S21 Digital Console

“With the S21, we wanted to re-write the rulebook. To test the conclusions we previewed at Prolight+Sound without publishing or unlocking the full software potential, or even the intended release specifications,” says DiGiCo’s managing director, James Gordon.

This different approach makes perfect sense when you take on-board that the core of S21 is DiGiCo’s Stealth Digital Processing. This FPGA based technology is the key that unlocks the flexibility that the R&D designers need to specify and deliver the ultimate console. This has been demonstrated to existing clients, as every console in the SD range has benefited from complimentary advancements in core processing and software since their launch. 

“We wanted to design an entry level console that retained all the features and values DiGiCo is known for in terms of quality, ergonomics and style, and one we could be truly proud of at a price point that allows even more audio engineers to join the DiGiCo family. In fact, that was the condition John Stadius put on his design team. It is also why the console has been hidden in development for close to three years,” confirms James.

When you walk up to the console you can instantly tell it is a full member of the DiGiCo stable. The build quality and design takes on all DiGiCo’s core values such as aluminium extrusions, RGB switch encoders with HTL (Hidden Til Lit), Polycarbonate overlays and two large multi touch screens that allow the operator to get an unrivalled overview of what is at their finger tips.

“The challenge we faced in R&D was providing a true pro ‘high-end’ console at the desired price point,” John Stadius adds. “The brief we got was very strict, we had to develop a console that gave the operator all the sensations they would get when stood behind the SD7.

“This requirement really motivated the team and S21 is the result. The worksurface design speaks for itself, but in terms of audio, you have the same FPGA algorithms as the SD7 and the Mic Pre design is lifted from the 192kHz SD-Rack. The audio statistics on this console are very much high end; it should surprise a lot of new to DiGiCo engineers. Oh, and its 96kHz with no processing limitations from day one like all the other DiGiCo consoles. As I said, no compromises were allowed!”

Here's what you get:

• 96kHz as standard
• 24 mic line inputs
• 12 analogue outs
• 2 AES I/O (mono)
• Word Clock I/O
• 1 GPI and 1 GPO
• DVI out (for an external monitor)
• 2 DMI Card slots (up to 64 I/O per slot)
• 2 Ethernet connections for Networking
• 2 x 24 segment master/solo meters
• Touch sensitive rotaries with integrated switch & HTL
• 2 x multi-touch screens
• 21 x touch sensitive moving faders
• 4 x layers of banks of 10 faders
• Customisable bank and channel layout
• Snapshots
• Integrated USB2 Audio I/O interface for recording and playback of up to 48 channels 40 x Input flex-channels Mono/Stereo (equivalent of 80 DSP channels)
• 46 busses: 16 x flexi-busses Mono/Stereo (equivalent of 32 DSP busses), Stereo Master (2), Solo busses (2 stereo, 4 total), and 10 x 8 Matrix (8)
• 10 x Control Groups
• 1 x Compressor per channel and buss
• 1 x Gate per channel and buss (switchable to ducker, or compressor with side chain access)
• 16 x assignable 32 band Graphic EQs
• 8 x FX engines (reverbs, delays, w/modulation and enhancer)
• 4 x assignable DiGiTuBes
• 4 x assignable Multiband Comps
• User definable Macros
• An extremely high power headphone amplifier with 1/4 inch and mini jack socket

DiGiCo’s belief in audio quality and road worthy mechanical design has limited their ability to release an affordable introductory product. These values have required the same pioneering approach to design, not to follow the trend but to deliver the flagship for a price point - and change expectations. DiGiCo’s S21 does exactly that. By using new, lower cost FPGA components programmed with the same audio algorithms, and combined with a new form of control processor, DiGiCo is able to deliver the S21 with the fundamental technological values at it’s core. Running in harmony with the FPGA core is a new ARM QuadCore RISC processor. Delivering faster processing with lower power consumption, this efficient tool, combined with the audio core, has allowed the development of a cost effective console worthy of carrying the DiGiCo brand to existing and new owners and users.