DiGiCo

Last updated
DiGiCo
TypeSubsidiary
Founded United Kingdom, 2002
FounderJames Gordon
Headquarters
Chessington
,
England
Parent Audiotonix
Website www.digico.biz

DiGiCo is a British company based in Chessington, England that designs, markets, and manufactures digital mixing consoles and other audio technologies for the live sound, musical theatre, broadcast, and installed sound markets. Originally founded from console manufacturer Soundtracs, DiGiCo is part of the Audiotonix Group.

Contents

History

DiGiCo was founded in 2002 with the purchase of Soundtracs, a British company known for early innovations in digital mixing consoles. [1] [2] In 2002 DiGiCo released their first console, the D5 Live, [3] followed by the DS00 for the broadcast and post-production market, the D5T, specifically designed for the musical theatre market, and the D1 for the live sound market. [4] [5]

DiGiCo SD7T in use on the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre on Miss Saigon. (Feb 2016) DiGiCo SD7 Miss Saigon UK.jpg
DiGiCo SD7T in use on the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre on Miss Saigon. (Feb 2016)

DiGiCo consoles became widely adopted for live concert tours and musical theatre productions; [5] on tour, on Broadway in New York and in London's West End, and the D5 Live installed at venues like the London Coliseum. The "Theatre" versions of DiGiCo consoles utilize the company's Theatre software, developed in collaboration with Autograph Sound Recording founder Andrew Bruce, which provides a number of application specific features such as a specialized cue and DCA assignment system that allows spreadsheet-style editing of DCA members. [6] The D5T has been utilized for productions including Les Misérables , Billy Elliot the Musical , [7] Mamma Mia! , and We Will Rock You , . [4]

In 2007, DiGiCo introduced its first SD-Range console, the flagship SD7. [8] The SD-Range introduced DiGiCo's first use of a single large-scale FPGA for audio processing combined with Tiger SHARC DSP chips for effects processing and control, allowing the entire audio engine to fit on a single PCB. DiGiCo further expanded the SD-Series range with the introduction of the SD5, SD10, SD8, SD9 and rack-mountable SD11.

Optional software packages with functionality tailored to specific applications are available for most SD-Series console models. The SD7T, SD9T, and SD10T are Theatre models, while the SD5B, SD7B, SD9B, SD10B, and SD11B are Broadcast models.

Beginning in 2009, Waves Audio collaborated with DiGiCo for implementation of their SoundGrid audio networking and DSP. Together, the companies launched the DiGiGrid brand of audio interfaces for SoundGrid systems in 2013. [9]

In 2014, DiGiCo was combined with Allen & Heath and Calrec to form the Audiotonix Group, [10] and DiGiCo's CEO, James Gordon, was appointed CEO of the new holding company. [11]

In 2016, DiGiCo introduced the S-Series digital mixing consoles, with the S21 and S31 priced below the SD-Range. [12]

In 2020, DiGiCo updated the SD-Range consoles with Quantum software and eventually replaced the SD-Range with the Quantum Range, rebranding models like the SD5 Quantum and SD7 Quantum as the Quantum 5 and Quantum 7.

In Use

DiGiCo mixing consoles and peripherals are often utilized for concert sound reinforcement on tours and at music festivals like Summerfest [13] and the Montreux Jazz Festival, [14] and on tour with artists including Barbra Streisand, [15] The Black Keys, [16] Iron Maiden, [17] Vampire Weekend, [18] Queen + Adam Lambert, [19] Maren Morris, [20] Post Malone, [21] Ed Sheeran, [22] Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, [23] Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and OneRepublic. [13]

DiGiCo mixing consoles are used for broadcast sound reinforcement, with examples including the Grammy Awards, [24] [25] The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , [26] Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, [27] and the Super Bowl. [28] [29]

DiGiCo mixing consoles are also utilized for installed sound reinforcement applications, including the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, [30] Minnesota Orchestra Hall, [31] Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art's Edlis Neeson Theater, [32] Philadelphia's Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, [33] Hudson Hall, [34] and Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego. [35]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mixing console</span> Device used for audio mixing

A mixing console or mixing desk is an electronic device for mixing audio signals, used in sound recording and reproduction and sound reinforcement systems. Inputs to the console include microphones, signals from electric or electronic instruments, or recorded sounds. Mixers may control analog or digital signals. The modified signals are summed to produce the combined output signals, which can then be broadcast, amplified through a sound reinforcement system or recorded.

Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG is a German audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Wedemark. Sennheiser specializes in equipment for both the consumer and professional audio markets, including microphones, headphones, and loudspeakers.

Open Sound Control (OSC) is a protocol for networking sound synthesizers, computers, and other multimedia devices for purposes such as musical performance or show control. OSC's advantages include interoperability, accuracy, flexibility and enhanced organization and documentation. Its disadvantages include inefficient coding of information, increased load on embedded processors, and lack of standardized messages/interoperability. The first specification was released in March 2002.

Fairlight is a digital audio company based in Sydney. In 1979, they released their Series I Fairlight CMI, one of the earliest digital audio workstations (DAWs) with a digital audio sampler. Their subsequent Series II and III CMIs featured a graphic sequencer known as Page R, during a time when most computerized music sequencers required coding skills.

Solid State Logic (SSL) is a British company based in Begbroke, Oxfordshire, England that designs and markets audio mixing consoles, signal processors, and other audio technologies for the post-production, video production, broadcast, sound reinforcement and music recording industries. SSL employs over 160 people worldwide and has regional offices in Los Angeles, Milan, New York City, Paris, and Tokyo, with additional support provided by an international network of distributors. Solid State Logic is part of the Audiotonix Group.

Midas is a company that designs professional audio consoles. Founded in London in 1970 by Jeff Byers and Charles Brooke, today the company is part of the Music Tribe group of brands.

Alesis is an American company that designs and markets electronic musical instruments, audio processors, mixers, amplifiers, audio interfaces, recording equipment, drum machines, professional audio, and electronic percussion products. Based in Cumberland, Rhode Island, Alesis is an inMusic Brands company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automated Processes, Inc.</span> American audio equipment manufacturer

Automated Processes Inc. is an American company that designs, manufactures, and markets mixing consoles and signal processors, including modular signal processor units in the 500-series format standard that evolved from early API mixing consoles.

LOUD Audio, LLC is a professional audio company based in the United States, operating in the U.S., Canada, and Shenzhen, China. Originally founded as Mackie Designs, Inc., the name was changed to Loud Technologies Inc in 2003 to differentiate its founding subsidiary, mixing console manufacturer Mackie from its eponymous brand name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital mixing console</span> Electronic device used to manipulate audio input signals using digital signal processing

In professional audio, a digital mixing console (DMC) is a type of mixing console used to combine, route, and change the dynamics, equalization and other properties of multiple audio input signals, using digital signal processing rather than analog circuitry. The digital audio samples, which is the internal representation of the analog inputs, are summed to what is known as a master channel to produce a combined output. A professional digital mixing console is a dedicated desk or control surface produced exclusively for the task and is typically more robust in terms of user control, processing power and quality of audio effects. However, a computer can also perform the same function since it can mimic its interface, input and output.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Mick</span> British audio engineer

"Big" Mick Hughes is the British live audio engineer for Metallica, a position he has held since 1984. He had to miss the 2021 shows due to post-COVID-19 travel restrictions and was replaced as FOH engineer by Greg Price who continues to mix Metallica on their 2023/2024 M72 World Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EtherSound</span> Audio-over-Ethernet technology

EtherSound is an audio-over-Ethernet technology for audio engineering and broadcast engineering applications. EtherSound is developed and licensed by Digigram. EtherSound is intended by the developer to be compliant with IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standards. Just as the IEEE defines rates such as 100 Megabit and Gigabit Ethernet standards, EtherSound has been developed as both ES-100 and ES-Giga. The two versions of EtherSound are not compatible.

Phil Dudderidge is a British sound engineering entrepreneur. He is a notable figure in the professional audio industry, having worked as Led Zeppelin's concert sound mixer, and later co-founding Soundcraft Electronics Ltd before serving as Chairman of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NewBay Media</span> American magazine publisher

NewBay Media, LLC was a magazine and website publisher founded in 2006 and headquartered in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gareth Owen (sound designer)</span> British theatre sound designer (born 1979)

Gareth Owen is an eleven time Tony & Olivier Award-winning / nominated sound designer specialising in musical theatre in London's West End, on Broadway and internationally.

SoundGrid is a networking and processing platform audio application made by Waves Audio and developed in cooperation with DiGiCo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sound Devices</span> American audio and video equipment manufacturer

Sound Devices is an American corporation headquartered in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, with additional offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Rickmansworth, UK. Sound Devices designs and manufactures professional audio and video equipment.

Larrabee Sound Studios is a recording studio complex in North Hollywood, California, originally established in 1969.

Audiotonix Group, Ltd. is a British multinational holding company established in 2014 and headquartered in Greater London, United Kingdom. Audiotonix companies design and manufacture mixing consoles and professional audio equipment for live events and broadcast sound.

References

  1. ↑ Crofts, Mike (April 2018). "DiGiCo S21 Digital Mixing Console". Sound On Sound. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Schoepe, Zenon (February 2016). "Meet Your Maker: John Stadius" (PDF). Resolution. S2 Publications Ltd. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "Autograph Moves to Digital with DiGiCo D5 Live - ETNow.com". www.etnow.com. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  4. 1 2 Evans, Jim (January 2016). "Digico D5T" (PDF). AudioTechnology. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Parnelli Profile: Audio Innovator John Stadius". FOH Online. Front Of House Magazine. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "Andrew Bruce: The Musical". www.fast-and-wide.com. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  7. ↑ Alter, Gaby (1 October 2009). "Broadway Sound: Four Shows, Four Dramatically Different Designs". MIX Online. Future plc. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Young, Kevin (24 April 2013). "Getting It Right: New Technology For Classic Rod Stewart In Concert". ProSound Web. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  9. ↑ Inglis, Sam (July 2015). "Waves/Digico Digigrid Networked Audio Infrastructure". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Louch, William (3 February 2017). "Epiris Scores 4.8-Times Return on Audiotonix Exit for Electra". wsj.com. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  11. ↑ Ward, Phil (25 April 2018). "'Customers have no idea what we are… why should they?' Audiotonix CEO James Gordon explains the group's strategy". prosoundnetwork.com. Future plc. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  12. ↑ Crofts, Mike (April 2018). "DiGiCo S21 Digital Mixing Console". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  13. 1 2 Shuler, Christopher (26 August 2014). "Summerfest, and the Mixing is Easy on DiGiCo". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  14. ↑ Watson, Paul (28 July 2014). "Montreux Jazz Festival". headlinermagazine.net. Headliner. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  15. ↑ Romanello, Linda (26 August 2019). "Live Sound Showcase: Barbra Streisand Returns to Her NYC Roots". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Schultz, Barbara (14 February 2020). "The Black Keys' Let's Rock Tour". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  17. ↑ Hogan, Candace (19 December 2019). "The Three-Headed Beast". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  18. ↑ Jaffee, Larry (11 April 2022). "Live Sound Showcase: Vampire Weekend Goes 360° at MSG". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  19. ↑ Gayhart, Keith (26 September 2019). "Live Sound Showcase: Rhapsodizing On The Road with Queen + Adam Lambert". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  20. ↑ Berkowitz, Todd (26 September 2019). "The Many Styles of Maren Morris". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  21. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (4 May 2020). "Post Malone's Recent Tour Was A Runaway Success With L-Acoustics". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  22. ↑ Leung, Winnie (25 August 2015). "Ed Sheeran Captivates Wembley and Croke Park Stadiums with Meyer Sound LEO". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  23. ↑ Young, Clive (1 October 2021). "Hella Mega Yeah! Behind the Audio of the Summer's Biggest Tour". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  24. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (25 February 2019). "DiGiCo SD7 Consoles Have Live Sound At The Grammy Awards Covered". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  25. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (27 February 2014). "DiGiCo Sweeps the GRAMMY Awards". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  26. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (2 March 2020). "Tonight's the Night for DiGiCo — The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is a Full House with Three SD7 Consoles and Five SD-Racks". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  27. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (15 April 2022). "DiGiCo Desk Drives the Sound at Red Bull Arena". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  28. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (29 March 2022). "DiGiCo is a Team Player for Super Bowl LVI's Halftime Show". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  29. ↑ "Focusrite RedNet Components Chosen by ATK/Clair for Super Bowl Coverage for the Seventh Year in a Row". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  30. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (11 August 2021). "The Jack Singer Concert Hall updates with DiGiCo Quantum consoles". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  31. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (6 January 2022). "DiGiCo's Wide Range of Solutions Gives the Minnesota Orchestra Enormous Flexibility in its Orchestra Hall". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  32. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (27 April 2022). "Modern DiGiCo S21 Consoles Join Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  33. ↑ "Philadelphia's Kimmel Center Upgrades with an Eye to the Future". mixonline.com. Future plc. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  34. ↑ Shuler, Christopher (27 April 2022). "DiGiCo S21 and Waves Make For a Winning Combination at Hudson Hall". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  35. ↑ Liles, Bennett (13 December 2021). "The SVC Interview: Aaron Beck - Rady Shell at Jacobs Park". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  36. ↑ "No. 57618". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 April 2005. p. 3.
  37. ↑ "The Queen's Award for Enterprise: 2011 Winners". Archived from the original on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.