Long before digital audio came to live sound mixing consoles, lighting control was being done in the digital domain. Using the standard dmx512 protocol, along with some others, up to 512 discrete sets of information could be transmitted from console to dimmers via a three conductor cable. It was an immediate success and quickly pushed analog control off the map.
It has been in use for so long that most lighting techs working today have never even seen an analog controller.
Dealing with the basic concept that a “bit is a bit is a bit”, Soundcraft has put “0” and “1” together and integrated dmx512 lighting control into their Si Performer line of audio consoles.
While its basic functionality in the lighting mode won’t ever put high end lighting controllers on the obsolete list, the option of having an audio person having basic control of a lighting system opens up a lot of new territory and presents production companies with some new money saving options.
Many audio-intensive live events like conferences and speeches have basic “on/off” lighting needs and now all of that can be managed from a single console.
The SI Series mixers can store both audio and lighting control information and can use snapshots to restore both sound and lighting settings. All functions can be performed from the same control surface, decreasing the production footprint in venues where space is at a premium.
You can read more about the Soundcraft SI Performer series of mixers by clicking here.
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