Digital audio consoles are all the rage these days. And there's a lot of talk from the manufacturers on how their consoles shine. So, when it came time to return to the topic in the pages of Church Production Magazine, we thought we'd take a different approach this time around. This time, we decided to talk to some of you about your experiences with the digital consoles you are using.
We contacted church users of the major digital console lines found in Houses of Worship these days, and asked them for their input on what they are using, how it suits their technical ministry work, and their favorite and least favorite feature of their console.
So, let's turn it over to them, and hear what they have to say.
Digico SD8
User: Brian Caringer, audio engineer, St. Matthew UMC, Belleville, IL
Configuration: A Digico SD8 with Digirack (providing 56 inputs, 16 outputs). Also a RME MADI interface for a Mac Pro with REAPER (audio workstation software) for running Virtual Soundchecks.
Length of Ownership: Since September 2009.
Describe the environment where the console is used.
It is used in the main sanctuary at the church. There are three services on Sunday morning. Two are more traditional, and the other contemporary. 8:00 is a traditional service with a piano or two and worship leader. 9:17 is the contemporary service with full band (Drums, two electrics, bass, piano/keys, acoustic, and singers). 10:45 is the big traditional service with full orchestra and choir. Then Sunday nights at 7:00 there is the Revolution Service, an alternative service with full band that plays more rock oriented music. For every service there is a remote audio feed for video controlled by the offline software on a computer networked to the console.
How does it fit your needs?
Very well. With the short transitions between services in the morning it is good to have a board that does quick changeovers in settings. Having parametric EQ and dynamics on every channel has helped out a ton with eliminating feedback and controlling levels. It has also been great to have the ability to do a virtual soundcheck – that has made services go smoother.
How is the sound quality?
Sonic quality has been outstanding with this board. The channel processing is very responsive and clean, and I have never noticed degradation in quality when maxing out the capabilities of the board.
How has it held up?
There have been several issues with sessions not being recalled properly, especially with aux mixes being lost after a start up the next week. The solution has been to restructure the entire session. A large pain but it seems to fix the issue. Initially there were also some issues with networking where the remote computer shut down the main console during a service. This was fixed by making the connection via hardwiring as opposed to a wireless network.
Have you installed any upgrades?
Several months after we got it we installed the overdrive update which gave us dynamic EQ, multiband compression, the ability to move any channel anywhere, an expanded matrix and FX selection. These upgrades have been great.
What's your favorite feature of the console?
The cannon fire button (or rather the drawing of the cannon for the next snapshot)… and the 12 (not 8 or 10) control groups/VCA's.
What's your least favorite feature/issue?
I have two… the EQ layout. Which is backwards from how I would like it and how I have used it on other consoles. It is also laid out vertically, which I can deal with but I don't like. I would prefer it horizontal. The other is the main mute button on the main fader. I don't like the main fader in the first place since I can put it wherever I feel like and I leave it a 0 all the time. The mute button however is inconveniently located next to the layer button on the main section. So twice thus far while quickly working on the mix during a service I went to change the layer a hit the main mute… yielding an unpleasant result.
Yamaha M7CL
User: Rick Jeremiah, technical director, Northwoods Community Church, Peoria, IL
Configuration: 48-channel console.
Length of Ownership: Since February 2006.
Describe the environment where the console is used.
The console is used in the main auditorium, which seats 1,800 people. Northwoods musical style is primarily Rock, with the specific band configuration changing each weekend. It was the best unit meeting the needs of the church with the features that we were looking for in a new, digital mixer. It was and remains easy to use and to train volunteers on.
The selection of the Yamaha M7CL was a preemptive move as a first step towards future expansion of the auditorium for more seating and the continued growth and quality of the Praise Band and Vocal Team on stage each week. To provide a quality worship experience for visitors and regular attendees at the four weekly services, the FOH equipment needed to be robust, user friendly and flexible. The M7CL met all of these needs.
How does it fit your needs?
The M7CL meets all of Northwoods technical needs. As the staff technical director for NWCC, one of my duties is recruiting and training volunteers to serve as audio techs for the weekly services. This unit is very user friendly and easy to train volunteers on. Also, because of the board's ability create, save and recall scenes, I can create a base setup/patch/mix at rehearsal each week that the volunteer can then build his weekend service flow off of. Everyone loves the ability to bring the stuff that you want to mix to the Centralogic Section of the board and start mixing, no reaching all over the board to tweak what needs tweaking.
How has it held up?
It has operated flawlessly since day one.
How is the sound quality?
Sound quality on the M7CL is awesome. EQ adjustments and the ability to add subtle or major effect to the mix is super easy.
Have you installed any upgrades?
We upgrade the software each time a new update is available. Really love the new features that they keep adding to the software. They evidently listen to the users each time someone says “I wish I could…."
What's your favorite feature of the console?
Love the Sends on Fader section.
What's your least favorite feature/issue?
Haven't found that feature yet.
Midas XL8
User: Danny Slaughter, technical director, Westover Church, Greensboro, NC
Configuration: A Midas XL8 with a roadshow rack of six additional Midas DL431 mic splitter boxes and the Midas XL8 Offline Editor Software
Length of Ownership: We are in our fourth year of using the Midas XL8 Live Performance System
Describe the environment where the console is used.
The XL8 is at FOH in our Worship Center that seats nearly 2,900 and audio is also distributed throughout the 300,000+ square foot facility over the Midas Network bi-directionally.
How does it fit your needs?
We made the decision five years ago to go with the Midas XL8 System as there was nothing developed at the time to allow us to do what we wanted audio-wise with a single system. Functionality, superb audio quality and ease of system expandability were all important to us in choosing this particular system. Not only were we looking for a large-format digital sound console but also the audio networking capabilities that would grow with the programming needs of Westover Church.
How is the sound quality?
We already had three Midas analog consoles in-house prior to the delivery of the XL8 and we knew that based upon the sound quality of what we had, we would be well pleased with the performance of the digital desk. There was a lot of attention and detail spent on the acoustic treatment design and deployment for our Worship Center that allows the XL8 system to perform at its finest in a controlled environment. Not only do we continually receive compliments on how well the Sunday services sound but also from nationally touring artists that have had concerts here. Two years ago the Greensboro Symphony moved their Pops concerts here because they were so impressed with the sound quality of the audio system along with our other technical resources. Bottom line is that the sound quality is superb.
How has it held up?
Westover Church received the first Midas XL8 system in the world in September of 2006 and it has continually been in service since that time. We have never had the system not perform or go down on us during a Worship service, concert or special event.
Have you installed any upgrades?
We continually get software updates from Midas that we install throughout the XL8 system. These updates deal with any bug issues that may be out there but moreover the feature set of console and network continues expand through these updates. I've been using the OLE (offline editor) software for the system which I really enjoy as it allows me to program services and concert shows away from the console on my laptop and then save it to a USB drive.
What's your favorite feature of the console?
My favorite feature of the Midas XL8 is the mix section of the console as this is where everything comes together. You manage the entire console from here as far as channel assignments to VCA's or to the Pop (Population) Groups or the aux busses. You can also see the entire input and output signal flow of the console at one time on the "dashboard" which be very handy in seeing what is turned on a particular channel or troubleshooting issues.
What's your least favorite feature/issue?
If I had a least favorite feature of the console it would be the effects section. While I do use some the onboard effects on the console, I will use certain outboard effects units that I have used over the years for specific applications. I think that this is an area where sound guys are the most picky because whether it is an onboard effect on a digital console, a rack unit or a plug-in from a laptop, you will always use what gives you the desired effect.
Avid (formerly Digidesign) Venue D-Show
User: Eric Myers, AVL Manager, Colonial Baptist Church, Cary, NC
Configuration: Avid Audio Venue D-Show with sidecar, two stage racks, and the ProTools HD3 option
Length of Ownership: Have had it for two years, since Easter 2008
Describe the environment where the console is used.
The Venue is used in a Gymnatorium. Services consist of a 40-45 piece orchestra, 80-100 voice choir, contemporary praise band blended into that mix, with drums, bass, keyboard, nine-foot Baldwin grand piano, and Aviom personal monitor mixers. Praise band uses in-ears except for one wedge out front for the soloist, and two flown wedges for the choir.
How does it fit your needs?
The console is the perfect fit. A lot of the decision was based on my background being in a recording studio, so I was very familiar with the ProTools syntax and particularly with plug-ins. There are a lot of plug-ins I really like, and so it had the sonic and GUI familiarity I was looking for. It's also a really good fit for our volunteers, and for the way we're using it and the way in interfaces with ProTools. It has a lot of flexibility.
How is the sound quality?
The sound quality is stellar. Because of the plug-ins, there are things I can do on the Venue that I can't do on other digital consoles I've used.
How has it held up?
The only problem I've had was when we had a lightning strike. The energy traveled up the RG6 snake cable and fried the snake card. Technical support was outstanding. I got them on the phone, and by noon the next day I had the parts in my office. The change out was as easy as pie. Other than that, I've not had any issues.
Have you installed any upgrades?
I've installed two software upgrades. The latest upgrade added VCA Spill —the coolest feature upgrade ever. Makes for really quick looks at the members of the VCAs and even allows me to flip the aux mixes from that group to the faders where they are relocated on the fly.
I also installed another mix engine to allow for more plug-ins to run simultaneously.
What's your favorite feature of the console?
The plug-ins are my favorite part of the console. Also, I really like how they laid out the console – all the controls are right on the control surface, and I rarely need to go to the mouse to accomplish something. Actually, the snapshots are probably my favorite feature, and the level of customization with snapshots is unparalleled in my experience.
What's your least favorite feature/issue?
That's really tough – it's not really a complaint but the banking (groups of channels on different layers of channel faders) is a bit of a drag, but that is also common to most digital consoles. Having physical faders shared between channels can be a hassle. But the Venue handles it well with “bank safes” to keep certain faders locked in place with the quick press of a button on the control surface, allowing that channel to stay in view regardless of any banking (layer) changes.
A&H iLive
User: Patrick Gourley, associate pastor of worship, Christ's Church of the Valley, San Dimas, CA
Configuration: The iLive 176 and the iLive 80, with both analog and digital in and out cards in both the mix racks. We have the external back up power supply for the FOH console.
Length of Ownership: Over two years now.
Describe the environment where the console is used.
Our services would most likely be described as modern with a full band every weekend. The board also is used for all of our midweek events which range from youth services to rehearsals and civic events. We have also run full productions such Disney's Beauty and the Beast running 24 wireless channels and a live orchestra.
We currently use the 176 as the front-of-house console and the 80 as our broadcast console which streams all of our services online as well as our TV show in the south pacific. We use the digital inputs for our video and audio playback and the digital out cards for our audio capturing. Our broadcast console is used in our video booth and outputs to all of our feeds other than the worship center.
How does it fit your needs?
So far there has not been any event that the board has not been able to handle. We haven't had any issues with the hardware or software. Its ability to change out cards in the mix rack allows us to expand with any need. Coming from the analogue world, the Allen and Heath iLive has been the easiest transition for all of our volunteers. When we were searching for a digital console that was my number one priority, to find a user-friendly console. All of our services and events are run by volunteers so being able to train them easily was a big concern. In some cases I was able to have volunteers mixing on the console within 15 minutes of training. Having all the dynamic processing in front of you at all times is also a great help — there is no switching between layers or knobs or buttons. It is also great knowing that Allen and Heath are also making updates to firmware so the board is getting better and better. It seems that every time we say "Wouldn't it be nice if the board could do this?" in the next firmware it's there.
How is the sound quality?
I believe the quality of sound is comparable to any of the digital big dogs out there. It has a very good analogue sound with no latency or "digital-ness".
How has it held up?
We have only had a few user error issues and Allen and Heath has been more than helpful to help solve them.
Have you installed any upgrades?
We have been following along with all the firmware updates.
What's your favorite feature of the console?
I would say my favorite feature would be having all of the dynamic processing at your finger tips at all times. To have separate physical knobs to turn when dialing in your compressor or gate or EQ makes a big difference in the speed and quality of mixing.
What's your least favorite feature/issue?
My least favorite issue so far would be the sensitivity of the touch screen. It has never not been functional but seems to need to be recalibrated or pressed harder to get it to respond.
Roland V-Mixer
User: Greg Sisley, executive pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Kent, WA
Configuration: Roland M-400 V-Mixer, S-3208 digital snake box on stage, a S-1608 digital snake in production booth for wireless and other audio devices, and M-48 personal mixers of stage monitoring
Length of Ownership: Since January 2010
Describe the environment where the console is used.
Our M-400 is used as the front-of-house mixer in our 700-seat multi-purpose room, as well as for post-production mixing.
How does it fit your needs?
It does what we want it to do, and does it well. It's very visual -- less intimidating to volunteers. Since we put in the board we increased our audio volunteers from four techs to 15. New techs are musicians — the M-400 makes mixing more accessible to less technical people.
It's created accessibility for volunteers to get "on board" quickly, and has been a trans-generational relationship builder within the team.
How is the sound quality?
The M-400 has excellent sound quality. Good pre-amps, and decent on-board effects — we have been able to eliminate every piece of outboard gear we formerly used. I love the compressor — it is seamless and smooth.
How has it held up?
The console has performed very well.
Have you installed any upgrades?
We've installed to software updates since it was installed that added new options.
What's your favorite feature of the console?
I appreciate the easy access to signal parameters and metering during live mixing. The console starts up quick. It presents all needed information at the touch of a finger, and is very user friendly. It's pro-user in every way possible.
Least favorite feature?
A very slight latency in the motorized faders when paired in stereo — when you move one fader, there's a very slight delay in the other fader moving. But it doesn't present any problem at all.
Soundcraft Si
User: Jeff Treubig, audio tech, First Assembly of God, Binghamton, NY
Configuration: Soundcraft Si3 Console
Length of Ownership: Since August 2009
Describe the environment where the console is used.
Main Sanctuary Worship Center.
How does it fit your needs?
When we were making the purchase we looked at several different digital consoles. The Si3 had everything we needed with room to grow. We have two major drama productions plus several concerts every year. The 64 channels and the ability to save snapshots makes this much easier. But all the advantages, such as compressors on every channel are such a benefit for the normal weekly services. We have several different drummers on our worship team. Being able to pull up a preset setting tailored for each different drummer saves time and helps create a consistent sound and worship experience. There was one time when the lead singers mic was grabbed by a pastor and was being used. Then the lead singer, going back up to close the service, had to grab a different mic. It was the ability to copy the channel settings that instantly made this seamless to both the sound in the house and his in-ear monitor. Try doing that on an analog console.
How is the sound quality?
The sound quality is absolutely great. Specifically the mic preamps and EQs are such an improvement from our previous analog console. It has caused me to be a better sound tech.
How has it held up?
There was a minor issue immediately where the matrix sends settings were not being saved when powered down. This was easily fixed with a software upgrade and has worked fine since.
Have you installed any upgrades?
Yes. It was very easy and I was able to restore all the saved snapshots we had. It only took about 10 minutes.
What's your favorite feature of the console?
There are so many. Generally, I would say how easy it is to use. I really like the overall layout and design. Technically, the fully sweepable and graphic display of the EQs.
What's your least favorite feature/issue?
I wish it had more bus sends. The four lexicon channels are included in the 24 bus outputs. With 16 going over to the Aviom [personal monitoring system], we had to sacrifice two effects channel in order to get six on stage monitor sends.
Innovason Sy48
User: Jerry Keifer, technical manager, Village Baptist Church, Beaverton, OR
Configuration: We have the Innovason Sy48 with a DioCore 64 channel EtherSound-enabled stage box and the Aviom interface card.
Length of Ownership: Since July 2009.
Describe the environment where the console is used.
It's at FOH in our new 1,000-seat sanctuary. We have three services a week in the space, two more contemporary band-led services and a more traditional piano-organ-choir service.
How does it fit your needs?
When we were looking for a console we determined three qualities for primary consideration: flexibility, sound quality, and ease of use.
Flexibility is our top consideration, as it essentially dictated the direction we went. However, I've bundled a lot into that one word. Essentially, we need a console that could easily handle multiple events in a single day—from traditional worship to a more band-led service to a full on rock concert—and literally not miss a beat. We also need to be able to accommodate multiple technicians—and multiple levels of technical ability—and make sure the console is still accessible to all who must use it. The Innovason Sy48 allows complete configuration of the mix surface, and incorporates some very ingenious features such as Xfads, all of which allow me to create a mix surface the way I want, yet change it entirely in a matter of minutes to accommodate another technician who mixes differently or has less experience. Of course, everything is fully recallable, so mixing is multiple events is simply a matter of loading a different configuration.
As for ease-of-use, well, it's digital, and unfortunately that means to go deep and have a decent understanding of the console it can get a bit hairy. At least that's what the expressions on other people's (non-techs) faces tell me when I'm trying to explain something like EtherSound or configuring the surface. The ease of actually mixing, however, is all up to whomever configured the surface. My first config was actually too difficult for me to use and I ended up having to stop our second practice because I was too confused at what I had done. Yet, I can make a very straightforward configuration that anyone remotely familiar with an audio console can understand and use with only a few minutes of orientation.
How is the sound quality?
Sound quality is also at the top of the requirements list for sure. I mean, what's the point in all these fancy new technologies if ultimately what they do is make things sound worse? In working through the selection process I was finding that with some of the more popular digital consoles that was indeed the case. When I started learning about Innovason I was impressed to find out the mic preamps were not just an afterthought or designed to merely function, but were Neve-designed chosen for their superb sonic qualities. And the processing onboard does a good job of staying transparent and not sounding “digital.”
How has it held up?
I must begin by saying we purchased a demo unit to save money, so it saw some use before we got it…
We have had a couple problems. The first issue was some of the faders were getting stuck on the top plate. Innovason sent out a repair technician on their dime to adjust the spacing of the faders and that resolved the problem. From what I understand this is the first time such an issue has occurred.
More recently I have experienced intermittent problems with one fader's automation, and despite their US offices [located in Nashville, Tenn.] being flooded with a couple feet of water they have been prompt in working with me to diagnose the problem.
Have you installed any upgrades?
I have installed one OS upgrade, but it was minor. Nevertheless, the instructions for the upgrade were fairly comprehensive and I had no issues. It was pretty easy and painless.
What's your favorite feature of the console?
My favorite feature has to be the Xfads. I love being able to stack my faders into groups…it's kind of like having a console made of all VCAs and the inputs I can stack off of the surface so they don't take up any room.
What's your least favorite feature/issue?
I have come across two serious issues that I must acknowledge. Firstly, the lack of dedicated mute groups is unfortunate. I didn't realize how much I depended on mute groups until I started mixing without them. Now my transitions are a bit sloppy and I always get nervous when I need to open many channels at once. Innovason says VCAs can be used as mute groups, and I suppose that's somewhat true, but they don't function like a mute group (obviously, a channel can't be opened if it is muted by a VCA, whereas a mute group simply recalls, well, a group of mute states and does not prevent the muting or unmuting of anything), and I don't really want to use up valuable faders for every mute group I want.
The second issue, the bigger of the two, is the Sy48's lack of upgradability. When researching consoles I was struck by the support Innovason has provided for their consoles since day one and the importance of maintaining an upgrade path for all of their users. Unfortunately, as I found out shortly after acquiring the console, that upgrade path ended with the Sy48. The release of the Eclipse has Innovason focused on a different platform so the most I can expect as an Sy48 owner are small bug-fix updates. I was very much counting on active maintenance of the platform at the very least and hoping am upgrade kit might even be available in the future. Honestly, had I known this I would not have chosen the Sy48 and probably would have gone with a competitor's product, as the Eclipse was probably outside of my budget constraints.
PreSonus StudioLive
User: Chad McIlvenna, Audio Director, Fusion Church, Buford, GAConfiguration: We are currently using two StudioLive 16.4.2 consoles daisy-chained together giving us a 32x4x2 configuration.Length of
Ownership: 16 months
Describe the environment where the console is used.
We are using the consoles for both FOH and for monitoring. Our setup is more of a rock band setup than traditional worship style. Our sound system is setup more like a rock club sound system in that our facility only holds about 190 people. The band consists of lead, vocal, background vocal, lead electric, rhythm electric, bass, and drums. We like to keep the instrumentation fairly simple and uncluttered and the PreSonus setup got us the inputs we needed to get this done.
How does it fit your needs?
As far as how the consoles work for us: "wonderfully!" The reason we decided to go with this setup was:
1.The price point was unbeatable at the time. We got into the whole setup (two consoles) for around $3,200.
2.We wanted the ability to multi-track every service as I came from a studio background before moving to live sound. The console being a true interface for recording answered that desire for us.
3.I had been using PreSonus Digimax products for about five years before deciding to move to the consoles for FOH. I knew they had the quality I was looking for on the recording end, and if that would match up to what I wanted to hear live through FOH then it was a good fit for us.
4.We were able to get six aux send which was important to us on this board. We run three wireless IEM mixes and two wired IEM mixes as well as aux feeding our subs.
One of the main technical advantages of our setup is the ability to route any of the channels to and from a DAW for recording and backing tracks. We are currently using six of the channels via FireWire returns through Apple's Logic Pro 8 to play extensive backing tracks consisting of piano, drum loops, strings, chasers, and click track as we simultaneously multi-track the service for podcast as well as archiving the musical performances for the fusion worship band. We are currently going to use this setup to record a live album after the first of the year. One of the other ways it meets our technical needs is the Fat Channel. This gives me compression, gating, high pass filter, limiting and EQ on every single channel. It would cost me a fortune get all of those things on an analog console going with outboard gear.
How is the sound quality?
The sound quality has been blowing us away, especially considering the price point of the consoles. When it comes to Digital I/O converters, their quality is king. PreSonus really upped their game when they moved to the JetPLL converter technology combined with the XMAX preamps. The combination sounds great.
How has it held up?
The consoles have held up great. So far only one call to customer support and it was delt with very well. It turns out that it was actually user error as in most cases when it comes to me, so no issues to date with the consoles.
Have you installed any upgrades?
We did install the latest firmware upgrade to give us computer-side control of the consoles to save and backup scenes as well as presets and effects. Before this upgrade, one of my major complaints was the inability to backup your settings. This firmware upgrade took care of this issue for us.
What's your favorite feature of the console?
My favorite feature of this console is it's ability to flawlessly integrate with almost any DAW for recording. This has allowed us to blossom in many areas and has allowed us to have excellence in more areas in our production environment.
What's your least favorite feature/issue?
The biggest feature or problem with the consoles at this point is their lack of motorized faders. I know this is probably not a cheap feature, but it would bolster even more users to consider the StudioLive series of mixers for their house of worship, but again all of that depends on how it effects the price point. If they could stay in the general range of where they are now, say within a $1,000, I think they would be in a great spot. I have got to tell you that I rarely use preset scenes for actual mixing. I use them mostly to recall channel parameters, but usually not fader location.
