SD8 Operation Manual User Manual - Getting Started To be read in conjunction with the SD Series Software Reference User Manual Version E for Software Versions 5.0.
SD8 Operation Manual Copyright © 2014 Digico UK Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form by any means without the written permission of Digico UK Ltd. Information in this manual is subject to change without notice, and does not represent a commitment on the part of the vendor.
SD8 Operation Manual Contents 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................. .......1-1 1.2 Manual Overview ..................................................................... .......1-1 1.3 Before You Start ....................................................................... .......1-2 1.3.1 Worksurface Layout ...................................................... .......1-2 1.3.2 Screen Assignment ......................................................
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SD8 - Getting Started 1.1 Introduction The Digico SD8 consists of a worksurface with an onboard audio engine and a range of onboard inputs and outputs. This can be connected to multiple Input/Output Rack Units by MADI links or optical fibre (optionally) which carry all the audio input and output signals.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.3 Before You Start There are certain general operating principles and terms that should be understood before continuing to use this manual. Please read this chapter carefully before proceeding. 1.3.1 Worksurface Layout..............................................................
SD8 - Getting Started Right Section Keyboard & Trackball Snapshot Automation Macros Monitoring Talkback Assignable Rotaries and Switches Aux / Pan / Dynamics Controls Mute and Channel Select Buttons Channel Faders Right Section Screen Assign Bank Select Buttons 1.3.2 Screen Assignment ............................................................... The SD8 has one central touchscreen which is used to access many of the consoles functions.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.3.3 Layers and Banks ................................................................. The SD8's worksurface is divided into Layers and Banks. Each Bank contains twelve channels, and the channels which are currently active on the control surface are defined using the fader bank and bank layer buttons to the right of the Channel Strip section’s faders: Select a Layer Select a Bank P A ‘bank’ is a set of twelve faders, and a ‘layer’ contains up to four ‘banks’.
SD8 - Getting Started To the right and below the Master screen is a single encoder marked Touch-Turn (shown below). This is used to access some of the rotary and switch controls within the Master screen. To assign the Touch-Turn encoder to a particular on-screen pot, touch the pot to be assigned. You will notice that a coloured ring appears around the on-screen pot, indicating that it is assigned to the Touch-Turn encoder/switch. 1.3.5 The Assigned Channel ..................................................
SD8 - Getting Started 1.3.6 The Master Fader .................................................................. By default, the master fader is assigned to the master group output, which is the lowest stereo group output by default. In addition, the master fader can be assigned to the solo buss output. 1.3.7 Other Centre Section Controls .............................................
SD8 - Getting Started Inputs Groups Auxes Matrix Input Module - Touch to Expand Analogue Gain/Digital Trim Phase - Gain Tracking Main/Alt Input Select HPF/LPF Insert A Routing & On/Off 4 Band Dynamic EQ Touch To Expand Multiband Dynamics Touch To Expand Insert B Routing & On/Off Aux Sends Touch to Assign Rows Channel Pan Mute Indicators Channel Label Routing Module - Touch to Expand Gang & Safe Indicators 1.4 Hardware Configuration 1.4.1 Connections .................................................
SD8 - Getting Started STANDARD CONNECTION WITH MADI MaDiRack MAIN MADI IN MAIN MADI OUT AUX MADI IN AUX MADI OUT Optional Redundant MADI Connection Optional Remote Control Laptop connection with Ethernet Crossover Cable MADI 1A OUT MADI 1A IN MADI 1B OUT MADI 1B IN MADI 2A OUT MADI 2A IN MADI IN MADI OUT SD8 Rear Panel MADI Connections MADI 2B MADI 2A MADI 1B MADI 1A MADI OUTPUTS MADI INPUTS 1-8 Optional MADI Recorder Or Second MaDiRack
SD8 - Getting Started 1.4.2 Audio I/O Panel The Audio I/O window is used to configure the physical I/O connected to the SD8, including configuring and naming the sockets of the cards installed in racks, and the setting of Pads and phantom power. Local I/O : The SD8 provides local audio I/O in the rear of the console. These operate independently of connected racks..
SD8 - Getting Started 1.4.3 Opto V220 (DiGiRacks) and Opto V221 (SD Racks) ............. SD Series consoles can operate with either one of two different Optocore firmware versions - V220 and V221. V220 is compatible with DiGiRacks and MiNiRacks and cannot be used with SD Racks or DRacks. V221 is compatible with SD Racks, SD MiNiRacks, NaNoRacks and DRacks, and cannot be used with DiGiRacks and MiNiRacks.
SD8 - Getting Started Manual Conforming of Rack: Select each card (column) and manually select the appropriate card in the Card/Slot Type drop down menu in the lower section of the window (displayed when the Cards & Sockets button towards the bottom-left is selected). Once the correct card type is selected, the Label at the bottom the selected card will turn green, indicating the card type matches the card installed in the rack.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.5 Configuring a Session The SD8 has a default setup which means that the new user need not get involved in configuring the desk at this stage. However, here is a brief overview of how the different displays are used in putting together a session.
SD8 - Getting Started Clear All Buttons : When changing routing, you have the option of clearing any non-default routing or processing (EQ, dynamics etc) from the channels in the session. This is especially useful when restructuring an existing session to make a new session. The clear snapshots, clear automation and clear macro’s perform similar operations. Rebuild Banks : When changing the session structure, there are two possible scenarios.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.6 Saving and Loading Sessions 1.6.1 Save As New File ................................................................. When you change the configuration of the a session you should save it to the console's flash drive under a new filename. If the Save Session panel has not appeared automatically after a session restructure then touch the Files button on the Master screen and then press Save As New File.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.7 Audio Sync The SD8 will operate at Sample Rates of either 48000Hz (48kHz) or 96000Hz (96kHz).. By default, it is set to clock internally (as a Master) at 48kHz. Within a normal setup, the SD8 will usually remain as clock master. However, there are times when the SD8 needs to be clocked externally. The Audio Sync panel allows you to control external synchronisation. To access the Audio Sync Panel, touch the Setup Menu button, followed by Audio Sync.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.8 Routing Basics 1.8.1 Selecting Inputs & Outputs ................................................... All channel input, output, insert send and insert return routing is done via routing displays, accessed via the dark grey routing buttons in the channel Setup and Output displays (shown below for an Input channel’s input).
SD8 - Getting Started Misc: Graphic EQs: Effects: Channels: Groups: Auxes: The The The The The oscillator, white and pink noise generators. outputs of the SD8’s internal graphic EQ’s. outputs of any effects sends that have been created direct outputs from the other input channels outputs of the group busses The outputs of the auxiliary busses. Note: The outputs for the channel being routed are locked out of the signal list. Note also that the console views all routes as a single list.
SD8 - Getting Started Channels can also be named directly in the Channel List display (in the Layout menu). Open the display, activate the Edit function below the list, and expand the required channel type list by touching its row. Touching the channel name column for any channel in the list will cause a keyboard pop-up to appear, where a name can be typed in the usual way. 1.9 Channel Processing 1.9.1 EQ ..........................................................................................
SD8 - Getting Started 1.9.2 Dynamics ............................................................................... The dynamics are accessed by touching the words Comp or Gate just below the EQ graph on screen to open the dynamics panel. There are two dynamics modules, the first of which can function as a simple compressor, a 3 way multiband compressor, or a de-esser, according to the comp/multi/desser button to its left.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.9.3 Auxiliaries ............................................................................. The auxiliaries can be accessed by touching the auxiliary row on screen or using the Screen Scroll buttons on the left of the worksurface Using either of these methods, the highlighted auxiliaries on the input screen will change.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.10 The Matrix To open the Matrix Inputs panel, touch the Matrix button on the Master Screen Menu. The window that opens allows you to route inputs to the Matrix Output Channels, and set the Matrix crosspoint levels. To route an input, touch the top of the appropriate Matrix column. This opens a standard SD8 input routing page.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.11 Control Groups Any number of input channels and output channels can be connected to one or more of the 12 Control Groups. They can then all be operated from a single worksurface channel. Changes to the Control Group fader, mute or solo or controls will affect all channels connected to the group.
SD8 - Getting Started 1.12 Solo Setup The SD8 Solo panel is accessed from a button at the top of the Master Screen. Some of the controls on this panel are duplicated on the right worksurface section.. There are two solo busses and each channel on the consoles can be independently assigned to use Solo1, Solo2 or Solo 1+2. Therefore, if the console was being used for Stage monitors, the first solo buss could feed “In-Ear” monitors, and the second solo buss could feed a wedge.
