GOODLIFE NEWCASTLE STEPS UP WITH AVANTIS

NewsChurch

May 19

Stage 3 of our multi-stage upgrade for Goodlife Newcastle was all about the console and future-proofing! There were a few options on the table, with the Allen & Heath AVANTIS with DPACK plus an Allen & Heath GX4816 stage rack getting across the line.

With the console being such an important part of the overall setup, the Goodlife team made the call to hire an AVANTIS system for a month or so to make sure it was a good fit. The feedback was all positive, with the MixPad and OneMix apps proving to be highly effective additions. The flexibility and ease of use were a game-changer and the decision was made to go ahead with the purchase.

The Avantis with dPack Digital Mixing Console is the third mixer powered by Allen & Heath's 96kHz XCVI FPGA engine providing a virtually infinite mix headroom and class-leading latency at an ultra-low 0.7ms. This standalone 64 channel / 42 configurable bus console has dual Full HD touchscreens with Continuity UI that seamlessly connects physical and touchscreen controls for the fastest, most intuitive workflows. Avantis is well equipped with 12 XLR analogue inputs, 12 XLR analogue outputs, plus AES (Stereo In, 2x Stereo Out), plus two additional I/O Ports that allow true flexibility by connecting to the entire range of Allen & Heath audio expander hardware.

With dPack, you gain the amazing dLive processing tools like Dyn8, DEEP Compressors, DEEP Preamp, Dyn Dynamics, Dual Stage Valve Preamp, and more models as they are developed. Deep puts hassle-free, incredible emulations within input and mix channels with zero latency and no phase coherence issues. The sophisticated Dyn8 processor gives 4 bands of dynamic EQ and 4 bands of multiband compression. dPack enables 16 Dyn8 engines for inserting on Input and Mix channels.

The GX4816 is a 96kHz audio expander that provides high-input-count remote expansion that makes it the ideal I/O expander for Avantis. Each GX4816 is loaded with 48 dLive mic preamps with independent Phantom Power LED indicators, plus 16 XLR line outputs. Additionally, 2 DX ports are provided for connection to up to 4 DX Expanders for further I/O expansion. Connection to a ME Personal Mixing System is possible via the DX2 socket.

Two apps that Goodlife found highly useful were MixPad and OneMix. Avantis MixPad is an engineer’s mixing tool providing wireless mobile control for Allen & Heath Avantis digital mixers. It gives you the freedom to walk the room or stage and control the sound right where it is needed. Avantis MixPad and the Avantis mixer can work together to provide simultaneous control of independent functions, for example, one engineer using the mixer to mix front-of-house sound, and another using the iPad to mix monitors on stage. Several iPads can be connected, each providing independent control.

OneMix is a cut-down version of the Avantis MixPad app that locks control to a single Aux (monitor) mix. Multiple iPads may be set up by the 'Admin' user to give each musician customised personal monitor control via Wi-Fi connection to Avantis without the risk of affecting the other monitors or FOH main mix. Avantis OneMix can be configured to provide as much or as little control as needed.

The ability to expand and build on the Allen & Heath system with additional racks for eg. broadcast, foyer, small meeting rooms is a huge selling point when future-proofing your setup.