Allen & Heath’s AHM-64 audio matrix processor is at the heart of a new sound system installed at the Carter-Finley Stadium, home to North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The 57,000-seat Carter-Finley Stadium is home to the university’s Division I football team and one of the top 80 largest stadiums in the US.
The Carter-Finley Stadium required a modern audio system that could handle the scope of needs, as the previous system was outdated, unreliable, and unable to provide the sound clarity and control necessary. As the university embarked on a major scoreboard renovation, it was clear that the sound system required an equally significant overhaul.
Allen & Heath assisted the integrator (Precision Audio, based in Raleigh) in design, implementation, and support of the facility. The AHM-64 audio matrix processor handles the distribution, tuning, and control of the stadium’s PA system. This includes audio not only for the field and main seating areas but also for concourses, suites, clubs, lobbies, elevators, and more.
Five strategically placed CC-10 touch panels run Allen & Heath’s Custom Control software, allowing localised and system-wide control accessible to both technical staff and non-expert users like coaches and game-day staff.
Several Dante-enabled DT164 and DT168 I/O audio expanders have been deployed around the field, providing numerous remote inputs and instant access to audio feeds. Additionally, four DX012 output expanders have beeb deployed in the concourses and amp room to feed the facility’s Danley Sound Labs PA.
For live events, including football games, Allen & Heath’s dLive mixing system takes centre stage. Equipped with a DM0 MixRack and a C3500 Surface, the system allows engineers to mix the audio. The dLive mixes the DJ, referee mics, host mics, and a PA announcer, distributing the audio across six matrices to the AHM-64 for further processing and control, as well as local recording and broadcast facilities.
The system caters to different areas of the stadium. The clubs and suites, which host some of the university’s passionate alumni and key influencers, can select between various audio feeds. If they’d prefer to listen to the direct audio feed from the dLive, it’s available on the AHM. If they’d rather listen to the game feed from the local radio for a play-by-play, that’s also an option.
Allen & Heath’s role in this project extended far beyond supplying hardware. As soon as the bid opened, Precision Audio reached out to Allen & Heath’s product managers and specialists to begin designing the best-sounding system. Allen & Heath engineers provided detailed support on system design, routing, processing, GPIO programming, and Dante integration.
