Octagon

The Octagon was D&R's most ambitious console — a digitally controlled analog large multi-format production desk aimed simultaneously at film post, television, and music recording. A single Octagon frame accepted up to 90 total input modules (84 inputs with 8 main output buses), controlled via a TFT touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard. Mic preamps used THAT Corp silicon (the same approach as the Orion), with D&R's Powerface motorized 100mm ALPS faders and 48-bus digital routing. An internal CRM matrix handled control room monitoring across all formats. The automation system — Recall plus Auto Reset on every pot and switch — ran on D&R's own Powerface software with SMPTE time code for chase-lock to picture. Two Octagon frames with up to four control modules could be installed to access any input module, enabling large-scale multi-operator sessions typical of film dubbing stages.