How we fly a 48-channel dLive rig as checked baggage

The most common question I get about our flagship rental is some version of “wait, that flies?” Yes: a full 48-in, 24-out Allen & Heath dLive system that checks onto a commercial flight in two cases, each under 50 lbs. Here’s how the package works and why we built it.

The problem it solves

Touring at a level where you want real console processing while flying between dates traditionally forces a bad choice. Carry a compact digital mixer and give up channel count and processing, or advance a console into every venue and spend your day praying at the altar of the house rider. Neither is great when your show is built on a specific file, specific plugins, and a specific workflow.

The dLive C-Class sound and feature set in a package that travels like luggage removes the choice.

What’s in the two cases

Case one: the surface. A dLive CTi1500 in a custom Circle Three Designs case. The CTi1500 is the compact touring surface of the dLive family: full workflow, small footprint.

Case two: the brain. A CDM48 MixRack in a Pelican case. This is where the I/O and the processing live: 48 inputs, 24 outputs, with Rack Ultra FX onboard.

Both cases come in under the standard 50 lb checked-bag limit. Two checked bags is the norm on most carriers, which means the entire console rig flies on one plane ticket, with the person already going to the show.

The details that matter

• Card slots. Dante, MADI, and Waves cards are available, so the rig drops into whatever infrastructure your tour uses: recording, playback, or plugin processing.
• Show file portability. It’s a real dLive, so your file behaves like it does on the big rigs. Build the show once, walk in anywhere.
• Setup time. Surface out, rack out, one cable between them, patch the stage. It sets up in minutes, which matters when the fly date comes with a 30-minute changeover.

Where it’s been

FOH engineers have taken this package all over the world. That’s the point of a rig that checks as baggage: it goes wherever the engineer’s ticket goes, international runs included. If your routing crosses borders, bring it up early and we’ll make sure the package and paperwork are squared away before you fly.

Is it right for your tour?

If you’re mixing a 20-input club show, an SQ package will do the job for less. The flyable dLive earns its keep when the input list is real (full band, tracks, wireless) and the tour flies. That’s exactly the show it was built for.

Tell me about your tour and I’ll tell you straight which package fits.