Allen & Heath Limited

Kernick Industrial Estate

Penryn, Cornwall,
TR10 9LU, UK
www.allen-heath.com

Technical Datasheet
Overview
 Compact digital mixer with scalable, remote I/O  8 stereo RackFX engines with dedicated FX
 Systems from 4 to 44 mics returns
 Easy to use, quick to access, analogue style  16 DCAs / mute groups
interface  10 user assignable SoftKeys
 20 faders, 4 layers, 80 channel strips in a freely  Dante, Waves SG, MADI, EtherSound and ACE
customizable layout options for FoH / Monitor split, multitrack
 dSNAKE Cat5 digital snake recording and more
 8.4 inch colour touchscreen  AMM Automatic Mic Mixing
 48 Input Channels into 30 assignable buses into
20 Mix Output

GLD-80 Chrome Edition Datasheet 1 Allen & Heath Ltd

Dimensions

GLD-80 Chrome Edition Datasheet 2 Allen & Heath Ltd

A&E Specifications
The mixer shall be a digital mixer providing 48 input channels port for optional digital interface modules. The 8 internal FX
mixing to 30 configurable buses with 20 mix outputs. There send buses are in addition to the output channel mixes and can
shall be 8 stereo rack FX engines and 16 DCA/Mute groups. be configured as mono or stereo. All input channels shall
The surface shall contain the DSP mix-engine, and includes 20 contain the following processing: Trim, Polarity, High Pass
moving faders in two banks; the left-hand being 12 faders and Filter, Insert, Gate, Parametric EQ, Compressor, Delay, and
the right-hand being 8 faders. Each bank has 4 layers accessed channel direct out. All output mix channels shall contain the
by dedicated keys with indicators. Any fader strip can be following processing: External input, Trim, Polarity, Insert,
configured to be an input channel, output channel mix, FX Parametric EQ, and Graphic EQ with RTA and fader-flip mode,
send, FX return, Main mix, DCA master, or Midi control. Each Compressor, Delay. 8 user-assignable effect racks shall be
fader strip shall have a dedicated PAFL, Mix, Select, and Mute provided with a library of factory preset FX emulations. The FX
button with indicators, 5-LED multi-point meter, Rotary encoder, racks shall be individually configurable as send/return from a
and coloured LCD display with name, mode, status, and level channel or FX/Mix, or inserted into input or output channels.
indicating. 4 buttons with indicators shall provide global mode The mixing system shall provide the options of FX racks
for the rotary controls being Gain, Pan, Custom 1, and Custom processed signals to be returned to other mixes via dedicated
2. The options for the custom modes for the rotary control shall FX input channels with PEQ, assigned as sources to input
be: Direct out, Send level, HPF frequency, Compressor channels, daisy-chained to another FX rack by internal
threshold. patching, or routed to an output socket or interface channel. A
global source option for input channel direct outs shall be
All processing, routing, and assignments of signals to mixes provided in the routing screen. The tap-off point can be
can be accessed and adjusted via an 8.4” colour touchscreen adjusted to the following positions in the processing path: post
provided on the mixing surface. A button to access Pre/Post Preamp, post HPF, post Gate, post Insert return, post PEQ,
fade send assignments for the channels via the ‘Select’ keys post Compressor, and post Delay. There shall be further global
shall be provided. A button to assign channel on/off status to options for Follow Fader, and Follow Mute. Direct outputs shall
the current mix using the channel ‘Mix’ keys shall be provided. be assignable via the mixer soft patch bay to any physical
Send levels to mixes can be displayed and adjusted using the output socket interface channel or ME channel. A 64ch 2-way
faders. The name, type and number of the current selected mix option port shall be provided on the surface rear and shall be
shall be displayed in the south bar of the screen in all modes, compatible with the range of digital interface modules available
and the currently selected channel shall also be named and from Allen&Heath including: ACE, MADI, EtherSound, Dante,
identified numerically in the north bar of the screen in Waves, and Mini-Multi-out (outputs-only ADAT, iDR, Aviom).
processing mode. Additional hardware controls are provided for
adjustment of frequently-used parameters of one selected input The ability to restrict access to the analogue preamp gain
or output channel. 10 user assignable soft keys shall be controls shall be provided on the surface. When active, the
provided, as shall be dedicated keys for quick surface channel physical gain control shall then control the
Copy/Paste/Reset of mixes and processing parameters. There channel digital trim. This is often used when sharing preamp
shall be three dedicated buttons on the surface for Scene-safe, signals with an external system which can remain unaffected by
Freeze-in-layers, and GEQ fader flip. An ALT View button shall processing and level changes in the original system unless an
provide additional information in the channel LCD display to the optional warning prompt is overridden by a temporary switch
default. The options are: DSP channel (number), dB Value back to analogue gain control is made. There shall be an on-
(fader), Socket ID. 12-LED bar meters shall indicate the 3 Main screen utility to set the surface audio clock source from the
mix buss levels, the PAFL signal shall override the LR meters default Internal, to the Slave Option Card for external clock.
accompanied by a PAFL-active indicator. ¼” and 3.5mm jacks Status of Audio Sync Lock shall be provided on-screen. A
for the surface PAFL headphones output shall be provided, plus signal generator shall be provided on-screen with the ability to
an analogue output level control. The mixer shall include a 2- send a variable level signal to any output mix with visual
track record system for optional USB drives. The format shall assignment status on-screen. The following types of signals
be 48 kHz/ 16 bit WAV. The mixer can play back stereo WAV or shall be available: Sine, White Noise, Pink Noise, and Band-
FLAC files at 44.1 or 48 kHz. The surface shall have 2 USB Pass Noise. A Talkback facility shall be provided on-screen with
ports for recording, playback, data-transfer, archiving, and the ability to send any selected source from the system soft-
firmware updates. patch to any output mix with on screen status indication. An
option for ‘Enable Latching’ and an option to ‘Enable Dim PAFL
44 mono channels and 2 stereo input channels shall have on Talkback’ shall be provided. If an XLR input is selected as a
access to any hardware input on the console, or remote input source then the Talkback utility shall provide the preamp control
via the dSnake Ethernet audio expansion hardware options. A parameters including HPF. An on-screen utility to set up the
64-way port for optional digital interface modules shall also be following on/off options for the PAFL system shall be provided,
accessible via the source patch-bay to any input. 20 output Additive mode, IEM Mix to headphones, Mix follows Mix PAFL,
channels can be configured as any combination of auxiliary Mix follows Input PAFL, Sel follows PAFL, Disable PFL on Sel,
sends, group buses, or matrices, each as mono or stereo. A Output AFL, Input AFL. An adjustable delay time and trim shall
choice of main mix bus mode is included in the 20 output be settable for the PAFL buses. A default Mains to PAFL sub-
channels and these shall be; None, LR, LR+M sum, LR+M, mix shall be provided with variable input levels. An external
LCR. All output channels can be routed to any to any hardware input from the mixer soft-patch shall be assignable to the PAFL
output on the console, or remote output via the dSnake buses with signal metering and source level controls, including
Ethernet audio expansion hardware options and the 64-way preamp parameters. All delay points in the system shall be

GLD-80 Chrome Edition Datasheet 3 Allen & Heath Ltd

made adjustable as Milliseconds, Meters, Feet, and Samples. device or system, and for control elements of the system to
An ambient temperature offset shall be provided to allow a operate external devices or systems. A DAW control driver that
manually set temperature value to relatively compensate all the converts MIDI to popular HUI or Mackie Control protocols for
delay points when distance is chosen as the unit. Mac computer shall be available. The mixer shall also provide a
Comprehensive input, output, and FX channel metering shall be LAN port to provide TCP/IP network control using the MIDI
provided on-screen with 4 custom layouts available to be messages formatted to this protocol. The mixing system shall
configured by the user. Input metering shall have the following include application software for computers and touch screen
source point options: post Digital Attenuation, post Gate/PEQ, tablet devices connected to the LAN port to control the mixing
post Compressor, and post Delay. Mix channel metering shall functions of the mixer. This shall include control of the preamp
be fixed post fader. gain, pad, and phantom power. The input channel processing
parameters including, HPF, Gate, Parametric EQ, Compressor,
The mixer shall have an Automatic Microphone Mixer (AMM) or and Delay. The application shall provide control of output
Automixer to automatically control the levels of multiple channel processing including Parametric EQ, Graphic Eq,
channels of audio where a number of microphones are open at Compressor and Delay. Routing assignments and level
the same time. adjustments of input signals to all mixes and bus shall be
provided. The application software shall provide signal metering
The mixing control surface shall have a built in power supply and processing threshold indication when online including the
accepting AC mains voltages of 100~240V, 50/60 Hz, 95W max Real Time Analyser. The software application for PC and Mac
via an earthed 3-pin IEC male connector mounted on the rear shall provide access to the scene manager, library and show
chassis. A rocker switch shall be provided near the mains inlet data, it shall provide a facility to adjust and emulate the layout
to isolate the mixer from the incoming mains supply. of the fader strips on the mixing surface, plus a graphical
Recommended operating temperature for the mixer is 5 to 35 representation of the physical controls and indicators present
degrees Celsius. A 4-pin XLR lamp connector shall be provided on the surface. This shall include the facility to open and display
on the rear panel, it is compatible with the Allen&Heath right- mixer data files offline and make adjustments, and to be able to
angled LedLamp with dimmer. archive data files to a USB drive operable with other mixing
systems.
All XLR inputs in the system shall be of high quality and
capable of handling microphone or line signals and shall have Input and output channel processing in the mixer and its Editor
remote controlled analogue gain adjustable in 1dB steps, a 20 application shall be save-able on demand as a user library item
dB PAD, and phantom power. 4 XLR inputs shall be located on for recall in other channels. The option to include preamp
the rear panel, these can be routed via the soft-patch system. 2 parameters shall be included. Individual processing sections
pairs of RCA connectors shall be provided on the rear panel, shall be save-able on demand as user library items for that
these can be routed via the soft-patch system. Input sockets type. All library items shall be stored on board the surface or
can be assigned as the Talkback source. 4 XLR line outputs offline editor computer and shall be archived with the show-file.
and 1 pair of RCA outputs shall be provided on the rear panel Library items shall be transferrable to USB drive as portable
these can be assigned using the soft-patch system. An RCA data to be used in other systems. The mixing system shall
SDPIF format output shall be provided on the rear panel, plus 1 periodically record all current settings and return the mixer to
AES/EBU format output. These can be assigned using the soft- that state after reboot following a power-cycle. The mixer shall
patch system. An RJ45 connector with Ethercon locking ring provide the facility to save 500 scenes of the settings of the
shall be provided on the rear panel labelled ‘dSnake’. This is a mixing system. The scenes shall be name-able and a
proprietary interface protocol using low-latency, point-to-point descriptive text entry per scene provided. A comprehensive
Ethernet technology to facilitate optional remote XLR input and table of Scene Safes shall be provided to prevent selected
output socket hardware, compatible also with Allen&Heath items from being changed from their state when the safe was
proprietary ME personal monitoring solution. This dSnake port enabled. A comprehensive scene filter shall be provided per
shall provide access to 40 remote XLR inputs and 20 XLR scene to Allow / Block each parameter saved in a scene from
outputs located on the range of AR and AB rack units, plus 40 being changed as that scene is recalled. A Cue List of scenes
output channels to the ME system components. All inputs and shall be provided to facilitate a running order of scenes from the
outputs can be assigned in the system soft-patch. A default master list. A crossfade of up to 20 seconds shall be adjustable
mapping of remote inputs shall be provided, so that mic/line per scene. Scene recall may be embedded into a scene with
XLR inputs on the AR and AB rack units shall appear in the option to delay the start of the embedded scene recall by up
numerical sequence as the sources to the input channels to 4 minutes. An embedded scene may be one of the 500 in the
starting from ch1. An RJ45 connector with Ethercon locking ring list on the mixer or in another Allen&Heath digital mixer
shall be provided on the rear panel labelled ‘EXPANDER’. This connected on the network via the mixer LAN port. An option
is a proprietary interface protocol using low-latency, point-to- shall be provided for password protection for log-in of several
point Ethernet technology to facilitate optional remote XLR input users with different levels of system access and permissions. A
and output socket hardware, compatible also with Allen&Heath particular scene may be chosen to be recalled per change of
proprietary ME personal monitoring solution. This port shall user-login if desired.
provide access to 8 remote XLR inputs and 4 XLR outputs
located on a remote rack unit, plus 40 output channels to the The mixer shall be the Allen&Heath GLD-80 Chrome Edition
ME system components. All inputs and outputs can be Digital Mixing System.
assigned in the system soft-patch. 5-pin MIDI In and Out
connectors shall be provided on the rear panel to allow
parameters of the mixing system to be controlled by an external

GLD-80 Chrome Edition Datasheet 4 Allen & Heath Ltd

Block Diagram

GLD-80 Chrome Edition Datasheet 5 Allen & Heath Ltd

System Specifications
Inputs Latency 1.49ms (GLD-80 local XLR in to
XLR out)
XLR Mic/Line Inputs Balanced 0.68ms (GLD-80 local XLR in to
Mic/Line Preamp Fully recallable digital out)
Input Sensitivity -60 to +15dBu
Analogue Gain +5 to +60dB, 1dB steps USB Playback 2 channel, WAV, FLAC 44.1/48kHz
Pad -20dB USB Record 2 channel, 44.1kHz / 16bit - WAV
Maximum Input Level +32dBu
Input Impedance >4kΩ (Pad out), >10kΩ (Pad in) I/O Port 64 channel bi-directional
Card Options A&H ACE, MADI, Dante, ES,
Mic/Line Channel noise 20-20kHz, Direct Out @ Waves, MMO
unbalanced out
Mic EIN -127dB with 150Ω source Operating Temperature 0 deg C to 35 deg C (32 deg F to
Unity gain (Pad in) -90dBu 95 deg F)
Low gain (5dB, Pad out) -93dBu
Mid gain (30dB, Pad out) -89dBu
Mains Power
Mic/Line Channel THD+N 20-20kHz, Direct Out @
unbalanced out GLD-80 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz, 95W max
Unity gain (Pad in) 0.005% -86dBu @ 1kHz, 0dBu
output Dimensions and Weights
Low gain (5dB, Pad out) 0.003% -89dBu @ 1kHz, 0dBu
output GLD-80 Mixer Width x Depth x Height
Mid gain (30dB, Pad out) 0.004% -88dBu @ 1kHz, 0dBu Unpacked 730 x 577 x 159mm (28.7" x 22.7" x
output 6.2")
Packed in shipping box 930 x 730 x 290mm (36.6" x 28.6" x
RCA Line Inputs Unbalanced (GLD-80) 11.4")
Input Sensitivity -24 to +24dBu, nominal 0dBu Unpacked weight 16.5kg (36lbs)
Trim +/-24dB, recallable Packed weight 21.2kg ( 46.6lbs)
Maximum Input Level +18dBu
Input Impedance >10kΩ
RCA channel Noise -92dBu 20-20kHz Control
RCA channel THD+N 0.0035% -90dBu @ 1kHz, 0dBu
output Touch Screen 8.4" TFT, 800x600 resolution
Faders 100mm motorised
Outputs GLD-80 Fader Strips 2 Banks (12,8), 4 Layers = 80x
strips
XLR Outputs Balanced, Relay protected Strip Display LCD per strip, assignable backlight
Output Impedance <75Ω colours
Nominal Output +4dBu = 0dB meter reading SoftKeys 10 assignable
Maximum Output Level +22dBu MIDI MIDI In and Out
Residual Output Noise -91dBu (muted, 20-20kHz) Network TCP/IP Ethernet

RCA Line Outputs Balanced, Relay protected Input Processing

Output Impedance <75Ω 48 Processing Channels
Nominal Output 0dBu = 0dB meter reading Mono = 1-44, Stereo = 45/46, 47/48
Maximum Output Level +18dBu Trim
Residual Output Noise -94dBu (muted, 20-20kHz) Polarity +/-24dB digital trim
High Pass Filter Normal/Reverse
Digital Outputs 48kHz sampling rate 12dB/octave 20Hz – 2kHz
SPDIF RCA, 600mV, coax terminated input Insert
75Ω Assign to any sockets, In/Out,
AES3 2 ch XLR output XLR, 2.5Vpp balanced terminated +4dBu/-10dBV level
110 Ω Delay
Up to 85ms, Bypass switch
System Gate Input global setting - ms, feet,
meters, samples
Measured balanced XLR in to XLR out, 20-20kHz, minimum Gain, Sidechain
Pad out Sidechain Lo-Cut Filter Self-key, In/Out, Sel 'listen'
Dynamic Range 112dB Sidechain Hi-Cut Filter 12dB/octave, Freq 20Hz – 5kHz
System Signal to Noise -90dB Threshold 12dB/octave, Freq 120Hz – 20kHz
Frequency Response 0/-0.25dB @ 20Hz, 0/-0.5dB @ Depth -72dBu to +12dBu
20kHz Attack 0 to 60 dB
System peak level THD+N 0.0055% -68dBu @ +17dBu Hold 50us to 300ms
output, 1kHz Release 10ms to 5s
System Line level THD+ N 0.0022%, -84dBu @ +9dBu 10ms to 1s
output, 1kHz PEQ
Type
Headroom +18dB Frequency Range 4-Band fully parametric, +/-15dB
Internal operating Level 0dBu Analogue Ranges Global setting for Inputs = 20-20kHz
dBFS Alignment +18dBu = 0dBFS (+22dBu at XLR or 'Analogue'
output) Band 1 20-200Hz, 35-1kHz, 500-15kHz, 2k-
Meter Calibration 0dB meter = -18dBFS (+4dBu at 20kHz
XLR out) Band 2 Selectable LF Shelving, Bell, Hi-
Meter Peak indication -3dBFS (+19dBu at XLR out) Pass
Meter Type Fast (peak) response Band 3 Bell
Band 4 Bell
Sampling Rate 48kHz +/-100PPM Bell Width Selectable HF Shelving, Bell, Lo-
ADC 24-bit Delta-Sigma Pass
DAC 24-bit Delta-Sigma

GLD-80 Chrome Edition Datasheet 6 Allen & Heath Ltd

 Shelving Type Non-constant Q, variable, 1.5 to Types Reverbs, Delays, Modulators, Sub-
1/9th octave harmonics,
Hi-Pass, Lo-Pass Filter Classic Baxandall Pitch Shift, Rotary Speaker, De-
12dB/octave Esser
Mode Send>Return, Inserted, Daisy Chain
FX

FX 'Short' Return Channels

Compressor 8 Stereo dedicated returns Adds to inputs for up to 56 sources
Sidechain to the mix
Sidechain Lo-Cut Filter Self-key, In/Out, Sel 'listen' Controls Fader, Pan, Mute, Routing to Grp,
Sidechain Hi-Cut Filter 12dB/octave, Freq 20Hz – 5kHz Aux, FX, Main
Threshold 12dB/octave, Freq 120Hz – 20kHz FX Return PEQ Same as Input Channel PEQ
Ratio -46dBu to 18dBu
Attack 1:1 to infinity
Release 300us – 300ms Talkback Assignable source
Knee 100ms – 2s Mode Latched/Momentary, PAFL Dim
Manual Types Soft/Hard option
Auto Types Peak Manual, RMS Manual High Pass Filter 12dB/octave, 20Hz-2kHz
VocalAuto, OptoAuto, PunchBag Routing To Groups, Aux, Main, Matrix
Channel Direct Out Level Trim +/-24dB
Options Individual Trim (per channel)
Source, follow Fader, follow Mute Signal Generator Sine, White Noise, Pink Noise,
(global for all) Band-pass Noise
Mix Processing Sine, Band-pass sweep 20-20kHz
20 Mix Channels Controls Level, Mute
Configure as mono/stereo Groups, Routing To Groups, Aux, Main, Matrix
Aux, Main, Matrix
Mains = None, LR, LCR. RTA 31-Bands 1/3 octave 20-20kHz
LR+M(bus), LR+M(sum) Source Follows selected PAFL source
Peak Band Indication Option to display dominant
External Input frequency
Trim Assignable source
Polarity +/-24dB digital trim
Normal/Reverse
Insert
Assign to any sockets, In/Out,
+4dBu/-10dBV level
Delay
Up to 170ms, Bypass switch
Mix global setting - ms, feet,
meters, samples
GEQ
Type
Gain 28 bands 31Hz -16kHz
GEQ Fader Flip Mode +/-12dB
2 overlapping frequency banks on
strip faders
PEQ
Type
Frequency Range 4-Band fully parametric, +/-15dB
Analogue Ranges Global setting for Mixes = 20-20kHz
or 'Analogue'
Band 1 20-200Hz, 35-1kHz, 500-15kHz, 2k-
20kHz
Band 2 Selectable LF Shelving, Bell, Hi-
Pass
Band 3 Bell
Band 4 Bell
Bell Width Selectable HF Shelving, Bell, Lo-
Pass
Shelving Type Non-constant Q, variable, 1.5 to
1/9th octave
Hi-Pass, Lo-Pass Filter Classic Baxandall
12dB/octave

Compressor Self-key, In/Out, Sel 'listen'

Sidechain 12dB/octave, Freq 20Hz – 5kHz
Sidechain Lo-Cut Filter 12dB/octave, Freq 120Hz – 20kHz
Sidechain Hi-Cut Filter -46dBu to 18dBu
Threshold 1:1 to infinity
Ratio 300us – 300ms
Attack 100ms – 2s
Release Soft/Hard
Knee Peak Manual, RMS Manual
Manual Types VocalAuto, OptoAuto, PunchBag
Auto Types filter in/out with Sel ‘listen’

FX Processing
Internal FX 8x RackFX engine

GLD-80 Chrome Edition Datasheet 7 Allen & Heath Ltd