The Si Expression comes in three models, the 16-input Si Expression 1, the 24-input Si Expression 2 and the 32-input Si Expression 3. For my review, I took the Si Expression 2, (the 24 mic pre version) for a test drive.
Plugging the Si in, a locking clip keeps the removable IEC plug from slipping out, a nice touch. The mixer requires a two-step power-up sequence that starts with turning on the main rear panel power switch. A power button on the top panel will start blinking. Pressing this button for less than a second will start booting the board’s brain. The touch screen display will tell you the progress. However, if you hold the button too long, you’ll enter a firmware update mode. And there is a similar power-down routine. To prevent accidentally turning the console off, hold the power button for about two seconds, then release it. When the button starts flashing press the power button one again for a moment and the console will turn off. I found this to be a clever idea, considering that the top panel power switch on the board’s upper right corner is easily exposed.
Let There Be Light
Once the Si Expression is powered up, you’ll notice a lot of lights. Every button is backlit, so distinguishing functions at a glance is pretty easy. Once you start setting up mixes, you’ll behold the FaderGlow™ feature, where the fader slots are illuminated in various colors. Very Tron. Like a lot of the features used in the Expression models, FaderGlow™ borrows technology originally developed for higher-end Studer and Soundcraft consoles. This colorful display, while engaging/intriguing, is extremely useful for letting you know what mode you’re in. Yellow shows pre-fade aux sends; green is for post-fade sends, blue for FX sends and red for GEQ mode. However, with all this illumination, reading some of the silk-screened legends on the board can be a little challenging. I’d recommend taking advantage of its 12-Volt BNC light socket and adding a mini-gooseneck lamp, especially in dark environments.
Features, Functions
Channel strips are set up with one control per function, as an analog board would be, so there’s not much scrolling through layers. Interestingly, with only 22 channel faders, inputs 23 and 24 default to Bank B, although channels are assignable to any layer. Along with mute and solo buttons, each channel also has a rotary control that can be assigned to be gain, pan or high pass filter. When I first started using the board, its backlit rubbery-feel buttons seemed to stick until I got used to using them. The select button gives you access to the gate, compressor, and EQ. When the select key is pushed, the touch screen will also display information about the channel, identifying the absolute value of the controls and the channel name and number.
Via the color touch screen, you can assign inserts, patch channels and setup monitoring. You can copy and paste whole channels, busses, mixes, Lexicon effects, or parts such as the EQ, channel gate and compressor. There are 14 mix buttons that Soundcraft calls tOTEM™ (the One Touch Easy Mix) essentially puts sends into a fader-flip mode for doing monitor mixes.
The moving faders are great, but I found their mechanical action slightly clattery. In most situations it would go unnoticed, but if you’re doing a funeral in a very resonant church, you might want to make sure the booth door is closed when you push that button or someone’s going to jump.
The Snapshot system is another great feature. More than 1,000 cues can be stored/recalled from the cue control buttons. Other features include: four line inputs, pre/post selection per input per bus, AES in/out, global mode encoders, BSS GEQ on every bus, 20 sub-group/aux buses, four FX buses, eight matrix buses, LCR mix buses, four stereo Lexicon effects engines, delay on all inputs/outputs, four mute groups, freely assignable insert loops, Direct Out Gain Stabilizer, Harman HiQnet integration and security lockout. Another nice touch are 16 analog XLR direct outs (for recording or monitor splits) that can be patchable to feed from any output.
The Sound
The Si Expression’s audio performance belies its affordable pricing. Mic preamps are identical to the higher-end Vi boards and are clean with ample headroom. The 4-band EQ (sweepable LF/HF; parametric mid bands) is musical and versatile. The flexible channel compressors offer independent tweaking of attack/release/gain/threshold/ratio and I had no complaints about the Lexicon effects.
Options
Some 66 channels of mix capability are available with the 64 by 64 option card slot, which can interface with monitoring systems and digital recording workstations. Card options come in a choice of multiple I/O formats that include MADI, Dante, Aviom A-Net, CobraNet, AES/EBU D-Type, BSS BLU link, Riedel RockNet and a multicard USB/FireWire. The 32 x 8 (plus eight AES out channels) and 16 x 8 Mini Stagebox options not only offer expandability but also simplified digital snaking via Cat-5 or optical MADI.
With the optional ViSi Remote iPad app, the mix can be controlled from anywhere in the venue, and multiple iPads can be used by musicians to control their own monitor mixes. Unfortunately, parameters available for ViSi Remote are limited to mutes/solos and levels of the inputs/sends/buses/mains, as well as the 28-band graphic EQ. There’s no ViSi Remote access to other features, such as channel EQ, snapshots or the onboard (and excellent) Lexicon effects. Note: An updated version due this fall will include channel EQ and dynamics control.
And in The End
I must admit I’ve mostly been an analog guy. My past forays into digital have often left me questioning why some board designs make them so complex to operate. I was pleasantly surprised with the user-friendliness of the Si Expression. Accessing the power within the Si Expression is not daunting at all. While it has plenty of levels to explore and work with, I found that if you just want to get a mix up and running right here, right now out of the box, you can.
At a Glance
Soundcraft Si Expression 2
Starting with 1998’s Spirit Digital 328 (its initial foray into digital consoles), Soundcraft has continued to develop feature-filled, cost-effective options for the live sound market. The Si Expression Series is the latest in the company’s mission to bring digital mixing technology to the masses.
PROS Straightforward in use; easy expansion options; backlit controls and FaderGlow speed operations; useful onboard effects; great sound.
CONS iPad feature access is limited; 8-step LED output meters; bank-switching required to access channels 23/24; silk screening hard to read in dim light.
HOW MUCH $2,999 (Street)
MORE INFO www.soundcraft.com
