DiGiCo

For the British minicomputer company, see Digico Limited.

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.

DiGiCo

Type	Subsidiary
Founded	United Kingdom, 2002
Founder	James Gordon
Headquarters	Chessington , England
Parent	Audiotonix
Website	www.digico.biz

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 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, with the D5T utilized for West End productions including Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, and We Will Rock You, and the D5 Live installed at venues like the London Coliseum.^[4] 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]

In 2007, DiGiCo introduced its first SD-Range console, the flagship SD7.^[7] 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.^[8]

In 2014, DiGiCo was combined with Allen & Heath and Calrec to form the Audiotonix Group,^[9] and DiGiCo's CEO, James Gordon, was appointed CEO of the new holding company.^[10]

In 2016, DiGiCo introduced the S-Series digital mixing consoles, with the S21 and S31 priced below the SD-Range.^[11]

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^[12] and the Montreux Jazz Festival,^[13] and on tour with artists including Barbra Streisand,^[14] The Black Keys,^[15] Iron Maiden,^[16] Vampire Weekend,^[17] Queen + Adam Lambert,^[18] Maren Morris,^[19] Post Malone,^[20] Ed Sheeran,^[21] Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Weezer,^[22] Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and OneRepublic.^[12]

DiGiCo mixing consoles are used for broadcast sound reinforcement, with examples including the Grammy Awards,^[23][24] The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,^[25]Red Bull Arena in New Jersey,^[26] and the Super Bowl.^[27][28]

DiGiCo mixing consoles are also utilized for installed sound reinforcement applications, including the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, ^[29] Minnesota Orchestra Hall,^[30] Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art's Edlis Neeson Theater,^[31] Philadelphia's Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts,^[32] Hudson Hall,^[33] and Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego.^[34]

Awards

• 2005 - The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation (Technology)^[35]
• 2011 - The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development (International Trade Export)^[36]

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. Evans, Jim (January 2016). "Digico D5T" (PDF). AudioTechnology. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
5. "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. Young, Kevin (24 April 2013). "Getting It Right: New Technology For Classic Rod Stewart In Concert". ProSound Web. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
8. Inglis, Sam (July 2015). "Waves/Digico Digigrid Networked Audio Infrastructure". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Crofts, Mike (April 2018). "DiGiCo S21 Digital Mixing Console". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
12. Shuler, Christopher (26 August 2014). "Summerfest, and the Mixing is Easy on DiGiCo". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
13. Watson, Paul (28 July 2014). "Montreux Jazz Festival". headlinermagazine.net. Headliner. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
14. Romanello, Linda (26 August 2019). "Live Sound Showcase: Barbra Streisand Returns to Her NYC Roots". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
15. Schultz, Barbara (14 February 2020). "The Black Keys' Let's Rock Tour". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
16. Hogan, Candace (19 December 2019). "The Three-Headed Beast". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
17. Jaffee, Larry (11 April 2022). "Live Sound Showcase: Vampire Weekend Goes 360° at MSG". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
18. Gayhart, Keith (26 September 2019). "Live Sound Showcase: Rhapsodizing On The Road with Queen + Adam Lambert". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
19. Berkowitz, Todd (26 September 2019). "The Many Styles of Maren Morris". mixonline.com. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. Shuler, Christopher (27 February 2014). "DiGiCo Sweeps the GRAMMY Awards". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
25. 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.
26. Shuler, Christopher (15 April 2022). "DiGiCo Desk Drives the Sound at Red Bull Arena". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
27. 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.
28. "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.
29. Shuler, Christopher (11 August 2021). "The Jack Singer Concert Hall updates with DiGiCo Quantum consoles". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
30. 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.
31. Shuler, Christopher (27 April 2022). "Modern DiGiCo S21 Consoles Join Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
32. "Philadelphia's Kimmel Center Upgrades with an Eye to the Future". mixonline.com. Future plc. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
33. 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.
34. Liles, Bennett (13 December 2021). "The SVC Interview: Aaron Beck - Rady Shell at Jacobs Park". Sound & Video Contractor. Future plc. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
35. "No. 57618". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 April 2005. p. 3.
36. . Archived from the original on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2012-10-09.

External links

• Official website