Digico SD8 : enregistrement multipiste

I’ll use our system as an example. At FOH, we have a DIGiCo SD8. Since it’s based on MADI, we use that to our full advantage. The SD8 has two MADI interfaces cleverly named MADI:1 and MADI:2. In the software, it’s possible (through a simple drop-down) to copy MADI:1 (our stage rack) to MADI:2. That takes the digital signal from the stage rack (right after the mic pre and before any processing) and puts it on the MADI:2 interface. Using an RME MADIFace, I take the signal out of MADI:2 into a MacBook Pro 17” (with Express34 card slot) and record the individual tracks in Reaper. I spent some time building track templates in Reaper so getting ready to record the 24 or so tracks we need each week takes about 3 mouse clicks. Once the tracks are recorded (and patched to play back through the MADIFace on the right channels), bringing them back into the SD8 is a simple matter of clicking on “Listen to Copied Audio.” So that’s what it is, now what can we do with it? Quite a lot, as it turns out.