This year, DiGiCo celebrates 15 years of manufacturing exceptional digital mixing
consoles. It has enjoyed phenomenal success, with the D5 Live establishing both the
company and the concept of digital mixing. The SD Series followed, delivering a
powerful new way of working, with the flagship SD7 becoming the market leader. In
2015, it launched the affordable S Series with a new, modern workflow. In 2016, it
introduced Stealth Core 2 software, which multiplied the power of the SD range of
consoles exponentially. Now, at the very beginning of 2017, it has unveiled Project
Vulcan, the new SD12.

The SD12 is the culmination of everything that DiGiCo has learned over the last
decade and a half and encapsulates the best features of both the SD and S Series.
Utilising the latest generation of Super FPGA, it is compact in size, but delivers the
power and capability that is now synonymous with DiGiCo consoles.

The SD12 features 72 input channels with full processing, 36 aux/group busses with
full processing, a 12 x 8 matrix with full processing, LR/LCR buss with full
processing, 12 stereo FX units, 16 Graphic EQs, 119 Dynamic EQs, 119 multiband
compressors and 119 DiGi-TuBes, 12 Control Groups (VCA) and SD Series Stealth
Core 2 software, making it compatible with all other SD Series sessions.

One of the SD12’s outstanding features is its dual 15-inch digital touchscreens –
previously only seen on the SD7 and SD5 – which provide 24 channels in one view,
dual operator mode and the ability for the right-hand screen to be the Master, as
well as advanced connectivity via optional DMI cards, yet the SD12 still maintains a
workflow that will be familiar to anyone working in live touring, corporate,
installation, House of Worship, theatre or broadcast.

EQ and dynamics controls are aligned perfectly next to both the left and right-hand
screens, so that they sit adjacent to the graphic representation that you see when
you assign an EQ. Unusually for a console this compact, DiGiCo has included its
famous Hidden Til Lit (HTL) technology, with two banks of 24 encoders featuring an
RGB HTL ring, as well as an SD7-style channel strip with HTL EQ encoders. There is
also new Dynamics metering on the channel strip and new high intensity meters
associated with the faders. The rotaries that sit below the screen indicate, by
colour, what parameters they are controlling to allow for fast operation; these are
also HTL.

One of the other important things with a digital console is the feedback of the
metering. The Dynamics controls are exactly where you would expect them to be,
but with the addition of Gain reduction meters normally only seen on the SD7 and
SD5 and metering to show the action of the Gates making the feedback from the
worksurface unrivalled at its price point.

There is also an assignable Master section on the bottom right hand side of the
worksurface, again only previously seen on an SD7 or SD5, and two assignable
faders with their own displays and metering, which can be assigned to be any of the
channels whether input or output, or Solo Master controls. Dedicated RGB scribble
strips, of which there are five, can be assigned to Macros with five banks giving a
total of 25 Macros, and there is a Snapshot panel for quickly accessing and
controlling the Snapshots list, as well as for firing the next and previous Snapshot.

On the back of the console is a standard local I/O format. There are eight local
mic/line inputs, eight local line outputs and eight AES/EBU in/out for local digital
sources, as well as two MADI ports, plus a UB MADI connection for recording at
48kHz; 48 tracks of recording are possible with the console clocking at 48kHz and
24 tracks if it is clocking at 96kHz.

There are two slots for DMI cards. Options include a Dante module, which can be
plugged straight into the back of the console, alleviating the need to purchase an
Orange Box. A Waves module can also be fitted to take full advantage of the
SoundGrid platform. In fact, there is a huge family of DMI cards that can be plugged
in the SD12, which can be changed between different projects or tours, depending
on requirements.

Adding to its already considerable benefits, the SD12 has a suite of remote control
options, including the iPad SD remote app which offers remote control, expansion
and show control. Offline software, meanwhile, allows for session preparation and
online remote. There are OSC and Ross network protocols; 16 pin GPIO that allows
for audio follows video and show control; Serial/MIDI in/out for MMC/MTC, MIDI
remote and QLab; second console mirroring and redundancy.

And, because the SD12 is an SD Series product, there is also the option to upgrade
straight into the Optocore network with not one, but two loop options, allowing the
SD12 to sit happily anywhere on a loop with any other Optocore enabled SD
product.

“The SD12 has already created an international impact, with over 30 of our
distributors taking part in a surprise global launch, details to follow shortly,’ says
DiGiCo MD James Gordon. “The SD12 takes all the true DiGiCo values and installs
them into a compact, cost effective surface with unrivalled feedback and control. It
is ideal for operators that demand the best audio quality, combined with an intuitive
and fast multi-screen worksurface.’

Feature set at a glance:

• 72 input channels with full processing

• 36 aux/group busses with full processing

• 12 x 8 matrix with full processing

• LR/LCR buss with full processing

• 12 FX fully assignable processors

• 16 Graphic EQs

• 119 Dynamic EQs,

• 119 multiband compressors

• 119 DiGiTuBes

• 12 Control Groups (VCA)

• SD Series Stealth Core 2 software, making it compatible with all other SD
Series sessions

• 8 local mic/line inputs

• 8 local line outputs

• 8 AES/EBU in/out

• Dual MADI in/out

• Dual DMI card slots

• Optional dual Optocore loops

• UB MADI 48 channel USB interface

• 16 GPI/GPO, MIDI, Wordclock in/out

• Overview monitor output, USB and Network

• User configurable bussing and flexible layout

• Same powerful Snapshot automation

• Virtual sound check and Copy Audio matrix

• Full Dynamic EQ, DiGi-TuBes and Multiband Compression on every processing
strip. full function channels across the entire console, whether it is an output or
input.

• Free offline software and iPad app

• SD11/9/5 style Quick Select

• SD5/SD7 light bar

• 25 user-definable Macro buttons

• Same sound, same software, but more control and connectivity