ALLEN & HEATH AT UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2008

In preparation for the UEFA Champions League Final 2008, the host venue, Luzhniki Stadium, installed a new audio system in its press and VIP centre based around Allen & Heath’s iDR DSP matrix mixer and a GL4800 multi-purpose mixing console. The Moscow stadium’s press centre comprises a 275-capacity conference hall, working area with 80 stations and 8 individual reporting booths for journalists, and a press bar. The iDR-8 forms the core of the new sound system deployed in the press centre, with iDR-in and iDR-out expander units providing additional inputs and outputs, bringing the system to its full capacity of a 16x16 digital matrix. A 32-channel Allen & Heath GL4800 multi-purpose console was also selected to provide manual control of the live audio requirements. Victor Okladnov, Sound Engineer of Luzhniki Stadium, commented: “Our new GL4800 proved to be very easy to operate. When it’s necessary to control the processing of multiple channels, sound engineers often use aux outputs. Unlike many similar solutions from other manufacturers, Allen & Heath’s GL4800 has a master fader for each channel in the master section. This feature is just one of the advantages of the mixer, which makes it an ideal choice for larger scale applications.”

The Press Centre’s new audio system went live just before the start of the UEFA Champions League Final, which was an excellent opportunity to put the installed equipment to a challenging test. The GL4800 and iDR system were used during all of the official events surrounding the match, including interviews with coaches and players, and demonstrated their ability to provide good sound quality and performance. An iDR-4 matrix mixer was also installed in Luzhniki Stadium’s VIP club, a multi-functional complex, which is used to host a range of events such as business meetings, presentations, and banquets. The iDR-4 is complemented by eight PL-4 wall plates installed throughout the area to provide access to sound source selection and level control. PL-4’s can be operated remotely using a PL-5 IR handheld controller. An Allen & Heath PA20 live stereo mixer is also installed in the VIP club to manage live music performances and entertainment for two active PA systems.