FULL
SAIL AHEAD FOR DIGICO
Audio
Product Stories Published: 20 September
2004
Since 1981, Winter Park, Florida-based Full Sail Real World
Education has offered instruction in Sound Reinforcement and
Concert Lighting developing a full program in 1998 and adding
the 13-month Show Production & Touring Associate of Science
Degree Program. Their overall goal is “to provide students
with the knowledge to enter the live event industry with the
practical and technical tools required to succeed in many career
paths.”
Specifically, they say the Show Production Degree
program is dedicated to technical theory, engineering skills
and design concepts within several key areas of the entertainment
industry, of which audio is a significant part. They have recently
added a DiGiCo D5 Live digital mixing console to their impressive
roster of sound equipment to allow their students access to
the most up-to-date products during their training for the world
of live events.
Dana Roun, Program Director for Show Production
& Touring, explains the choice of the DiGiCo system: “We
choose the D5 system based on several key factors. I have a
long lasting friendship with Bob Doyle, DiGiCo’s Managing
Director, so it was easy to assume that quality and ingenuity
would be integral to their products. Since Bob has actively
supported our Show Production and Touring program since the
beginning, I knew going into the D5 purchase that it would be
backed by people I had already learned to trust. In addition
to Bob, I also knew Marketing Director Dave Webster and with
the help of Eric Wade (DiGiCo LLC’s CEO), I realized that
the D5 being a leader in the concert touring market was likely
to happen.” Roun is also confident that he will get the
ongoing support that is just as vital a consideration for his
educational establishment as the functionality of any console.
“The second reason we purchased the system,”
he continues, “is because we need a digital console our
students would adapt to quickly. The fact that we had a top-notch
demonstration on site really helped reveal the depth and ease
of engineering on the D5.
“We purchased the D5-Live 56EX a year ago.
This was a little before it became obvious to everyone that
this was a true road worthy console. So in a sense the lure
of other more established consoles was one to consider. Looking
back I can say we absolutely made the correct choice.
“We have a responsibility to our students
to expose them to the low, mid and high level of audio consoles.
The D5 fits into the high end of the major touring market. Outsiders
may think our graduates would never see the high end of the
touring market in the real world, but they are wrong. We have
developed a long list of successful grads working on large arena
and festival tours. Many of the major companies providing production
employ our graduates and some have climbed their way into FOH
or monitor positions, while others have become system technicians.
As more production companies add D5’s to their arsenal,
our grads will benefit. I expect we will be looking at the purchase
of a new D1 soon too!”
Full Sail can be contacted at www.fullsail.com