DiGiCo D5 Live
DiGiCo's very first console (2002): bespoke FPGA engine, the desk that launched modern digital live sound
Description
Technical
Specifications
Processing
| Mix buses | 40 |
|---|---|
| Aux sends | 36 |
| DCA/VCA groups | 24 |
| DSP engine | Custom FPGA DSP engine processing every channel continuously (2 ms analog-to-analog latency), hot-swappable power supply |
| Max sample rate | 96 kHz |
| Bit depth | 24 bits |
| Processing resolution | 32 bits |
| Buses | 40 buses, 36 assignable as auxiliaries or groups; 24 VCA-style control groups |
| Sample rate | 96 kHz D/A converters, 32-bit floating-point internal processing |
| Channels | Input capacity via remote racks on Optocore/MADI (exact channel count varies by configuration, to be verified) |
Surface
| Physical faders | 40 |
|---|---|
| Motorized faders | Yes |
| Touchscreen | No |
| Faders | Single-chassis worksurface: 24 input faders + 16 master-section faders, long motorised faders with backlit dBU readout (0.1 dBU) |
| Metering | 30-segment LED meterbridge (output level, gain reduction, gate activity, insert send level) |
| Ergonomics | Slide-out keyboard for naming channels/groups on electronic scribble strips, dimmable LED lighting |
Recording
| Onboard recording | No |
|---|
Networking
| Networking & protocols | MADI / Optocore |
|---|---|
| Redundant PSU | No |
| Redundant networking | No |
| Redundancy | Reboot with no audio interruption and settings restore, hot-swappable PSU, onboard diagnostics |
Strip & details
Rotate your phone to landscape for a better view of the strip.
Documents
Editorial & artists
Our take
History & design
The DiGiCo D5 Live is DiGiCo's very first console, from the British company founded in 2002 on the purchase of Soundtracs. A live-sound and musical-theatre console, it became a landmark in the adoption of digital mixing in live sound (it was installed, for instance, at the London Coliseum).
Its single-chassis, compact rigid worksurface carries 24 input faders and 16 master-section faders. The long motorised faders are paired with a backlit readout showing level to 0.1 dBU. The console offers 40 buses, 36 assignable as auxiliaries or groups, and 24 VCA-style control groups; inputs can swap instantly between physical faders and groups.
The heart of the system is a bespoke FPGA DSP engine that processes every channel continuously, guaranteeing a constant 2 ms latency from analogue input to analogue output, identical on all channels. D/A conversion runs at 96 kHz with 32-bit floating-point internal processing. The 30-segment LED meterbridge displays output level, gain reduction, gate activity and insert send level.
Built for operation, the D5 Live can reboot without losing a second of audio and automatically restores its settings; it includes a hot-swappable power supply, a slide-out keyboard for naming channels on electronic scribble strips, and onboard diagnostics. It founded the line that led to the SD series.
Notable users
- London Coliseum
Opera house installation (English National Opera)
Links
Related consoles
Some merchant links are affiliate links. Purchases may support Digital Mixing at no extra cost.
Documents are archived locally for preservation. Source credited. Takedown requests: [email protected]