Allen & Heath has unveiled the GLD, a user-friendly, cost effective and scalable live digital mixing system, conceptually based on the successful digital iLive Series, and it will be on display at the upcoming Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim.
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, 8 stereo FX returns fed by iLive’s FX emulations, 30 configurable buses, 20 mix processing channels, and DSP power to provide full processing.
GLD-80 has an analog-style channel processing control section complemented by a graphical 8.4 inch touch screen. A customizable drag ‘n drop layout allows quick and easy assignment of inputs and mixes to fader strips. There are 20 fader strips in 4 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 4 XLR mic/line inputs, 4 XLR line outs, 4 RCA inputs, 2 RCA outputs, and digital outputs in SPDIF and AES3 formats.
The GLD-80 connects to a range of 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 (8 XLR inputs, 4 XLR outs each) can be connected over 120m Cat-5 runs using A&H’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 A&H iLive systems, which can be configured using GLD’s extensive soft-patching.
“Designing a system which is suitable for both the professional engineer and occasional user has been a priority,” says A&H managing director Glenn Rogers.“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 analog mixers have been working so successfully for years.
“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.”
