The Icon D5 display module is an add-on for Icon's most compact DAW controller, the P1 Nano. The module boasts eight colour OLED screens, making it capable of displaying crucial status information from eight DAW tracks simultaneously: A first for DAW controllers with a single fader. This is a significant upgrade for the P1 Nano, speeding up and simplifying work on all kinds of DAW projects. As of writing, the usability and affordability of this P1/D5 combination are virtually unrivalled. The Icon D5 is simply connected to the core module using the USB-C cable supplied; the D5 does not require a separate power supply.
The Icon D5 display module is simply plugged into the top of the P1 Nano operating module. Once the USB-C connection has been established, it's ready to go. The D5 looks, and indeed functions, much like a metre bridge. At a glance, the eight OLED screens display the channels' names, various parameter descriptors and their values, and the signal level for the assigned DAW channels. Coloured graphic displays optimise readability, and the viewing angle can also be adjusted ergonomically. The workmanship is of the high standard common to all the DAW controllers Icon brings to market.
For owners of an Icon P1 Nano controller, the D5 is less an optional extra, and more a compulsory add-on. Both complete beginners and operators of compact home studios will find that the increased visibility of their control options immediately increases the device's usability as a whole. Equally, professionals (or semi-pros) will appreciate how much easier it is to work on their mastering or post-production projects. Even if the price may initially seem quite high compared to the core module itself, the investment quickly pays off, as the D5 makes working on a DAW so much easier and more effective. If budget is a concern, the D5 module can easily be installed after the initial purchase of the P1 Nano, as and when it's needed.
Icon Pro Audio is an international firm founded in 1997 and headquartered in Hong Kong. The company name is derived from "I control" and refers to its key skill set, namely the development of controllers for DAWs and DJ software, as well as of controller keyboards. The rest of the product range is entirely focused on high-quality pro audio equipment that is also made as affordable as possible, and includes audio interfaces, microphones, microphone preamps, studio monitors, headphones and other accessories. The Qcon Pro G2 and the QCon Pro X DAW controller are among the manufacturer's flagship products.
Unsurprisingly, the P1 Nano – as Icon's most compact DAW controller – stands to benefit immensely from the ability to display eight channels simultaneously. At a stroke, the almost handheld-sized single-fader controller can be turned into a professional user interface that makes even multi-track DAW projects easy to manage and manipulate. Especially when several DAW settings are being used in parallel, the Icon D5 makes it appreciably easier to keep tabs on what's going on. Its installation and handling are beyond simple, and it won't even take up any extra space on your worktop. The combination of Icon's P1 Nano and D5 creates a single-fader compact DAW controller with a level of usability that is currently unparalleled.