A few years ago, I started wondering if DiGiCo’s SD series was getting a bit long in the tooth. The SD7 has been around for a decade, and despite being one of the most well-appointed consoles in the market, it started showing its age. I’m not sure why. Maybe it is the lack of multi-touch screens, the somewhat dated software interface or the lack of Dante connectivity.
In any case, I wondered what the future held for such a prestigious line of consoles that truly defined live sound mixing in the digital age. I resigned myself to the fact that the SD series was probably on its way out, with DiGiCo likely launching an entirely new line of consoles to replace SD. Then Stealth Core 2 happened. It was clear that DiGiCo was committed to extending the life of the SD series well into the future. It was surprising how much processing power had been lying dormant, and a refresh of the software interface made the consoles feel entirely fresh and new.
SD DNA
The SD12 comes on the heels of two major developments in the DiGiCo world, both of which have clearly contributed to the SD12 as a product. First were the new S21 and S31 consoles; the second was the release of Stealth Core 2 software for the SD series. These two developments went hand in hand. For example, the world got its first glimpse of the visual aesthetic of Core 2 when the S21 was released. While the S series software is quite different than the SD series, many of the GUI improvements made in Core 2 were first seen on the S series.
Following on the S series and the release of Core 2 comes the DiGiCo SD12, a mid-range desk that sits roughly between the SD9 and SD10 in the product lineup, and seems to compete with the SD8. The groundbreaking aspects of the SD12 are the surface, the layout, the ergonomics and most importantly, the price. In many ways, the SD12 echoes design cues of the SD7 and SD5. That is an impressive feat unto itself, as the SD12 is significantly less expensive than either console, meaning that users can now get a more cost-effective desk with many of the features of DiGiCo’s flagship mixers.
Features and More Features
The most notable ergonomic features of the SD12 are the dual 15-inch touch screens and the screen angle relative to the faders, which is significantly different than other DiGiCo consoles. The right side of each touch screen has a full complement of hardware channel control encoders for functions such as EQ and dynamics, making the SD12 a true dual-operator console.
In addition, the SD12 surface features DiGiCo technologies found only in its higher-end products, such as HTL (Hidden Til Lit) encoders. When illuminated, an RGB LED ring surrounding each encoder on the surface helps the operator connect the function of the encoder to its associated parameter on screen. As the main encoder rows under the screens serve many different purposes, the HTL encoders are a meaningful addition and not just eye candy. Longtime DiGiCo users instinctively know what those colors mean. Below the screens are 24 faders plus dual assignable masters. I found the dual masters to be particularly useful in all sorts of scenarios. For example, in a FOH configuration, one master could be assigned as the stereo bus while another could be assigned for front fills or outfills. In a monitor mixing configuration, the dual masters could be assigned as solo bus 1 and solo bus 2. Overall, the SD12 surface just feels like a natural extension of the engineer. One of the most noticeable improvements is the removal of superfluous controls on earlier SD consoles, while retaining only the most important controls (“dynamic automation” anyone?). That de-cluttering of the workspace lets the engineer focus only on what is important rather than sifting through a sea of unused buttons.
The SD12 can run at either 48k Hz or 96k Hz, and boasts 72 processing channels, 36 buses (and a master bus), a 12 x 8 matrix with full processing, 12 FX processors, 16 graphic EQs and 12 control groups. This is where the lines between the SD9, SD8, SD10 and SD12 become blurred. If you’re keeping up with your DiGiCo math, indeed a Core 2 SD9 can do 96 processing channels and 48 buses and an SD8 can do 120 processing channels and 48 buses. I struggled with this discrepancy myself, but if there’s one thing I know about DiGiCo, there is a lot more processing power under the SD12 hood that has yet to be fully realized.
I/O Options
The SD12 has a generous amount of I/O locally on the back of the surface, with eight analog inputs, eight analog outputs, four AES inputs and four AES outs. In addition, there are 16 GPIs and 16 GPOs both on DB-25 connectors, RS-422 for machine control, MIDI in/out/thru, as well as word clock. Most interestingly, and following up on an addition that was made to the S series consoles, there is a UB MADI connection which is a 48-channel, 24-bit, 48k USB interface that could be used for recording to or playback from an external computer via a simple USB 2.0 connection. At 96k, the UB MADI connection’s channel count is cut in half to 24 channels, as is typical with any copper MADI interface.
DiGiCo offers a multitude of stage rack options that connected to the SD12 via coax MADI or optional fiber optics. The highest quality stage rack option is the modular SD Rack series, of which there are three models, the SD Rack, the SD-Mini Rack and the SD-Nano Rack. A more affordable I/O option for the SD12 is the DiGiCo D2 rack, which provides 48 fixed mic/line inputs and 16 outs as standard. The rack’s output count increases to 32 by adding a pair of optional output cards to the two modular slots on the right side of the rack.
The D2 has no fiber optic option and is less flexible than an SD Rack, but it would be sufficient for the large majority of mid-range users. Although I have not heard a D2 rack myself, based on extensive experience with the SD Rack and D Rack, I can only assume that the D2 rack provides the world-class DiGiCo transparency that has become an industry standard.
DMI Slots
Another aspect of the SD12 that differentiates it from other SD series consoles are the two DMI slots found on the back of the surface. As I wrote about in my review of the DiGiCo S21 back in early 2016, DMI cards are a relatively new introduction for DiGiCo. Originally part of the Orange Box product, DMI stands for Digital Multichannel Interface, and the cards add additional high-density I/O to the S21, S31 and now uniquely to the SD12. In many cases, an SD12 user wouldn’t need additional DMI cards, but the ability to add DMI cards provides possibilities that don’t exist natively on other SD consoles, such as Dante, Waves SoundGrid, Aviom and Calrec Hydra 2 connectivity. There are currently nine cards available in the DMI lineup.
Summing Up
The SD12 is a logical evolution of the SD series that builds on the tremendous strength of the SD line as well as the overall strength of the DiGiCo brand. One thing is clear, the SD series isn’t going anywhere in the foreseeable future. DiGiCo has doubled down on its efforts to extend the life of the range for as long as possible, which is in the best interest of both DiGiCo and (more importantly) its customers. Venues and sound companies who own DiGiCo SD series desks can rest assured that they will continue to get return on their investment well into the future, which is good news for everyone.
At a Glance
Powerful Mid-Size Performer
DiGiCo’s SD12 console extends the flexibility of its SD Series with a new performer that adds some new tricks of its own.
DiGiCo SD12
PROS
- • 24 faders + dual master faders
- • Two 15” touch screens with full channel controls
- • DMI expansion slots
- • HTL (Hidden Til Lit) encoder technology
CONS
- • Limited channel and bus count compared to other SD consoles running Core 2
- • 24 faders compared to the 36 faders of the SD8 and SD10
STATS
- Inputs: 72 processing channels
- Buses: 36, plus master bus
- Sampling Rate: 48k or 96 k Hz
- Pricing: SD12 + D2 Package = $46,500; SD12 + SD Rack (Optocore Touring Package) = $95,750, including flight case, fully-loaded SD Rack and two 150-meter HMA cables
- Manufacturer: DiGiCo
More Info: www.digico.biz
