VIENNA – Within two months of purchasing a DiGiCo SD8, Austrian system provider Concept Solutions had already used it on 20 events with 10 different freelance engineers, according to Raphael Rupprecht, Concept Solutions technical director.
"They were all extremely happy with it," said Rupprecht. "They all had just 10 minutes introduction to the world of the SD8 and mixed their bands with no problems whatsoever."
Concept Solutions' gigs range from small to large live music events, club gigs and corporate functions. Recently the company needed to expand its mixing console inventory and chose the DiGiCo SD8 for its versatility, sound quality and cost-effectiveness.
"I had heard a lot about the great sound of DiGiCo consoles, so I decided to try them out," Rupprecht said. "I tried the D1 and was amazed at the quality of the preamps, the EQs and the dynamics. Even my reference CDs sounded better over the PA when routed via the D1 – I could hear details I had never heard before."
The next DiGiCo console Raphael tried was the SD8. "I contacted local distributor TON Eichinger and got an SD8 for evaluation. We tested the desk in all kinds of situations and the performance convinced us to become the first rental company in Austria to offer the SD8. It turned out to be the best decision we could have made.
"What impressed us even more was the Overdrive upgrade we received after purchase, adding dynamic EQs, multiband compressors, 24 graphic EQs, more FX and a bigger Matrix. You really won't find anything similar at the price," Rupprecht added.
Concept Solutions has already upgraded the MaDiRack with LK37 connectors for Linkcore use, integrated color-coded patch cables, an additional patchbay and two AES/EBU output cards, to drive all of its d&b D12 amplifiers digitally.
"We maintain the whole dynamic range the SD8 offers. Our signal chain from desk to power amps is completely digital, using a lightweight MADI multicore," Rupprecht noted.
"We also use the remote software on a tablet PC via WLAN to set up and equalize the PA system components. And with a MADI card in a laptop I am able to improve the workflow and the sound. DiGiCo has made the virtual sound check perfect. It's just one button press to listen back to the recordings."
For more information, please visit www.digico.org.
