FORUM IP PLUS FORUM LITE PLUS
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Request informationDigital Audio Mixers for Radio and TV
FORUM PLUS is a family of digital audio mixing desks for Radio and Television, specially designed for ON-AIR broadcast control and adaptable to different working scenarios. Simplicity and control power combine in the new FORUM IP PLUS and FORUM LITE PLUS to cover both basic and advanced operational needs. Available in two formats: rack-mount and desktop.
All features needed for ON-AIR broadcast use
Surface Bluetooth connection for smartphone linking
Dante® surface link for mic, headphones, CUE speakers and Bluetooth
Simplicity and control power combined
Optional remote control and visualisation software
Memories storing all signal settings
Easy installation and configuration
FORUM IP PLUS
Modular console in engine and surface, with motorised faders and programmable keys per channel. Up to 24 faders and more than 180 channels.
FORUM LITE PLUS
Console with modular surface and compact engine, with 5 programmable keys per channel, 12 faders and more than 92 channels.
Functional Description
The AEQ FORUM PLUS control surface is built from independent 4-fader modules, from a basic 4-channel configuration, through 8, up to a maximum of 24 channels in the IP PLUS version and 12 in LITE PLUS.
Signal-to-channel assignment in AEQ FORUM PLUS is fully user-definable: signals present in the system can be assigned to channels so that a single channel can control one signal at one time and a different signal at another. This allows channel distribution to be reorganised to suit different programmes or operators. Multiple signals can also be controlled via a group fader.
Lite PLUS Version
IP PLUS Version
At the bottom of the module are the control and studio monitoring areas and basic talkback keys. FORUM IP PLUS includes two sections for independent monitoring of control room and studio/booth.
At the top of the module there is a touchscreen and 20 programmable keys with on-screen labels. The screen always shows two high-precision stereo digital VU meters assignable to the PROGRAM outputs or, via the CUE keys, to any selected signal.
The screen includes controls and graphics for advanced configurations. Pressing the encoder of each fader channel selects the channel to access advanced setup functions. This configuration can also be carried out in the Virtual Forum application. Operation is based on context-sensitive keys and menus, depending on the information shown on screen. The touch & turn button enables precise parameter adjustment.
Configuration screens
Built to adapt. Made to perform.
Engine & Connectivity
FORUM IP PLUS comes with the modular FR CORE PLUS engine — a 3-rack-unit chassis with 14 slots for I/O modules in the rear panel. The LITE version of FORUM IP PLUS comes with the compact M_CORE PLUS engine — a 2-rack-unit chassis with fixed connections.
Both support a redundant power supply and licences for assisted operation and remote control applications.
FR CORE PLUS
- 3-unit chassis with 14 slots in its rear panel for I/O modules. Also incorporates general-purpose I/O such as self-monitoring and talkback microphone, control monitor, studio monitor, CUE, control and studio headphones, and GPIOs. Console I/O capacity can be expanded via AEQ NETBOX modules, adding mono analogue I/O (or stereo pairs), stereo digital I/O, mic/line inputs, stereo headphone outputs and GPIOs.
- Supports a maximum of 14 multiple I/O modules; 4 can be dual mic-line, two digital hybrid and two AoIP.
- Additional integrated mic-line input for talkback and self-monitoring.
- Multichannel: IP via 1 FR14 module of 32 audio-over-IP channels using AES67/DANTE technology. A second module can optionally be added. Alternatively, MADI via optional internal 64-channel I/O module.
- FR02: DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT MODULE:
- – 4 AES/EBU digital stereo inputs.
- – 4 AES/EBU digital stereo outputs.
- – SRC on all inputs.
- – Supports AES/EBU or SPDIF formats.
- FR03: MIC/LINE INPUT MODULE:
- – 2 switchable MIC/LINE inputs.
- – Independent 48 V PHANTOM ON/OFF switch per input.
- FR04: ANALOGUE LINE INPUT MODULE:
- – 8 electronically balanced mono line-level inputs.
- FR05: ANALOGUE LINE OUTPUT MODULE:
- – 8 electronically balanced mono line-level outputs.
- FR11: AES10 MADI SYNCHRONOUS MULTICHANNEL MODULE:
- Up to 64 audio channels in each direction to interconnect via a simple fibre-optic pair the console with a router or another console located hundreds of metres away. Does not occupy an I/O slot.
- FR14: AES67 / DANTE™ AoIP MULTICHANNEL MODULE:
- Adds 32 AoIP channels from the network to the console and makes 32 console audio channels available to any network device. Two RJ45 connectors (redundant operation or Daisy Chain). One is included as standard with the console.
- FR22: USB INPUT/OUTPUT MODULE:
- – 4 USB digital stereo inputs/outputs.
- – SRC on all inputs.
- – Implements standard "USB audio device" devices in the PC operating system.
- FR33: DIGITAL TELEPHONE HYBRID MODULE:
- With connector for telephone line and auxiliary telephone terminal.
M CORE PLUS
- 2-unit chassis with fixed configuration to which some optional cards can be added. Incorporates general-purpose I/O: control monitor, studio monitor, CUE, control and studio headphones, and GPIOs. Also includes a 16-channel AoIP card.
- Inputs
- – 4 mono mic/line inputs, switchable from the surface. Phantom power configurable from the surface.
- – 2 USB stereo digital inputs (bidirectional I/O).
- – 4 AES/EBU stereo digital inputs configurable as SPDIF.
- – 12 analogue inputs (individually configurable as stereo pairs, 6 pairs).
- – 16 AoIP inputs. Bidirectional module that adds 16 AoIP channels from the network to the engine, 4 of them pre-configured to receive from the control surface. Two RJ45 connectors (redundant operation or Daisy Chain).
- Outputs
- – 2 USB stereo digital outputs (bidirectional I/O).
- – 4 AES/EBU stereo digital outputs configurable as SPDIF.
- – 8 analogue outputs (individually configurable as stereo pairs, 4 pairs).
- – 16 AoIP outputs. Bidirectional module that delivers 16 AoIP channels from the engine to the network, 4 of them pre-configured for the control surface. Two RJ45 connectors (redundant operation or Daisy Chain).
- MCORE MADI: AES10 / MADI MODULE:
- Up to 64 audio channels in each direction to interconnect via a simple fibre-optic pair the console with a router or another console located hundreds of metres away.
- MCORE DANTE 32: AES67 / DANTE™ AoIP MULTICHANNEL MODULE:
- Replaces the default 16-channel module. Adds 32 AoIP channels from the network to the console and makes 32 console audio channels available to any network device. Two RJ45 connectors (redundant operation or Daisy Chain).
- MCORE HYB: DUAL DIGITAL TELEPHONE HYBRID MODULE:
- With connectors for telephone lines and auxiliary telephone terminals.
Visualisation and Control Software
Forum Virtual
This application works as a companion to the FORUM IP digital console, showing an exact representation of the console control surface on a Windows or iOS device — PC or tablet — enabling parallel or alternative control of the surface and therefore dual or remote management.
It also includes 6 stereo VU meters, a phase meter and an expanded console clock to make using the console more comfortable when it is present.
Mixing on your PC or Tablet
Forum Virtual faithfully replicates the physical console surface on any Windows or iOS device, offering complete control from anywhere in the studio or remotely.
Technical Details
Functionalities
- Cough cut, ON-AIR signalling for studio and control.
- Fader-start, remote PFL, talkback, automatic monitor cut.
- N-1 output configuration.
- Control of external equipment (AEQ hybrids and audiocodecs) integrated in the programmable keys section.
- Independent Pre-Fader/Post-Fader option for all routings.
- Control communication via 10/100 Ethernet connection using TCP/IP protocol.
- Auto-start (selectable) with last settings (or default configuration).
- Signals assignable to any control channel.
- Memory storage of all signal settings: one basic configuration and 6 user-defined.
- Optional console visualisation and control software.
Connectivity
- Integrated monitor and headphone outputs for control room and studio.
- Stereo CUE output on engine. Mono CUE output on control surface.
- Phantom power and electronic balancing for microphone inputs.
- Electronically balanced analogue line inputs and outputs.
- Transformer-balanced digital inputs and outputs.
- Sample rate converters (SRC) for all digital inputs.
- Compatible with AES/EBU, S-PDIF and USB digital signal formats.
- Supports 64-channel AES10 MADI digital audio connection via optical fibre.
- IP connection via multichannel AoIP links using DANTE™/AES67 protocols. Includes an IP link to the surface that adds a microphone, bidirectional Bluetooth, mono CUE and headphones.
- 8 optocoupled GPIs, 8 optocoupled GPOs and 4 relay-contact GPOs.
- Hot-swappable modules for easy maintenance.
- Supports a maximum of 14 multiple I/O modules; 4 can be dual mic-line, two digital hybrids and two AoIP. Equipped as standard with one AoIP module.
- Additional integrated switchable mic/line input for talkback and self-monitoring operations. (The surface has another channel for this function.)
- Optional multichannel connectivity: Second 32-channel AoIP module with DANTE/AES67 protocol. Alternatively, MADI via an internal 64-channel SFP transceiver fibre module.
- Width: 482.6 mm (19″).
- Height: max. 3 rack units, 135 mm (5 3/8″).
- Depth: 310 mm (12¼″).
- Optional internal dual digital telephone hybrid with two connectors for line and two for SET.
- Optional multichannel connectivity expansion: AoIP via an internal 32-channel module with DANTE/AES67 protocol. Alternatively, MADI via an internal 64-channel SFP transceiver fibre module, incompatible with AoIP.
- Width: 482 mm (19″).
- Height: 2 rack units, 89 mm (3½″).
- Depth: 330 mm (13″).
Downloads
Catalogs available for FORUM IP PLUS and LITE PLUS.