Princeton University has upgraded its campus performance venues with an Allen & Heath system designed to provide flexibility for a wide range of events, from unamplified chamber music to fully amplified concerts and panel discussions.
The project was led by production manager Lucien Dowdell, who joined the university in 2020 and prioritized replacing aging audio equipment with a more adaptable solution. “With such a diversity of performances, we needed versatility,” Dowdell said.
The centerpiece of the new system in the university’s 800-seat concert hall is an Allen & Heath dLive S5000 control surface paired with a DM0 MixRack, capable of handling 128 channels of 96kHz audio processing. Multiple DX stageboxes provide flexible input options around the venue, and a gigaACE card enables digital splitting to an SQ mixer for monitor use.
A Dante expansion card allows the dLive console to feed signals into an Allen & Heath AHM-64 matrix processor, which acts as the central audio hub for the venue. Depending on the event, staff can recall presets to configure the system for either full console-driven mixing or simple standalone microphone use. The AHM-64 distributes audio to the main PA, assisted listening system, lobby, streaming system, and recording devices.
To simplify operation, the team deployed Allen & Heath IP8 controllers and the Custom Control software to give non-technical users straightforward access to wireless microphone and speaker controls. The system can also trigger automated or manual safety announcements.
“The dLive platform is just way more user friendly compared to other consoles out there. It also costs considerably less than other consoles at that level,” Dowdell said.
The installation has given Princeton’s Performing Arts Services department a more efficient and scalable system that accommodates both student and professional productions across campus.