GLD Live Digital Mixing System Debuts in Europe at ISE Show

Allen and Heath's new GLD live digital mixing system debuted in Europe last week at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show in Amsterdam, Holland. The user-friendly, cost effective and scalable system is conceptually based on the hugely successful digital iLive series. A standard GLD 32 input system offers 28 XLR mic inputs with plug n' play I/O expanders allowing easy expansion up to 48 inputs (44 XLR mic inputs).

At the heart of the system is the GLD-80 mixer, providing 48 input processing channels, eight stereo FX returns fed by iLive's acclaimed FX emulations, 30 configurable buses, 20 mix processing channels, and DSP power to provide full processing without compromise, the company says.

GLD-80 has an analog-style channel processing control section complemented by a graphical 8.4" touch screen. A fully-customisable drag 'n drop layout allows quick and easy assignment of inputs and mixes to fader strips. There are 20 fader strips in four layers, each with motorized fader, a channel LCD display which can be named and color-coded, plus a rotary control for direct access to gain, pan, and aux/FX sends. The mixer's local I/O comprises four XLR mic/line inputs, four XLR line outs, four RCA inputs, two RCA outputs, and digital outputs in SPDIF and AES3 formats.

The GLD-80 connects to a range of plug 'n play I/O racks to build 28, 36 or 44 mic input systems. A primary AR2412 rack (24 XLR inputs, 12 XLR outs) and up to two AR84 expander racks (eight XLR inputs, four XLR outs each) can be connected over 120m CAT5 runs using Allen and Heath's dSNAKE protocol. dSNAKE provides control to the remote preamp, and all mic preamps are scene recallable. AR2412 also includes a connection for personal monitoring systems.

GLD has the ability to record and playback a stereo signal on a USB memory stick. Standard iLive audio I/O option cards for Dante, MADI, EtherSound, and Allen & Heath's ACE protocols can be fitted, allowing multi-channel record/playback, front of house/monitor splits, and connection to Allen and Heath's iLive systems, which can easily be configured using GLD's extensive soft-patching, according to the company.

"Designing a system which is suitable for both the professional engineer and occasional user has been a priority. With GLD, our aim was to take much of the complexity out of digital mixing, opening up the tremendous benefits of digital technology to a wider group of customers, such as the rental companies, houses of worship and live venues where our GL series analogue mixers have been working so successfully for years," comments Allen and Heath's managing director, Glenn Rogers. "GLD offers high quality processing and stunning sonic performance. Key to the system is GLD's remote plug 'n play I/O audio racks for flexible, easy set-up system building."