Soundcraft Unveils new Vi2 Console At AES 2009

Soundcraft is now offering a Vi Series control surface for applications where space is very tight.. The new Soundcraft Vi2™ inherits all the basic functionality of its larger brothers the Vi4 and Vi6, but measures just 850mm in width, around half the size of a Vi6.

The Soundcraft Vi2 is equipped with one channel section of eight input faders, and the master section, which holds 8 faders. The Vi2 can handle as many inputs as a Vi4 or Vi6 (72 and 96 channels, respectively) using the standard stagebox and local rack hardware, with access to eight inputs at a time on the channel bay. By simply touching the input meters on the Vistonics™ screen of the master section, control of those inputs is brought onto the channel faders, along with all the channel functionality such as EQ, auxes, groups etc.

In addition to the meter selection, three fully customizable layouts of the eight input faders are available via the new user-defined fader page feature that is part of the V4.0 software update for all Vi consoles.

The Soundcraft Vi2 will therefore appeal to anyone who wants to use a Vi console but has more limited space than usual in which to operate. For example, it could be easily brought in at stage side for monitors alongside an existing console at festivals, or in corporate events where input access is less demanding than a multi-piece live band. The Vi2 is also suitable for use as a space-efficient spare console, and as an easily transportable training or programming unit. The Vi2’s Show files are fully compatible with Vi4 and Vi6 consoles, and also with the Virtual Vi Offline Editing software.

All the usual processing is accessible via the Local Rack, and even the 30-band graphic EQ’s are available, by using a new paging system, accessed via the eight output section faders and included in the new V4.0 Vi software for Vi4 and Vi6.

The Soundcraft Vi2 provides a cost-effective and useful accessory for existing Vi4 and Vi6 owners, who can use a Vi2 surface with their existing racks, which helps maximize rental inventory usage so that Vi console systems can be used on both large and small-scale productions.