Spirit Announces Launch of Digital 328 Mixer

January 29, 1998 -- Spirit By Soundcraft announces the worldwide debut of its first digital mixer, the Digital 328, at NAMM '98 in Los Angeles, California.

Breaking the mold of standard screen-based digital approaches, the Digital 328 offers an intuitive and easy-to-use hardware-based interface that will be familiar to anyone who has ever worked with an analog eight-bus console.

The Digital 328 comes in a 32/8/2 frame size that includes 16 mic/line input channels with Spirit's trademarked Ultramic+ preamps, High Pass Filters and inserts, as well as 16 tape return channels-all routable to groups and mix. Five pairs of stereo inputs have also been included, bringing the console's input count up to 42. Mic/line inputs, tape returns and group and master levels are accessed in banks of 16 via three fader bank buttons.

Every input has access to identical facilities, which include three-band, fully-parametric EQ, four external effects sends and access to two internal Lexicon effects units with editable and storable parameters. Two floating stereo dynamics units (including compressors, limiters, crates and duckers) are assignable to any input or Output.

Sixteen-track digital recording is possible 'straight from the box' with the inclusion of two Tascam TDIF and two ADAT optical interfaces as standard. Two Digital 328s may also be cascaded to provide 32-track digital recording and an impressive input count of 84. An additional ADAT optical interface is included as a digital effects send, while both AES and S/PDIF digital I/Os are freely assignable, allowing them to serve as digital effects sends and returns, or as digital mix inserts.

For those using a large number of sequenced samplers and keyboards, an optional eightchannel analog I/O interface will be available. Connecting two interfaces to the TDIF ports will allow 32 analog line-ins with full channel facilities and the possibility of 16-track analog recording. Other interfaces planned include a Pro Tools option on pairs of AES/EBU connectors, and an analog mic preamp option, turning Digital 328 into a 32 mic input eight-bus console for theatre and live performance.

As far as automation is concerned, every console function is instantly recallable with 100 scenes manually storable against timecode or MIDI clock. Dynamic automation is also possible through sequencer software as each console function has been assigned its own MIDI message. Motorized faders on every channel input, tape return, group, master and mix outs allow levels to be viewed easily without having to rely on automation software. The Digital 328 also provides Machine control-reading SMPTE and both reading and writing MTC--with a large readout indicating timecode position and store/locate points available from the transport bar.

Full metering and monitoring is provided with 16 10-segment bargraph meters showing individual mic/line, tape return or group and master levels. The master meters double as meters for the dynamics processors, allowing the user to gauge signal processor levels. The Digital 328 also includes a choice of Solo-in-Place, PFL or AFL solos.

The key to the Digital 328's simple operation is its 'E-Strip'--the row of encoders and backlit buttons which run through the center of the console. Selecting any input channel immediately turns the E-Strip into a conventional 'horizontal' channel strip, giving instant access to all EQ, Aux and pan parameters via the row of 16 encoders that run left to right across the console. Input status may be viewed instantly from the control surface, as each encoder is circled by a ring of LEDs that can be assigned to indicate levels. Mixing is therefore possible from the console's control surface without having to resort to the Digital 328's LCD.

Most editing of input settings and status may be achieved from the control surface as well. EQ, Pan and effects levels may be compared with previous settings via nondestructive UNDO/REDO buttons in the master section, while any channel setting may be copied and pasted to another channel in two button presses. Using the Digital 328's 'query' mode, the number of inputs routed to group or mix, or even with pre-fade auxiliaries enabled, may be viewed and altered instantly simply by selecting the required function from the front panel.

Commenting on the launch, Spirit Marketing and Digital Product Manager Andy Farmer said, "The Digital 328 represents a great leap forward in digital mixing because it works the way our customers do. Our customers tell us they need the functionality of digital but the operational simplicity of an analog eight-bus. After four years of R&D development and refinement, we are 100% confident we have fulfilled those requirements".

For more information, visit their web site at http://www.spirit-by-soundcraft.co.uk/.