Allen & Heath with dLive promises a before and after in digital mixing

The manufacturer's new state-of-the-art digital mixer features a gesture control interface and internal process to 96 Bit / 96 Khz.

Allen & Heath presents dLive, your next-generation digital mixing system, based on an ultra-flexible architecture, a powerful FPGA processing core and very wide expansion options, control and network connectivity, plus the intuitive Harmony user interface, with gesture control. dLive is the powerful and flexible solution for today's high-end tours and installations.

dLive has an architecture where the mixing rack (MixRack) and the control surface are separated. dLive system processing is hosted on the MixRack, available in three formats (DM32, DM48 and DM64) and three control surfaces. All MixRacks and surfaces are compatible (work together as soon as they are connected), with common configuration and show file compatibility. The MixRacks contain the processing engine developed by Allen's R&D team & Heath, with state-of-the-art FPGA technology.

A unique architecture

The 96k/96bit XCVI Core processing core has the capacity to 128 inputs with full processing and 16 stereo processing returns, with a total of 160 inputs for mixing and an architecture of 64 mix buses fully configurable by the user. dLive incorporates the complete DEEP processing package, which includes graphical EQs, Compressors, multiband compressors and dynamic EQ, together with the 16 virtual processing racks, including Allen's superb emulations of effects & Heath.

Allen's R&D Director & Heath, Rob Clark. "We have focused on the requests of our customers and the best sound engineers when developing Allen's new technologies. & Heath for live mixing. The XCVI engine has been designed from the ground up to perfectly execute deep processing algorithms, from the FPGA engine. this unique architecture allows users to determine the processing structure they want to use in each input and each mixing channel, without wasting valuable effect racks or adding latency".

Remote input and output expansion can be performed from mixracks or the surface itself using dual DX redundant Cat5 ports. This allows the connection of up to three DX32 modular expansion units. Other options for expansion and network connectivity between systems are available, via five input/output ports for 128 canals, including Dante, Waves SG, ACE and MADI; there is also a fiber optic option under development.

There are three dLive surfaces; S3000, S5000 and S7000. The mapping and configuration of each of them is fully customizable; each input or each mixing bus can be assigned to any fader or bench, and can also be labeled and customized with a color. The engineer also has 26 Freely assignable SoftKeys. One of the key points of the new Harmony user interface, integrating display and adjacent controls.

As far as the touch screen is concerned (single or double, according to surface model), it is a 12" capacitive screen, with gesture control, and configurable widget areas for scenes, meters and effects. Advanced lighting control is also incorporated for optimal visibility, both in broad daylight and in low visibility conditions. The surfaces also include encoders with RGB color and a strip of LEDs in the upper area.

Mix control options are available using the MixPad and OneMix apps, as well as an on/offline software editing software, TCP/IP control for third-party device integration, as well as faders and remote rotary controls over IP.

At last, dLive features a new tour-proof chassis, high rigidity and low weight. All units feature dual slots for power supplies, and all sources can be exchanged between surfaces, MixRacks and expansion units. There is also double audio redundancy between all the elements that make up the system.

Nicola Beretta, senior product manager, acknowledges that "it really is the ultimate mixing system, with all the processing tools and power that the most demanding engineers expect, as well as network capabilities, for any application. This adds to a highly intuitive user interface., and that we believe makes the fastest workflow in the industry possible. dLive is an optimal product for both tours and permanent installations, theatre or auditoriums".

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