Crest has released their latest offering for Live Consoles, the CV20.
The CV20 is a new analog console from Crest that is “ideally suited” for both FOH and Monitors, and touts it’s Full VCA Control…
Between the VCAs, Flipping of Group and Aux Fader/Rotaries, and on board dynamics for groups and masters, this console is really all about flexibility.
Lets take a look into the console.
The Basics
The Crest CV20 comes in 32, 40, 48, 56, and 64 Mono Channel Frames with channels in banks of 8. All frame sizes are X Mono Channels + 8 Stereo Channels. All frame sizes come with the same master section and all faders are 100mm faders (Channel, Group, VCA, and Masters)
The Crest CV20 is an Eight subgroup, 8 VCA console which has optional output routing for L/C/R, LR and or Mono.
Mono Channels
Each mono channel has XLR and 1/4″ Inputs, as well as split (send and return) inputs, and a direct out on every channel.
On the input side, there is Line Input Switch, 48V Phantom Power, Pad, Insert In, Phase Reversal, Direct Out switching to Pre-Fader, and a sweepable High Pass Filter.
The EQ on each channel is 4 band, with the HF and LF having freq and gain, as well as a switch for shelving. The HM and LM are fully parametric, with Freq, Gain, and Q controls.
Each Channel is assignable to groups 1-8, VCAs 1-8 (through VCA Assignments), and LR, L/C/R, and Mono Outputs.
Each channel also has 5 LED Metering, Mute (with LED for muted or safe), Solo, and switchable controlling for Pan on Groups.
Stereo Channels
There are 8 Stereo Channels on the Crest CV20, coming in two different flavors (4 of each)
Stereo Channels 1-4 Have XLR and 1/4″ in (combined Neutrik Jacks), as well as TRS direct outs for L/R. Also, 48V Phantom Power, Pad, Phase Reversal, separate L+R gain, Direct Out Pre/Post Fader, Mono Switching (from L or R), and a 100 Hz HPF.
Stereo Channels 5-8 have 1/4″ OR RCA Inputs, as well as Stereo Channel 8 has a 1/8″ (iPod) Input at the top of the channel strip. On the channel strip there is a Line Selector (Input 1 or 2), Switchable (75 or 100 Hz) HPF, Input 1 and Input 2 Gain, Direct Out Pre or Post Fader, Mono Switching (From L or R), and a Mono Aux Send rotary, to send any blend of L or R to mono auxes.
The rest of the Stereo Channel Channel Strip is the same as a mono channel stirp.
Groups
Each group has a 100mm fader, L/R Pan, as well as L/C/R, L/R, or Mono Assignments. Also, each fader can be “reversed” to have the fader control the Aux output, rather than the group output, moving the group output level to the Aux Rotary.
Each group output has a 12 LED level display, which also switches to the aux level when in reversed mode. Each group has matrix sends which are switchable pre/post fader to any of the 4 Matrixes. As well, matrixes 3 and 4 can be sent to in stereo or mono mode.
Each Group has an XLR out, as well as a split Insert.
Aux Sends
The Crest CV20 has 14 aux sends, or 12 proper sends. A maximum of 10 Mono aux sends, with two dedicated Stereo Sends (11 and 12)… Auxes 1-4 are mono, and 5-9 are switchable between mono and stereo sends (with the second of the two sends rotaries turned into a pan). All auxes are switchable between pre-post fader.
The Aux Master section includes a 12 LED display of level, and a rotary for level (which can be reversed to be a group master, and the aux master being routed to the group master fader).
Each Aux has an XLR output, as well as a split Insert.
Master Faders
The CV20 has dedicated 100mm faders for C, M, and L/R outputs. This section features the same 12 LED metering as the groups and auxes, as well as the same “reverse” function, to put the aux 9 10 and 11 outputs on the master faders.
The Master Outputs can also be sent to the matrix in the same fashion as the groups.
Each master output has an XLR out, as well as split insert. Also, there is an Alt Main Out (L+R) that is TRS.
On Board Dynamics
Each group and master output has dynamics on the console that can be inserted. There is a Limiter, Compressor, and Gate built In. The Dynamics can be switched between the group/master which they default to, or the corresponding aux. All of these are switchable In/Out individually, and the last three sets of dynamics are stereo to work on the stereo bus and or stereo aux. Also, all of these insert chains are stereo linkable.
The Limiter is simply In/Out with a threshold set (no attack release), The compressor has 5 LED metering for attenuation, Ratio, Threshold, and Output Gain. You can also switch to a soft knee compression, and the only variation in attack time is via a switch from slow (default) to a faster attack, labeled “perc” (percussive).
The Gate is just as simple, and only provides controls for the ratio and threshold.
VCAs
The Crest CV20 has 8 VCAs, all on nice 100mm faders with Unity indicators and typical solo/mute functionality.
Editing VCA Control is done by using the Edit VCA button in the Scene Control Section (coming up) and soloing a vca, then hitting the solo button on a channel you wish to assign.
Matrix
The CV20 has 4 Matrixs, which have TRS outputs and allow for Group or Master Output Routing to them.
Monitoring
The Crest CV20 has a variety of ways to monitor your mix… With stereo TRS out for Monitors, as well as a Headphone out, you can get plenty of control over your Mix.
The Monitor Section has a 100mm fader that controls the monitor output, as well as a rotary for Headphone Level.
You can select your default monitor output by master output or group… All solo’d elements will get priority unless the solo off button is used. Also, you can sum stereo sources to mono for use with a single wedge.
The Scene Controller
The Scene Controller is really the center of the CV20… It controls all of your mute group and VCA assignments, as well as saves/loads all of these settings, and allows for these settings to be setup in a typical theatre scene use, ordering the scenes and allowing for scrolling through.
Within the Scene Controller Section, you assign VCA assignments, Mute Group Assignments, as well as save and manipulate scene files and control mute groups, and solo options.
Other Goodies
The CV20 features MIDI In/Out/Thru for syncing of Scene changes, as well as NexSys for Scene automation and control.
There are two different optional add-ons as well…
A Meter Bridge, which is a VU Meter Bridge that meters Matrix 1-4 or Aux 1-4, Gropu 1-8 or Aux 5-12, and then L, R, C, and Solo L and R.
You can also purchase a console linking card, to link together the outputs (Master and Aux) of the console with another CV20 Console to create, as I would call it, a frankenstein array of CV20s.
The End
This is a great offering from crest in the way of Analog Consoles. Dependent on the final outcome of their mic pres and summing tone, I believe this console has a place with pretty much any sound company, theatre, rock club.
Good review. I want one of these boards, but I will have to be happy with my Soundcrafts.
Thanks for including the info on pre/post routing – a VERY big concern for people like me who push mixers to new levels and also for recording.
I could definitely see this in use for recording. The heavy VCA presence is always welcome. Mix in a few good pres and mics and you are uin the top percentile.