The master section, as well as the customary output groups and master fader, provides powerful control of the console’s overall setup via a series of pages instantly selectable on the fourth touchscreen. Also controlled here are the powerful 32 x 32 output matrix and the console’s Cue system.

SYSTEM PAGE: The first page, System, provides real-time diagnostics which constantly monitor the system, the MADI line, software versions, power supply levels, internal temperature, etc.

SESSION PAGE: This page stores, recalls and sets up individual sessions. As well as the standard default files, it includes features such as Load Preset Library for recalling user presets of EQ and dynamics settings, which can also be merged when, for example, two engineers are using the desk in the same session or show.

LAYOUT PAGE: The Layout page allows you to bring all the correct channels straight to the console’s physical faders. On this page, too, are the extensive labelling facilities, enabling you to type in alphanumeric labelling on screen or the full-size slide-out QWERTY keyboard for the LCD scribble strip, screens, busses and fader banks. Channel settings may be copied or moved here from one to another, and a channel’s settings can be copied to multiple channels using the Duplicate feature.

OUTPUT PAGE: The on-screen scroller provides fast access to group, master output and auxiliary output routings, and a touch on the screen displays current routing settings. Each output has a brick-wall master limiter, variable threshold and variable release time, along with routing to allow the buss to be routed to as many of the outputs - analogue or digital - as desired. There’s also an output buss insert point for an external processor. Auxiliary outputs are handled in exactly the same way with an additional pre/post fade switch.

MATRIX PAGE: The comprehensively-equipped 32 x 32 output matrix allows any channel, buss or physical input to be routed into the matrix, and then routed out to any of the physical outputs. Each group output provides six bands of fully parametric EQ (the upper and lower bands can be switched between shelving EQ and filters), dynamics and delay. The touchscreen gives you control over all the group sends via a dedicated rotary control and a switch. The output matrix faders can also be assigned to the master section faders. Once again, a preset library allows you to save an unlimited number of matrix presets for instant recall.

CONTROL GROUPS PAGE: Here you have the option of either VCA-style fader control in which the individual faders remain in position when the VCA group fader is moved, or digital-style in which all the moving faders physically follow the group fader. The choice of working method is yours; their functionality is identical.

There are 24 control groups; these can be moving fader or VCA style and can be assigned to inputs, ouputs or both. Making a channel part of a group simply requires selecting Touch and then touching all the faders required for the control group. Further touches add or remove each fader from the group. Channels/busses can be assigned to multiple control groups, which also appear on screen.

The Cue Composer Show programming software provides a fast and straightforward editing system for pre-programming D5T cues, master assignments and MIDI programme changes.

The auxiliary master outputs are assigned here to the physical faders on the two master fader banks. The two master banks provide 16 master faders which can be assigned as group outputs, auxiliary outputs and control group masters.

A Fader Flip function allows you to swap the two banks of eight faders, and there is the ability to build your own master banks, with the option to include control groups, input channels and so on by using the dedicated LCD assign button.

Also here is Solo Assigns ‘Aux to faders’ or ‘Aux to Rotaries’. Thus, when an aux master is soloed that aux send is assigned to the faders - a function that is duplicated on the master touchscreen.