Allen & Heath ML 5000

The ML5000 is a fitting flagship for our range, satisfying those loyal ALLEN&HEATH customers who wanted a console with the complete professional tool set.

Allen and Heath really set out to change the rules for VCA desks with this console, forever raising the pro audio industry’s price / performance expectations. From its enhanced P/AFL facilities to its sidecar and dual power supply options, ML5000 is clearly capable of competing for touring work against old-style large format desks costing far, far more.

Connections
INPUTS
Mic (Pad out) XLR balanced, pin2+ 2kohm variable -60 to -10dBu Max +11dBu
Mic/Line (Pad in) >20kohm variable -40 to +10dBu Max +31dBu
Stereo A TRS jack balanced, tip+ >20kohm variable -18 to +6dBu Max +27dBu
Stereo B XLR balanced, pin2+ >20kohm variable -18 to +6dBu Max +27dBu
2-Track TRS jack balanced, tip+ >20kohm +4dBu Max +25dBu
Matrix Ext in TRS jack balanced, tip+ >20kohm 0dBu Max +25dBu
INSERTS
Input send TRS jack ground comp, tip+ <50ohm 0dBu Max +21dBu
Input return TRS jack balanced, tip+ >20kohm 0dBu Max +21dBu
Output send TRS jack ground comp, tip+ <50ohm -2dBu Max +21dBu
Output return TRS jack balanced, tip+ >20kohm -2dBu Max +21dBu
OUTPUTS
L,R,C XLR balanced, pin2+ <75ohm 0dBu Max +23dBu
Grp/Aux 1-16 XLR balanced, pin2+ <75ohm 0dBu Max +23dBu
Matrix 1-8 XLR balanced, pin2+ <75ohm 0dBu Max +23dBu
Post Aux 1-8 TRS jack ground comp, tip+ <50ohm "-2dBu Max +21dBu
Direct out TRS jack ground comp, tip+ <50ohm 0dBu Max +21dBu
2-Track TRS jack ground comp, tip+ <50ohm 0dBu Max +21dBu
Local Monitor TRS jack ground comp, tip+ <50ohm 0dBu Max +21dBu
Headphones TRS jack tip left, ring right for stereo headphones >30ohms

Talkback
Talk to any of the 27 outputs via TB enable switches with led in each section. +48V and trim control for mic

Latching option
ML5000L available with gold-plated locking Neutrik XLR connectors throughout

Dual Functionality
Dual Functionality = Full Functionality @ FOH or Stage Monitor position. GRP/Aux Mode switches [with blue leds] allow you to choose any combination of up to 16 Aux sends and up to 8 subgroups.

Group Mode: individual channel routing buttons, 16 Auxes (8 on rotaries, 8 on faders). Aux Mode: 16 pre/post mixes on faders with inserts and full metering. Centre Mode: converts the 100mm C fader to an engineer's listen wedge control with insert

8 Audio Groups
Assigned from individual routing buttons [pre/post pan] from channel. Groups are routed to LCRplus via a single button. Pre [led] & post [VU] metering

8 VCA Groups
Top quality SSM2018 devices - easy to edit with channel assignment leds, PAFL, Mute and ‘snapshot’ automation plus RS232/MIDI interface. VCA groups of input channels can be P/AFL'd with single button

16 Auxiliary Sends
9-16 with fader masters can be configured as Stereo pairs for in-ear monitoring. Auxes1-8 are post-fade in Group Mode and switchable pre or post-fade with fader master in Aux Mode

LCRplus Panning
Available from channels and groups. Uses blend and pan controls to allow any signal positioning across the C and LR busses

12x8 Matrix
Fed from the groups, LR & C and external input on rotary controls - with inserts and VU meter access

8 Mute Groups
Easy to edit, single key press mute groups created from channel, fader master, matrix and LCR mutes

4 Band EQ plus HPF
‘Responsive’ feel with separate controls for sweep and cut/boost, plus Q on midrange. Swept 20-400Hz HPF

Dual Stereo Channels
All ML5000 consoles are supplied with 4 dual stereo channels additional to the channel count. These are to the right in the master section & feature Mixable A [TRS] & B [XLR] inputs with gain, ON switch, 4 band EQ and mono summing. There is also an option to order 32 and 40 channel ML5000 consoles with an additional 4 dual stereo channels at the far right of the console in the place of the last 4 mono channels.

Balanced XLR & Inserts
Gold-plated XLR connectors. Separate send and return inserts [TRS] on channels, Grp/Aux, matrix and LCR

Intercom
‘ClearCom’ compatible - uses engineer's phones and TB mic. Indicator lamp on bridge. Listen & talk controls

Intelligent PAFL system
Momentary or latching action buttons with auto cancel and add mode, clear all button and destructive solo-in-place facility, PFL or stereo AFL-in-place on input channels (which override output AFL). Mono or stereo AFL on all outputs (which cancels input PAFL selected) - ideal for checking stereo in-ear monitors!

128 Snapshot memories
Show automation of VCA assignment / mute ‘scenes’ which can be up/down loaded via midi/RS232 to ‘Archiver’ software. Channel safe and edit safe facilities

Engineer’s Toolbox
Phones, wedge and local monitor controls, - 20dB ‘dim’ when TB active. PFL trim control. Pink noise and oscillator, balanced direct outs on channels, 2TRK, LR & C monitor selection with mono check. Peak & VU metering

Lamps
4 XLR lamp sockets are provided

PSU
High-performance, lightweight switched mode 2U supply with built in combiner for backup



Technical Specifications
0 dBu = 0.775 Volts rms

Operating Levels
Channels 0dBu Headroom +21dB
Mix -2dBu Headroom +23dB

Frequency Response Referred to 1kHz at 0dBu
Mic to main output (+40dB) 20Hz to 30kHz +0/-0.5dB
Line to main output (0dB) 20Hz to 30kHz +0/-0.5dB

Distortion @1kHz +14dBu
THD+noise < 0.01%

CMRR Common mode rejection @1kHz
Mic (+40dB) > 80dB
Mic + Pad (0dB) > 50dB

Crosstalk Referred to driven channel @1kHz
Channel to channel < -100dB
Mute shutoff < -90dB
Fader shutoff < -90dB

Noise Performance Measured rms 22Hz to 22kHz unweighted
Mic EIN with 150 ohm source -128dB
Residual output noise < -98dBu
Mix noise, nothing routed < -88dBu
Mix noise, 24 channels routed < -84dBu

Metering
Reading 0VU=0dBu at XLR outputs
LED meters Peak reading, 3 colours
VU meters Ave reading, Illuminated moving coil
Peak indicators 5dB before clip, multi-point sensing
Input meters 5 segment LED (sig, -6, 0, +6, pk)
Group mix meters 5 segment LED (sig, -6, 0, +6, pk)
Group/Matrix meters VU
L,R,C meters VU and 16 segment LED

Channel Filters
Slope 12dB/oct high pass
Frequency 20Hz to 400Hz variable

Mono Equaliser
HF +/-15dB, 2kHz to 20kHz shelf
HM +/-15dB, 500Hz to 15kHz bell, Q = 0.6 to 2.5
LM +/-15dB, 35Hz to 1kHz bell, Q = 0.6 to 2.5
LF +/-15dB, 20Hz to 200Hz shelf

Stereo Equaliser
HF +/-15dB, 12kHz shelf
HM +/-15dB, 2.5kHz bell
LM +/-15dB, 250Hz bell
LF +/- 5dB, 60Hz shelf

Lamp Connectors x4
Connector XLR-F 4pin
Rating 12V 400mA max

Power Supply Model MPS14
Type External 2U high rack or floor mount
Mains input 100-230V 50/60Hz universal input
Power consumption 500W
Full protection and fan cooling

ML5000: Associated Downloads:

MPS14 User Guide ...261KB.pdf
A 10 page guide to the MPS14 power supply, used with ML5000 and ML4000


Block diagram ...456KB.pdf


Rear panel diagram / connector layout ...701KB.pdf
Zoomable line drawing of connector panel


Dimensions / flightcasing diagrams ...166KB.pdf


Applications guide - LCRplus ...133KB.pdf
Guide to using blend and pan controls to position the signal across the C and LR busses


Quick start guide ...311KB.pdf
Fast introduction to the console - ideal for guest users


Applications guide - VCA mixing ...291KB.pdf
Guide to the whys and hows of using ML5000's VCA groups


Sidecar user guide ...893KB.pdf
A 4 page guide to the ML5000-24SC sidecar expander


ML5000 User guide ...3.4MB.pdf
Full 60 page guide


Operating software ...96KB.zip
This software controls the console internal computer. The same software works with both the ML3000, ML4000 and ML5000 consoles and sidecars. Hardware links on the console cpu board automatically determine the console type. The software is loaded into the console through its RS232 port. Make sure you update both the console and any sidecars to run the same version.


Archiver software ...1.61MB.exe
A Windows application that runs on a PC connected to your console. It lets you save the console settings and snapshot memories to a disk file. Use this to archive your settings as a backup or for future recall. The same software works with ML5000, ML4000 and ML3000.


Brochure ...232KB.pdf
Includes details of features plus technical specs, dimensions and connections info


Cue sheet - mono channels ...329KB.pdf
Cue sheet for recording input settings


Cue sheet - master section ...873KB.pdf
Cue sheet for recording master section settings


Mixing Live With VCAs ...968KB.pdf
A plain-English guide that takes the mystery out of VCA mixing. Perfect as an introduction for first time VCA users or as a quick reference.


RPS14 User Guide ...433KB .pdf
Power Supply unit for ML Series

ML5000 / ML4000 / ML3000 operating software
This software controls the console's internal computer. The same software works with the ML3000, ML4000 and ML5000 consoles and sidecars. Hardware links on the console cpu board automatically determine the console type. The software is loaded into the console through its RS232 port. Make sure you update both the console and any sidecars to run the same version.

Loading instructions

Release notes

How to verify the operating software version installed on your console / sidecar

Download software (V1.32)...96KB zip file.

ML Archiver and Snapshot Manager Software V2.00
This software is a Windows application that runs on a PC connected to your console. It lets you save the console settings and snapshot memories to a disk file. Use this to archive your settings as a backup or for future recall. Snapshots can be named within a file for easy identification. Useful editing functions are included so you can create new files by re-ordering and copying existing snapshots.

The Snapshot Manager lets you access the console 128 on-board memories. Mute and VCA assignments can be stored in these memories for instant recall. This provides powerful automation for show control using cue and scene changes triggered manually or via MIDI.