At 230-capacity standing, the Shimokitazawa ReG livehouse (music venue) close to Tokyo’s Shinjuku and Shibuya districts, is an intimate venue where some of Japan’s brightest independent bands regularly appear. Key to its sound provision is a DiGiCo Quantum 338 mixing desk supplied by Hibino.
The venue’s size ensures that every audience member has an uninterrupted view of the stage, but also that every piece of equipment must earn its place and be of the highest possible quality. The venue opened in 2010 with a DiGiCo SD8, which provided sound service and has been enjoyed by both musicians and staff for the past 15 years. When the time came to update, the choice was not made lightly.
Miyuki Tanifuji has worked as the venue’s FOH engineer for the past 13 years: ‘I had been working with SD8 for a long time and was completely used to the three banks of 12 faders layout,’ she says. ‘I felt that I couldn’t go back from that number, so I knew that a DiGiCo Quantum console would be ideal. I thought it was a bit over-specified for the size and scale of the ReG, but I decided on the Quantum 338 because I thought it would be best suited to any situation.’
The Quantum 338 boasts 128 input channels, 64 Aux and a 24 x 24 full processing matrix. The seventh generation FPGA chips ensure ultra-fast processing and super smooth workflow, ideal for venues like Shimokitazawa ReG that are working to strict time constraints with packed schedules and nightly changes. The console’s Dark Mode also ensures that during show time, the console isn’t a distraction.
The venue has a reputation for offering an excellent experience for music lovers; it sounds fantastic, the acoustics are great, there are no pillars to block views, and the team have carefully chosen the best lighting, sound and video equipment for the space. The area is also known for its laid-back vibe, youth culture and music scene, so this approach has appealed to the discerning audience. It is a place to experience the very best and most cutting-edge performances from up-and-coming Japanese bands. The choice of the Quantum 338 reflects all of these factors.
Within anniversary upgrades, ReG has also installed an SD-Rack with 32-bit input/output card modules. The higher resolution modules have had an impact on the sound quality.
‘The sound is clear, all the way down to the smallest detail. We get a large variety of acts performing in the venue, so the flexibility and clarity is really important.’ Tanifuji adds. ‘The Quantum 338 is just as easy to operate as the SD8, and it has more functions than the SD8, so I’m looking forward to using it more in the future.’