The Soundcraft 5045892.v ViS-HQML17 HQ Microphone Input Card is a high-channel-count, premium analog input module for the Soundcraft Vi series digital mixing console’s stagebox ecosystem. Designed for the Vi Stagebox (ViS) range, this card provides 17 channels of world-class, remotely-controllable microphone preamplifiers. The "HQ" designation signifies High-Quality components and circuit design, offering exceptionally low noise, high headroom, and transparent sonic character suitable for the most critical recording and live sound applications. Each channel features gain control, phantom power, and filtering that can be digitally controlled from the Vi console surface, allowing engineers to adjust preamp settings for microphones located on stage from the comfort of the front-of-house position.

The card installs into a slot on a compatible Vi Stagebox, expanding the system's local analog input capacity. It converts the analog microphone signals into high-resolution digital audio that is then routed via digital multicore (such as MADI or EtherSound) back to the main console. This architecture places the high-quality analog-to-digital conversion and preamplification close to the sound sources on stage, minimizing the length of analog cable runs and preserving the integrity of the pristine microphone signal before it enters the digital domain. The 17-channel configuration provides an efficient density for packing a large number of inputs into a compact stagebox footprint.

For major live events, broadcast, and high-end studio work, the choice of microphone preamplifier is crucial to the overall sound. The ViS-HQML17 card provides the trusted Soundcraft sonic signature—clear, musical, and reliable—in a flexible, remotely controllable package. It is a key component for building a large-scale, split-free digital audio network where the quality of the very first gain stage is paramount, ensuring that the subtle details and full dynamic range of the source are captured faithfully for processing within the powerful Vi console.