Gearheads: Allen & Heath Avantis

GEAR HEADS

ALLEN & HEATH AVANTIS

Allen & Heath’s R&D Director Andy Bell and Head of Product Nic Beretta discuss the company’s latest audio console, the Avantis.

What were the initial goals for Avantis? Andy Bell: The goal for Avantis is to bring a next-generation, 96kHz console to a middle segment of the live sound market where most of the mixers currently on offer are 48kHz, DSP-based desks that are getting a bit long in the tooth.

When did this development begin? AB: We devoted a large R&D team to the Avantis project, so we’ve been able to deliver it in around two years from first concept to completion, which is a pretty impressive timeframe for digital console development.

The new release is the third instalment of the 96kHz Mixer Trilogy. What features from both the dLive and the SQ have been brought in? Nic Beretta: Avantis and SQ are both adapted from the XCVI FPGA core that we first developed for our flagship dLive series. One of the big advantages of the system is that it comes with a ready-made ecosystem of audio networking cards, personal mixers and our Everything I/O family of 96kHz DX and DT expanders – and if you’ve already got our 48kHz AR and AB expanders, you can even use those with the new console. Customers will also have the option of upgrading their console with the Avantis dPack, which is an awesome package of dLive processing, including Dyn8, DEEP Compressors, and the Dual Stage Valve Preamp.

What sets it apart from the other two consoles? NB: Channel and bus count is the most obvious differentiator between the three series. At 64 inputs and 42 mixes, Avantis fits neatly between the 48 input, 36 bus SQ and the 128 input, 64 mix dLive. Avantis is designed as an all-in-one console, with the ‘brain’ in the console, whereas dLive is a mixand-match solution with the processing in the MixRack, capable of scaling from a fly-in rig to a vast installed system with 800 total system inputs and 96 remote controllers.

What markets within the events industry do you foresee the Avantis thriving in? NB: Avantis is made for Allen & Heath’s heartland of live venues, rental and AV companies and houses of worship.

How does the desk’s design deal with the rigours of live touring? AB: Ruggedness and reliability is something of an obsession for A&H. Our consoles are used right around the world, so they need to handle heat, cold, humidity, dust, dirt roads and rough handling. We put our designs through a punishing regime of simulated and real-world testing before they’re approved for production. Avantis’ all-metal chassis gives it great strength and rigidity – even in our drop-tests, the frame has taken terrific punishment and done its job of protecting the audio core.

Did you bring any sound engineers in during the design of the project? AB: We’re lucky to have developed great friendships with many accomplished audio engineers, and their feedback has been invaluable during the development of Avantis. We also have an in-house application engineer who spends half their time touring and half their time embedded in R&D, so we are always plugged in to real-world feedback. Understanding engineers’ workflows has a particularly significant bearing on the console’s UI – one of the best compliments we hear is that engineers find the controls on our mixers exactly where they instinctively look for them.

What aspects of the control surface are engineers going to appreciate? NB: Having two huge, full-HD touchscreens with over 200 sq inches of screen real estate lets the engineer keep more of the controls they need at their fingertips. We have built a new user interface, which we call Continuity UI. Continuity is all about the seamless connection between the physical controls and the screens.

From all the feedback we’ve had, we’re confident that engineers will find it incredibly easy to walk up and mix on Avantis. Another exciting new feature is the Fast Grab Tabs concept, which lets the engineer assign parameters like AUX sends, EQs or compressors and have them dynamically show up at the side of the screens when they’re needed.

When can we expect the Avantis to start shipping? NB: We’re happy to say that Avantis is already on its way to our distribution partners, so look out for early tours and installs this side of Christmas.

TPi

Photos: Allen & Heath

www.allen-heath.com