Based on the award-winning DiGiCo D5 Live digital mixing platform, the D5T console, DiGiTRACS Rehearsal Recorder and the D5-TC and D5-RC system expanders provide a comprehensive, dedicated feature set for versatile theatre sound programming and operation..

The D5T sets a completely new standard for theatre sound mixing, with audio quality, intuitive operation and flexibility that are a world apart from conventional analogue or digital consoles.

With a 72 buss DSP engine, a 32 x 32 matrix, 41 fader surface and up to 128 channels with full dynamics processing or 96 channels with onboard effects, the DiGiCo D5T combines a wealth of facilities in a compact, 1484mm W x 868mm D (58.43in W x 34.17in D) worksurface that potentially will give back hundreds of seats a year to large productions.

The D5T ‘family’ makes sound production even more cost effective with the D5-RC remote control, an ultra compact operator’s console. For the most complex shows the D5-TC Theatre Masters Controller provides extended master fader controls and eight programmable macro buttons and a dedicated script space.

First introduced with Version 2 software on the D5 Live, the D5T also has the unique ability to configure multi-console setups to share common I/O within a redundant fibre loop, with the added advantages of remote control and console mirroring. This allows stage monitoring consoles to be connected to the same digital inputs, but with independent control, utilising the automatic Gain Tracking™ (Patent Pending) which allows either console operator to alter input gain without affecting the mix on either console.

The optional DiGiTRACS hard disk multitrack recorder is a 56-track record/playback system which allows audio playback, settings storage and even, if circumstances allow, complete show recording. More than one DiGiTRACS can be synchronised together for an increased track count.
One glance at the innovative control surface tells you that this console has been designed for sound engineers by sound engineers, including several of the world’s most renowned theatre sound designers.

Virtually every feature is there to see at a glance, or at most a single, logical fingertip press away. The four LCD touchscreens present their facilities exactly as you’d expect to find them on an advanced analogue console, with instant access and a refreshing lack of menus to navigate. This highly intuitive approach means that for anyone moving on from an analogue or digital console, the learning curve will be as short as the feature list is long.

Key features include dynamics processing with side chain EQ; up to 240ms of delay: four bands of parametric EQ, high and low pass filters; 72 user-assignable busses; 32 x 32 output matrix; group outputs each with delay, six bands of parametric EQ and compressor; and pre-equaliser group outputs for use by measurement systems such as SIM™; dedicated illuminated Next/Previous Cue buttons; full off-line DiGiCo Cue Composer Show Programming software; user definable I/O specification and high quality on-board digital effects.

The D5T gives you unparalleled flexibility in configuring your console to suit the show. Any of the 72 internal busses can be set up as mono or stereo auxiliaries and mono or stereo surround busses (the console is fully 5.1-ready as well as for LCRS, with three joystick surround sound panners for instant sound placement).

Three solo modes and two solo busses are provided, along with the facility to ‘gang’ groups of input faders together for single-fader control. The dynamics package offers comprehensive frequency-conscious gating, compression and limiting with powerful sidechain EQ, and a four-band fully parametric equaliser plus high and low pass filters. Underlining the ease of use, the moment you touch an EQ control the screen displays a real-time EQ curve, with the same instant, highly accurate visual feedback provided for every other feature.
The D5T’s cue facilities have been greatly extended. At any time you can commit the console’s entire status to a cue memory and as there’s no limit to the number of cues you can store, you can effectively record a complete show’s mix settings. Then store it on a tiny USB key and, if the need arises, recall the whole show on another continent with another D5T. Cues can be self-timed, allowing automated sequencing; relative cues allow venue adjustments independently of scene changes; and current or master cues can be updated with one touch. The D5T software allows communication with Cue Composer software running on an external PC (see pages 4-5), and the console recognises Channel Aliases and pre-defined Sets and responds accordingly when synchronising with the Cue Composer.

Live Update will be a major feature enhancement of D5T software, optionally allowing altered controller values to update themselves - without further operator intervention – throughout the cue list.

More innovations can be found throughout the D5T. The compact and lightweight rigid frame houses a slide-out keyboard for naming channels and groups on the electronic scribble strips. The powerful bespoke DSP engine runs every channel continuously – giving you the benefit of just 2ms latency from analogue input to analogue output, equal on every channel at all times. The integral LED lighting behind the controls and the touchscreens can be dimmed, as can the elegant white LED illumination over the high resolution 30-segment LED meterbridge.

At every step you’ll find a wealth of clear tactile and visual information. The smooth, long-throw moving faders react precisely and predictably, and the moment you move one an adjacent backlit button shows you the level change in real time accurate to 0.1dB. 24 VCA-style control groups are at your disposal, and you can swap inputs between physical faders and groups of faders to suit your needs in a second.

In terms of sonic performance, this is a true thoroughbred. 96kHz D/A converters provide an impeccable noise floor while 32-bit floating point internal processing delivers pure, smooth, rich musicality.

The design team behind the D5T’s engineering has 10 years of experience with the Soundtracs family of digital recording consoles, and over 500 digital sales world-wide, not to mention over 20 years of theatre console control software design. The result is not only innovation, but road proven durability and the knowledge that whenever new features are created for the D5T, your console will be instantly updateable too.

The D5T from DiGiCo. A new world of theatre sound.