Allen & Heath gets in the Zone
Published: PRODUCTS
Two small mixing consoles dedicated to the installation sector have been unveiled by British manufacturer Allen & Heath. Intended to provide simple control of programme audio and announcements for multiple zones, the GR3 and GR4 are 1U rackmount mixers with an ‘easy-access’ mic input on the front panel, auto-ducking of zones for paging and emergency announcements, and optional wall-plates for remote control.
The GR3 has two mic inputs and two stereo inputs, while the GR4 has four mic inputs and four stereo inputs. Additionally, the GR4 has a 3.5mm jack on the front to connect to portable music sources. Both units have two stereo zones, and an additional two mono zone outputs are available on the GR4.
Controls on the models include individual mix and selectable control of all inputs to zone one and two, as well as multiple options for configuring mix outputs to zones three and four via internal jumpers. Gain adjustment and a dual-band EQ are available on all mic inputs, and a dual-band EQ is available on zone one and zone two outputs. Automatic ducking is offered in primary and secondary mic modes, as well emergency mix mode and jukebox mode. Ducking parameters, such as attenuation, hold and release, can be adjusted in addition to control over line input crossfade times and the priority line inputs hold and release times. Paging and alarm contact inputs enable integration to third party paging stations and fire alarm systems.