Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai upgrades its resident audio system to meet world-class touring standards with DirectOut PRODIGY.MP

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Coca‐Cola Arena in Dubai, one of the most iconic live entertainment venues in the Middle East, has recently undertaken a significant upgrade of its resident audio infrastructure. The arena is the first multi‐purpose, fully air‐conditioned indoor arena in the Middle East operating all year round. Driven by the need to meet the increasingly demanding technical requirements of internationally touring productions—while seamlessly integrating with the venue’s complex, multi‐use service ecosystem—the arena invested in a new state‐of‐the art audio system. As part of this major upgrade, unveiled in September 2025, the venue introduced a brand new d&b line‐array system alongside the integration of DirectOut PRODIGY.MP platforms. The result is a flexible, future‐proof audio environment capable of supporting the highest‐level live performances, broadcast workflows, and event production standards.

“With the integration of our new system, choosing DirectOut was the obvious direction to take,” explains Julian A Chetty is Head of Technical Services at Coca‐Cola Arena. “Malcolm Giles, our Senior Director Venue

Management and Mark Jan Kar, General Manager of Coca‐Cola Arena, have a strong understanding of new technologies and how quickly the industry evolves, so they were instrumental in the choice. The PRODIGY Smart Pla􀆞orm has become an industry standard across major touring, live, and broadcast environments. I had originally specified MAVEN.A, so being able to integrate two of the larger PRODIGY.MP was ideal.”

Both PRODIGY.MP units are fitted with Dante/Milan Dual network cards, plus two AES SRC I/O cards and an AN8 I/O card. Typically, the PRODIGYs act as primary and secondary units, with the secondary providing complete redundancy. Thanks to the flexibility of this setup, the PRODIGY.MPs are able to function as matrix processing, but also fulfil several other uses, depending on the application.

“I believe the PRODIGY platform is a device with virtually no limitations,” he expands. “While we primarily refer to it as a matrix processor, it can just as easily function as a standalone mixer for almost any application. With all the features added over the past two years, the PRODIGY now feels closer to a fully capable audio console rather than just a processor.”

“Pressure is always part of a live show environment, regardless of the artist,” he notes. “The audio department is always thoroughly prepared and take every precaution to ensure each show runs smoothly. The PRODIGY.MPs serve as the master clock for our MILAN setup, while also providing analog outputs as a redundant secondary protocol. They are responsible for system management, clocking, routing, and backup paths, essen􀆟ally ensuring that every part of the signal chain remains stable and secure. Having the PRODIGY.MPs is a major advantage, a real asset. They provide quick, reliable solutions even in complex and demanding setups, which definitely helps reduce stress on show days.”

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