Soundcraft now offers 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 8 input faders, and the master section which holds 12 faders. The Vi2 can handle as many inputs as a Vi4 or Vi6 (96 channels) using the standard stagebox and local rack hardware, with access to 8 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 customisable layouts of the 8 input faders are available via the user-defined fader page feature.

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 paging system, accessed via the 8 output section faders.

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 maximise rental inventory usage so that Vi console systems can be used on both large and small scale productions.