Shimokitazawa ReG Celebrates 15th Anniversary with A Brand-new Quantum 338

Shimokitazawa ReG is a livehouse, or music venue in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, close to Shinjuku and Shibuya districts. At 230-capacity standing, Shimokitazawa ReG is an intimate venue, which only enhances the excitement of seeing some of Japan’s brightest independent bands there. The PA has been designed to be felt as well as heard, in a full mind-body experience. To deliver that feeling, the mixing console had to be a DiGiCo Quantum 338 supplied by Hibino, DiGiCo distributor for Japan.

The venue’s size ensures that every audience member has a perfect view of the stage, but it also means 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 has provided excellent service and has been enjoyed by musicians and staff alike for the last 15 years. When the time came to update, the choice was not made lightly. Miyuki Tanifuji has worked as front of house engineer for Shimokitazawa ReG for the last 13 years and explains how, by choosing the larger DiGiCO Quantum 338, she is able to prepare for the future, as well as serve the bands and audiences of the present.

“I had been working with SD8 for a long time and was completely used to the three banks of 12 faders layout,” Tanifuji recalls. “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 very best lighting, sound and video equipment for the space. The area is well known for its laid-back vibes, 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.

Choosing the Quantum 338 was a culmination of all of these factors, and not just the channel count or features. Tanifuji also appreciates the clarity of the setup, thanks to the SR rack’s high resolutions input/output module cards. Within the anniversary upgrades, ReG has also installed the SD-Rack, with 32-bit input/output card modules. The higher resolution modules have had an impact on the sound quality, and Tanifuji was able to hear the difference in clarity instantly.

“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.” she concludes. “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.”