ANTIBES JUAN-LES-PINS, France – The annual two-week International Jazz a Juan Festival, held beachside in southern France each summer, this year featured performances by Herbie Hancock, BB King and Santana, among others. The festival, organized by Jean-Rene Palacio, artistic director of the Societe des Bains de Mer (SBM), relied on DiGiCo's SD10 digital console for both FOH and monitor positions.
Arpege Son Lumiere owner Philippe Barguirdjian, who provides sound support for SBM, made the decision to use the DiGiCo SD10s. Arpege Son Lumiere FOH engineer Alain Courieux noted that a positive experience with DiGiCo's SD7 for French composer and producer Jean Michel Jarre played a role in the decision.
"I've been using DiGiCo consoles for the past seven or eight years," said Courieux. "It sounds fantastic," he said, adding that Jarre agrees. "Jean Michel is so happy with the sound quality that he also has one in his studio – and it's the only console I know of where I can use over 180 channels."
At the Jazz a Juan Festival, Courieux was confident that the visiting artists and engineers would be happy with the DiGiCo SD10 as well. "All the visiting engineers were happy with the way the SD10 works, and with the plug-ins, etc. Even those that were a bit nervous because they hadn't used a DiGiCo before really liked it because it's so easy to use and the sound is so clear."
Courieux noted other advantages as well. "We don't have any need for racks, as everything is done within the console itself, which makes life simpler."
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