London, PLASA Show — The Digidesign® D-Show Profile Mix Rack™ System, the newest addition to Digidesign’s award-winning VENUE family of live sound systems, has opened VENUE technology to a vast new user base around the globe.
Developed specifically for small- and mid-sized performance venues, houses of worship, touring, and fixed installations, or as an ideal drop-in upgrade for existing analog systems, the D-Show Profile Mix Rack System combines a D-Show Profile console with the new Mix Rack, a compact 11-space rack enclosure that incorporates all audio I/O (stage and local) and DSP into a single chassis. The resulting system combination offers the most compact, portable, and cost-effective way to take advantage of the unparalleled power and flexibility of VENUE, including native control of a vast library of TDM plug-ins and tight integration with Pro Tools® software for live multitrack recording and playback.
The small but powerful D-Show Profile Mix Rack System was the perfect fit for New York City’s newest hot spot, (Le) Poisson Rouge. Designed by the Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG) on the site of the famed Village Gate nightclub, this state-of-the-art performance venue boasts two stages and a flexible sound system that can be configured for stereo, surround, or several other sound modes with the touch of a button.
“Space was at a premium here, and because (Le) Poisson Rouge is essentially multiple clubs, depending on the setup, we needed a system that was both powerful and easily reconfigured,� explains Masque Sound audio specialist Paul Klimson, who, together with WSDG’s David Kotch, collaborated on the system installation. “The Profile Mix Rack System was an ideal solution because it’s self-contained and requires no external effects rack.�
In the UK, leading nightclub operator Academy Music Group (AMG) was first out of the gate to purchase a D-Show Profile Mix Rack system for its Carling Islington Academy music venue, enabling the facility to increase its booking cachet by offering live multi-track recordings as an additional service. “Pro Tools integration was a significant factor in AMG’s decision to purchase the [VENUE Profile] Mix Rack System,� explains HD Pro Audio’s Andy Huffer. “Multi-track recording via a convenient industry standard, such as Pro Tools, is becoming increasingly important for live venues these days.�
Inside the O2 (formerly known as the Millennium Dome), London’s hot spot Matter is designed to operate as a live venue, nightclub, performing arts space, or VIP club. The 2,600-capacity auditorium’s unique audio and video features include a D-Show Profile Mix Rack System.
The D-Show Profile Mix Rack System has also been popular on small- and mid-sized tours. FOH engineer Jayme Braun (Switchfoot, Israel and New Breed, Bryan White, and The Next American Band winners The Clark Brothers) selected the Profile and Mix Rack combo for the recent US-based Adore Worship Tour. A veteran of numerous live Pro Tools recordings, Braun had nothing but praise for the new compact Digidesign system.
“It’s just been a dream come true,� he remarks. “I’ve used VENUE since it first came out, and I’ve always been a fan of its sound and its functionality. Adding the [VENUE Profile and] Mix Rack makes it hands down the most efficient and portable rig I’ve ever worked with. Just take two lids off, plug in two cables, and you’re ready to go. I would love to take this with me wherever I go.�
Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw has been touring with a VENUE Profile Mix Rack System through the U.S. and UK as well. “The combination of Mix Rack and [VENUE] Profile is unbelievably powerful,� remarks DeGraw’s FOH engineer, Erick Celeiro. “Right now, we’re bouncing between 100-seat theaters, TV appearances, clubs, and festivals. The [VENUE] Profile and Mix Rack is really the only system that’s flexible enough for me to work with across such a wide range of venues.�
For Michael Story, director of Story Sound, one of Holland’s largest rental houses, the VENUE Profile Mix Rack System has proven to be one of the most in-demand items in his arsenal. “Adding a [VENUE] Profile Mix Rack System to our existing three VENUE systems has enabled us to offer a much wider range of systems to our theater-oriented customer base,� he says. “The combination of Mix Rack and [VENUE] Profile has provided us with a powerful product that outperforms the alternatives, at a competitive rate.�
About VENUE
Digidesign’s VENUE live sound environment is revolutionizing the art and profession of live sound mixing with studio-quality sound, TDM plug-in effects processing, and direct connectivity to industry-standard Pro Tools® recording and playback systems. The Mix Rack is sold exclusively as part of the Profile Mix Rack system, although the Mix Rack is fully compatible with VENUE D-Show ® control surfaces. For more information about the VENUE line of products, visit www.digidesign.com/venue.
About Digidesign
Digidesign is a worldwide leading manufacturer of digital audio production systems and the winner of the 2001 Technical Grammy® Award and 2003 Oscar® statuette representing the Academy Scientific and Technical Award for the design, development, and implementation of the Pro Tools® digital audio workstation. Digidesign provides the professional music, film, video, multimedia, and radio broadcast industries with tools for digital recording, MIDI sequencing, editing, signal processing, and surround mixing. Digidesign products are marketed in more than 40 countries worldwide through a distribution network of value-added dealers, distributors, and OEM relationships. Digidesign is a part of Avid Technology, Inc. For more information, visit www.digidesign.com.
