pre-loaded, and as this is integral within the console, you have the added advantage of touch screen control; and all shapshots and session files are saved within the console

Features

Main Features

60 Flexi Input Channels
24 Flexi Aux / Sub-Group Busses
LR/LCR Master Bus
16x12 Full Processing Matrix
2 Solo
10 Dynamic Equalizers
10 DiGiTuBes
10 Multiband Compressors
12 Digital FX
24 Graphic Equalizers
Optional Waves Integration
48/96 kHz Sample Rate
Optional Factory fit only Optics

Specifications

General Specifications

Faders 37 x 100mm Touch-Sensitive, Motorised (25 on SD8-24)
Screens 1 x 15” (38cm) LCD High - Resolution Touch Screen
Meters 38 x 20-Segment LED Bargraph (26 on SD8-24)
Input Channels 60 Flexi Channels
Busses 24 Mono or Stereo Busses + LR or LCR Master
Solo Busses 2 Stereo Busses
Matrix 16 x 12 Matrix (Additional to Busses Above)
Control Groups 12, Selectable for VCA-style, Moving Fader, Mute Group
Graphic EQ 24 x 32-band, Gain +/- 12dB
Internal FX 12 Stereo FX Processors
Local I/O 8 x Mic/Line I/O, 8 x AES/EBU I/O (Mono)
MADI Interface 2 Redundant Interfaces, 75 Ohm BNC Connectivity
Optic Interface Optocore (Optional Factory Fit Only)
MIDI Interface In / Out / Through
VGA Port DB-15 Mini-Female (1024 x 768 Resolution)
USB Ports (3) USB 2
Light Connection (2) XLR3 1.2 – 12V
Ext Sync Word Clock, AES, MADI, Optics
Headphone TRS Unbalanced / 8-600 Ohms 1/4 Inch Jack
SD8 Dimensions 1347mm (w) x 811mm (d) x 251.7mm (h)
SD8 Weight 65Kg (155Kg with Optional Flightcase)
SD8 Flightcase 1517mm (w) x 1133mm (h) x 452mm (d) (Optional)
SD8 Power Requirements 90-264 VAC, 47-63Hz Auto Sensing. 230VA Typical, 295VA Peak (Meters Full, Faders Moving
SD8-24 Dimensions 923.5mm (w) x 811mm (d) x 251.7mm (h)
SD8-24 Weight 50Kg (127Kg with Optional Flightcase)
SD8-24 Flightcase 1092mm (w) x 1133mm (h) x 452mm (d) (Optional)
SD8-24 Power Requirements 90-264 VAC, 47-63Hz Auto Sensing. 230VA typical, 295VA Peak (Meters Full, Faders Moving)
Redundancy Internal PSU x 2

Audio Specification

Sample Rate: 48kHz, 44.1kHz or 96kHz
Processing Delay: 2ms Typical @ 48k(60 Stereo Channels, Stage Input Through L-R Buss to Stage Output) 1.1ms @96k
Internal Processing: Up to 40-bit, Floating Point
A>D & D>A: 24-bit Converter Bit Depth
Frequency Response: +/- 0.6dB (20Hz – 20kHz)
THD: <0.05% @ Unity Gain,: 10dB Input @ 1kHz
Channel Seperation: Better Than 90dB: (40Hz – 15kHz)
Residual Output: <90dBu Typical
Noise: (20Hz - 20kHz)
Microphone Input: Better Than -126dB: Equivalent Noise
Maximum Output Level: +22dBu
Maximum Input Level: +22dBu

Processing Channel Specification
Input Channel

Name: User-Defined / Presets
Channel Selection: Mono / Stereo / Multi
Input Routing: Main & Alternate Input
Analogue Gain: -20 to +60dB
Phase: Normal / Reverse
Digital Trim: -40 to +40dB
Delay: >1 Sec (Coarse & Fine Control)
DiGiTuBe: Drive 0.01 - 50.0
Bias 0 - 6
LPF: 20 – 20kHz, 24dB/Oct
HPF: 20 – 20kHz, 24dB/Oct
Insert A: (Pre EQ/Dyn) On/Off
Equalisation: 4 Band EQ: Parametric or Dynamic (Low/Lowshelf, Lower-Mid/Lowshelf, Upper-Mid/
Hi Shelf, Hi/Hishelf)
On/Off
Freq; 20 – 20kHz
Gain; +/- 18dB
Q: 0.1 -20 (Parametric) / 0.10-0.85 (Shelf)
Dynamic EQ On/Off
Over/Under
Band On/Off
Threshold; -60 – 0dB
Attack; 500us – 100ms
Release; 10ms – 10s
Ratio; 1:1 – 50:1
Dynamics 1: Single or Multiband (3-Band)

Compressor: On/Off
Threshold; -60 – 0dB
Attack; 500us – 100ms
Release; 10ms – 10s
Ratio; 1:1 – 50:1
Gain; 0 to +40dB with
Autogain Option
Link; Any Channel/Buss
Hi Crossover; 20Hz – 20kHz
Lo Crossover; 20Hz – 20kHz
Knee : Hard, Med, Soft

De-Esser: Threshold : 20us – 20ms
Release : 1ms – 100ms
Ratio : 1:1 – 50:1
Ess-Band : Listen On/Off
Ess-Band Filter Freq / Width: 20Hz – 20kHz
Dynamics 2: On/Off

Gate / Ducker: Threshold; -60 – 0dB
Attack; 50us – 100ms
Hold; 2ms – 2s
Release; 5ms – 5s
Range; 0 - 90dB
Key; Any Source
Key Listen
Freq/Width; 20 – 20kHz

Compressor: On/Off
Threshold; -60 – 0dB
Attack; 500us – 100ms
Release; 10ms – 10s
Ratio; 1:1 – 50:1
Gain; 0 to +40dB with
Autogain Option
Link; Any Channel / Buss
Hi Crossover; 20Hz – 20kHz
Lo Crossover; 20Hz – 20kHz
S/C Source : Any Source
S/C Listen : On/Off
S/C Filter Freq/Width: 20Hz – 20kHz
Insert B: (Post EQ/Dyn) On/Off
EQ/Dyn order: EQ/Dyn or Dyn/EQ
Mute: Channel Mute / Hard Mute
Solo: Solo Buss 1 / Solo Buss 2 / Both, Auto Solo
Channel Safe: Input, EQ, Dyn, Aux, Pan, Fade/Mute, Inserts, Buss, Directs,
Full Safe
Output Routing: Buss, Insert A, Insert B, FX
Direct: On/Off, Pre-Mute / Pre-Fade / Post-Fade, Level +/- 18dB
Fader: 100mm Motorised Fader ∞ to +10dB

Processing Channel Specification
Aux / Group / Matrix Output

Name: User-Defined / Presets
Phase: Normal / Reverse
Digital Trim: -20 to +60dB
Delay: >1 Sec (Coarse & Fine control)
DiGiTuBe: Drive 0.01 - 50.0
Bias 0 - 6
LPF: 20 – 20kHz, 24dB / Oct
HPF: 20 – 20kHz, 24dB / Oct
Insert A: (Pre EQ/Dyn) On/Off
Equalisation: 4 band or Dynamic (Low/Lowshelf, Lower-Mid/Lowshelf, Upper-Mid/Hi Shelf, Hi/Hishelf)
On/Off
Freq; 20 – 20kHz
Gain; +/- 18dB
Q: 0.1 -20 (Parametric) / 0.10-0.85 (Shelf)
Dynamic EQ On/Off
Over/Under
Band On/Off
Threshold; -60 – 0dB
Attack; 500us – 100ms
Release; 10ms – 10s
Ratio; 1:1 – 50:1
Dynamics 1: Single or Multiband (3-band)

Compressor: On/Off
Threshold; -60 – 0dB
Attack; 500us – 100ms
Release; 10ms – 10s
Ratio; 1:1 – 50:1
Gain; 0 to +40dB
with Autogain Option
Link; Any Channel / Buss
Hi Crossover; 20Hz – 20kHz
Lo Crossover; 20Hz – 20kHz
Knee : Hard, Med, Soft

De-Esser: Threshold: 20us – 20ms
Release: 1ms – 100ms
Ratio: 1:1 – 50:1
Ess-Band: Listen On/Off
Ess-Band Filter Freq/Width: 20Hz – 20kHz
Dynamics 2: On/Off

Gate / Ducker: Threshold; -60 – 0dB
Attack; 50us – 100ms
Hold; 2ms – 2s
Release; 5ms – 5s
Range; 0 - 90dB
Key; Any Source
Key Listen
Freq/Width; 20 – 20kHz

Compressor: On/Off
Threshold; -60 – 0dB
Attack; 500us – 100ms
Release; 10ms – 10s
Ratio; 1:1 – 50:1
Gain; 0 to +40dB
with Autogain Option
Link; Any Channel/Buss
Hi Crossover; 20Hz – 20kHz
Lo Crossover; 20Hz – 20kHz
S/C Source : Any source
S/C Listen : On/Off
S/C Filter Freq/Width: 20Hz – 20kHz
Insert B: (Post EQ/Dyn) On/Off
EQ/Dyn Order: EQ/Dyn or Dyn/EQ
Mute: Channel Mute / Hard Mute
Solo: Solo Buss 1 / Solo Buss 2 / Both, Auto Solo
Channel Safe: Trim, EQ, Dyn, Fade/Mute, Inserts, Outputs, Full Safe
Output Routing: Outputs, Insert A, Insert B, FX
Fader: 100mm Motorised Fader ∞ to + 10dB