The new mixer replaces an older GL model - a GL2000 - which has been in use for 13 years and is now installed in one of the smaller classrooms. The GL3800 will assume duties in the Institute's main teaching facility and out on the road for field activities.
"The GL2000 gave us many years of faithful service but we wanted to move up to a 32-channel format and to have the combined FOH and monitor mixing facilities that the GL3800 offers," explains Tony McMaster, head of department for live sound and event production at the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand.
"As a teaching tool the GL3800 gives our students experience on an analogue desk that is easy to find your way around when starting out. We love the clear and straightforward layout and can get our students up to speed on it in no time at all. A&H is a popular brand in NZ and there are lots of mixers in the field, so for our students to work with familiar gear gives them more confidence and helps them produce great live mixes," he added.
The Institute now runs three A&H mixers - the GL3800, GL2000 and a WZ316:2 - and selected the GL3800 model because they required eight subgroups and 10 aux sends, providing plenty of capacity for FOH, dedicated monitor or dual FOH/monitor operation.
(Jim Evans)
