The DiGiCo D5 Live is a professional digital mixing console that established a significant benchmark in live sound production upon its introduction, renowned for its powerful processing, intuitive workflow, and robust touring-grade construction. It was designed as a comprehensive solution for front-of-house and monitor engineers handling major tours, large fixed installations, and broadcast events. The console operates on a dedicated, proprietary DSP engine, delivering high audio fidelity with a transparent sound character and the low latency required for critical live applications, particularly in-ear monitoring. Its control surface is logically laid out with a combination of tactile, dedicated controls for essential functions and a centralized, high-resolution touchscreen for deeper menu access and visual feedback, enabling engineers to work quickly and efficiently under pressure.

The D5 Live features a flexible and scalable channel count, often configurable to support a large number of inputs, groups, and matrix outputs to manage complex mixes. A defining characteristic is its assignable control architecture, where a bank of physical faders and encoders can be instantly switched to control different layers of channels, groups, or outputs, providing direct physical access to a vast number of parameters without overwhelming the surface space. The console includes a comprehensive suite of onboard processing, including fully parametric EQ, dynamic processors, and a high-quality effects section, all recallable via an extensive snapshot system that allows for storing and recalling the entire console's state for different songs or show segments.

Built into a heavy-duty steel and aluminum chassis, the D5 Live is engineered for the rigors of life on the road. Its connectivity was advanced for its time, featuring integrated digital audio networking via proprietary links to compatible stageboxes, as well as comprehensive analog and digital I/O. The console's reliability, sonic performance, and ergonomic design made it a mainstay on major tours and in prestigious venues for years. The DiGiCo D5 Live represents a pivotal generation of digital live consoles, blending the immediate, hands-on feel of analog with the power and recallability of digital processing, cementing its legacy as a trusted workhorse for professional audio engineers.