ISE 2015: DiGiCo Demos Consoles’ Ability to Transport Different Signals to Multiple Locations
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ISE 2015 saw DiGiCo consoles connected across multiple booths via a DiGiCo-Optocore/Broaman network, demonstrating the system’s suitability for transporting a number of different signal protocols to multiple locations.
“This year, we will be showing a DiGiCo SD7, SD10, SD5, SD9 and SD11, which will connect to a number of different locations,” explains Jaap Pronk from DiGiCo’s Dutch distributor TM Audio, on whose booth number 7-K175 DiGiCo will be based. “We will connect the SD7, SD5 and SD10 together on an Optocore loop. We will have a laptop with multitrack (simulating a live band) connected via a DiGiGrid MGB coaxial MADI interface to the SD10, which in turn will connect via Optocore to the SD5 and SD7.”
The ring starts at the three DiGiCo consoles and continues to the Martin Audio booth, where an Optocore DD32R digital interface will be situated to connect Martin Audio loudspeakers via AES EBU. An Optocore DD4MR will be located on Allen & Heath’s booth to copy the multitrack via the MADI protocol, with an Optocore X6R AES EBU unit on the Renkus Heinz booth. A second DD32R AES EBU unit will be placed on the Powersoft Booth and finally, on the Optocore booth itself, the ring will connect to a Broaman MUX22 unit which will be connected to another MUX22 unit on the DiGiCo booth to close the ring.
“The multirack on the DiGiCo booth can be mixed on the SD10, the SD5 and the SD7,” Jaap continues. “This simulates, for example, FOH, monitors and on-air broadcast, all happening at the same time. The mixes will be sent to Powersoft’s newest amps, Martin Audio and Renkus Heinz loudspeakers in different locations, while the multitrack is copied to an Allen & Heath mixing system, which can do a separate mix for another room.
“The Broaman units on the DiGiCo and Optocore booth not only tunnel the Optocore/DiGiCo ring, but are also connected to camera’s and HQ video screens on both the DiGiCo and Optocore booth. This results in a powerful combination of multiple high quality video lines, intercom systems and hundreds of audio channels between all these booths. On the Optocore booth, you can see and hear what is happening on the DiGiCo booth, and the other way around.”
DiGiCo is the only console manufacturer to benefit from OEM Optocore and is running the native 2.21 Optocore protocol. Users can see each Optocore interface as a part of the DiGiCo/Optocore network, showing how their X6R mic preamp can be controlled directly from the console. Using the fibre connection between the DiGiCo booths, all visitors will be able to see the real remote preamp application.
“Together with Optocore, DiGiCo provides a connected system that can now be found in many installations such as multi room theatres, multi room studios, Houses of Worship, sports and live venues,” says Jaap. “The key advantage is a non compromised, fully redundant and synchronous network without any added latency for every extra unit on the network. Latency and clock problems belong to the past with a network like this.
“The system is really easy to use and having this extensive network on show at ISE will enable our customers to experience just how simple it is first hand.”