Allen & Heath has announced dLive V1.9, the largest firmware release in the history of its flagship dLive mixing system that incorporates feedback from audio engineers across the live sound, recording, streaming and installation markets. Additions include new RTA and sonogram tools, new DEEP expander and compressor models, a 12-band PEQ option for mixes, and Sennheiser wireless integration.
“With over 45 user-requested features and numerous improvements, dLive V1.9 is by some distance our biggest release to date,” explains Jack Kenyon, dLive Product Specialist at Allen & Heath. “We have customers using dLive in every application imaginable, and the unprecedented scale of this update delivers something for all of them. With a host of new sonic tools and an accelerated workflow, dLive once again raises the bar for other console manufacturers.”
An overhaul of dLive’s RTA engine presents engineers with new options for audio analysis. Two RTAs are now available, with dual-surface applications able to benefit from independent RTAs. Visualization is no longer limited to a 31-band bar display, with a new line display and sonogram view provided, the latter capable of displaying the difference between RTAs for system tuning.
In addition, the bar and line visualizations can be displayed underneath the PEQ curve, designed to help engineers make swift EQ decisions. The new RTA tools can always be visible, whether on a dedicated screen, on the PEQ screen and widget, in a dedicated RTA widget, or on an external monitor.
dLive’s DEEP Processing tools are also bolstered in V1.9 with multiple new additions. Two expanders offer increased gain-before-feedback and improved audio separation in live applications. Source Expander allows quick and easy control of threshold and depth for set-and-forget operation, while Dual Threshold Expander is provided for more challenging environments where added control is required.
Bus, a new compressor, is modeled on a noted legacy hardware unit renowned for its ability to “glue together” mixes, and the OptTronik compressor has expanded to include a new model for an alternative flavor of classic ‘2A compression. Engineers working with in-ear monitor mixes may benefit from the addition of NEQ12, a 12-band parametric EQ with selectable high/low-pass filters that can replace the GEQ on any of the dLive’s 64 mix outputs.
Wireless integration has been opened up to include Sennheiser 300/500, 2000 and 2050 wireless microphone systems, which can be monitored from the dLive Surface or Director software. Key wireless information, including mutes, signal level and battery bars, is visible from the bank screen, with detailed information and control accessible via the Preamp tab. “We are excited to see our hugely popular evolution wireless 300 and 500 plus 2000 series microphones integrated with dLive,” states Tom Vollmers, Head of Professional Portfolio at Sennheiser. “This will make life for sound engineers easier – and this is exactly what you are looking for in a stressful live situation.”
The feature list also includes preamp sharing with automatic Gain Tracking across multiple dLive systems, LCR+ Main mode with divergence control, screen bookmarks, new screen widgets, and more. Go here to download new V1.9.