ResonantLive Sound Archive

Equipment file · Large-format digital console

SD7

DiGiCo · 2007–2008

Evidence status · documented

Identity and core specifications are documented; some historical fields remain unavailable.

DiGiCo showed the SD7 as a concept at PLASA 2007 and confirmed it in 2008. Designed by John Stadius, it introduced Stealth Digital Processing, combining a large FPGA with Tiger SHARC DSPs for 256 processing paths at 96 kHz.

Introduced
2007–2008
Category
Large-format digital console
Intended use
Flagship touring, broadcast and theatre
Production
DiGiCo; SD7T and SD7B variants

Equipment photographs · 2

DiGiCo SD7T theatre variant at Miss Saigon, February 2016

1 / 2 · DiGiCo SD7T theatre variant at Miss Saigon, February 2016

DiGiCo SD7T theatre variant at Miss Saigon, February 2016·97OllieB·CC BY-SA 4.0

Why it mattered

  1. 01

    DiGiCo claimed eight times the power of the D5 Live.

    Pictured in this passage
    DiGiCo D5 Live, Monitor World @ Hey Hey Its SaturdayDiGiCo D5 LiveDuncan Underwood · CC BY 2.0
  2. 02

    It established the FPGA-based SD range.

Engineering record

Processing
Large FPGA with Analog Devices Tiger SHARC DSP[2]
Capacity
256 paths at 96 kHz, 128 buses plus 32 matrix[2]
Interface
Hidden-Til-Lit displays and large touchscreens[2]

Original pricing

No reliable period price located

2026 equivalent

Not calculated without a reliable original price.

Public price evidence was not sufficient to publish a defensible original figure.

Use in the field

No named deployment could be tied to this exact item by a checked source yet. Know of one? Suggest it on the contribute page.

Professional reactions

Release-period reaction · 15 September 2008

Pyne found the deeper snapshot programming indispensable for the song-by-song changes in Kylie’s show. He also praised the new desk’s durability after months of rough touring treatment.

Chris Pyne, Kylie Minogue front-of-house engineerKylieX2008; one of the earliest SD7s, with engineer feedback contributing to development. · Manufacturer-published case study · Paraphrased account[3]Front of House (FOH) · Kylie Minogue Finds the X Factor with DiGiCo

Release-period reaction · 12 November 2008

After three overnight trials with recorded tracks, Rabold was impressed by the dynamics, minimal EQ requirements and unconstricted summing. Live use reinforced his impression of smooth highs and space between sources.

Chris Rabold, Widespread Panic front-of-house engineerFirst SD7 trials and fall 2008 tour. · Manufacturer-published case study · Paraphrased account[4]Front of House (FOH) · Widepread Panic Tours U.S. with DiGiCo SD7

Manuals & original documents

Sources

  1. 1PLASA 2007 – DiGiCo Unveils SD7Mix · archive · 2007-09-11
  2. 2DiGiCo lifts the bonnet of the SD7LSi Online · archive · 2008-03-17
  3. 3Kylie Minogue Finds the X Factor with DiGiCoFront of House (FOH) · interview · 15 September 2008
  4. 4Widepread Panic Tours U.S. with DiGiCo SD7Front of House (FOH) · interview · 12 November 2008

Contribute to the record

Know more about SD7?

Corrections, firsthand information, original documents, and credited photograph sources are welcome.

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