Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena has undertaken a significant upgrade of its resident audio infrastructure, bringing in DirectOut PRODIGY.MP.
The investment in DirectOut came as part of the venue’s major overhaul of its audio system, including a brand-new d&b audiotechnik loudspeaker system, unveiled in September 2025.
For Julian A Chetty, Head of Technical Services at Coca-Cola Arena, PRODIGY.MP felt like the natural choice when it came to upgrading the system. “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,” he explained. “The PRODIGY Smart Platform 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 expanded. “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.”
The venue recently welcomed best-selling Middle Eastern artist Majid Al Mohandis, who played a sold-out performance to celebrate Eid at the arena in May 2026. As Chetty explained, the new audio system was more than up to the task. “The audio department is always thoroughly prepared and take every precaution to ensure each show runs smoothly,” he noted. “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, essentially ensuring that every part of the signal chain remains stable and secure.
“Having the PRODIGY.MPs is a major advantage, a real asset,” he added. “They provide quick, reliable solutions even in complex and demanding setups, which definitely helps reduce stress on show days.”
Chetty closed by praising DirectOut’s official pro audio UAE distributor. “The 7Hertz team is always available, both by phone and email, and DirectOut CEO Luca Giaroli’s videos go into impressive depth, especially on more complex topics,” he concluded. “With all the excellent documentation and support on hand, I feel more than lucky.”
