ResonantLive Sound Archive

Equipment file · Live mixing console

Allen & Heath MOD1 Quad Console

Allen & Heath · 1971 (built); commercial Allen & Heath MOD-series consoles followed c.1973

Evidence status · documented

Identity and core specifications are documented; some historical fields remain unavailable.

Built in 1971 by Andy Bereza with electronics engineer Ivor Taylor at Allen & Heath's request from Pink Floyd road crew chief Peter Watts, the 'Pompeii' quad console was a 28-input, 4-bus quadraphonic desk with Penny & Giles faders and multi-coloured illuminated switches, built into its own flight case. It was used on Pink Floyd shows including the Live at Pompeii film sessions and mixed by engineers Alan Parsons and Chris Michie between 1971 and 1974, finishing its working life on the 1974 Dark Side of the Moon tour. Allen & Heath subsequently sold production MOD-series consoles (MOD1/MOD2/MOD3) that were also used on tour by the Who and Genesis; the original Pompeii desk no longer survives and was reconstructed in 2023–24 by Chris Hewitt, Andy Bereza and Geoff Goddard for exhibition.

Introduced
1971 (built); commercial Allen & Heath MOD-series consoles followed c.1973
Category
Live mixing console
Intended use
Quadraphonic front-of-house mixing for large-scale rock touring and effects panning
Production
One-off custom build for Pink Floyd's touring crew, followed by factory Allen & Heath MOD1/MOD2/MOD3 production consoles used by other touring acts

Why it mattered

  1. 01

    One of the earliest purpose-built quadraphonic live consoles, reflecting Pink Floyd's pioneering use of four-channel surround PA on tour.

  2. 02

    Represents the shift from adapted studio/broadcast mixers toward custom consoles engineered specifically for large rock-concert touring.

Engineering record

Configuration
28 input channels feeding 4 quadraphonic output buses, with stereo pan-pots per channel[1]
Faders
Long-travel Penny & Giles faders added during a mid-build redesign[1]
Build
Built into its own flight case with expanded chassis and multiple illuminated switches per Peter Watts' request[1]

Original pricing

No reliable period price located

2026 equivalent

Not calculated without a reliable original price.

Public price evidence was not sufficient to publish a defensible original figure.

Use in the field

Used by Pink Floyd's crew (engineers Alan Parsons and Chris Michie) 1971–74, including the Live at Pompeii film shoot, before retiring after the 1974 Dark Side of the Moon tour[1]

Factory Allen & Heath MOD-series consoles that followed were also used on tour by the Who and Genesis[2]

Manuals & original documents

Sources

  1. 1Recreating the Allen & Heath Pink Floyd 'Pompeii' Quad mixerTPi Magazine · reference · 2024-04-05
  2. 2Allen & Heath and Pink Floydfohengineer.co.uk · reference · 2014-12-07
  3. 3Allen & Heath Celebrates 35 in StyleMix · reference · 2004-11-01

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