Soundcraft Si Compact V2 Launched at NAMM

Harman Soundcraft's Si Compact small-format digital console has received a major upgrade with the V2 software release, the company says. Soundcraft is showing its new products at Booth #7800 at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, today through Sunday.

. The new free upgrade provides more than 23 major new features, updates and enhancements; they include eight additional DSP channels expanding the Si Compact 16 and Si Compact 24 to 32 and 40 inputs to mix, respectively.

Of particular note is the new user-configurable fader layers, allowing input channels to be reassigned anywhere on either input layer and any bus master reassigned to either master layer. Now an engineer can put the inputs and returns where he or she most needs them, for example, having the main vocal or presenter always in Position 1 on both input fader layers, or mixing aux and matrix masters on a single bus layer to reduce the number of layer changes.

Another function introduced in V2 is D.O.G.S (direct output gain stabilization). A common frustration for engineers is when two consoles (FOH and monitors) share the same source such as a mic on stage; the mix balance on the second (slave) console can be overridden if the engineer at the master console changes the mic gain and in some environments this could also result in feedback in the slave system. Using a connection topology where the slave console is fed from a pre-fade direct output of the master, DOGS can compensate for the gain adjustment maintaining original system gain between mic in and direct out. The company says that that one of the unique advantages of DOGS is since stabilization occurs "locally" in the master console, only this component requires the DOGS system and all other equipment connected to the master can benefit from the feature.

The selective copy and paste function is now implemented allowing all or part of a selected channel or bus to be copied and pasted elsewhere. This basic functionality is augmented with the ability to copy and paste individual bus or matrix mixes and copy/paste FX presets between Lexicon processors. Enhanced MIDI control allows snapshots to be recalled from any external devices capable of sending simple program change messages.

A new security mode prevents unauthorized access to key functions; as also, "total lockdown" security can be tailored for different operator access levels for example locking out house EQ and processing for guest engineers while allowing access for in-house operators.

Other enhancements include additional information displayed in the "function focus" window on the touch screen, improved matrix mix facilities, show file and folder management, better navigation, improved default settings, HPF settings, and added EQ curve graphics.