When large road cases show up at the Conservatory, it certainly causes a rise in the blood pressure of the student population. That is not necessarily a bad thing, because it usually means some new gear has hit the classrooms at the school. This past month, students were treated to a hands-on look at the Digico D5 Live Sound Console. Digico is a mainstay on the worldwide concert circuit and is considered one of the best in its class. Live sound instructor Keith Morris took students on a tour of the console during his classes and then a few days later, Taidus Vallandi, director of US Sales and D5 operational expert came to the school to take the console up to warp 9. Vallandi not only works for Digico, but also has extensive touring experience, having toured with Rod Stewart as FOH engineer among others.
The D5 visit is part of the ongoing practice at the Conseratory that brings the lastest gear into the classrooms. "When students see the latest technology and get it under their hands, they can be better prepared to enter the workforce after they graduate" says Director Kirt Hamm. Indeed they can! This year alone, students have seen and used the Lake Contour speaker controller, Yamaha Subkick microphone, Apple G5 with twin 2Ghz processors and various other processors, microphones and assorted studio gear. 
