Harmonizing the Past and Future: Navigating the Analog-Digital Dichotomy on the Live Stage
In the world of live concerts, behind the scenes, a crucial decision shapes the soundcheck and the auditory journey for the audience: the choice between analog and digital mixing. This article will delve into how the differences between these two approaches impact the live sound, analyzing the strengths and challenges of both in the live context.
The Weight of Choices: Analog Equipment and Imposing Dimensions
The warmth and saturation of analog audio come with a physical burden. Analog consoles, with their imposing dimensions, can pose a logistical challenge. Yet, analog enthusiasts cherish the tangible feel of physical controls, transforming sound adjustment into a physical and engaging experience.
Digital: Lightness and On-the-Road Flexibility
In the live music realm, lightness is an advantage. Digital consoles, more compact and lightweight, offer a flexibility that seamlessly fits the demands of tours. The versatility of size combines with digital power, providing unprecedented control over EQ, dynamics, and effects, directly from the stage.
Routing and Connections: A Dance between Old and New
Routing in a live context can determine the seamless flow of a performance. While analog consoles might complain about moderately complex routing, digital ones smile with a flexible and intuitive routing system that saves time and effort.
Inputs, Outputs, and the World of Outboard: Analog vs Digital
The physical connections of analog consoles may be a strength, but digital responds with the flexibility and efficiency of digital connections. While analog boasts traditional outboard gear, digital offers an arsenal of plugins and internal processors that simplify on-the-road setups.
The Journey of Sound: Analog Transport vs Digital Transmission
The signal’s journey from the stage to the console is a critical part of live performances. Analog laments a potentially troublesome journey with long cables, while digital smiles as its signal effortlessly travels through digital connections, eliminating the risk of sound degradation.
The Symphony of Sound: Analog vs Digital in Action
Finally, the issue of sound: analog enchants with its warm saturation, while digital offers crystalline fidelity. In the live context, happiness depends on personal taste and the requirements of the performance.
Advantages of Digital Mixing On Stage: A Seamless Revolution
Digital consoles offer crucial advantages in live mixing:
- Versatility: A wide range of sounds and effects at your fingertips.
- Scalability: Adapt your setup to the stage dimensions.
- Signal Processing: EQ, dynamics, and effects with digital precision.
- Memorizable Scenes: Save and recall configurations instantly.
- On-the-Road Convenience: Reduced weight and dimensions for portability.
- Digital Signal Transport: An uninterrupted journey through digital connections.
- Remote Control: Manipulate the mix directly from the stage.
The choice between analog and digital in live mixing goes beyond personal preference, shaping the auditory experience for musicians and the audience. Whether you’re a vinyl nostalgist or a supporter of digital on the road, both offer a unique experience, influencing the sound resonating from the stage.
HARDWARE STRUCTURE
The digital mixer consists of various interconnected hardware modules, arranged either together or separately, depending on the type of console used. In mid-to-low-range digital mixers, different distinct physical modules are brought together, and the connection is not necessarily tied to the physical arrangement.
Control Surface: This module is commonly regarded as “the mixer” as it houses the physical controls used by the sound engineer. It includes one or more monitors for displaying operations. During the soundcheck, remote control is acceptable, but attention shifts to the control surface during the actual performance.
Physical Inputs: These modules physically receive input signals from sources on the stage. They can be located either on the mixer or on the stage.
Physical Outputs: These modules physically deliver signals to the power amplifiers of the main speaker system (PA) or monitors, or to other specific destinations.
Preamplifier: This is the fundamental analog component in the digital system, responsible for preparing the signal for the subsequent A/D conversion. In modern digital systems, analog gain is digitally controlled and can be stored. The preamplifier brings the signal to 0 VU. In the digital context, the preamplifier is located in the “stage box,” and control may be found on the mixer, or alternatively, it can be onboard on the mixer if it has the corresponding inputs.
DSP (Digital Signal Processing):
DSP serves as the core of the digital mixing system, where the processing of audio signals takes place. It operates as a computing system closely resembling that of a computer, often based on a computer architecture; in other cases, it is entirely proprietary and does not utilize a PC.
DSP plays a pivotal role in executing real-time actions, enabling the system to respond instantaneously to changes in the audio signal. It is essential to note that the inherent cost of the system is predominantly tied to the presence and performance of the DSP. This is because the DSP assumes a crucial role in enhancing the functionalities and overall performance of the digital mixing system.
The preamp is analog, while the control is digital.
Control flows include +48V and Gain. The miter on the mixer determines the input level of the preamp on the stage box.
A/D and D/A Converters: These modules convert the analog signal into a digital signal.
Sound quality factors:
- Preamp
- Converters
- Summing algorithms
Some systems integrate all the components of the digital console into the same chassis (for example, Yamaha QL, Midas Pro1/M32, Soundcraft SI, AVID SC48, DiGiCo S21, Allen & Heath Q/SQ, etc.). In certain mixers, the multichannel interface may not be included or may be usable only for expansion. Each mixer employs its own protocol or adopts standards such as the public domain Dante protocol.
Digital Console
Some systems separate the digital stage box modules from the console (DSP and control surface), such as Yamaha CL, Midas Pro2, Midas Heritage-D, Allen & Heath GLD/C/D, DiGiCo SD, SSL L, etc.
Here’s a simplified block diagram representing the separation of components in more complex systems, such as those that separate digital stage-boxes from the DSP and the control surface:
Digital Mixer – Avid VENUE | S6L
In this diagram:
- The “Digital Stage-Box” represents the unit that converts analog signals into digital signals and sends them to the DSP.
- The “DSP Processor” is the unit responsible for digitally processing audio signals, applying effects, equalizations, etc.
- The “Control Surface” is the user interface that allows operators to control the mix and system functions.
DANTE (Multichannel Interface)
Dante is a plug-and-play digital audio multichannel distribution system developed by Audinate, compliant with the AVB (Audio Video Bridging) standard, which utilizes the standard TCP/IP protocol of Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet rates.
Dante is capable of distributing numerous digital audio/video channels and control data with latencies lower than a millisecond, either fixed or automatically optimized. A Fast Ethernet network can handle 48 bidirectional channels at 48kHz 24-bit, while a Gigabit Ethernet network allows for 512 bidirectional channels at 48kHz 24-bit.
Devices connected to the network are automatically recognized and configured, while input and output signals, as well as the devices themselves, are user-discovered.
Data transmission can occur over CAT5 cables and existing IT networks; switches, in fact, manage the flow of Dante alongside regular data traffic, provided that routing priorities are defined.
BASIC DANTE (MULTICHANNEL INTERFACE) NETWORK
NETWORK TOPOLOGY
