Soundcraft has added the Vi3000 digital live sound console, to its range of live digital mixing consoles.
The new desk supports 96 channels to mix with SpiderCore 40-bit floating-point DSP, a new industrial design and Dante compatibility.
‘The Vi3000 represents a massive leap forward in digital console design and functionality, while keeping the best elements of the Vi4 and Vi6 consoles,’ says Vi Series Senior Product Manager, Andy Brown. ‘We have a totally new internal core based on the Studer Vista 1 and a more efficiently designed surface running updated operating software. Compared to other consoles in its price range, the Vi3000 offers more input channels, more buses, more faders, and a user interface like no other. We are proud to say the Vi3000 is simply unparalleled in its category.’
The Vi3000 uses the new internal DSP SpiderCore based on the company’s Vista 1 engine, with Vi v4.8 operating software, while adding a fourth 24-channel fader layer to improve access to the console’s 96 input channels. The surface operation and layout is similar to other Vi Series consoles, providing a familiar with expanded functionality. It also features upgraded microphone preamps and DSP processing.
The control surface offers 36 faders, 24 mono/stereo buses and a black screen panel with four Vistonics II touchscreen interfaces with updated 3D graphics. Because the Vi3000 has four touchscreens, it can be used by two engineers at the same time.
‘Visibility of parameters and easy access to them are the most important features a console can have,’ Brown says. ‘When something unexpected happens – as it always does in live sound – being able to see a lot of settings quickly is a massive advantage.’
The Vi3000 offers extensive rear panel connectivity. In addition to a full complement of analog and digital inputs and outputs, the console provides Madi, USB, Ethernet, DVI out, Dante/Madi record feed outputs, redundant power supply and other connections. The Vi3000 has two expansion bays that can be fitted with Madi Stagebox cards, to connect multiple Soundcraft Stagebox input expander modules. The console can also accommodate the Soundcraft Realtime Rack, a hardware/software unit designed in collaboration with Universal Audio that provides access to 74 industry-standard UAD plug-ins. The Vi3000 is the first Soundcraft console to incorporate a Dante interface as standard, for digital audio networking with Dante-enabled devices.
Along with its greatly expanded functionality, the Vi3000 uses FaderGlow illuminated faders that display different colours according to function, the ability to store and recall snapshots and cues, compatibility with Soundcraft’s ViSi app that allows remote control from an iPad, built-in Lexicon reverb/delays, dbx compression and effects.
More: www.soundcraft.com
