MANDOZZI ARES MIXING CONSOLE

User Manual

Last update: 13/04/2022 17:11 rev.16

Mandozzi Elettronica SA - Via Alla Rossa, 9 - 6862 Rancate - Switzerland

Tel. +41 (0)91 9357800 - Fax +41 (0)91 9357810
www.mandozzi.ch - [email protected]
Index
1 Fig Index ....................................................................................................................................... 8
2 First aid rules. ............................................................................................................................. 10
2.1 Treatment of electric shock. .................................................................................................... 10
2.2 Treatment of electrical burns. ................................................................................................. 11
3 Declaration of conformity. ......................................................................................................... 12
3.1 CE Conformity .......................................................................................................................... 12
4 ARES Mixing Console.................................................................................................................. 13
5 BEA3X 2U.................................................................................................................................... 14
5.1 Available cards. ........................................................................................................................ 14
5.2 Power System........................................................................................................................... 15
5.3 Front Panel. .............................................................................................................................. 16
5.3.1 TFT panel touch. ................................................................................................................ 16
5.3.2 LED bars for monitoring and signals. ................................................................................ 17
5.3.3 Headphone socket. ........................................................................................................... 17
5.3.4 General system status LED. ............................................................................................... 17
5.3.5 Power status LED. ............................................................................................................. 17
5.3.6 RJ45 Ethernet Port. ........................................................................................................... 18
5.3.7 Fan panel. .......................................................................................................................... 18
5.3.8 USB / HDMI Port. .............................................................................................................. 18
5.4 Back Panel. ............................................................................................................................... 19
5.4.1 Power connectors. ............................................................................................................ 19
5.4.2 Audio monitor connectors. ............................................................................................... 19
5.4.3 Serial connector. ............................................................................................................... 19
5.4.4 Access to individual slots. ................................................................................................. 19
5.4.5 BEA3X HW architecture. ................................................................................................... 20
6 CARDS. ........................................................................................................................................ 21
6.1 BEA3X-BRAIN............................................................................................................................ 21
6.2 BEA3X-CORE. ............................................................................................................................ 21
6.3 BEA3X-MADI ............................................................................................................................. 23
6.3.1 Routing Module. ............................................................................................................... 23
6.3.2 Modulation surveillance module. ..................................................................................... 23

Page 2 of 150
 6.3.3 Changeover Module. ......................................................................................................... 24
6.4 BEA3X-IOD8. ............................................................................................................................. 25
6.4.1 Card digital audio specifications. ...................................................................................... 26
6.4.2 Breakout Box. .................................................................................................................... 26
6.5 BEA3X-OD16. ............................................................................................................................ 27
6.5.1 Card digital audio specifications. ...................................................................................... 28
6.5.2 Breakout Box. .................................................................................................................... 28
6.6 BEA3X-OA16. ............................................................................................................................ 29
6.6.1 Analog audio specifications of the card. ........................................................................... 30
6.6.2 Breakout Box. .................................................................................................................... 30
6.7 BEA3X-IA16............................................................................................................................... 31
6.7.1 Specific Analog audio specifications of the card. ............................................................. 32
6.7.2 Breakout Box. .................................................................................................................... 32
6.8 BEA3X-MIC. .............................................................................................................................. 33
6.8.1 Analog audio specification of the card ............................................................................. 33
6.8.2 Breakout Box ..................................................................................................................... 34
6.9 BEA3X-DSP................................................................................................................................ 35
6.10 BEA3X-GPIO............................................................................................................................ 37
6.10.1 Contacts specification of the card .................................................................................. 38
6.11 BEA3X-GPO............................................................................................................................. 39
6.11.1 Contacts specification of the card .................................................................................. 40
6.12 BEA3X-MC. ............................................................................................................................. 41
6.13 BEA3X-DANT........................................................................................................................... 41
6.14 BEA3X-SDI............................................................................................................................... 42
7 Management system (SW). ........................................................................................................ 43
7.1 Logical structure of the mixer. ................................................................................................. 44
7.1.1 Logical input. ..................................................................................................................... 45
7.1.2 Logical Output ................................................................................................................... 47
7.1.3 Logical Bus ......................................................................................................................... 47
7.1.4 Logical Channel Strip and Logical Desk ............................................................................. 47
7.1.5 Logical monitor ................................................................................................................. 47
7.1.6 Logical Talkback ................................................................................................................ 48

Page 3 of 150
 7.2 Presentation of controls to the user. ....................................................................................... 48
7.3 "Advanced Sync Management" Clock Selection Algorithm. .................................................... 49
7.3.1 Advanced Sync Management principle ............................................................................ 49
7.3.2 Sync distribution delays and digital signal sampling......................................................... 54
8 Control surfaces. ........................................................................................................................ 57
8.1 Software ARES PANEL. ............................................................................................................. 58
8.2 Fader4T Module. ...................................................................................................................... 59
8.3 CENTRAL Module. .................................................................................................................... 60
8.4 Jolly Module. ............................................................................................................................ 61
8.5 Fader Screen Module. .............................................................................................................. 62
8.6 KM40 Module........................................................................................................................... 62
8.7 KM34E Module......................................................................................................................... 63
9 ARES PANEL management software. ......................................................................................... 64
9.1 “Strip” panel. ............................................................................................................................ 65
9.1.1 Input Management Screen. .............................................................................................. 68
9.1.2 Dynamic Processor Screen. ............................................................................................... 70
9.1.3 Equalizer screen. ............................................................................................................... 71
9.1.4 DeEsser Screen. ................................................................................................................. 72
9.1.5 Pan/Bal Screen. ................................................................................................................. 73
9.1.6 Bus Master Screen. ........................................................................................................... 74
9.1.7 Bus N-x Screen. ................................................................................................................. 75
9.1.8 Bus Aux Screen. ................................................................................................................. 76
9.2 “Buses” Panel. .......................................................................................................................... 77
9.3 “Outputs” Panel. ...................................................................................................................... 79
9.4 “Monitors” Panel. .................................................................................................................... 80
9.4.1 Monitoring listening choice section. ................................................................................. 81
9.4.2 Choice of “follow” function............................................................................................... 81
9.4.3 ADD SRC2. ......................................................................................................................... 81
9.4.4 PFL to MON. ...................................................................................................................... 82
9.4.5 Control section of the monitor output. ............................................................................ 83
9.4.6 Talkback section applied to monitor. ............................................................................... 84
9.4.7 Choice of monitoring. ....................................................................................................... 84

Page 4 of 150
 9.4.8 Talkback activation keys. .................................................................................................. 86
9.4.9 Talkback Preview............................................................................................................... 87
9.4.10 Talkback group. ............................................................................................................... 87
9.4.11 Levels of sources and talkback buses. ............................................................................ 88
9.4.12 Choice of Talkback. ......................................................................................................... 88
9.5 “Output routing” and “Patch routing” Panels ......................................................................... 89
9.5.1 Levels of routing and priorities. ........................................................................................ 89
9.5.2 Configurator - level routing............................................................................................... 89
9.5.3 “Patch” – Level Routing. ................................................................................................... 89
9.5.4 “Output” - Level Routing. ................................................................................................. 89
9.5.5 Default Routing. ................................................................................................................ 89
9.5.6 Routing management panel.............................................................................................. 90
9.6 “System Routing” e “Group Routing” Panels ........................................................................... 93
9.7 “Snapshot” Panel. .................................................................................................................... 94
9.8 System Panel ............................................................................................................................ 95
9.9 “Layers” Panel .......................................................................................................................... 98
9.10 “Remote Nodes” Panel ........................................................................................................ 100
9.11 “Led” Panel........................................................................................................................... 102
9.12 “Custom Buttons” and “Custom Scalars” Panels ................................................................. 103
10 Fader4T module Software........................................................................................................ 104
10.1 Physical Controls .................................................................................................................. 104
10.2 Touch Display ....................................................................................................................... 104
10.2.1 Input management. ...................................................................................................... 105
10.2.2 Dynamic Processor Setting Screen. .............................................................................. 108
10.2.3 Eq Setting Screen. ......................................................................................................... 109
10.2.4 DeEsser Screen Settings. ............................................................................................... 110
10.2.5 Pan/Bal Screen .............................................................................................................. 111
10.2.6 Bus Master Screen Settings. ......................................................................................... 112
10.2.7 Bus N-x Screen Settings................................................................................................. 113
10.2.8 Bus Aux Screen Settings. ............................................................................................... 114
10.2.9 CONFIG Screen Settings ................................................................................................ 115
11 Central Module Software ......................................................................................................... 117

Page 5 of 150
 11.1 Home .................................................................................................................................... 118
11.1.1 Screen unlock keys: ....................................................................................................... 118
11.1.2 Home key: ..................................................................................................................... 118
11.1.3 Studio ON_AIR Indicator: .............................................................................................. 118
11.1.4 Meters: .......................................................................................................................... 118
11.1.5 Logo: .............................................................................................................................. 119
11.1.6 Rotary encoder controls: .............................................................................................. 119
11.2 Central Module Screens ....................................................................................................... 119
11.2.1 General organization of the screens ............................................................................. 119
11.2.2 Configuration example.................................................................................................. 120
11.2.3 System Screen ............................................................................................................... 123
12 Screen Module Software.......................................................................................................... 124
12.1 Touch Display ....................................................................................................................... 124
12.1.1 Input Management Screen. .......................................................................................... 125
12.1.2 Dynamic Processor Screen. ........................................................................................... 127
12.1.3 Eq Screen....................................................................................................................... 128
12.1.4 DeEsser Screen. ............................................................................................................. 129
12.1.5 Pan/Bal page. ................................................................................................................ 130
12.1.6 Bus Master Screen Page................................................................................................ 131
12.1.7 Bus N-x Screen. ............................................................................................................. 132
12.1.8 Bus Aux Screen. ............................................................................................................. 133
12.1.9 CONFIG Screen .............................................................................................................. 134
12.1.10 Meter Screen............................................................................................................... 135
13 ARES USER Card ....................................................................................................................... 136
13.1 Overall dimensions and fixings: ........................................................................................... 136
13.2 Connections: ........................................................................................................................ 137
13.3 Card PIN positions: ............................................................................................................... 138
14 Framed Control Surface ........................................................................................................... 139
14.1 Available Versions ................................................................................................................ 139
14.1.1 Standard Frame ............................................................................................................. 139
14.1.2 Short Frame................................................................................................................... 139
14.1.3 Rear Panels .................................................................................................................... 140

Page 6 of 150
 14.2 Accessories available............................................................................................................ 146
14.2.1 Stand KIT ....................................................................................................................... 146
14.2.2 Hooking for Screen / KM / Panel PC modules .............................................................. 146
14.2.3 Additional modules Screen / KM / Panel PC ................................................................. 146
14.2.4 Connectors for external auxiliary modules ................................................................... 147
14.2.5 POE power supply for auxiliary modules ...................................................................... 147
14.3 Power options ...................................................................................................................... 148
14.3.1 Power supply for single module ................................................................................... 148
14.3.2 POE Power..................................................................................................................... 148
14.3.3 Internal power supply ................................................................................................... 148
15 Table of possible power supply combinations......................................................................... 149
16 Flush-mounted control surface................................................................................................ 150
16.1 External power supply ARES: ARES-SUPPLY-700W-12 ........................................................ 150
16.2 Power distribution unit ARES-PB ......................................................................................... 150

Page 7 of 150
1 Fig Index
Fig 1: Res. detail – 1. .......................................................................................................................... 10
Fig 2: Res. detail – 2. .......................................................................................................................... 10
Fig 3: Res. detail – 3. .......................................................................................................................... 10
Fig 4: Res. detail – 4. .......................................................................................................................... 10
Fig 5: Res. detail – 5. .......................................................................................................................... 10
Fig 6: Front Panel BEA3X 2U ..................................................................................................................
Fig 7: back panel BEA3X 2U ................................................................................................................ 19
Fig 8: Panel BEA3X-CORE.................................................................................................................... 21
Fig 9: Panel BEA3X-MADI .................................................................................................................. 23
Fig 10: Layout panel BEA3X-IOD8 ...................................................................................................... 25
Fig 11: Layout panel BEA3X-OD16 ..................................................................................................... 27
Fig 12: Layout panel BEA3X-OA16 ..................................................................................................... 29
Fig 13: Layout panel BEA3X-IA16 ....................................................................................................... 31
Fig 14: Layout panel BEA3X-MIC ........................................................................................................ 33
Fig 15: Layout panel DSP .................................................................................................................... 35
Fig 16: Structure configurable BUS .................................................................................................... 36
Fig 17: Layout Panel BEA3X-GPIO ...................................................................................................... 37
Fig 18: Layout panel BEA3X-GPO ....................................................................................................... 39
Fig 19: Layout Panel BEA3X-MC ......................................................................................................... 41
Fig 20: Layout panel BEA3X-DANT ..................................................................................................... 41
Fig 21: Layout panel BEA3X-SDI ......................................................................................................... 42
Fig 22: ARES mixer block diagram ...................................................................................................... 44
Fig 23: Sync scheme in ring with static priorities ............................................................................... 49
Fig 24: Sync scheme in ring with static priorities (fault example 1) .................................................. 50
Fig 25: Sync scheme in ring with Advanced Sync Management ........................................................ 51
Fig 26: Sync scheme in ring with Advanced Sync Management (example of failure 1) .................... 52
Fig 27: Sync scheme in ring with Advanced Sync Management (example of failure 2) .................... 52
Fig 28: Input clocking with same reference signal ............................................................................. 55
Fig 29: Input clocking with different reference signal ....................................................................... 55
Fig 30: Simplified timing diagram ...................................................................................................... 56
Fig 31: ARES Panel Software Main Screen ......................................................................................... 58
Fig 32: ARES-FADER4T Module .......................................................................................................... 59
Fig 33: ARES-CENTRAL Module .......................................................................................................... 60
Fig 34: ARES-JM Module .................................................................................................................... 61
Fig 35: ARES-FADER-SCREEN Module ................................................................................................ 62
Fig 36: ARES-KM40 Module ............................................................................................................... 62
Fig 37: ARES-KM34E Module.............................................................................................................. 63
Fig 38: ARES-USER card Dimension .................................................................................................. 136
Fig 39: ARES-USER card height ......................................................................................................... 137
Fig 40: ARES-USER Connectors......................................................................................................... 138

Page 8 of 150
Fig 41: Standard frame dimensions ................................................................................................. 139
Fig 42: Short Frame Dimensions ...................................................................................................... 139
Fig 43: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-CEN ................................................................................... 140
Fig 44: Rear Panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-CFR.................................................................................... 141
Fig 45: Real Panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FAD.................................................................................... 142
Fig 46: Rear Panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FFR .................................................................................... 143
Fig 47: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FAU ................................................................................... 143
Fig 48: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FDS.................................................................................... 144
Fig 49: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FSS .................................................................................... 145
Figure 50: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-GRI............................................................................... 145
Fig 51: Stand Kit frame 9 modules ................................................................................................... 146
Fig 52: Hooking for Screen/KM/Panel PC ........................................................................................ 146
Fig 53: Example frame...................................................................................................................... 147
Fig 54: ARES-SUPPLY ........................................................................................................................ 150
Fig 55: Power distribution unit ARES-PB .......................................................................................... 150

Page 9 of 150
2 First aid rules.
The personnel involved in the installation, use and maintenance of the equipment must be familiar
with the theory and practices of first aid.

2.1 Treatment of electric shock.

If the victim has lost consciousness:
Follow the first aid principles below.
• Place the victim lying on his back on a hard surface.
• Open the airway by lifting the neck and pushing the forehead back (Figure 1).
• If necessary, open your mouth and check your breathing.
• If the victim is not breathing, start artificial respiration immediately (Figure 2): tilt the head,
close the nostrils, make the mouth adhere to that of the victim and practice 4 quick breaths.

Fig 1: Res. detail – 1. Fig 2: Res. detail – 2.

• Check the heartbeat (Figure 3); in the absence of a heartbeat, immediately begin heart
massage (Figure 4) by compressing the sternum approximately in the centre of the chest
(Figure 5).

Fig 3: Res. detail – 3. Fig 5: Res. detail – 5.

Fig 4: Res. detail – 4.

Page 10 of 150
 • In the case of only one rescuer, this must keep a rhythm of 15 compressions alternating with
2 quick breaths. In case of two rescuer, the rhythm should be one breath every 5
compressions.
• Do not interrupt heart massage during artificial respiration.
• Call a doctor as soon as possible.

If the victim is conscious

• Cover the victim with a blanket.
• Try to calm her down.
• Unfasten clothes and place the victim in a lying position.
• Call a doctor as soon as possible.

2.2 Treatment of electrical burns.

Extensive burns and cuts to the skin
• Cover the affected area with a clean sheet or cloth.
• Don't break blisters; remove the fabric and parts of the dress that had stuck to the skin; apply
a suitable ointment.
• Treat the victim as required by the type of injury.
• Transport the victim to the hospital as quickly as possible.
• If your arms and legs have been affected, keep them elevated.

If medical help is not available for an hour and the victim is conscious and not retching, give a liquid
solution of salt and baking soda: 1 teaspoon of salt and a half of baking soda per 250 ml 'water.
Slowly drink about half a glass of solution four times over a period of 15 minutes.
Discontinue if retching occurs.
Do not give alcohol
Less severe burn
• Apply cold (not icy) gauze compresses using a cloth that is as clean as possible.
• Don't break blisters; remove the fabric and parts of the dress that had stuck to the skin; apply
a suitable ointment.
• If necessary, put on clean, dry clothes.
• Treat the victim as required by the type of injury.
• Transport the victim to the hospital as quickly as possible.
• If your arms and legs have been affected, keep them elevated.

Page 11 of 150
3 Declaration of conformity.
3.1 CE Conformity
Mandozzi Elettronica SA Rancate - Mendrisio CH
We declare under our sole responsibility that the MANDOZZI ELETTRONICA: ARES SYSTEM
It complies with the following EU directives and amendments
• Low Voltage (LVD): 73/23 EEC + 93 / 98EEC
• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC): 2004/108 / CE + 89/336 / EEC + 92/31 / EEC + 93/68 /
EEC

It complies with the following Standards / Regulations:

• EN 60950-1: 2000
• EN 60825-1: 2004 + A11 + A2, EN60825-2: 2000
• EN 55103-1 / -2: 1996, electromagnetic environments E2 and E4.

Rancate - Mendrisio, 26/7/2016

Page 12 of 150
4 ARES Mixing Console.
An ARES mixer consists of several hardware modules connected via LAN and on which the correct
application of the ARES software system is installed.
The fundamental modules that make up the system are:
• BEA3X: configurable 2U rack dedicated to managing the mixer, audio inputs and outputs,
audio processing, auxiliary contacts. SEE PAR. 5
• ARES-FADER4T module: control surface configurable for 4 channels with physical controls
and 7 ”touch screen. SEE PAR.8.2
• ARES-SCREEN module: control surface configurable for 4 channels or for general use with 7
”touch screen. SEE PAR.8.5
• ARES-CENTRAL module: configurable control surface for general use with 4 rotary encoders
and 10 ”touch screen. SEE PAR.8.3
• ARES-KM40 module: control surface configurable for 4 channels or for general use with 40
illuminated physical keys. SEE PAR.8.6
• ARES-KM34E module: configurable control surface for general use with 34 illuminated
physical buttons and a rotary encoder. SEE PAR.8.7
• ARES-PANEL-PC module: global control surface of the mixer made up of an all-in-one pc. On
request it is possible to install the software and therefore have the complete management
of the system also on a PC supplied by the customer. SEE PAR.8.1

Page 13 of 150
5 BEA3X 2U.
The BEA3X is a modular device that allows a high level of customization thus ensuring the
adaptability of the system.
It is currently available in the 19 ”2U rack version that can house up to 8 in / out / processing sound
cards and 1 CORE card, and 3 additional service cards. Service cards (GPIO, GPO, MC) can also be
housed in the slots provided with audio connections. The BEA3X-CORE board is the only one
necessary for the system to function, and must be housed in a predefined slot.
Each card has different functionalities that can be both audio inputs or outputs, audio signal
processing modules, and additional services such as General-Purpose contacts in input and output,
or format conversion from electrical BEALINX over RJ45 to optical BEALINX.
Each card is hot swap and can be replaced with another in case of failure, without turning off the
unit.
Aside from the BEALINX, MADI and Dante ports, all other connectors are 26-pin Dsub HD, pre-
headed cables and rack-mountable expansion units are available to allow the explosion of individual
analogue and AES / EBU signals on standard XLR connectors.

5.1 Available cards.

Name Type Input number Output number
BEA3X-CORE ROUTING 8 x 128 from 8 slot 8 x 128 towards 8 slots
64 Dante 64 Dante
512 x 2 BEALINX 512 x 2 BEALINX
BEA3X-DSP PROCESSING - -
BEA3X-MADI MADI I/O 4 AES10 56/64 CH 4 AES10 56/64 CH
over SFP over SFP
BEA3X-IOD8 DIGITAL I/O 8 AES3 8 AES3
BEA3X-OD16 DIGITAL OUT 16 AES3
BEA3X-IA16 ANALOG IN 16 LINE IN
BEA3X-OA16 ANALOG OUT
16 LINE IN
BEA3X-MIC MIC IN 8 MIC / LINE IN
BEA3X-GPIO GPIO 12 GPI 12 GPO
BEA3X-GPO GPO 24 GPO
BEA3X-DANT AES67 2 x 64 Dante 2 x 64 Dante

Page 14 of 150
The main features of the BEA3X 2U (2 units) are the following:
• Dimensions: 482.50mm x 88.00mm x 356.80mm (see Appendix A)
• Double AC power supply, with front extraction
• 1 CORE board
• Up to 8 audio I / O and processing cards
• 3 additional slots for service cards (GPIO, GPO, Media Converter)
• Modular control system
• Passive audio distribution bus
• 3.5” touch front display
• 4 bars of led level indicators
• Headphone output with volume adjustment
• Led for alarm and general status and power supplies.

5.2 Power System.

The frame has two 350W hot swap front pull-out power supplies.
Each power supply is connected to its own connector on the rear panel and has an (optional) switch
to shut down the unit.
The sizing of the power supplies ensures that the system is capable of supporting the required load
even in the event of an increase in temperature.
The power supplies are configured and sized so that they can operate in hot standby mode; in doing
so, only one of the power supplies guarantees the supply of the current necessary for the operation
of the whole system.
In the event of a fault in one of the power supplies, the light signal (POWER LED) on the front of the
chassis turns on and through the display it is possible to view which of the two is in alarm.
Given the configuration in hot stand by, the first power supply is called "main" the second "backup".
Each power supply delivers up to 350W of power, the main features are:

Specification Value
Power factor >0.9
Typical efficiency 93%
MTBF 569 kHr
Overvoltage Protection 110 – 140 %
Overload Protection 110 – 150 %
Output voltage 12 V

Page 15 of 150
5.3 Front Panel.

Fig 6: Front Panel BEA3X 2U

The BEA3X front panel features the following components:

• 3.5 ”touch TFT panel
• 4 led bars for signal monitoring
• Headphone socket with volume adjustment
• General system status LED
• System power supply status LED
• RJ45 for front management
• Fan panel
• USB port / HDMI port

The present display allows you to access basic system configuration information.
5.3.1 TFT panel touch.
The information is organized into functional areas, each of which is easily accessible from the main
system screen.
The main configurations and system status indications can be accessed via the touch display:
▪ Management network configuration
▪ Status of the power supplies
▪ Status of the synchronism signal
▪ Status of time synchronization
▪ Output level of the XLR connectors on the back

Page 16 of 150
5.3.2 LED bars for monitoring and signals.
The front of the BEA3X has 4 LED bars capable of displaying the level of any of the audio signals
present in the system. The level is measured in dBfs and allows and its scale of values is represented
as follows:
Tab 1 - Indicative representation of the LED meters.

LED COLOR Value (dBfs)

Red 0
Yellow -3
Yellow -6
Green -9
Green -12
Green -15
Green -18
Green -24
Green -36
Green -42
Green -48
Green -INF
The routing of the chosen signal is managed by the BEA3X-CORE board, and any system signal can
be monitored.
5.3.3 Headphone socket.
The front has a headphone jack with a 6.3 mm stereo female JACK connector and a potentiometer
for its volume adjustment.
As for the led meters, the routing is managed by the BEA3X-CORE board and any signal can be routed
to the headphones.
5.3.4 General system status LED.
The BEA3X has a LED capable of signalling three possible machine states:
• Green (OK): The system is functioning properly
• Yellow (WARNING): An alarm has now cleared
• Red (ALARM): An alarm is currently active

The conditions for the warning and alarm states depend on the BEA3X configuration and can be
customized using the system configuration software.
5.3.5 Power status LED.
The BEA3X has a LED capable of signalling a possible power supply problem:
• Green: Both power supplies are functioning properly
• Yellow: there is a problem on one of the two power supplies (but the system is working
correctly using the other power supply)

Page 17 of 150
5.3.6 RJ45 Ethernet Port.
The BEA3X has a front RJ45 port through which system management can be accessed
5.3.7 Fan panel.
The BEA3X has a silent ventilation system also suitable for installation in studios and environments
where a very low noise level is required. The two fans are removable and replaceable when the
device is switched on: by unscrewing the 4 screws of the fan panel, the panel is removed and it is
possible to access the relative fan connectors. The fans have an MTTF greater than 150000 hours.
5.3.8 USB / HDMI Port.
The BEA3X has a USB port and an HDMI port for factory configuration and direct access to the
management operating system (only for specialized personnel)

Page 18 of 150
5.4 Back Panel.

Fig 7: back panel BEA3X 2U

5.4.1 Power connectors.

The BEA3X has two male VDE connectors with switch and fuse connected respectively to the two
power supplies removable from the front.
5.4.2 Audio monitor connectors.
The BEA3X has two monitor outputs on two XLR connectors. The two audio signals are shared with
the headphone signals available on the front panel.
The audio signals are handled by the BEA3X-CORE card and as with the headphone connector, any
signal can be monitored. It is possible to adjust the output level independently from that of the
headphones through the appropriate page on the front panel.
5.4.3 Serial connector.
On the rear panel there is a DB9 which makes a serial signal in RS232 / 422/485 format available to
the management system (the format is mutually exclusive). The interpretation of the signal is
delegated to the customization module that can be installed in the system on request.
5.4.4 Access to individual slots.
The slots for the individual cards are available on the rear panel.
• 9 “audio” slots
• 3 service card slots (GPIO, GPO, MC)

Slot number 1 is used for the BEA3X-CORE card which is essential for the system to function.

Page 19 of 150
5.4.5 BEA3X HW architecture.
The internal architecture provides for a "passive" audio distribution bus in a star configuration. The
BEA3X-CORE board is the main board of the system which is responsible for managing all internal
routing, managing the DANTE flow in and out and the BEALINX connections for distributing signals
to other BEA3x units.
The management of the system is entrusted to the BRAIN board, where there is a Qseven module
that takes care of receiving commands from the various control surfaces and translating them into
low-level commands to the CORE board. This module can only be replaced when the system is off,
by accessing the device via the fan panel on the front. In the event of a fault, the device still remains
functional for the routing and audio processing part with the last configuration.
The system is able to work natively at a sample rate of 48 KHz. Other sample rates can be managed.

Page 20 of 150
6 CARDS.
6.1 BEA3X-BRAIN.
The BEA3X-BRAIN card is the only non-removable card in the system, however in the BEA3X-2U
systems it provides passive distribution of the audio of all 8 audio slots to and from the BEA3X-CORE
card, and the management / memory functions are located on a removable Qseven module. The
system management software is installed on this module, consisting of several submodules, capable
of managing all the functions of the mixer and controlling the correct routing between the various
blocks to compose the mixer as desired.

6.2 BEA3X-CORE.
The BEA3X-CORE board is the system matrix towards which all the audio lines to and from the board
are centralized. This card has 8 bi-directional audio BUS capable of communicating to and from each
single card of the other 8 "audio" slots available.

Fig 8: Panel BEA3X-CORE

The card provides for Audio over IP audio streaming in DANTE format through a DANTE Brooklyn
module with its 2 RJ45 connectors by means of which it is possible to receive or send up to 64
bidirectional channels which can in turn be configured for redundancy. On request it is possible to
install a Ravenna module in place of the Dante module, with an equivalent number of channels.
The board also has two RJ45 connectors for the proprietary "BEALINX" bus: through each connector
it is possible to distribute up to 512 mono audio signals equivalent to the connected BEA3X unit.
Having 2 connectors available, it is possible to create a bidirectional ring capable of guaranteeing a
higher degree of redundancy in the distribution of signals.
Through the BEALINX signals it is also possible to distribute the audio synchronism signal among the
various connected BEA3X machines, in a redundant manner in the case of machines connected in a
ring REF. PAR.7.3.
The board also features an internal grade 2 accurate sync generator, and a sync input for
synchronizing the unit from the outside. External synchronization can be based on several inputs:
• AES11
• Wordclock
• Dante
• BEALINX

Page 21 of 150
Or, according to the availability of cards installed in the system, the BEA3X is able to extract the
synchronism from any MADI input signal. REF. PAR.7.3
The choice of the clock source is managed by the software with an advanced algorithm able to select
in any case the most reliable source on the basis of a list of priorities statically entered by the user
and / or determined in an adaptive way in a network of more BEA3X.
Finally, there is an additional RJ45 ethernet port on the board which shows the management port
already present on the front panel on the rear panel.
The BEA3X-CORE card is the only card that must always be present given its router functionality.
The BEA3X-CORE board also integrates some audio processing functions that can be used in addition
to those available in the DSP board: modulation controllers, low-pass filters for the extraction of the
LF channel in the generation of 5.1 surround signals from inputs mono or stereo, adders to combine
buses from multiple DSP cards and have multiple input buses.
The management of these features is integrated into the control software and is not directly
controllable by the user, it is simply hardware resources available and usable by the software
abstraction that is the basis of the system. REF. PAR.0

Page 22 of 150
6.3 BEA3X-MADI
The board includes 4 SFP cages to house the same number of SFP modules (optical or electrical) for
the MADI signal. MADI signals conform to the AES10 standard.
Each SFP module is capable of handling one incoming and one outgoing MADI stream. In this way
the card is able to manage up to 4 bidirectional MADI streams.

Fig 9: Panel BEA3X-MADI

The card can be used either as a simple input / output module or configured in changeover mode.
In the latter, two of the 4 incoming MADI flows are assigned to the changeover module. The outputs
from the changeover module can be either the MADI outputs present on the board or the internal
BUS.
The BEA3X-MADI card manages MADI streams using a dedicated FPGA. The cores instantiated on
the FPGA deal with:
• Deserialization of the MADI stream
• MADI stream serialization
• Dedicated signal routing
• Modulation monitoring (window, with two thresholds and configurable intervention times)
• Possible changeover

The BEA3X-MADI card is also able to extract the audio synchronism from the MADI streams and pass
it to the CORE card for synchronization of the whole system.
6.3.1 Routing Module.
The routing module is able to manage every single incoming channel, both from the external MADI
ports and from the BUS, towards the physical MADI outputs and towards the BUS. In this way the
module is able to break down all the MADI flows and re-assemble them in the most appropriate
way. The internal BUS, since it can carry up to 128 channels, is able to manage 2 complete MADI
towards the other cards.
The routing module, together with the modulation monitoring module, is able to operate in
changeover mode.

6.3.2 Modulation surveillance module.

The module is able to analyse every single signal of MADI flows and reveal problems of:
• No audio signal - Lack of modulation alarm

Page 23 of 150
 • Too high peak levels - Modulation full scale alarm

Both alarms are conditioned by configurable intervention times.

6.3.3 Changeover Module.
The changeover module is capable of switching between one or more audio signals of the two MADI
inputs assigned to this module; each switching takes place in such a way that there is no audio loss
during the transition from one signal to another. The system is able to switch the entire MADI stream
or a subset of it. Switching occurs concurrently with the alarm signalling with the intervention times
defined in the modulation monitoring module if set in automatic mode.
The module provides the following operating modes:
• Manual: the operator switches the group or the entire MADI flow manually
• Automatic: in the event of an error, the system switches the group or the entire MADI flow
• Automatic with reversibility: in the event of an error, the system switches the group or the
entire MADI flow, in the event of an alarm return the system restores the main flow. It is
possible to configure which of the two MADI inputs is the main one

Page 24 of 150
6.4 BEA3X-IOD8.
The BEA3X-IOD8 board is the digital input / output interface for audio signals. Each card is capable
of simultaneously transmit up to 8 AES-EBU signals (16 equivalent mono digital outputs) on one
connector and receive up to 8 AES-EBU signals (16 equivalent mono digital inputs) on the other
connector. AES-EBU signals are conform to the AES3 standard. The conversion between digital data
and AES3 takes place in 24-bit in PROFESSIONAL format, 48 KHz, as defined by the standard.
The routing of the signals is managed by the BEA3X-CORE board.

Fig 10: Layout panel BEA3X-IOD8

On the board there are 2 DB26 connectors with the following pinout:

Signal Pin Comment

+AESI1 2 Output 1 Hot
-AESI1 19 Output 1 Cold
GND 11 Output 1 Shield
+AESI2 3 Output 2 Hot
-AESI2 20 Output 2 Cold
GND 12 Output 2 Shield
+AESI3 4 Output 3 Hot
-AESI3 21 Output 3 Cold
GND 13 Output 3 Shield
+AESI4 5 Output 4 Hot
-AESI4 22 Output 4 Cold
GND 14 Output 4 Shield
+AESI5 6 Output 5 Hot
-AESI5 23 Output 5 Cold
GND 15 Output 5 Shield
+AESI6 7 Output 6 Hot
-AESI6 24 Output 6 Cold
GND 16 Output 6 Shield
+AESI7 8 Output 7 Hot
-AESI7 25 Output 7 Cold
GND 17 Output 7 Shield
+AESI8 9 Output 8 Hot
-AESI8 26 Output 8 Cold
GND 18 Output 8 Shield
Table 2 – Pinout DB26 #1

Page 25 of 150
 Signal Pin Comment
+AESO1 2 Output 1 Hot
-AESO1 19 Output 1 Cold
GND 11 Output 1 Shield
+AESO2 3 Output 2 Hot
-AESO2 20 Output 2 Cold
GND 12 Output 2 Shield
+AESO3 4 Output 3 Hot
-AESO3 21 Output 3 Cold
GND 13 Output 3 Shield
+AESO4 5 Output 4 Hot
-AESO4 22 Output 4 Cold
GND 14 Output 4 Shield
+AESO5 6 Output 5 Hot
-AESO5 23 Output 5 Cold
GND 15 Output 5 Shield
+AESO6 7 Output 6 Hot
-AESO6 24 Output 6 Cold
GND 16 Output 6 Shield
+AESO7 8 Output 7 Hot
-AESO7 25 Output 7 Cold
GND 17 Output 7 Shield
+AESO8 9 Output 8 Hot
-AESO8 26 Output 8 Cold
GND 18 Output 8 Shield
Tab 3 - Pinout DB26 #2

6.4.1 Card digital audio specifications.

Impedance 110 Ω
Output Level @ 110 Ω >=4.5 Vpp
Input sensitivity <=280 mVpp
SRC Range 22 – 216 kHz
SRC Frequency Response 20Hz to 20kHz +/-0.01 dB
SRC THD + Noise @ 1 kHz, -1 dBFS -136 dBFS
6.4.2 Breakout Box.
A rack-mountable BEA3X-BOB-IO8 breakout box and pre-headed DB26 cables of different lengths
are available for the explosion of signals from the 2 DB26 connectors to the standard 8 XLR female
and 8 XLR male.

Page 26 of 150
6.5 BEA3X-OD16.
The BEA3X-OD16 board is the digital output interface for audio signals. Each card is capable of
making up to 16 AES-EBU signals (32 equivalent mono digital outputs) available on two connectors.
AES-EBU signals conform to the AES3 standard. The conversion of digital data to AES3 takes place in
24-bit in PROFESSIONAL format, 48 KHz, as defined by the standard.
The routing of the signals to be made available to the board is managed by the BEA3X-CORE board.

Fig 11: Layout panel BEA3X-OD16

On the board there are 2 DB26 connectors with the following pinout:

Signal Pin Comment

+AESO1 2 Output 1 Hot
-AESO1 19 Output 1 Cold
GND 11 Output 1 Shield
+AESO2 3 Output 2 Hot
-AESO2 20 Output 2 Cold
GND 12 Output 2 Shield
+AESO3 4 Output 3 Hot
-AESO3 21 Output 3 Cold
GND 13 Output 3 Shield
+AESO4 5 Output 4 Hot
-AESO4 22 Output 4 Cold
GND 14 Output 4 Shield
+AESO5 6 Output 5 Hot
-AESO5 23 Output 5 Cold
GND 15 Output 5 Shield
+AESO6 7 Output 6 Hot
-AESO6 24 Output 6 Cold
GND 16 Output 6 Shield
+AESO7 8 Output 7 Hot
-AESO7 25 Output 7 Cold
GND 17 Output 7 Shield
+AESO8 9 Output 8 Hot
-AESO8 26 Output 8 Cold
GND 18 Output 8 Shield
Table 4 – Pinout DB26 #1

Signal Pin Comment

Page 27 of 150
 +AESO9 2 Output 9 Hot
-AESO9 19 Output 9 Cold
GND 11 Output 9 Shield
+AESO10 3 Output 10 Hot
-AESO10 20 Output 10 Cold
GND 12 Output 10 Shield
+AESO11 4 Output 11 Hot
-AESO11 21 Output 11 Cold
GND 13 Output 11 Shield
+AESO12 5 Output 12 Hot
-AESO12 22 Output 12 Cold
GND 14 Output 12 Shield
+AESO13 6 Output 13 Hot
-AESO13 23 Output 13 Cold
GND 15 Output 13 Shield
+AESO14 7 Output 14 Hot
-AESO14 24 Output 14 Cold
GND 16 Output 14 Shield
+AESO15 8 Output 15 Hot
-AESO15 25 Output 15 Cold
GND 17 Output 15 Shield
+AESO16 9 Output 16 Hot
-AESO16 26 Output 16 Cold
GND 18 Output 16 Shield
Tab 5 - Pinout DB26 #2

6.5.1 Card digital audio specifications.

Impedance 110 Ω
Output Level @ 110 Ω >=4.5 Vpp
6.5.2 Breakout Box.
A rack-mountable BEA3X-BOB-O16 breakout box and pre-headed DB26 cables of different lengths
are available for the explosion of signals from the 2 DB26 connectors to the standard 16 XLR male.

Page 28 of 150
6.6 BEA3X-OA16.
The BEA3X-OA16 board is the analogue output interface for audio signals. Each card is capable of
making available up to 16 equivalent mono audio signals.
The routing of the signals to be made available to the board is managed by the BEA3X-CORE board.

Fig 12: Layout panel BEA3X-OA16

On the board there are 2 DB26 connectors with the following pinout:

Signal Pin Comment

+ANAO1 2 Analog Output 1 Hot
-ANAO1 19 Analog Output 1 Cold
GND 11 Analog Output 1 Shield
+ANAO2 3 Analog Output 2 Hot
-ANAO2 20 Analog Output 2 Cold
GND 12 Analog Output 2 Shield
+ANAO3 4 Analog Output 3 Hot
-ANAO3 21 Analog Output 3 Cold
GND 13 Analog Output 3 Shield
+ANAO4 5 Analog Output 4 Hot
-ANAO4 22 Analog Output 4 Cold
GND 14 Analog Output 4 Shield
+ANAO5 6 Analog Output 5 Hot
-ANAO5 23 Analog Output 5 Cold
GND 15 Analog Output 5 Shield
+ANAO6 7 Analog Output 6 Hot
-ANAO6 24 Analog Output 6 Cold
GND 16 Analog Output 6 Shield
+ANAO7 8 Analog Output 7 Hot
-ANAO7 25 Analog Output 7 Cold
GND 17 Analog Output 7 Shield
+ANAO8 9 Analog Output 8 Hot
-ANAO8 26 Analog Output 8 Cold
GND 18 Analog Output 8 Shield
Tab 6 - Pinout DB26 #1 (OA16)

Signal Pin Comment

+ANAO9 2 Analog Output 9 Hot
-ANAO9 19 Analog Output 9 Cold

Page 29 of 150
 GND 11 Analog Output 9 Shield
+ANAO10 3 Analog Output 10 Hot
-ANAO10 20 Analog Output 10 Cold
GND 12 Analog Output 10 Shield
+ANAO11 4 Analog Output 11 Hot
-ANAO11 21 Analog Output 11 Cold
GND 13 Analog Output 11 Shield
+ANAO12 5 Analog Output 12 Hot
-ANAO12 22 Analog Output 12 Cold
GND 14 Analog Output 12 Shield
+ANAO13 6 Analog Output 13 Hot
-ANAO13 23 Analog Output 13 Cold
GND 15 Analog Output 13 Shield
+ANAO14 7 Analog Output 14 Hot
-ANAO14 24 Analog Output 14 Cold
GND 16 Analog Output 14 Shield
+ANAO15 8 Analog Output 15 Hot
-ANAO15 25 Analog Output 15 Cold
GND 17 Analog Output 15 Shield
+ANAO16 9 Analog Output 16 Hot
-ANAO16 26 Analog Output 16 Cold
GND 18 Analog Output 16 Shield
Tab 7 - Pinout DB26#2 (OA16)

6.6.1 Analog audio specifications of the card.

Impedance 50 Ω
Output level RL >= 600Ω +18 dBu@0dBFS
Flatness 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.25 dB
THD + Noise @ 1 kHz, -1 dBFS -90 dB
Dynamic range 114 dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz, -1 dBFS <= -115 dB
Conversion 24 Bit (Advanced Multi-bit Delta-Sigma)
6.6.2 Breakout Box.
A rack-mountable BEA3X-BOB-O16 breakout box and pre-headed DB26 cables of different lengths
are available for the explosion of signals from the 2 DB26 connectors to the standard 16 XLR male.

Page 30 of 150
6.7 BEA3X-IA16.
The BEA3X-IA16 board is the analogue input interface for audio signals. Each card can accept up to
16 equivalent mono audio signals.
All the input signals are made available to the BEA3X-CORE board which manages the routing
towards the other components of the system.

Fig 13: Layout panel BEA3X-IA16

On the board there are 2 DB26 connectors with the following pinout:

Signal Pin Comment

+ANAI1 2 Analog Input 1 Hot
-ANAI1 19 Analog Input 1 Cold
GND 11 Analog Input 1 Shield
+ANAI2 3 Analog Input 2 Hot
-ANAI2 20 Analog Input 2 Cold
GND 12 Analog Input 2 Shield
+ANAI3 4 Analog Input 3 Hot
-ANAI3 21 Analog Input 3 Cold
GND 13 Analog Input 3 Shield
+ANAI4 5 Analog Input 4 Hot
-ANAI4 22 Analog Input 4 Cold
GND 14 Analog Input 4 Shield
+ANAI5 6 Analog Input 5 Hot
-ANAI5 23 Analog Input 5 Cold
GND 15 Analog Input 5 Shield
+ANAI6 7 Analog Input 6 Hot
-ANAI6 24 Analog Input 6 Cold
GND 16 Analog Input 6 Shield
+ANAI7 8 Analog Input 7 Hot
-ANAI7 25 Analog Input 7 Cold
GND 17 Analog Input 7 Shield
+ANAI8 9 Analog Input 8 Hot
-ANAI8 26 Analog Input 8 Cold
GND 18 Analog Input 8 Shield
Tab 8 - Pinout DB26#1 (IA16)

Signal Pin Comment

Page 31 of 150
 +ANAI9 2 Analog Input 9 Hot
-ANAI9 19 Analog Input 9 Cold
GND 11 Analog Input 9 Shield
+ANAI10 3 Analog Input 10 Hot
-ANAI10 20 Analog Input 10 Cold
GND 12 Analog Input 10 Shield
+ANAI11 4 Analog Input 11 Hot
-ANAI11 21 Analog Input 11 Cold
GND 13 Analog Input 11 Shield
+ANAI12 5 Analog Input 12 Hot
-ANAI12 22 Analog Input 12 Cold
GND 14 Analog Input 12 Shield
+ANAI13 6 Analog Input 13 Hot
-ANAI13 23 Analog Input 13 Cold
GND 15 Analog Input 13 Shield
+ANAI14 7 Analog Input 14 Hot
-ANAI14 24 Analog Input 14 Cold
GND 16 Analog Input 14 Shield
+ANAI15 8 Analog Input 15 Hot
-ANAI15 25 Analog Input 15 Cold
GND 17 Analog Input 15 Shield
+ANAI16 9 Analog Input 16 Hot
-ANAI16 26 Analog Input 15 Cold
GND 18 Analog Input 16 Shield
Tab 9 - Pinout DB26#2 (IA16)

6.7.1 Specific Analog audio specifications of the card.

Impedance >= 4.7 kΩ
Input Level (Rsource = 50Ω) + 18 dBu@0dBFS
Flatness 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.15 dB
THD + Noise @ 1 kHz, -9 dBFS <= -107 dBFS
Dynamic range 114 dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz, -9 dBFS <= -120 dB
Conversion 24 Bit (Advanced Multi-bit Delta-Sigma)
6.7.2 Breakout Box.
For the explosion of signals from the 2 DB26 connectors to the standard 16 XLR female connectors,
a rack-mountable BEA3X-BOB-I16 breakout box and pre-headed DB26 cables of different lengths
are available.

Page 32 of 150
6.8 BEA3X-MIC.
The BEA3X-MIC board has 8 balanced microphone or line inputs. Each input features an analogue
and controllable microphone amplifier with programmable analogue gain, hardware low cut filter
and phantom power.
The card is calibrated at 15 dBu at 0 dBFS. Alternative configurations are available.

Fig 14: Layout panel BEA3X-MIC

On the board there are 2 DB26 connectors with the following pinout:

Signal Pin Comment

+ANAI1 2 Analog Input 1 Hot
-ANAI1 19 Analog Input 1 Cold
GND 11 Analog Input 1 Shield
+ANAI2 3 Analog Input 2 Hot
-ANAI2 20 Analog Input 2 Cold
GND 12 Analog Input 2 Shield
+ANAI3 4 Analog Input 3 Hot
-ANAI3 21 Analog Input 3 Cold
GND 13 Analog Input 3 Shield
+ANAI4 5 Analog Input 4 Hot
-ANAI4 22 Analog Input 4 Cold
GND 14 Analog Input 4 Shield
+ANAI5 6 Analog Input 5 Hot
-ANAI5 23 Analog Input 5 Cold
GND 15 Analog Input 5 Shield
+ANAI6 7 Analog Input 6 Hot
-ANAI6 24 Analog Input 6 Cold
GND 16 Analog Input 6 Shield
+ANAI7 8 Analog Input 7 Hot
-ANAI7 25 Analog Input 7 Cold
GND 17 Analog Input 7 Shield
+ANAI8 9 Analog Input 8 Hot
-ANAI8 26 Analog Input 8 Cold
GND 18 Analog Input 8 Shield
Tab 10 - Pinout DB26 (MIC)

6.8.1 Analog audio specification of the card

Impedance >= 1kΩ
Page 33 of 150
Gain for 0 dBFS 0 to 78 dB
Input Level (Rsource = 50Ω) + 15 dBu@0dBFS (other calibrations
available on request)
Flatness 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 40 dB gain +/- 0.1 dB
Equivalent Input Noise (EIN) 114 dB
THD + Noise @ 1 kHz, -9 dBFS <= -98 dB
CMRR @ 1 kHz, -11 dB to +40 dB gain 60 dB
Dynamic range 115 dB
Crosstalk @ 1 kHz, -9 dBFS <= -110 dB
Hi-Pass filter (enable by software) 75 Hz -3 dB
Conversion 24 Bit (Advanced Multi-bit Delta-Sigma)
6.8.2 Breakout Box
A rack-mountable BEA3X-BOB-I8 breakout box and pre-headed DB26 cables of different lengths are
available for the explosion of signals from the DB26 connector to the standard 8 female XLRs.
Alternatively, for greater compactness, a BEA3X-BOB-I16 breakout box can be used for every 2 MIC
boards.

Page 34 of 150
6.9 BEA3X-DSP.
The BEA3X-DSP card is the card for audio processing: the internal architecture of the card is based
on 3 DSP processors and 1 FPGA; some parts of the processing are carried out in floating point by
the DSP with resolution higher than 40bit and others they are instead realized in FPGA with similar
precisions. A microcontroller supervises and coordinates the operation of the other parts of the
system.

Fig 15: Layout panel DSP

The card does not have audio connections to the outside, but uses the 128 bidirectional channels
on the internal BUS to let the system access the processing resources sending all signals and
retrieving the results.
Internally it contains an FPGA routing module that allows to manage the signals locally between the
various processing units without the need to occupy audio lines on the bus if not necessary.
Each processing chain is fully configurable dynamically and can include the following processing
blocks which can also be configured in different order for the different inputs to be processed:
• Gain (digital, always included, it also allows phase inversion and LR-RL-LL-RR-Mono mode
switching)
• Pan/Balance
• Dynamic processor (Compressor - Gate - Limiter)
• 6 band parametric Eq
• DeEsser
• Delay (up to 2700ms)
• Insert
• Fader ( with pre-fader and post-fader meters)

There are also several configurable tapping points available for each chain and can be used to route
partially processed signals or create pre-fader auxiliary buses.
The management of the DSP processors is totally dynamic and allows you to reconfigure the chain
in a different way by adding, removing or changing the order of the blocks automatically every time
an input is loaded on the bench according to the configuration saved for that input.
Each card is capable of handling 48 stereo processing chains from a 48 KHz mixer. The capacity can
change according to the resources actually required.
Each card also features the stereo sum units necessary to create up to 128 stereo sums with 64
inputs each (in two blocks of 64 x 64 adders each as shown in the figure)

Page 35 of 150
 Fig 16: Structure configurable BUS

For each processing chain, the pre-fader and after-fader outputs are automatically connected to the
summing unit, and each resulting bus also has a pre-fader output and an after-fader output that can
be directed to the desired outputs.
Each of these buses can be used according to the configuration chosen by the user as program bus,
record, auxiliary, mix-minus.
In addition to these, 128 x 2 summing units are still available that are used to create monitor and
talkback buses, 128 monophonizers that allow stereo signals to be routed to mono outputs, 256
peak meters, 4 weighted stereo meters and 4 generators configurable as tone. , white noise, pink
noise.

Page 36 of 150
6.10 BEA3X-GPIO.
The BEA3X-GPIO card has 12 GPO and 12 GPI. The board has two DB26 connectors.

Fig 17: Layout Panel BEA3X-GPIO

GPOs have a pair of contacts for each GPO:

• The central relay
• The normally open contact
For two GPOs the normally closed contact is also available on configurable pins, in any case for all
relays the logic is freely definable via software.
The GPIs provide a pair of contacts to be short-circuited with each other or to be powered from the
outside, according to the configuration to be made via the jumper on the board.
The connector pinout is as follows:
Connector 1 Pin Note
C-GPO1 1 Common contact relay 1
O-GPO1 2 Normally Open contact relay 1
C-GPO2 3 Common contact relay 2
O-GPO2 4 Normally Open contact relay 2
C-GPO3 5 Common contact relay 3
O-GPO3 6 Normally Open contact relay 3
C-GPO4 7 Common contact relay 4
O-GPO4 8 Normally Open contact relay 4
User defined 1 9 User defined +12, +5, GND, Normally Closed 4
C-GPO5 10 Common contact relay 5
O-GPO5 11 Normally Open contact relay 5
C-GPO6 12 Common contact relay 6
O-GPO6 13 Normally Open contact relay 6
C-GPO7 14 Common contact relay 7
O-GPO7 15 Normally Open contact relay 7
C-GPO8 16 Common contact relay 8
O-GPO8 17 Normally Open contact relay 8
User defined 1 18 User defined +12, +5, GND, Normally Closed 8
C-GPO9 19 Common contact relay 9
O-GPO9 20 Normally Open contact relay 9
C-GPO10 21 Common contact relay 10
O-GPO10 22 Normally Open contact relay 10
C-GPO11 23 Common contact relay 11
O-GPO11 24 Normally Open contact relay 11

Page 37 of 150
 C-GPO12 25 Common contact relay 12
O-GPO12 26 Normally Open contact relay 12
Tab 11 - Pinout DB26#1 (GPIO)

Connector 2 Pin Note

1-GPI1 1 Contact 1 Opto 1
2-GPI1 2 Contact 2 Opto 1
1-GPI2 3 Contact 1 Opto 2
2-GPI2 4 Contact 2 Opto 2
1-GPI3 5 Contact 1 Opto 3
2-GPI3 6 Contact 2 Opto 3
1-GPI4 7 Contact 1 Opto 4
2-GPI4 8 Contact 2 Opto 4
User defined 1 9 Can be assigned to +12, +5, GND
1-GPI5 10 Contact 1 Opto 5
2-GPI5 11 Contact 2 Opto 5
1-GPI6 12 Contact 1 Opto 6
2-GPI6 13 Contact 2 Opto 6
1-GPI7 14 Contact 1 Opto 7
2-GPI7 15 Contact 2 Opto 7
1-GPI8 16 Contact 1 Opto 8
2-GPI8 17 Contact 2 Opto 8
User defined 2 18 Can be assigned to +12, +5, GND
1-GPI9 19 Contact 1 Opto 9
2-GPI9 20 Contact 2 Opto 9
1-GPI10 21 Contact 1 Opto 10
2-GPI10 22 Contact 2 Opto 10
1-GPI11 23 Contact 1 Opto 11
2-GPI11 24 Contact 2 Opto 11
1-GPI12 25 Contact 1 Opto 12
2-GPI12 26 Contact 2 Opto 12
Tab 12 - Pinout DB26#2 (GPIO)

6.10.1 Contacts specification of the card

Max GPO current 1A
Max GPO voltage +/-50V referred to GND

Page 38 of 150
6.11 BEA3X-GPO.
The BEA3X-GPO card has 24 GPOs. The board has two DB26 connectors.
GPOs have a pair of contacts for each GPO:
• The central relay
• The normally open contact

For four GPOs the normally closed contact is also available on configurable pins, in any case for all
relays the logic is freely definable via software.

Fig 18: Layout panel BEA3X-GPO

Connector pinout is according the following tables:

Connector 1 Pin Note

C-GPO1 1 Common contact relay 1
O-GPO1 2 Normally Open contact relay 1
C-GPO2 3 Common contact relay 2
O-GPO2 4 Normally Open contact relay 2
C-GPO3 5 Common contact relay 3
O-GPO3 6 Normally Open contact relay 3
C-GPO4 7 Common contact relay 4
O-GPO4 8 Normally Open contact relay 4
User defined 1 9 User defined +12, +5, GND, Normally Closed 4
C-GPO5 10 Common contact relay 5
O-GPO5 11 Normally Open contact relay 5
C-GPO6 12 Common contact relay 6
O-GPO6 13 Normally Open contact relay 6
C-GPO7 14 Common contact relay 7
O-GPO7 15 Normally Open contact relay 7
C-GPO8 16 Common contact relay 8
O-GPO8 17 Normally Open contact relay 8
User defined 2 18 Can be assigned to +12, +5, GND, NC8
C-GPO9 19 Common contact relay 9
O-GPO9 20 Normally Open contact relay 9
C-GPO10 21 Common contact relay 10
O-GPO10 22 Normally Open contact relay 10
C-GPO11 23 Common contact relay 11
O-GPO11 24 Normally Open contact relay 11
Tab 13 - Pinout DB26#1 (GPO)

Page 39 of 150
 Connector 2 Pin Note
C-GPO13 1 Common contact relay 13
O-GPO13 2 Normally Open contact relay 13
C-GPO14 3 Common contact relay 14
O-GPO14 4 Normally Open contact relay 14
C-GPO15 5 Common contact relay 15
O-GPO15 6 Normally Open contact relay 15
C-GPO16 7 Common contact relay 16
O-GPO16 8 Normally Open contact relay 16
User defined 3 9 User defined +12, +5, GND, Normally Closed 16
C-GPO17 10 Common contact relay 17
O-GPO17 11 Normally Open contact relay 17
C-GPO18 12 Common contact relay 18
O-GPO18 13 Normally Open contact relay 18
C-GPO19 14 Common contact relay 19
O-GPO19 15 Normally Open contact relay 19
C-GPO20 16 Common contact relay 20
O-GPO20 17 Normally Open contact relay 20
User defined 4 18 User defined +12, +5, GND, Normally Closed 20
C-GPO21 19 Common contact relay 21
O-GPO21 20 Normally Open contact relay 21
C-GPO22 21 Common contact relay 22
O-GPO22 22 Normally Open contact relay 22
C-GPO23 23 Common contact relay 23
O-GPO23 24 Normally Open contact relay 23
C-GPO24 25 Common contact relay 24
O-GPO24 26 Normally Open contact relay 24
Tab 14 - Pinout DB26#2 (GPO)

6.11.1 Contacts specification of the card

Max GPO current 1A
Max GPO voltage +/-50V referred to GND

Page 40 of 150
6.12 BEA3X-MC.
The BEA3X-MC card provides 2 media converters (numbered 1 and 2) available to use fiber optic
cables as infrastructure for BEALINX connections. Each of the two media converters has a port
named "A" with SFP connector, and a "B" port with RJ45 connector.

Fig 19: Layout Panel BEA3X-MC

Each of the two media converters can be connected to a port on the CORE card and the appropriate
module can be mounted in the corresponding SFP according to the type of optical fiber to be used
and the distance.
Using this system, the BEALINX multi-channel digital connection can cover distances from a few
centimetres to several kilometres without signal deterioration.

6.13 BEA3X-DANT.
The BEA3X-DANT card allows the management of two Dante or Ravenna modules, according to the
needs, which can each provide up to 64 input and 64 output channels. Each AoIP channel is managed
by the central routing of the BEA3x and can be used freely as Mono or used in stereo or multichannel
logic signals.

Fig 20: Layout panel BEA3X-DANT

Connectors functions are as follows:

• DANTE A1 Port: first module, primary network
• DANTE A2 Port: first module, secondary network
• DANTE B1 Port: second module, primary network
• DANTE B2 Port: second module, secondary network

For the specific characteristics of the AoIP streams, refer to the specific documentation of the Dante
and Ravenna standards.

Page 41 of 150
6.14 BEA3X-SDI.
The BEA3X-SDI card allows direct interfacing of SDI video signals. It has two BNC input connectors
and two output BNC connectors for SD / HD / 3G SDI signals.

Fig 21: Layout panel BEA3X-SDI

It offers the possibility of extracting the embedded audio channels from the SDI signals, selecting
which of the two inputs to output as a video signal and possibly inserting new embedded audio
channels with adjustable delay freely chosen from the signals available in the BEA3X on the output
video signal.
It also extracts the synchronism from the SDI signal and is able to generate an audio synchronism
signal that can be used as a reference signal.
This card can therefore be used both as a simple embedder – de-embedder and sync generator
based on the video, but also as a video switcher to switch video signals based, for example, on the
status of mixer channels, useful for Visual Radio applications.

Page 42 of 150
7 Management system (SW).
The BEA3X unit is designed with a 3-level software architecture; the first level is called "BEA3X" and
is the closest to the physical level that deals with audio management and hardware configuration.
The second level is that of the logic mixer which takes care of the administration, configuration and
management of the mixer. The third level is that which makes software objects available to the
various user interface devices that correspond exactly to the commands that the user can give and
the return indications that the user can receive.
The multi-level configuration allows you to ensure the operation of the machine even in the event
of breakdowns or malfunctions of the user interface. This is because the underlying levels are able
to maintain and restore the last used state without external intervention.
All mixer management is also accessible via Python scripts, and a Python engine is installed on each
BEA3X. This allows the total customization of the system, including the addition of unexpected
functions and the creation of automatisms with custom logics. Scripts can be integrated into the
system at any time based on the specific needs of each installation.
Some commonly used scripts have already been developed and are immediately usable with a
minimum of configuration, others can be developed on request, with the important advantage of
not intervening directly on the management software, which would require a lot of validation work,
but to create the required functionalities by freely combining existing and reliable basic functions.

Page 43 of 150
7.1 Logical structure of the mixer.
An ARES mixer is in fact a logical abstraction that the management software translates into
commands to achieve what is required with the available hardware.

Fig 22: ARES mixer block diagram

Page 44 of 150
The ARES mixer, like any mixer, has inputs, outputs, channel strips, buses, monitors and an
integrated talkback system, but everything is a logical entity that can be freely associated with the
physical entities present in the system, in order to allow the total system configurability.
The basic principle is that some Logical Inputs are loaded as needed on the desk, occupying some
logical channel strips. The corresponding signals will sum in an appropriate manner on the selected
logical buses, and the outputs of the various buses as well as all the other signals present in the
system can be assigned to one or more Logical Outputs.
In addition to this, several monitors are managed that allow you to listen to one or more internal or
input / output signals, and some Logical Inputs can be defined as talkback sources and used for
service communications to monitors or Logical buses.
Each of these logical objects is defined through the specific system configuration software, and with
the same software the mapping to the physical object is also defined in the cases (input - output -
GPIO) in which the user must indicate the physical signal connects the logic signal, while the rest of
the mapping is managed automatically by the software.
7.1.1 Logical input.
Each mixer input is a "logical input", which is the logical structure to which all related settings are
associated:
• Name
• Physical inputs to use
• Structure of the processing chain and related parameters
• Default values of the various bus assignments and relative levels
• Background colour of the physical strip when the input is assigned to that strip
• Any actions on the GPO to be carried out when the input assigned to a strip is ON or on air
• Timed association to measure the open time of the channel when assigned
• TAGs that allow you to use that signal, for example, as a switching criterion for other signals
and other customizations related to the specific input.

Physical input:
Each Logical Input is associated with a set of local or remote physical inputs depending on the type
of input: mono, stereo or multichannel. Each Logical Input can be associated with two sets of
physical inputs: primary and secondary, and it is possible at any time to switch from one set to the
other with a dedicated key, even if the most appropriate use is through an automatism to manage
redundant signals.
Multiple logical inputs can share the same physical inputs, with the only obvious limitation in the
case of microphone inputs that the analogue gain will be the one set from time to time and it is not
possible to have two different gain values for the same preamp at the same time. Nothing prevents
you from alternating the use of two different Logical Inputs, in this case the preamplifier will be set
from time to time according to what is saved in the Logical Input in use.

Page 45 of 150
 It is also possible to use a bus as a physical input of a Logical Input, to return an output
bus to the input to use it as an input and to be able to add it to other buses. In this case,
it is up to the user to make sure not to create internal loops that would saturate the
adders and compromise all the signals involved.

Structure of the processing chain and related parameters

Each Logical Input has an internal indication of how the processing chain must be composed when
it is loaded on the desk. As described in the paragraph, the processing chains are dynamic elements
that can be completely reconfigured as required. Each time a Logical Input is loaded on the desk,
the processing chain used (dynamically chosen by the system) is reconfigured to carry out the
defined processing. Each Logical Input could have different chains for the composition and order of
the processing blocks, as well as obviously for the relative adjustments. To speed up the initial
configuration, there is a Default Logical Input object, definable at will, which specifies the base
processing chain for each new Logical Input that is created.

Default values of the various bus assignments and relative levels

Each Logical Input carries within it all the information relating to its assignment or not to the various
available buses, and for the buses that foresee the variation of the contribution level also this level.
Another part of the Logical Input is its association with an N-X bus (mix-minus) which permanently
inhibits the possibility of assigning that input to the specified bus.

Background colour of the physical strip when the input is assigned to that strip
For a faster identification of the channels, it is possible to assign a background colour to the Logical
Inputs: each time they are loaded on a channel strip, the corresponding physical strip will be
highlighted with the selected colour.

Association with a timer to measure the opening time of the channel when assigned
It is possible to define for each Logical Input the association to a timer that measures the opening
time of the channel when the input is associated with a strip. Each time the channel is opened, the
associated timer display appears on the main screen of the ARES Panel software.

Any actions on the GPO to be carried out when the input assigned to a strip is ON or
on air
It is possible to specify for each Logical Input actions to be carried out on Logical GPO (which will
obviously be freely mapped to physical GPOs) when, with the Logical Input loaded on the desk, it is
put in ON, or when it goes On Air (i.e. in addition to being ON has the fader open and is assigned to
at least one bus)

TAGs that allow you to use that signal, for example, as a switching criterion for other
signals or other customizations related to the input.
It is possible to freely assign TAGs to a Logical Input. TAGs are "labels" that can be assigned to logical
objects to add information to be used in different ways: some scripts already available, for example,
use TAGs to manage redundancy between primary and secondary physical inputs based on the
Page 46 of 150
presence of reference signals, or for others automation operations such as assigning or unassigning
buses on multiple channels with a single keystroke. Any custom script can use or modify the Logical
Input TAGs to manage additional information beyond the predefined ones that remain linked to the
logical object and can be used as a decision criterion or as a passage of information between scripts.
This allows an infinite customization of the system in an extremely simple and fast way.
7.1.2 Logical Output
The Logical Outputs are logical structures to manage the system outputs, and can be of different
types (mono, stereo, multichannel) as needed. Like Logical Inputs they can have various other
properties (processing chain, various TAGs).
Each Logical Output is associated with a single set of physical outputs corresponding to the mono /
stereo / multichannel format of the Logical Output, any redundancy in this case is managed by
creating two Logical Out.
It is possible but not recommended to assign the same physical outputs to several Logical Outputs,
as while sharing an input between two Logical Inputs and then processing it in a different way is
always possible without creating conflicts, on the outputs it is advisable to strictly
maintain the correspondence between physical outputs and outputs. logical as by
forcing a share each logic output would try to control its physical outputs, and the signal
actually present on the connector would not be predictable.
7.1.3 Logical Bus
The Logical Buses are also software structures to manage the adders of the system. The
correspondence between logical and physical in this case is managed automatically by the system,
while the user can choose the type of bus, thus determining the different behaviour of the bus and
the availability of different logic keys to be used on the control surface. The Logical Buses can be
freely created until the system resources are saturated, but the creation of a Bus then requires a
restart to allow the user information presentation level to create the logic controls necessary for
the management of the new buses. The logical buses can be of the Stereo or Multichannel type, and
a stereo bus can be converted to mono.
7.1.4 Logical Channel Strip and Logical Desk
Logical Channel Strips are the abstract equivalent of physical mixer channel strips. They are defined
only as a number, while the system takes care of the management of the associated processing
chains. A logical strip does not necessarily have to correspond to a processing chain, in fact they can
also be used to load buses on the bank and make the default controls available if no particular
processing is assigned to the bus.
7.1.5 Logical monitor
Monitors are also logical objects: a monitor is a system formed at least by a selection of the sources
to monitor and a monitor bus, to which a PFL bus and a Talkback reception bus can be associated.

Page 47 of 150
Furthermore, additional monitoring buses can be added to manage multiple cash desk systems in
order to possibly specialize the various outputs for the various functions.
7.1.6 Logical Talkback
In talkbacks the correspondence between logical object and physical signals is closer, as some
sources must be defined, on the basis of which the Talkback Groups are defined (sets of talkback
commands that share the same source) and for each Talkback Group the Talkbacks must be defined.
That is, all possible destinations that will be available for that source. The system will create the
logical talkback buttons to be made available to the user interface to activate the required talkbacks.

7.2 Presentation of controls to the user.

All the logical objects described above have controls that are available in the software and can be
freely associated with the physical controls of the control surface according to how it is composed.
Some keys such as the ON and PFL keys and the channel strip faders have a fairly obvious location
and although they can still be configured differently they are pre-configured at the factory, other
controls are configurable based on the specific needs of each installation. The available controls are
divided into "key" type controls which represent the "keys", then Boolean type settings (ON-OFF)
and "scalar" type controls which represent the numerical values of the system and therefore gain,
various levels, meter values. "LED" type controls are used for the return indications from the system
to the user of Boolean values.
Some keys and some numeric values are "per strip" so each strip has the same control structure,
others are related to buses, others to monitors, others to talkbacks, others to general mixer and
routing functions.

Page 48 of 150
7.3 "Advanced Sync Management" Clock Selection Algorithm.
The selection of the BEA3X clock source is managed by the software with an innovative algorithm
that allows you to statically set the list of sources with relative priority, or to dynamically determine
the most reliable source in a network of several BEA3Xs. This algorithm, developed by Mandozzi to
solve the problems of ring transport systems, is called "Advanced Sync Management" (ASM)

7.3.1 Advanced Sync Management principle

In a classic ring system, the redundancy on the audio connection is sufficient for most applications,
and allows to always have all the signals available even in the event of a breakdown of a device or a
connection. In the example a ring is shown with bidirectional connection in which the priority
between the clock sources is statically set on the P1 port, obviously except for the machine that
receives the external synchronism. The black connections represent the audio data flow, double
multichannel and with the necessary insertions from external inputs, the green dotted connections
represent the passage of synchronism from one machine to another.

Fig 23: Sync scheme in ring with static priorities

In case of device # 3 failure, for example, all the outputs and inputs of the other machines are made
available by the closing of the ring operated by the machines close to the faulty one. Machine # 4,
which would receive the audio stream on port P1 from the faulty line, switches and extracts the
audio signal from port P2, and obviously also switches the sync source to the spare one, that is P2.
Machine # 5, however, still sees the signal entering its P1 port valid, can extract from this port all
the audio signals it needs thanks to the (orange) loop operated by machines # 4 and # 2, and can
base its synchronism on the signal entering the priority port P1. What is missing is the information

Page 49 of 150
about real sync source for machines # 4 and # 5 which are basing their synchronism on each other,
thus creating a loop that causes the clock to drift or oscillate in an unpredictable way.

The result is that the machines that have the P1 priority port that receives the signal from machine
# 5 will work synchronized on the clock generated in the loop, which will be unstable and different
from the original one of the systems. Therefore, in the passage between the “good” part of the
system and the “out of sync” part, there will therefore be errors in the audio data.

Fig 24: Sync scheme in ring with static priorities (fault example 1)

It is clear that the only case in which there is the mathematical certainty of not running into this
problem is only a small ring of only 3 machines, or cases in which an external synchronism is
provided in several points transported independently by the audio ring.

With Mandozzi's ASM algorithm, each machine has an indicator (called Sync Stratum in analogy with
that of the NTP protocol) which actually corresponds to the number of steps taken to obtain the
synchronization of that machine with respect to the primary source of the system.

By means of the configuration software of the various machines, the possible clock sources of each
will be defined, and also the Sync Stratum value to be assumed for all clock sources. Each external
sync input will have a Stratum value, and also audio signals that are eligible as clock sources will
have one. Stratum values can be set as fixed values for external sources, or it is possible to
dynamically read the value from the BEA3x if the source is a BEA3x equipment.

Each machine will calculate its own Sync Stratum by adding 1 to that of the clock source used, and
will dynamically receive from the other BEA3Xs in the system the value to be used for the BEALINX
ports and for the other ports that receive signals from BEA3X devices.

Page 50 of 150
The priority port will always be the one that receives the synchronism signal from the primary source
through the shortest path, that is, the one that receives from the device with the lowest Stratum
value.

In this way, the port selected after an initial transient will always be the one that allows to sync with
fewer jumps to the primary source, thus minimizing the probability of errors thanks to the
shortening of the chains of machines coupled to each other.

Fig 25: Sync scheme in ring with Advanced Sync Management

In the event of a fault as in the following example, machine # 4, being no longer able to lock to the
signal from # 3, will lock to # 5, which, however, will already be linked to # 6 and no clock loops are
generated.

Page 51 of 150
 Fig 26: Sync scheme in ring with Advanced Sync Management (example of failure 1)

Even in the event of different failures, for example machine # 2, the system is always able to self-
correct:

Fig 27: Sync scheme in ring with Advanced Sync Management (example of failure 2)

In this case both machine # 3 (near the faulty node) and machine # 4 even if it is not directly
connected to the fault change their clock source, and prevent the formation of clock loops.

Page 52 of 150
It is then possible to add further connections (for example MADI in addition to the BEALINX ring)
and create a mesh network in which the transport of the dynamically managed clock guarantees
immunity even to combinations of multiple faults that would be unmanageable with a traditional
static priority system.

In any case, it is always possible to specify static values of Sync Stratum for the external inputs and
to configure the management in the old static way.

Page 53 of 150
7.3.2 Sync distribution delays and digital signal sampling.
In a simplified synchronous system, sync distribution delays could be dangerous for the correct data
transmission between machines. Different delays between sync and data lines seems to bring the
possibility of errors reading the data. The synchronous serial data transmission principle is as
depicted in figure: data and clock are transmitted together, one edge of the clock is used by the
transmitter to set the data on the line, the other by the receiver to read the data, and in this way
the data line is read during its stable time.

In the real world this system is used almost only for internal data transfer inside on single electronic
equipment, where connections are fixed and with a known length, or where the connection of data
and clock lines are strictly correlated.

If the delay is not the same in the clock line and data line, it is possible to have a misaligned signal,
that could bring to a read error. If the clock frequency is higher, the sensitivity to the timing error
increases.

In a totally asynchronous system, only data is transmitted and the clock is recovered at the receiver
side: the receiver has a clock synthesizer that is able to generate the correct clock looking for
transitions in the data line. The advantage of this system is that there is no need to transfer an
accurate clock between the 2 devices, on the other side the recovered clock is less stable and the
jitter due to the recover process is a problem if the clock is needed to accurately convert the signal
in the analogue world. Moreover, receiving more than 1 signal will need multiple clocks that will be
slightly different in frequency, and there will be the need to have sample rate converters to

Page 54 of 150
resample all data with the same clock, or a higher clock to process information faster than the input
rate leaving empty spaces between data block, that is not good for a continuous audio signal.

The BEA3x (and many modern digital audio equipment) has a mixed structure to combine the
advantages of both systems: the clock is internally generated with an accurate PLL locked to the
reference clock, so distributing the same reference to all machines there will be no need of sample
rate converters, and the system clock will be good enough for digital to analogue conversions.
Moreover, each digital input circuit (for each AES/EBU and MADI) is able to read the line with its
own local clock, derived from the system clock but aligned with data transitions, so the read from
digital inputs will not suffer misalignment between clock and data.

Fig 28: Input clocking with same reference signal

In addition, the AES/EBU inputs of the BEA3x IOD8 boards can use an individual automatic Sample
Rate Converter (ASRC or SRC) to receive AES/EBU signals clocked with a different timebase and
convert the signal in the BEA3x clock domain resampling the input so that no glitch is added due to
the frequency difference.

Fig 29: Input clocking with different reference signal

Page 55 of 150
In this way it is possible to receive in the BEA3x many signals from many sources both clocked with
same reference and with different reference, and correctly recover aligned samples to perform
audio processing, sums and all operations needed, as in the following simplified timing diagram.

All BEA3x output will then generate signals in sync with the BEA3x clock references.

Fig 30: Simplified timing diagram

Page 56 of 150
8 Control surfaces.
The ARES system is able to work with different control surfaces to obtain maximum flexibility and
user comfort.
The complete management of the system is possible through the ARES PANEL software which is
supplied installed on a Panel PC in combination with each control surface or if necessary it can be
supplied for installation on a PC made available by the user and possibly also used in conjunction
with other software.
A compact CiMix control surface compatible with ARES software with limited functionality is
available.
Instead, it is possible to create a customized ARES surface by composing it with ARES modules which
are available in two formats depending on the present controls.
• Fader4T Module
• CENTRAL Module
• Jolly Module
• Screen Module
• KM40 Module
• KM34E Module

The ARES-USER card is also available, which can be used to create customized push-button panels
integrated into any system by adding only the desired physical controls. It supports 16 buttons with
light indication, a fader and a rotary encoder.

Page 57 of 150
8.1 Software ARES PANEL.
The ARES Panel software allows the integral management of the whole ARES mixer, some settings
can only be made using this software.

Fig 31: ARES Panel Software Main Screen

Page 58 of 150
8.2 Fader4T Module.
The Fader4T module is a control module designed for the management of 4 strips, consisting of 4
motorized 100mm faders, 4 pairs of buttons in axis with each fader and usually intended for ON-
OFF and PFL controls, 4 encoders with integrated key and 4 other pairs of keys on the sides of the
encoder. Next to each fader there are LED meters to monitor the signal and compression level and
the “On Air channel” signal. In addition to these physical controls, there is a 7 "touch screen that
allows access to all other parameters and displays relating to the strip.

Fig 32: ARES-FADER4T Module

Page 59 of 150
8.3 CENTRAL Module.
The CENTRAL module is a control module designed for configurable generic functions. It consists of
a large 10 ”touch screen organized in several configurable pages, and 4 physical encoders always
available at the bottom.

Fig 33: ARES-CENTRAL Module

Page 60 of 150
8.4 Jolly Module.
The ARES Jolly module is a physical controls module that can also be configured from the point of
view of the hardware composition, expected to be available soon. It is designed for the creation of
general controls such as monitor and talkback control or the creation of “master channel” sections.
It will consist of 8 submodules freely chosen from keys, encoder, fader, headphone connector and
talkback speaker, and a 7 ”touch screen. There will also be a microphone input on the front and
additional line inputs / outputs.

Fig 34: ARES-JM Module

Page 61 of 150
8.5 Fader Screen Module.
The Screen module is a small format module designed to be used in conjunction with a Fader4 or
CENTRAL module to provide additional visualizations, but it can also be used independently:
combined with a Fader4 module it can show and allow modification of the settings of the chains
processing, bus assignments, programmable strip keys or viewing strip meters. Combined with
another module or used alone, it can display the general system meters and make other
programmable controls available.

Fig 35: ARES-FADER-SCREEN Module

8.6 KM40 Module.

The KM40 module is a small format module designed to be used in combination with a Fader4 or
CENTRAL module to provide further physical keys immediately reachable (40 total keys, divided into
4 columns of 10), but it can also be used independently: paired with a Fader4 module, it is normally
associated with programmable keys on the strip used to manage sends to auxiliary buses or other
functions. Combined with a Central or Jolly module or used alone it can be used for general system
controls or make other programmable controls available.

Fig 36: ARES-KM40 Module

Page 62 of 150
8.7 KM34E Module.
The KM34E module is a small format module designed to be used alone or in combination with a
CENTRAL module to provide additional physical keys and an immediately accessible encoder. All
controls are fully programmable and a typical use is the management of the studio monitor and
other functions controlled independently by the speaker.

Fig 37: ARES-KM34E Module

Page 63 of 150
9 ARES PANEL management software.
The management software on the Panel PC is the most complete interface for managing the mixer.
Although the other modules are essential to create a practical and immediate surface, some
operations (of rare use) are currently only available with this software and therefore an installation
must be provided for each mixer, on the dedicated panel PC combined with the control surface or
on another PC with adequate performance.

The ARES PANEL screen is divided into 3 areas: left column, central section and right column.
The left column, always visible, shows the name of the mixer, 2 weighted meters capable of
displaying any signal among those made available through the configuration software, and under it
can be configured further 4 keys for functions or quick indications of the mixer, such as for example
the deactivation of all PFLs or all Talkbacks.
In the central part the logo is displayed by default at the top, which can be customized with the
customer's logo also dynamically, and in the part under the watch, which can be removed if desired,
the indication "ON AIR" or "OFF AIR” and any timers related to open inputs when configured.
In the right column, on the other hand, there are all the keys to access the various mixer
management screens, which will open either in the central part leaving the selection keys visible, or
in the right part and then they will be closed to return to the selection keys. Not all selection keys
are always visible, some can be disabled depending on the configuration or to simplify management
when necessary. Two of these keys also function as an alarm indication: the "Remote Nodes" key
flashes red when a remote BEA3X is not reachable from the management network, and the Led key
flashes red or is coloured orange or green reflecting the status of the "General Alarm LED" whose
behaviour is configurable.

Page 64 of 150
For all other buttons, the green highlight indicates that the corresponding screen is open in the
central section, and can be closed to return to the default view by simply pressing the button again
to deactivate it.

9.1 “Strip” panel.

Pressing “Strips” the logical strip management panel is opened in the upper central part of the
screen.

Initially the content of the

lower central part remains
visible, but a "Fader Channel"
button becomes available to
open a control in the lower
part that makes available the
faders, the ON and PFL keys,
and the meters of each strip
to be able to fully control the
mixer in case of failure of
physical controls.
Regardless of whether the
lower part is open or not, the "Source" buttons allow you to load the Logical Inputs and Buses on
the desk according to the categories defined with the configuration software.
Pressing the "Source" button opens this screen at the bottom:

Page 65 of 150
which allows you to navigate in the two levels of categories (one in the top row and one in the left
part) and select the desired Logical Input on the right. Inputs already loaded on the desk are disabled
and cannot be entered more than once.

Once you have chosen the object to load, confirm with the key or alternatively the panel can

be closed with the key before confirming if you do not want to upload the signal. Note that
with the confirm button the chosen object is loaded on the selected strip, but the selection panel is
not closed as it is always possible by clicking another source button at the top to select a new strip
and quickly proceed with multiple uploads. Once finished, the selection panel must be closed with

the key .
When a logical input is loaded on a strip, the Source button changes and shows the name of the
loaded input or, if defined, its "user label", and pressing it no longer directly accesses the signal
selection but the management page of the 'entrance.
Furthermore, the background of the buttons on the upper part of the screen is coloured with the
colour defined for the loaded signal, in order to allow faster identification of the various strips: for
example, in the figure, the logical input "PLAYER IN 1/2" was assigned a green colour in
configuration.

Page 66 of 150
Using the keys you navigate to pages of 8 in all the mixer strips, and with the keys select
the display of the blocks for selecting the input and processing or for assigning them to the various
buses. Each block is a button that shows the status of the block and allows you to open the
corresponding detail screen at the bottom, in the "IN" screen we find from the top, for each strip,
direct access to:
• Dynamic Processor
• Eq
• DeEsser
• Input management

and in the "OUT" screen direct access to:

• Pan/Bal
• Master / Record / Groups / VCA Routing
• N-x Routing
• Aux Routing

The buttons are activated based on the actual presence of the processing block in the chain, for
example the "PLAYER IN 1/2" channel in the figure above does not have the DeEsser in its processing
chain.

Page 67 of 150
9.1.1 Input Management Screen.
The input management screen presents a signal and compression meter and a series of controls that
varies according to the type of input actually loaded, while above the list of channel strips remains
visible and the one to which the panel remains highlighted in blue below is reported

Digital "gain" adjustment is available for all types of input, while for the microphone inputs as in the
example there is also the adjustment of the analogue gain of the preamplifier and the enabling of
the phantom power supply. It is also always present but enabled only when the secondary physical
inputs are defined as the switching button to the secondary physicists, and in the right column we
find the setting of the input matrix, the phase inversion, the enabling of the generator instead of
the signal. real, the enabling of the Sample Rate Converter (only for AES / EBU inputs), the Advanced
button which gives access to a further diagnostic and setting page, the pair of keys to set or remove
the user label and the " SEL ”to load another signal onto the strip or remove the power.

Page 68 of 150
In the Advanced page there are 4 buttons to enable operating modes linked between the ON button
and the Fader: you can choose to have the fader open automatically when the channel goes ON and
whether to close it when the channel becomes OFF (OPEN FADER MODE) and vice versa whether to
change the state of the button according to the value of the fader (ON CHANNEL MODE). On the
same page there is information on the physical inputs (primary and secondary) from which the signal
comes from with the relative path in the case of remote inputs, information on the processing chain
used and any error messages if the upload is not successful (for example for unreachable remote
inputs or incorrect physical input configurations). The two keys "Reassign input" and "Cut input" can
be useful especially in the case of remote inputs to force a new loading of the input in case the
remote devices were not reachable (the error message is displayed) or remove the channel .
The “user label” is a channel label that can be quickly assigned to the Logical Input for more
immediate identification, and if defined it replaces the channel name everywhere except in the
Advanced window. It is saved in the Logical Input settings and reloaded each time the Logical Input
is loaded on the desk, and it is saved and reloaded (and may be different) in the snapshots, for
example to display the name of the speakers for each program. To remove it, use the reset button
on the source management page.

Page 69 of 150
9.1.2 Dynamic Processor Screen.
The dynamic processor setting screen is in turn divided into two pages, with the compressor - limiter
settings and those of the expander. Above the list of channel strips remains visible and the one to
which the panel below refers is highlighted in blue.

The graph on the right represents the entire processing:

▪ a light blue curve represents the response of the compressor
▪ a purple curve represents the expander's response
▪ the orange horizontal line represents the intervention level of the limiter

The “COMP” and “EXPANDER” keys above the graph allow you to view the parameters of the two
processes, and the blue and purple “ON-OFF” keys on the right to activate the two processes
separately. The limiter is activated together with the compressor.
When only the compressor is active, the area under the compressor curve is filled in blue.
When only the expander-gate is active, the area under the expander-gate curve is filled in purple.
When both processes are active, the area under the resulting curve is filled in orange.

To change a parameter, you can use the key next to the corresponding box and manually enter
only the numerical value.
Alternatively, by clicking the box of the desired parameter, the fader on the left (useful for use with
touch screens or mouse) is associated with that parameter and can be used to modify it.
Alternatively, if you have a Fader4 module associated with the desired strip, you can access the
same control page using the Fader4 module and adjust the parameters using the rotary encoders.

Page 70 of 150
9.1.3 Equalizer screen.
The equalizer setting screen also includes, for the microphone inputs, the enabling of the additional
high pass filter. Above the list of channel strips remains visible and the one to which the panel below
refers is highlighted in blue.

The equalizer consists of 6 parametric filters, whose vertex is represented by the position of the
circle with the number. The selected filter is highlighted by the fill of the circle, and its parameters
are adjustable using the controls on the left:
the selection of the type of filtering is carried out for each filter using a key
selector, the numerical values of gain, frequency and Q can be set using three cursors or numerical
boxes that can be modified with the key . It is also possible to click the circle and move it in the
graph to simultaneously modify the frequency and gain values.
Alternatively, if you have a Fader4 module associated with the desired strip, you can access the
same control page using the Fader4 module and adjust the parameters using the rotary encoders.
The graph represents the individual contributions of the filters with coloured curves, and the
resultant with a white curve.
In the summary view on the top panel button the white curve is
coloured red when the filter is activated

Page 71 of 150
9.1.4 DeEsser Screen.
The DeEsser screen includes controls similar to those of the equalizer and the compressor, the
combination of which determines the operation of the DeEsser. A two-band equalizer determines
which spectral components are the sibilant part of the signal, and the compressor reduces the level
when the detected components exceed the set threshold. Above the list of channel strips remains
visible and the one to which the panel below refers is highlighted in blue.

To change a parameter, you can use the key next to the corresponding box and manually enter
only the numerical value.
Alternatively, by clicking the box of the desired parameter, the fader on the left (useful for use with
touch screens or mouse) is associated with that parameter and can be used to modify it.
Alternatively, if you have a Fader4 module associated with the desired strip, you can access the
same control page using the Fader4 module and adjust the parameters using the rotary encoders.
The buttons at the bottom left "ON" and "LISTEN" allow you to activate the processing and listen to
the filtered signal (only with channel OFF, therefore to be used via PFL) to facilitate the identification
of the hiss.
In the summary view on the top panel button, the filter curve is coloured red and the area under
the equalizer curve filled in blue when the processing is activated.

Page 72 of 150
9.1.5 Pan/Bal Screen.
The Pan / Bal screen includes a PAN or BALANCE control to the stereo bus and a two-dimensional
control for routing to the 5.1 bus.
Above the list of channel strips remains visible and the one to which the panel below refers is
highlighted in blue.

To quickly bring the PAN back to the centre it is possible to double click on the cursor.
You can use the key to change the values next to the box and manually enter only the numerical
value.
Alternatively, faders or spatial control can be used.
Alternatively, having a Fader4 module associated with the desired strip, you can access the same
control page using the Fader4 module and adjust the parameters using the rotary encoders.

Page 73 of 150
9.1.6 Bus Master Screen.
The Bus Master screen allows you to assign and un-assign the channel to program buses, record
buses, groups and VCAs. These assignments are visible at 3 to 3 for each category, and it is possible

to scroll through the buses not visible if they were in greater number with the keys which
become enabled in case of need.
The page also features the Fader control with the ON and PFL keys, which can be used if necessary,

and the Jolly key that when configured is enabled and allows you to activate the function as
you wish configured. It is usually used to associate talkback to return bus channels.
Above the list of channel strips remains visible and the one to which the panel below refers is
highlighted in blue.

The contribution to the Program, Record and Group buses is post-fader by definition, however on
the Record buses it is possible to activate the Pre-Fader contribution or make Off-Air recordings.
A double click on the fader slider immediately brings its value to 0.

Page 74 of 150
9.1.7 Bus N-x Screen.
The N-x bus contribution adjustment screen allows you to set how much of that channel will add up
to the different N-x buses of the system. For each bus there is a contribution enable key and the
level adjustment fader with the relative text box. The labels at the bottom show the name of the
bus (In this example simply numbered, it is of course possible to assign intuitive names based on the
destination).
The system bus number is freely configurable, the keys allow you to check them all on pages.
Above the list of channel strips remains visible and the one to which the panel below refers is
highlighted in blue.

To change the contribution values, you can use the key next to the box and manually enter only
the numerical value.
Alternatively, you can use the on-screen faders or alternatively by having a Fader4 module
associated with the desired strip, you can access the same control page using the Fader4 module
and adjust the parameters using the rotary encoders.
The button on the top panel shows the status of contributions (in the case of more
than 8 N-x buses configured in the system, those on the last page opened). Buses
with active contributions are coloured yellow and the filling height of the bar
indicates the level. The numbers on the first and last bar indicate the page visible at that moment.

Page 75 of 150
9.1.8 Bus Aux Screen.
The Aux bus contribution adjustment screen allows you to set how much of that channel will add
up to the different Aux buses of the system. For each bus there is the contribution enable key, the
level adjustment fader with the relative text box and the Pre-Fader or After Fader mode selection
keys. The labels at the bottom show the name of the bus (in this example simply numbered, it is of
course possible to assign intuitive names based on the destination).
The system bus number is freely configurable, the keys allow you to check them all on pages.
Above the list of channel strips remains visible and the one to which the panel below refers is
highlighted in blue.

To change the contribution values, you can use the key next to the box and manually enter only
the numerical value.
Alternatively, you can use the on-screen faders or alternatively by having a Fader4 module
associated with the desired strip, you can access the same control page using the Fader4 module
and adjust the parameters using the rotary encoders.
The button on the top panel shows the status of contributions (in the case of more
than 8 Aux buses configured in the system, those on the last page opened). The
buses with pre-fader active contribution are coloured in yellow, the buses with post-
fader active contribution are coloured in blue, the yellow rectangles at the bottom or blue at the
top indicate the type of contribution also with closed contribution, and the height of the bar filling
indicates the level. The numbers on the first and last bar indicate the page visible at that moment.
Page 76 of 150
9.2 “Buses” Panel.
Pressing “Buses” opens the management screen of the mixer logical buses in the central part,
divided in turn by category.
The buttons at the top right allow you to choose the type of bus / group to be displayed.

For each type of bus, the buses of that type are shown on the GUI strips. If a bus has a configured
processing chain, this is represented and can be controlled with the corresponding keys: clicking on
the keys of the various processing blocks opens the relative adjustment screens in the lower part as
already seen for the "Strip" panel ( par. 9.1)
Also shown are the "Input Groups" which are actually groupings of logical ON / OFF commands of
the channels, but they can be configured with the same intuitive interface of the buses for which a
channel can be enabled or disabled within the Input Group and this means that the switching on /
off of that channel will follow that of the Input Group.

Page 77 of 150
Each bus can be selected by clicking the “Source” button and, depending on the type, two different
windows open on the page below:
for the Master, REC and Group buses on
the left there is the bus level meter and
the general output adjustment (level and
enable), on the right a series of
contribution enable buttons that
correspond to the channels loaded on
the desk at that moment , which can be
browsed with the keys if more
pages are needed.

for the N-x and AUX buses on the left

there is the bus level meter and the
general output adjustment (level and
enable), on the right a series of faders
(which can be browsed with the if
more pages are needed) with the level
and enabling of the various channels to
that bus.

Page 78 of 150
9.3 “Outputs” Panel.
Pressing “Outputs” opens in the central part the screen for managing the outputs to which a
processing chain has been associated.
In the upper part are displayed the outputs to which a processing chain is associated and the related
blocks according to their presence. By clicking on the keys of the various processing blocks, the
relative adjustment screens open in the lower part as already seen for the "Strip" Panel (par. 9.1).

Page 79 of 150
9.4 “Monitors” Panel.
The “Monitors” panel opens on the right side of the screen, it must then be closed with its button

to return to the panel selection keys.

Tasto di espansione delle Tasto di modifica delle
scelte di monitoria scelte di monitoria

Sezione di scelta
Tasto controllo dell’ascolto di
della seconda monitoria
sorgente di
monitoria

Funzione di Follow

Tasto di PFL to
MON
Sezione di controllo
dell’uscita di
monitoria

Sezione del
Tallback applicato
alla monitoria

Tasti di scelta della

sezione di
monitoria

From this panel you can control the various functions of Monitors.
The monitor panel is divided into several sections.

Page 80 of 150
9.4.1 Monitoring listening choice section.
Using these buttons, you can listen to various signal sources.
The signal source you are monitoring is marked green.
Keys can be freely assigned. Normally 12 monitor signal
selection keys are visible, with the expansion key we can view
all 16 monitor sources.
With the button to modify the monitor choices we can add, remove or modify the monitor
sources.
When this button is pressed, the monitor selection screen appears.

We can choose it monitors through the various types of sources.

With this key we confirm the choice of the monitor source

9.4.2 Choice of “follow” function.

The Follow function allows you to "follow" the selected
monitor source on another monitor.
For example, the monitoring of the guest follows that
of the studio.
When the source is changed from the studio monitor, it
will also change for the guest's listening.

9.4.3 ADD SRC2.

The “Add second source” button allows you to listen to a second monitor source
in addition to the first. The second source can be heard in split LR or Dim AB
mode.

Page 81 of 150
To activate the second monitor source, press the “ADD SRC2” button and select the second source,
while the button is active you can select, modify or remove the second source, by deselecting the
button you go back to changing the primary source. The two sources are independent and can be
used simultaneously by switching from the choice of the first to that of the second freely.
9.4.4 PFL to MON.
The “PFL to MON” key allows you to activate the special swap, split or other
actions defined in the configurator.

Page 82 of 150
9.4.5 Control section of the monitor output.

Mute dell’uscita di
Livello di Fader monitoria
dell’uscita di
monitoria
Dim dell’uscita di
Controllo del livello monitoria
dell’uscita di
monitoria
Inversione di fase
dell’uscita di
Pan dell’uscita di monitoria
monitoria
Monofonizzazione
dell’uscita di
Scelta dell’uscita di monitoria
monitoria

The monitor output control section allows you to control the single output linked to the selected
monitor.
To change the output linked to the selected monitor, simply press the monitor
output selector.
The output level is changed via the fader, the level can be entered by selecting
the pencil next to the numerical indicator.
Through the PAN slider you can change the spatial position in listening.
The associated functions are controlled with the MUTE, DIM, PHASE and MONO
buttons.

Page 83 of 150
9.4.6 Talkback section applied to monitor.

Through this control you can control the talkback level on the monitor.
The level can be entered by selecting the pencil next to the numerical indicator.
9.4.7 Choice of monitoring.
With the four buttons at the bottom it is possible to
control the desired monitor.
The fourth key also acts as a selector for non-visible
monitors

Page 84 of 150
 Tasti di attivazione
dei talkback
Tasto di modifica
delle scelte di
talckback

Prewiew dei livelli Attivazione del

di talkback gruppo di talkback

Livello del bus di

Livello della
talkback
sorgente di
talkback

Tasti di scelta della

sezione di talkback

Talkbacks can be controlled from this panel

When we activate a talkback, if its source is on the desk and on Air, it is removed from all the
destination buses and routed to the talkback bus.

Page 85 of 150
9.4.8 Talkback activation keys.
In this section we can activate one or more talkbacks at
the same time
Active talkbacks are highlighted in green.
The position of the keys can be freely assigned
With the change key of the talkback keys we can add,
remove or change the assignment of the keys.

After pressing this button, Talkback choice page shows

up.

With this button we confirm the choice of talkback

Page 86 of 150
9.4.9 Talkback Preview.
Through the preview button it is possible to adjust the levels of the sources and those of the talkback
bus.

9.4.10 Talkback group.

The talkback group allows you to activate multiple talkbacks at the same time.
With this key you can change the talkbacks belonging to the group.
The keys with a yellow border belong to the group. The GROUP
key activates and deactivates the talkbacks belonging to the
group

Page 87 of 150
9.4.11 Levels of sources and talkback buses.

When a talkback is active or in preview, you can change the level of its source with the fader on the
left. The fader on the right modifies the level of the entire associated talkback bus.
9.4.12 Choice of Talkback.

With the four keys at the bottom it is possible to select the desired talkback group; the fourth key
also acts as a selector for invisible talkback groups.

Page 88 of 150
9.5 “Output routing” and “Patch routing” Panels
9.5.1 Levels of routing and priorities.
The “Output routing” and “Patch routing” panels open in the lower central part by clicking the
corresponding buttons, and are identical in appearance and operation. The only difference is the
type of routing they set. The ARES mixer can perform routing at four different levels, which are in
order of priority from highest to lowest:
▪ Configurator - level routing
▪ “patch”- level routing
▪ “output” - level routing
▪ Default - routing

9.5.2 Configurator - level routing.

Some routings can be set using the system configuration software and are therefore permanent
during the restart and not editable, for example, an output could be defined in the configuration as
a monitor output. In that case it is not possible to change the assignment to that output except by
using the configuration software.
9.5.3 “Patch” – Level Routing.
Routings set at the "patch" level are permanent and are restored upon restart, they can be modified
using the "Patch Routing" panel, they cannot use outputs already occupied by routing at the
configurator level and they cannot be overwritten by "Output Routing"
9.5.4 “Output” - Level Routing.
Routings set at the "output" level are lost on restart but can be saved in snapshots and then
reloaded. They cannot use outputs already occupied by routing at configurator level or at "patch"
level.
9.5.5 Default Routing.
Each output can have a default signal assigned by the configuration software. It can be overwritten
by any other type of routing, but remains on hold and if the other routing is removed the default
signal is automatically restored.

Page 89 of 150
9.5.6 Routing management panel

The routing management panel is composed (for both "Output Routing" and "Patch Routing") of:
▪ A View mode
▪ a pair of filter boxes for quick search through the categories set by the configuration
software
▪ a pair of buttons for navigating between pages
▪ 16 view boxes and routing editing.

In the display by output ("Output" on the selector) each box represents an output and it is possible
to assign only one signal for each output. The filters at the top allow you to filter the boxes according
to the categorization of the outputs defined in the configuration for that routing level.
In the view by source (“Source” on the selector) each box represents a source and it is possible to
assign multiple outputs to each source. The filters at the top allow you to filter the boxes according
to the categorization of the sources defined in the configuration for that level of routing.

Each routing box has a button ("Info") that allows you to view information relating to the
correspondence between logical object and associated physical object (of the output or of the
source signal), a label in which the name (of the output or of the source according to the display) is
displayed , a side box indicating the name of the remote machine in case of remote outputs, the
main part where routing is indicated, which will have none or only one signal in the display by
outputs, none or more outputs in the display by sources.

Page 90 of 150
In the example above:
▪ The output to the first two rows of LEDs on the front of the BEA3X (defined
as a stereo pair) has no assigned signals but has the PGMA bus as its default
source, it is possible to assign a routing
▪ The output to the third row of LEDs on the front of the BEA3X (defined as
mono) has a "patch routing" assigned (the label is coloured red) and cannot
be changed on this page (because the "Output Routing" panel is open, and
the routing box is greyed out) which uses another stereo output as its source
▪ The output towards the fourth row of LEDs on the front of the BEA3X (defined
as mono) has a routing assigned by the configurator (the label is coloured
blue) and cannot be changed on this page (the routing box is disabled in grey)
which uses as source a bus (in this case “Monitoria1”) in After Fader mode
▪ The "Dante 001/002" output has an assigned "output routing" (the label is
coloured green) that can be changed and currently uses a bus (in this case "N-
X1") as a source in After Fader mode.

Switching to "by source" mode and filtering appropriately or browsing

through the pages you will find the same routings indicated in this way:

▪ the "AES out 001/002" signal is directed via "patch routing" to the "LED3"
output
▪ the "N-x1" bus is directed via "output routing" to the "Dante 001/002" output
▪ the "Monitoria1" bus is directed by configuration software to the "MON" and
"LED4" outputs

Page 91 of 150
It is always possible to assign stereo signals to mono outputs and vice versa: in the case of assigning
mono signals to stereo outputs, the mono signal is duplicated on the two L-R channels, while in the
opposite case the system automatically instantiates the necessary monophonizer.
Note that if made available by configuration software, it is possible to assign another
output as the source of an output: the system "copies" the source of the output used
as a source to the output used as a destination. In this way there is the theoretical
possibility of creating assignment loops between outputs without a real source, which
cause unpredictable behaviour and should be avoided.

To edit a routing by clicking on the desired box in the appropriate panel (“Output” or “Patch”) this
window opens:

Once the desired signal has been selected by browsing the categories (in the right column), it is
highlighted in blue, to remove a routing the signal must be deselected (no buttons highlighted in
blue in the right column, as in the figure above). The operation can be confirmed with the key

or cancelled with the key .

If confirmed, you go to a further screen where you can select the connection mode according to the
available tapping points:
. for buses, the "pre-Fader" and "After-Fader" modes are always available (before and after the
general bus level control)the “Direct Input (IN)” mode is always available
. for the inputs (independent of the processing).

Page 92 of 150
 Intermediate tapping points in the processing chains (including the "After Fader" for
the inputs) may also be available as routing sources, but in this case the signal will
only be present when the processing chain is connected, i.e. for the inputs when the
input is loaded into a strip.

9.6 “System Routing” e “Group Routing” Panels

The "System Routing" and "Group Routing" panels open in the lower central part of the screen: they
contain a series of buttons (in configurable number) organized in pages of 16. These buttons can be
associated with predefined routing groups via configuration software that the system activates and
deactivates following the state of the button.

In this way it is possible to modify in bulk some routings of the mixer by pressing a single button that
can be duplicated on any physical button of the surface. It is a useful feature for example to control
routing to shared codecs, switching between studios, etc.

Page 93 of 150
9.7 “Snapshot” Panel.
On the Snapshots page, you can load or save a part or the entire snapshot.
Tasto per attivare
Opzioni di
Snapshot la modifica del
salvataggio/
selezionato nome dello
caricamento
snapshot

Snapshots
disponibili

Snapshot
corrente

Tasti di
caricamento/
salvataggio/
eliminazione

In the window we find the available snapshots, by selecting one we can load it with the LOAD key.
During loading, if a channel of the desk is ON-AIR this is not overwritten.
If we select a snapshot and press SAVE it is overwritten with the current bank configuration.
The DELETE key removes the selected snapshot.
The operations of SAVE and DELETE are not reversible, if we use these two keys the old
configurations will be lost.
By pressing on the pencil, we can change the name of the snapshot through the virtual keyboard
that appears on the screen.
The word "Last snapshot" reminds us of the last uploaded snapshot.
Through the save option keys it is possible to load or save only a part of the snapshot.
Some examples:
• On a snapshot we want to overwrite the monitoring configurations with those in use:

We deactivate the "inputs", "busses" and "outputs" keys, leaving only "monitors" active, at this
point we select the snapshot on which we want to overwrite only the monitor part and press SAVE.
Page 94 of 150
 • In the current snapshot we want to load only the configurations of the Inputs:

We activate only the "inputs" key by deactivating the others and press on LOAD.
If we want to save the current configuration we must not forget to save a snapshot before loading
the new one.

9.8 System Panel

The "System" panel opens in the lower central part of the screen and contains some useful
commands for general system management and indication of the software version in execution.

The available commands are as follows:

Display On/Off
Allows you to turn off all control surface displays when the mixer is not in use.

Save Config
Forces the current system configuration to be saved, including all channel processing settings
currently on the desk. Normally the configuration is saved each time a channel is removed from the
desk, to have the last setting available for the next use.

Show CONFIG Buttons

Enables on connected GUI the button to get access to GUI configuration page (Fader4, CENTRAL,
Jolly, Screen).

Page 95 of 150
 Update Panel PC
Update the running GUI (ARES Panel) by downloading the correct version from the BEA3X to which
the software is connected. The software is downloaded to the local PC, then the running application
is closed and the updated version automatically reopened.

Clean Strips
Removes all logical inputs loaded on the bank. This command can only be executed if there are no
On-Air channels on the desk, otherwise an error message is displayed.

Export diagnostic
Allows you to export files useful for factory diagnostics.

Restart Panel PC
Restart the currently running ARES Panel application (some changes to the mixer structure made
via configuration software require a restart of the GUI for proper synchronization between real
status and user display).

Restart all interfaces

Restarts all currently connected control surfaces (some changes to the mixer structure made via
configuration software require restarting the GUI for proper synchronization between real state and
user display).

Update all interface devices

Updates all currently connected control surfaces by downloading the correct version for each from
the BEA3X to which the surface is connected. In each module, the software is downloaded locally,
then the running application is closed and the updated version automatically reopened.

Save default snapshot

It allows you to save the default snapshot which, according to the set configuration, the system can
automatically load on reboot.

Load default snapshot

Allows you to manually load the saved default snapshot.

Other screens in clean mode

Start cleaning mode on all other connected surfaces: During cleaning mode, the screens display a
“Clean Mode” message and the countdown indicating the time remaining before automatic
deactivation, commands from the touch screens are ignored and where present, physical controls
are disabled. Control surfaces can then be completely cleaned and sanitized while the mixer is on
air. The cleaning mode is automatically deactivated after a configurable time, or it can be
deactivated manually by pressing the button again. When deactivated, a countdown is displayed for
the reactivation of the physical controls, during this time the faders are automatically returned to
the correct position and all the controls become active again, it is therefore necessary to stop
cleaning immediately in order not to risk sending unwanted commands to the mixer.
Page 96 of 150
 Current screen in clean mode
Start the cleaning mode on the PC running the ARES Panel software: for a configurable time, a “Clean
Mode” message is displayed and the countdown indicating the time remaining before automatic
deactivation. It is not possible to deactivate this mode before the configured time has elapsed, all
the other surfaces however remain fully operational.

Page 97 of 150
9.9 “Layers” Panel
The "Layers" panel opens in the central part of the screen, and allows the management of the display
layers of the strips. It is divided into two columns: on the left the management of the available
layers, on the right the interface for configuring the various layers.

The number of layers available in the system can be set using the configuration software, and each
layer can be freely defined by the user as name and content, except for the Default layer which can
be renamed but whose content cannot be modified and establishes the correspondence 1 : 1
between mixer logic strips and control surface physical strips.
In the left box:

• The key allows you to recall the corresponding layer (the logical recall button of each
layer can be associated at will on the physical buttons of the surface)

• The key allows you to rename the layer

• The key allows you to empty the configuration of the corresponding layer and restore
it to default.

By clicking outside the buttons, it is possible to select a layer, which is highlighted as in the figure:

and display its contents in the boxes in the right column for editing.
Page 98 of 150
On the right, the physical strips are displayed on pages of 4 and the logical strip to be associated can
be set for each by clicking in the box and choosing the desired strip in the table that opens. The
name of the logical input loaded on the associated logical strip and the number are displayed.

With the key you can quickly remove the setting made.
The navigation between the pages is possible using the keys .

Page 99 of 150
9.10 “Remote Nodes” Panel
The “Remote Nodes” panel opens in the central part of the screen, and allows you to monitor the
status of remote nodes in a system made up of several BEA3X units. The button starts flashing red
(with the panel closed) if there is an alarm related to the connection to the remote nodes.

The page is divided into two columns that are used both or only one depending on whether the
system is an isolated mixer (any remote nodes are only the I / O extension BEA3Xs) or inserted in a
network of several mixers (they can be BEA3X extension I / O and the main BEA3X of the other
mixers).
In a simple mixer without an I / O extension BEA3X unit there will be only one CERBERUS
management system and only the main BEA3X will appear in the relevant column.
In the presence of a simple mixer with I / O extension unit BEA3X there will be only one CERBERUS
management system and the main BEA3X and the extensions will appear in the relative column (in
the example the CERBERUS_ST2 column with the BEA3X named EDIT1-MM as main and those
named FRAMEx as extensions).
In a network of several mixers, in addition to the CERBERUS management system of the local mixer,
the column of the CERBERUSBUS management system will be visible, and the main BEA3Xs of the
other mixers in the network will appear in the corresponding column (in the example the
CERBERUSBUS column with the BEA3X EDIT1 -MM which also appears in this column because the
local mixer is also connected to the network management system, and EDIT1-MB, MixMtxMain1
and MixMtxBackup1 which are the other mixers on the network).

Page 100 of 150

If the management connection between the management system and a remote node is lost, an
alarm is displayed, it is possible to accept the alarm message and deactivate the signal using the
“Stop Remote Alarms” button. In the figure above, for example, you can see that the BEA3X
"MixMtxMain1" has lost the connection with the CERBERUSBUS network management system

Page 101 of 150

9.11 “Led” Panel
The "Led" panel opens in the central part of the screen, and allows you to view the virtual LEDs of
the system to obtain various signals of presence of signals, alarms etc. The button reflects the status
of the "General Alarm LED", whose behaviour is given by the sum of the LEDs defined as alarms via
the configuration software: it flashes red when an alarm is active, and is coloured yellow when an
alarm has been activated in passed and returned, until the report is accepted. Using the
configuration software, it is possible to choose which LEDs to make visible in the interface and which
contribute to the status of the "General Alarm LED”.

Example ( in fig.):
• MTXMAIN-TONE and MTXBK-TONE are the status of two modulation controllers; they
monitor two signals whose level serves as a control for switching between primary and
secondary physics; the green colour indicates that no interruptions have been detected on
the basis of the parameters set in the monitored signals REF PAR.7.1.1
• BEALINX1 indicates the status of the first BEALINX connection in the system, and the yellow
colour indicates that a disconnection was detected in the past but at this time the signal is
valid again. By clicking on the LED, its status returns to green.
• BEALINX2 indicates the status of the second BEALINX connection of the system, and the
orange colour with the icon indicates that the LED is currently in alarm, but the alarm has
been temporarily disabled (for example because a maintenance operation is in progress and
the disconnection is under control)
• Slot[2]sfp[2] indicates that the MADI connection of the second SFP of the card in slot 2 is in
alarm. It is possible to temporarily disable the alarm and then bring the LED to the orange
state with the icon by clicking on the red led.

Page 102 of 150

9.12 “Custom Buttons” and “Custom Scalars” Panels
The "Custom Buttons" and "Custom Scalars" panels open in the central part of the screen, and allow
you to access custom buttons and numerical values.

Using the key it is possible to assign any general buttons of the system to the Custom
buttons.
Alternatively, these keys can be used directly by associating them with python scripts specifically
developed to add functionality to the system or remote systems.
Similarly, the system provides "custom scalars" which are numerical values whose use is free
through python scripts, and can be associated with numerical parameters of the system, of remote
systems or used as variables.
The number of custom buttons and custom numeric values can be defined in the system
configuration.

Page 103 of 150

10 Fader4T module Software
The Fader4T module is one of the basic modules for making an ARES control surface.
It is the basic module designed for the control of 4 strips, to which additional modules can be added
where necessary to increase the number of controls that can be used on the same strips.
Each module is fully configurable, and theoretically every key and every physical surface control
could be assigned to any mixer function, even if in most situations the factory configuration already
corresponds to what the user expects from a control surface.
The control of the strips is carried out through the combination of a motorized fader, a rotary
encoder, 2 LED meters, 1 ONAIR signalling LED and 4 physical buttons per strip, combined with a 7
"touch display which is divided into 4 columns corresponding to the strips o when necessary it is
used as a "Channel Master" section located and independent from the other modules, thus allowing
easy use of the control surface by several operators at the same time.

10.1 Physical Controls

The encoder is not normally used, it can be associated instantly via configurable keys on central
modules (CENTRAL or KM or Screen, theoretically even with keys of the same fader module, even if
it is a mostly inconvenient and unintuitive solution) to the main parameters of the strip: Gain, Mic
Gain (for the microphone inputs), Pan / Bal, and all levels of contribution to the Nx and Aux buses
of the system. Furthermore, when opening a master section located on the fader module display, it
is possible to use the module encoders as physical controls of the parameters shown on the display.
It is also possible to specify a key of your choice among all the keys of each strip to which
the enabling of the corresponding contribution is associated when the encoders are
associated with the contribution levels of a bus.
The encoder also incorporates a key whose function can be freely assigned.
The two membrane keys next to the encoder are freely assignable, generally they are
used for fast channel assignments to frequently used buses (PGM, REC, Aux for effects)
but can be associated with any function of the logic strip.
The fader is assigned by default to adjust the level of the processing chain fader, but
theoretically it can be associated with any numeric value of the system.
The ON and PFL keys are assigned by default to the ON-OFF functions of the channel and
the main PFL of the desk, but theoretically they can be associated with any key of the
system, and the labels are replaceable simply by removing the plastic cap of the key.

10.2 Touch Display

The 7 ” touch display features the upper part of the strip controls, aligned with each
fader, and organized in an intuitive software divided over several pages. You can choose
the default page to be shown at start-up and when the "home" button on the surface is pressed,
and configure which pages to make available (others can be made available on additional Screen
modules).

Page 104 of 150

The example shows the IN page, with 2 playout channels loaded
in that position on the bank (with User Labels "A" and "B"), a
microphone and a signal from a remote studio, the encoder has
been associated to the sent to telephone 1 and the right
membrane key is configured to follow the encoder send, while
the left is the enabling of the send to the effect and the encoder
key has no function.
It is also immediately visible that the MIC1 has the compressor,
gate and equalizer enabled while the other channels have all the
processing resources available but disabled.
The small "P" on the left of the User Label "MILANO R2"
indicates that that input is currently connected to the primary
physical input but the secondary is available, while the other
inputs do not have a configured secondary input.
Finally, the bottom line shows the software version, the name
of the logical mixer to which the module is connected and the IP
address of the module.
The display is divided into two parts: in the upper part various
pages are available according to the configuration of the module, in the lower part the control of
the encoder and the membrane keys is visible and independent from the pages of the upper section.
Each block in the upper part is a button that shows the status of the block and allows you to open
the corresponding detail screen in full screen, on the "IN" page we find from the top, for each strip,
direct access to:
• Dynamic Processor
• Eq
• DeEsser
• Input management
on the "OUT" page direct access to:
• Pan/Bal
• Master / Record / Groups / VCA routing
• N-x routing
• Aux routing
The buttons are activated based on the actual presence of the processing block in the chain.
There is also a "FUNC" page with 8 function keys per strip, freely configurable, and a "METER" page
with the meters of each strip and, if present, of the N-x bus associated with the logical input loaded
on the strip.
10.2.1 Input management.
The input management screen presents a signal and compression meter and a series of controls that
varies according to the type of input actually loaded, while at the bottom the list of channel strips

Page 105 of 150

of that module remains visible and remains highlighted with the box orange to which the panel
below refers, you can click on the other labels to move to the other strips without having to close
and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders
are automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

Digital "gain" adjustment is available for all types of input, while for the microphone inputs as in the
example there is also the adjustment of the analogue gain of the preamplifier and the enabling of
the phantom power supply. It is also always present but enabled only when the secondary physical
inputs are defined as the switching button to the secondary physicists, and in the right column we
find the setting of the input matrix, the phase inversion, the enabling of the generator instead of
the signal. real, the enabling of the Sample Rate Converter (only for AES / EBU inputs), the Advanced
button which gives access to a further diagnostic and setting page, the pair of keys to set or remove
the user label and the " SEL ”to load another signal onto the strip or remove the power.

Page 106 of 150

In the Advanced page there are 4 buttons to enable operating modes linked between the ON button
and the Fader: you can choose to have the fader open automatically when the channel goes ON and
whether to close it when the channel becomes OFF (OPEN FADER MODE) and vice versa whether to
change the state of the button according to the value of the fader (ON CHANNEL MODE). On the
same page there is information on the physical inputs (primary and secondary) from which the signal
comes from with the relative path in the case of remote inputs, information on the processing chain
used and any error messages if the upload is not successful (for example for unreachable remote
inputs or incorrect physical input configurations). The two keys "Reassign input" and "Cut input" can
be useful especially in the case of remote inputs to force a new loading of the input in case the
remote devices were not reachable (the error message is displayed) or remove the channel .
The “user label” is a channel label that can be quickly assigned to the Logical Input for more
immediate identification, and if defined it replaces the channel name everywhere except in the
Advanced window. It is saved in the Logical Input settings and reloaded each time the Logical Input
is loaded on the desk, and it is saved and reloaded (and may be different) in the snapshots, for
example to display the name of the speakers for each program. To remove it, use the reset button
on the source management page.

Page 107 of 150

10.2.2 Dynamic Processor Setting Screen.
The dynamic processor setting screen is in turn divided into two pages, with the compressor - limiter
settings and those of the expander. The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the
bottom and the one to which the panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You
can click on the other labels to switch to the other strips without having to close and reopen the
panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. A yellow box identifies the column of parameters to which
the encoders are associated, simply touch a control in the other column on the display to change
the assignment of the encoders. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders are
automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

The graphic on the right represents the entire processing:

• a light blue curve represents the response of the compressor
• a purple curve represents the expander's response
• the orange horizontal line represents the intervention level of the limiter.

The “COMP” and “EXPANDER” keys above the graph allow you to view the parameters of the two
processes, and the blue and purple “ON-OFF” keys on the right to activate the two processes
separately. The limiter is activated together with the compressor.
When only the compressor is active, the area under the compressor curve is filled in blue.
When only the expander-gate is active, the area under the expander-gate curve is filled in purple.
When both processes are active, the area under the resulting curve is filled in orange.

To change a parameter, you can use the key next to the corresponding box and manually enter
only the numerical value. Or, with the encoders enabled, it is possible to use them directly to modify
the desired parameters.
Alternatively, by clicking the desired parameter box, the on-screen fader is associated with that
parameter and can be used to edit it.

Page 108 of 150

10.2.3 Eq Setting Screen.
The equalizer setting screen also includes, for the microphone inputs, the enabling of the additional
high pass filter. The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one
to which the panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other
labels to move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. The encoders are associated with the selected filter (coloured
circle on the graph). It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders are automatically
enabled when each panel is opened.

The equalizer consists of 6 parametric filters, whose vertex is represented by the position of the
circle with the number. The selected filter is highlighted by the fill of the circle, and its parameters
are adjustable using the controls on the left:
the selection of the type of filtering is carried out for each filter using a key
selector, the numerical values of gain, frequency and Q can be set using three cursors or numerical
boxes that can be modified with the key . It is also possible to click the circle and move it in the
graph to change the frequency and gain values at the same time.
Or with the encoders enabled it is possible to use them directly to modify the desired parameters
of each filter.
The graph represents the individual contributions of the filters with coloured curves, and the
resultant with a white curve.
In the summary view on the button of the "IN" page the white curve
is coloured in red when the filter is activated.

Page 109 of 150

10.2.4 DeEsser Screen Settings.
The DeEsser screen includes controls similar to those of the equalizer and the compressor, the
combination of which determines the operation of the DeEsser. A two-band equalizer determines
which spectral components are the sibilant part of the signal, and the compressor reduces the level
when the detected components exceed the set threshold. The list of channel strips of that module
remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the panel below refers remains highlighted with
the orange box. You can click on the other labels to switch to the other strips without having to close
and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. A yellow box identifies the column of parameters to which
the encoders are associated, simply touch a control in the other column on the display to change
the assignment of the encoders. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders are
automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

To change a parameter, you can use the key next to the corresponding box and manually enter
only the numerical value. Or, with the encoders enabled, it is possible to use them directly to modify
the desired parameters.
Alternatively, by clicking the desired parameter box, the on-screen fader on the left is associated
with that parameter and can be used to edit it.
The buttons at the bottom left "ON" and "LISTEN" allow you to activate the processing and listen to
the filtered signal (only with channel OFF, therefore to be used via PFL) to facilitate the identification
of the hiss.
In the summary view on the top panel button, the filter curve is coloured red and the area under
the equalizer curve filled in blue when the processing is activated

Page 110 of 150

10.2.5 Pan/Bal Screen
The Pan / Bal screen includes a PAN or BALANCE control to the stereo bus and a two-dimensional
control for routing to the 5.1 bus.
The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the
panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other labels to
move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders
are automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

To quickly bring the PAN back to the centre it is possible to double click on the cursor.
You can use the key to change the values next to the box and manually enter only the numerical
value.
Alternatively, on-screen faders or spatial control can be used

Page 111 of 150

10.2.6 Bus Master Screen Settings.
The Bus Master screen allows you to assign and un-assign the channel to program buses, record
buses, groups and VCAs. These assignments are visible at 3 to 3 for each category, and it is possible
to scroll through the buses not visible if they were in greater number with the keys which become
enabled in case of need.
The page also features the Fader control with the ON and PFL keys, which can be used if necessary,

and the Jolly key that when configured is enabled and allows you to activate the function as
you wish configured. It is usually used to associate talkback to return bus channels.
The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the
panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other labels to
move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, and the use of encoders is not available in this screen.

The contribution to the Program, Record and Group buses is post-fader by definition, however on
the Record buses it is possible to activate the Pre-Fader contribution or make Off-Air recordings.
A double click on the fader slider immediately brings its value to 0.

Page 112 of 150

10.2.7 Bus N-x Screen Settings.
The N-x bus contribution adjustment screen allows you to set how much of that channel will add up
to the different N-x buses of the system. For each bus there is the contribution enable button and
the level adjustment fader with the relative text box. The labels below show the name of the bus (In
this example simply numbered, it is obviously possible to assign intuitive names based on the
destination).
The system bus number is freely configurable, the keys allow you to check them all on pages.
The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the
panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other labels to
move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders
are automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

To change the contribution values, you can use the key next to the box and manually enter only
the numerical value.
Alternatively, you can use the on-screen faders or when enabled the encoders.
The button on the top panel shows the status of contributions (in the case of more
than 8 N-x buses configured in the system, those on the last page opened). Buses
with active contributions are coloured yellow and the filling height of the bar
indicates the level. The numbers on the first and last bar indicate the page visible at that moment.

Page 113 of 150

10.2.8 Bus Aux Screen Settings.
The Aux bus contribution adjustment screen allows you to set how much of that channel will add
up to the system's different Aux buses. For each bus there is the contribution enable key, the level
adjustment fader with the relative text box and the Pre-Fader or After Fader mode selection keys.
The labels below show the name of the bus (In this example simply numbered, it is obviously
possible to assign intuitive names based on the destination).
The system bus number is freely configurable, the keys allow you to check them all on pages.
The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the
panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other labels to
move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders
are automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

To change the contribution values, you can use the button next to the box and manually enter only
the numerical value.
Alternatively, you can use the on-screen faders or when enabled the encoders.
The button on the top panel shows the status of contributions (in the case of more
than 8 Aux buses configured in the system, those on the last page opened). The
buses with pre-fader active contribution are coloured in yellow, the buses with post-
fader active contribution are coloured in blue, the yellow rectangles at the bottom or blue at the

Page 114 of 150

top indicate the type of contribution also with closed contribution, and the height of the bar filling
indicates the level. The numbers on the first and last bar indicate the page visible at that moment.
10.2.9 CONFIG Screen Settings
By pressing the "Show Config" button on the System page of the ARES PANEL software, the
"CONFIG" button appears in the top corner of all GUI screens.

By pressing this key, you enter the module management page:

On this page we find three sections of buttons and a parameter setting:

Reboot physical devices

Restarts the management of physical controls (independent of the module GUI)

Page 115 of 150

 Restart AresFader4Touch
Restart the single panel GUI

Export diagnostic
Command useful in the factory for system diagnostics

Download Update
Launch the update of the single module: the software is downloaded locally from the BEA3x to
which it is connected, then the running application is closed and the updated version
automatically reopened.

Factory Configuration
Allows you to set the parameters relating to the IP address of the module, the BEA3x to connect
to, which strips to view, which page to consider "Home" and other information on enabling
support for modules for adding physical controls.

Select Configuration
It allows you to load a configuration of the module among those saved: it is useful, for example, to
have spare modules with all the configurations of the modules of the main surface saved: in the
event of a fault, simply load the correct configuration to have a spare module identical to the one
failure.

Save Current Configuration

Allows you to save the current module configuration for later recall.

Page 116 of 150

11 Central Module Software
Through the central module it is possible to control most of the mixer functions.
Talkback Mic di
USB Headphones
speaker Talkback

Encoder
Rotativi

Page 117 of 150

11.1 Home
Sblocco degli Studio
schermi ON-AIR

Tasto
Home

Orologio

Meters

Logo
Radio

Controlli
Encoder
Rotativi

11.1.1 Screen unlock keys:

These keys allow, if configured, to unlock all the mixer touch displays, as well as to exit the Home
screen. First press "UNLOCK" and then "Exit"
11.1.2 Home key:
The home button returns all mixer screens to their home page.
11.1.3 Studio ON_AIR Indicator:
The ON-AIR studio indicator indicates which studio is currently broadcasting, if the on-air studio is
the one you are working on, the box will be red, otherwise blue.
11.1.4 Meters:
As in the main ARES screen, through the box with the name of the signal being monitored it is
possible to choose another source to apply to the meters.

Page 118 of 150

11.1.5 Logo:
The logo can be configured with any image defined by the user in the central configurations. The
maximum size is 1070x500 pixels.
11.1.6 Rotary encoder controls:
Generally, these encoders are used for monitoring monitor levels, but they
can be assigned to any numeric value in the system.
This section shows us what the rotary encoder is assigned to, its level,
function and status of the assigned key.

11.2 Central Module Screens

11.2.1 General organization of the screens
All screens of the central module have an equal top and bottom section.

Upper section:
The upper section allows you to switch from one screen to another
Tasto di
Tasti di scelta
ritorno alla
della pagina
schermata
Home

Page selection keys:

These buttons allow you to switch from one page to another, the blue button indicates the
selected page.
Pages can be renamed as desired.
Home screen return key:
Pressing on the Mandozzi logo returns to the Home screen, this operation can be timed and
automated, making sure that the mixer goes into "Lock" after a certain time of inactivity, leaving
only the physical controls of the various modules immediately available.

Central Section:
The central section is divided into 4 blocks, each block can contain up to 14 keys.
Each block can be renamed at will depending on the function of its keys.
The keys can be associated with any Boolean (ON-OFF) function of the mixer or be left blank, and
can be shown or hidden or be configured as read-only for use as indicators.

Page 119 of 150

 Lower Section:

The lower section as already seen in the “Home” screen gives indications on the status of the rotary
encoders.
11.2.2 Configuration example
A possible configuration of the pages of the Central module is now illustrated by way of example.
However, it is always possible to change the association of each key and the content and name of
each page.
In this example and in most configurations the central module is set in addition to the “Home” with
3 screens:
• Monitors
• Services
• System

Page 120 of 150

 Monitor Screen
The monitor screen allows you to check the main listenings and talkbacks

Page 121 of 150

 Services Screen
The services screen is used to provide access to various mixer features

11.2.2.2.1 Encoder and Meter Function

These buttons manage the assignment of the rotary encoders of the fader modules, to give
immediate access to the control of certain levels, as well as to display the pre and post fader meters
of the active channels.
11.2.2.2.2 Encoder: N-X Levels Management
As for the previous ones, these keys allow immediate access to the levels of each channel towards
an N-X bus.
The "N-X RET MASTER LEVEL" button allows you to control the level of the N-X bus assigned to a
channel.
11.2.2.2.3 GPIO
These buttons give direct control over some of the mixer's GPIOs
11.2.2.2.4 SNAPSHOT:
These keys allow the loading of a snapshot, upon pressing a confirmation window appears to avoid
accidental errors.
Page 122 of 150
11.2.3 System Screen
The system screen, like the others, can be configured at will, by default it includes the management
of the touch screens (Display on / off, lock, clean, etc.), the management of study changes and the
management of group routing (codec returns and shared hybrids)

Page 123 of 150

12 Screen Module Software
The Screen module is one of the modules for creating an extended ARES control surface.
It is the basic module designed to add a display module on 4 strips, or general with a configurable
meter page and global mixer information. In addition to this, a "Keys Only" mode is available in
which keys independent of the strips can be configured on the screen to achieve general control of
the mixer.

12.1 Touch Display

The 7 ”touch display features the upper part of the strip controls, aligned with each fader when the
module is mounted in correspondence with a Fader4 module, and organized in an intuitive software
divided over several pages. You can choose the default page to be shown at start-up and when the
"home" button on the surface is pressed, and configure which pages to make available (others can
be made available on additional Screen modules). In this way it is possible by combining the Fader4
module and Screen modules to always have all the parameters displayed and immediately editable.
In normal mode (not "just keys"), the display is divided into two parts: in the upper part various
pages are available according to the configuration of the module, in the lower part the encoder
control is visible and independent from the pages in the upper section and membrane keys of the
Fader4 module combined with the same strips. The use of the encoders and function keys is
alternated between the modules, so enabling the use of the encoders on one of the modules is
disabled on the others that share the same encoders. In a surface made up of several modules it is
however possible to use the encoders on different functions associated with different GUIs
independently on the various blocks of 4 strips.
Each block in the upper part of the screen is a button that shows the status of the block and allows
you to open the corresponding detail screen in full screen, on the "IN" page we find from the top,
for each strip, direct access to:
• Dynamics
• Eq
• DeEsser
• Input Management
on the "OUT" page direct access to:
• Pan/Bal
• Master / Record / Groups / VCA Routing
• N-x Routing
• Aux Routing
The buttons are activated based on the actual presence of the processing block in the chain.
There is also a "FUNC" page with 8 function keys per strip, freely configurable, and a "METER" page
with the meters of each strip and, if present, of the N-x bus associated with the logical input loaded
on the strip.

Page 124 of 150

12.1.1 Input Management Screen.
The input management screen presents a signal and compression meter and a series of controls that
varies according to the type of input actually loaded, while at the bottom the list of channel strips
of that module remains visible and remains highlighted with the box orange to which the panel
below refers, you can click on the other labels to move to the other strips without having to close
and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders
are automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

Digital "gain" adjustment is available for all types of input, while for the microphone inputs as in the
example there is also the adjustment of the analogue gain of the preamplifier and the enabling of
the phantom power supply. It is also always present but enabled only when the secondary physical
inputs are defined as the switching button to the secondary physicists, and in the right column we
find the setting of the input matrix, the phase inversion, the enabling of the generator instead of
the signal. real, the enabling of the Sample Rate Converter (only for AES / EBU inputs), the Advanced
button which gives access to a further diagnostic and setting page, the pair of keys to set or remove
the user label and the " SEL ”to load another signal onto the strip or remove the power.

Page 125 of 150

In the Advanced page there are 4 buttons to enable operating modes linked between the ON button
and the Fader: you can choose to have the fader open automatically when the channel goes ON and
whether to close it when the channel becomes OFF (OPEN FADER MODE) and vice versa whether to
change the state of the button according to the value of the fader (ON CHANNEL MODE). On the
same page there is information on the physical inputs (primary and secondary) from which the signal
comes from with the relative path in the case of remote inputs, information on the processing chain
used and any error messages if the upload is not successful (for example for unreachable remote
inputs or incorrect physical input configurations). The two keys "Reassign input" and "Cut input" can
be useful especially in the case of remote inputs to force a new loading of the input in case the
remote devices were not reachable (the error message is displayed) or remove the channel .
The “user label” is a channel label that can be quickly assigned to the Logical Input for more
immediate identification, and if defined it replaces the channel name everywhere except in the
Advanced window. It is saved in the Logical Input settings and reloaded each time the Logical Input
is loaded on the desk, and it is saved and reloaded (and may be different) in the snapshots, for
example to display the name of the speakers for each program. To remove it, use the reset button
on the source management page.

Page 126 of 150

12.1.2 Dynamic Processor Screen.
The dynamic processor setting screen is in turn divided into two pages, with the compressor - limiter
settings and those of the expander. The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the
bottom and the one to which the panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You
can click on the other labels to switch to the other strips without having to close and reopen the
panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. A yellow box identifies the column of parameters to which
the encoders are associated, simply touch a control in the other column on the display to change
the assignment of the encoders. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders are
automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

The graph on the right shows the full processing:

▪ A blue curve represents compressor answer
▪ A violet curve represents expander answer
▪ Horizontal orange line represents limiter threshold level

“COMP” and “EXPANDER” buttons located above the graph let visualize the related processing
parameters and ON-OFF blue and violet buttons let enable each processing separately while limiter
is activated together with the compressor.
When just compressor is active, the area below compression curve is blue-filled.
When just expander-gate is active, the area below expander-gate curve is violet-filled.
When both are active, the area below is orange-filled.

The usual “pencil” button is used to modify the related parameter, to manually insert the
numeric value. Alternatively, with encoders enabled, the user can act on them to modify desired
parameters.
Furthermore, by clicking on desired parameter text box, the virtual fader is associated to it and it
can be used to modify.

Page 127 of 150

12.1.3 Eq Screen.
The equalizer setting screen also includes, for the microphone inputs, the enabling of the additional
high pass filter. The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one
to which the panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other
labels to move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. The encoders are associated with the selected filter (coloured
circle on the graph). It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders are automatically
enabled when each panel is opened.

The equalizer consists of 6 parametric filters, whose vertex is represented by the position of the
circle with the number. The selected filter is highlighted by the fill of the circle, and its parameters
are adjustable using the controls on the left:
the selection of the type of filtering is carried out for each filter using a key
selector, the numerical values of gain, frequency and Q can be set using three cursors or numerical
boxes that can be modified with the key . It is also possible to click the circle and move it in the
graph to change the frequency and gain values at the same time.
Or with the encoders enabled it is possible to use them directly to modify the desired parameters
of each filter.
The graph represents the individual contributions of the filters with coloured curves, and the
resultant with a white curve.
In the summary view on the button of the "IN" page the white curve
is coloured in red when the filter is activated.

Page 128 of 150

12.1.4 DeEsser Screen.
The DeEsser screen includes controls similar to those of the equalizer and the compressor, the
combination of which determines the operation of the DeEsser. A two-band equalizer determines
which spectral components are the sibilant part of the signal, and the compressor reduces the level
when the detected components exceed the set threshold. The list of channel strips of that module
remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the panel below refers remains highlighted with
the orange box. You can click on the other labels to switch to the other strips without having to close
and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. A yellow box identifies the column of parameters to which
the encoders are associated, simply touch a control in the other column on the display to change
the assignment of the encoders. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders are
automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

To change a parameter, you can use the key next to the corresponding box and manually enter
only the numerical value. Or, with the encoders enabled, it is possible to use them directly to modify
the desired parameters.
Alternatively, by clicking the desired parameter box, the on-screen fader on the left is associated
with that parameter and can be used to edit it.
The buttons at the bottom left "ON" and "LISTEN" allow you to activate the processing and listen to
the filtered signal (only with channel OFF, therefore to be used via PFL) to facilitate the identification
of the hiss.
In the summary view on the top panel button, the filter curve is coloured red and the area under
the equalizer curve filled in blue when the processing is activated

Page 129 of 150

12.1.5 Pan/Bal page.
The Pan/Bal page includes the control of PAN or BALANCE towards stereo bus and a 2D control for
5.1 busses.
In the bottom part, the module list of channel strips is kept visible and it’s kept in evidence within
an orange rectangle the strip referred to the panel. Anyhow it is possible to pass to other strips
clicking on related name (it is not necessary to close the panel).
When encoders are enabled, encoders labels are showed instead of channel strips.
In the left-upper corner, a box shows the strip number and the user label of the strip of this panel;
this box acts as encoders enabling/disabling.
It is possible to configure a module so that encoders can be automatically enabled at panel opening.

To take back PAN in the middle, a double-click on the cursor is needed.

The “Pencil” button is used to modify the numeric value
The user can also use the virtual fader on the screen and the spatial control on the right.

Page 130 of 150

12.1.6 Bus Master Screen Page.
The Bus Master screen allows you to assign and un-assign the channel to program buses, record
buses, groups and VCAs. These assignments are visible at 3 to 3 for each category, and it is possible
to scroll through the buses not visible if they were in greater number with the keys which become
enabled in case of need.
The page also features the Fader control with the ON and PFL keys, which can be used if necessary,

and the Jolly key that when configured is enabled and allows you to activate the function as
you wish configured. It is usually used to associate talkback to return bus channels.
The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the
panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other labels to
move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, and the use of encoders is not available in this screen.

The contribution to the Program, Record and Group buses is post-fader by definition, however on
the Record buses it is possible to activate the Pre-Fader contribution or make Off-Air recordings.
A double click on the fader slider immediately brings its value to 0.

Page 131 of 150

12.1.7 Bus N-x Screen.
The N-x bus contribution adjustment screen allows you to set how much of that channel will add up
to the different N-x buses of the system. For each bus there is the contribution enable button and
the level adjustment fader with the relative text box. The labels below show the name of the bus (In
this example simply numbered, it is obviously possible to assign intuitive names based on the
destination).
The system bus number is freely configurable, the keys allow you to check them all on pages.
The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the
panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other labels to
move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders
are automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

To change the contribution values, you can use the key next to the box and manually enter only
the numerical value.
Alternatively, you can use the on-screen faders or when enabled the encoders.
The button on the top panel shows the status of contributions (in the case of more
than 8 N-x buses configured in the system, those on the last page opened). Buses
with active contributions are coloured yellow and the filling height of the bar
indicates the level. The numbers on the first and last bar indicate the page visible at that moment.

Page 132 of 150

12.1.8 Bus Aux Screen.
The N-x bus contribution adjustment screen allows you to set how much of that channel will add up
to the different N-x buses of the system. For each bus there is the contribution enable button and
the level adjustment fader with the relative text box. The labels below show the name of the bus (In
this example simply numbered, it is obviously possible to assign intuitive names based on the
destination).
The system bus number is freely configurable, the keys allow you to check them all on pages.
The list of channel strips of that module remains visible at the bottom and the one to which the
panel below refers remains highlighted with the orange box. You can click on the other labels to
move to the other strips without having to close and reopen the panel.
At the top left there is an additional box with the number of the strip to which the panel refers and
the user label, which also functions as an enabling key for the encoders. When the encoders are
enabled, the enable key is coloured blue, and the labels of the encoders are displayed in the bar at
the bottom instead of the other strips. It is possible to configure the module so that the encoders
are automatically enabled when each panel is opened.

To change the contribution values, you can use the key next to the box and manually enter only
the numerical value.
Alternatively, you can use the on-screen faders or when enabled the encoders.
The button on the top panel shows the status of contributions (in the case of more
than 8 N-x buses configured in the system, those on the last page opened). Buses
with active contributions are coloured yellow and the filling height of the bar
indicates the level. The numbers on the first and last bar indicate the page visible at that moment.

Page 133 of 150

12.1.9 CONFIG Screen
By pressing the "Show Config" button on the System page of the ARES PANEL software, the
"CONFIG" button appears in the top corner of all GUI screens.

By pressing this key, you enter the module management page:

On this page we find three sections of buttons and a parameter setting:

Reboot physical devices

Restart the management of physical controls (independent of the module GUI)

Restart AresFader4Touch
Restart the single panel GUI

Page 134 of 150

 Export diagnostic
Command useful in the factory for system diagnostics

Download Update
Launch the update of the single module: the software is downloaded locally from the BEA3x to
which it is connected, then the running application is closed and the updated version
automatically reopened.

Factory Configuration
Allows you to set the parameters relating to the IP address of the module, the BEA3x to connect
to, which strips to view, which page to consider "Home" and other information on enabling
support for modules for adding physical controls.

Select Configuration
It allows you to load a configuration of the module among those saved: it is useful, for example, to
have spare modules with all the configurations of the modules of the main surface saved: in the
event of a fault, simply load the correct configuration to have a spare module identical to the one
failure.

Save Current Configuration

Allows you to save the current module configuration for later recall.

12.1.10 Meter Screen

The Meter page, also available on the Fader4 modules, allows you to monitor the level of the signal
loaded on the strip (pre or post fader selectable with the surface meter selector) and, when
configured, also the level of the N-x bus associated with the channel loaded on the strip.

Page 135 of 150

13 ARES USER Card
The ARES-USER board is a small board that can be powered at 12V or via POE that allows the user
to create customized panels fully integrated into the system and connected via LAN.
It is able to manage up to 16 backlit keys, a fader and a rotary encoder with built-in key.
These controls can be associated via software to any value (17 keys and 2 numeric values) of the
mixer, which in turn can be freely managed through Python scripts.

13.1 Overall dimensions and fixings:

The total size of the PCB is 110mm x 80mm, there are 4 holes for M3 screws 4 mm from the edges:

Fig 38: ARES-USER card Dimension

The network connector is centred at 22.87mm from the edge as shown in the figure. The maximum
height of the components under the board is 2.5mm, it is recommended to maintain a distance of
4mm from the chassis if conductive. Above the board the highest components are the network
connector and the POE module (which cannot be mounted, on request, if you want to power the
board in direct current)

Page 136 of 150

 Fig 39: ARES-USER card height

For other mechanical details, the DXF drawing and 3D files in different formats are available on
request.

13.2 Connections:
The following connections are available:
− 1 RJ45 with support for POE power supply and status LED
− 1 Terminal block 3.5mm pitch for 12V direct current power supply
− 1 Pin-strip 2.54mm pitch with 32 poles for driving 16 LED diodes
− 1 3-pin 2.54mm pitch connector for connecting a potentiometer (nominal resistance: 10k)
− 1 10-pin 2.54mm pitch connector for connecting an encoder with quadrature output
− 2 Pin-strip 2.54 pitch with 16 poles for the connection of 16 buttons
− 1 connector 1.27mm pitch for factory programming

There are also 2 LEDs on the board to indicate the presence of the power supply.

Page 137 of 150

13.3 Card PIN positions:

LED POE SUPPLY

LED DC SUPPLY

Terminal GND

Terminal +12V IN

Pin +5V OUT (LED common Anode)

Pin LED Cathode 1 .. 16

…
LED 2
LED 1
Fader:
V+ Encoder:
Wiper GND +5V
0V GND +5V
B GND
A GND
Switch GND

Pin GND (Button common)

Pin Buttons 1 .. 16
…
BUTTON
BUTTON
2 1

Fig 40: ARES-USER Connectors

Page 138 of 150

14 Framed Control Surface
14.1 Available Versions
Frames are available for mounting a number of ARES Fader4T or Central, JM modules or blank panels
starting from 1, with the possibility of adding various accessories.
All frames can be placed side by side with magnetic interlocking for alignment, the width obviously
varies with the number of modules and is calculated with the formula indicated in the drawings,
valid for both versions.
Two side-by-side frames form a single continuous surface with no visible dividers
It is also possible to place frames of different versions side by side while maintaining the alignment
of the rear panels and control surfaces.
14.1.1 Standard Frame
Dimensions to be calculated with N = number of modules

Space for air intake that can

be used as a handle
Fig 41: Standard frame dimensions

14.1.2 Short Frame

Dimensions to be calculated with N = number of modules

Fig 42: Short Frame Dimensions

Page 139 of 150

14.1.3 Rear Panels
According to the mounted modules, the frame must be equipped with the correct combination of
rear panels, chosen from the following, whose codes are constructed with a fixed part "PAN-R-
FRAME-ARES-" followed by three letters that identify the panel and a number indicating the version

CEN: Central in single frame

Fig 43: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-CEN

for use in 1-module FRAME with predisposition for SCREEN or KM, consisting of:
• Ethercon® connector for management connection
• Ethercon® connector for Dante connection
• 2 XLR 3-pole male connectors for Analog Line OUT
• 2 female 3-pole XLR connectors for Analog Line IN
• 1 6.35mm Jack connector for headphone connection
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 12V In
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 12V Out for Screen o KM
• connector RJ45 for Screen o KM

Page 140 of 150

 CFR: Central in Frame

Fig 44: Rear Panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-CFR

for use in FRAME of several modules with predisposition for SCREEN or KM or Panel
• Ethercon® connector for management
• Ethercon® connector for Dante
• 2 XLR 3-pole male connectors for Analog Line OUT
• 2 female 3-pole XLR connectors for Analog Line IN
• 1 6.35mm Jack connector for headphone connection
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 12V Out for Screen o KM
• RJ45 screen for Screen o KM

Page 141 of 150

 FAD: FADer in single frame

Fig 45: Real Panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FAD

for use only in 1-module FRAME with predisposition for SCREEN or KM, consisting of:
• Ethercon® connector for management
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 12V In
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 12V Out for Screen o KM
• RJ45 connector for Screen o KM

Page 142 of 150

 FFR: Fader in Frame

Fig 46: Rear Panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FFR

for use only in FRAME of several modules, in correspondence with all Fader modules and where
FAU, FSS or FDS are not needed, with predisposition for SCREEN or KM, consisting of:
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 12V Out for Screen o KM
• RJ45 connector for Screen o KM

FAU: Fader in frame with AUx connector

Fig 47: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FAU

for use only in FRAME with multiple modules, equipped with external auxiliary connectors, with
provision for SCREEN or KM
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 12V Out for Screen o KM
• RJ45 connector for Screen o KM
• 2 Ethercon® connectors for connection of external auxiliary modules

Page 143 of 150

 FDS: Fader in frame + Double Supply

Fig 48: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FDS

For use only in FRAME with multiple modules, one is needed per frame if with internal redundant
power supply, with predisposition for SCREEN or KM, consisting of:
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 for 12V Out for Screen o KM
• RJ45 connector for Screen o KM
• 2 Schurter connector KMF1-1261-11 with switch and fuse for the power inputs
• Screw for additional ground connection

Page 144 of 150

 FSS: Fader in frame + Single Supply

Fig 49: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-FSS

for use only in FRAME with multiple modules, one is needed per frame if with single internal power
supply, with predisposition for SCREEN or KM, consisting of:
• Binder connector 09-0974-00-02 per 12V Out for Screen o KM
• RJ45 connector for Screen o KM
• 1 Schurter connector KMF1-1261-11 with switch and fuse for power input
• Screw for additional ground connection

GRI: GRId panel

Figure 50: Rear panel PAN-R-FRAME-ARES-GRI

for use only in FRAME of several modules in correspondence with blind panels or Faders, without
predisposition for SCREEN or KM

Page 145 of 150

14.2 Accessories available
The following accessories are available for each frame:
14.2.1 Stand KIT
A floor mounting kit for the various frame versions is available on request.
It is also possible to add extensions to the support kit to support additional external modules on the
sides of the main frame or accessories on the front such as Panel PC, external monitors (for example
for the playout system) or external meters.

Fig 51: Stand Kit frame 9 modules

14.2.2 Hooking for Screen / KM / Panel PC modules

Fig 52: Hooking for Screen/KM/Panel PC

It allows the quick coupling of additional modules, it can be used to add Screen modules, KM
modules or the Panel PC. With this system, the module can be added and removed very quickly and
is fixed stably and without play, also suitable for fixed installation.
It is possible to mount up to one hook for each module of the frame and it is possible to mount them
centred on the module (useful for KM and Screen) or between two modules (possible for the Panel
PC which in this way only clutters the space above 2 modules)
14.2.3 Additional modules Screen / KM / Panel PC
The additional modules that can be attached to each frame can be hooked up with the appropriate
kit:
o Screen modules, can be used above the fader modules to have a second screen for
viewing the channel parameters, or (also above the Central module or above blind

Page 146 of 150

 modules) to have the meters available in the absence of panel PC or to have
additional programmable virtual keys
o KM modules, usable above the fader modules to have additional programmable
physical keys for the channels, or (also above the Central module or above blind
modules) to have programmable physical keys
o Panel PC, for the total management of the mixer.
It is also possible to have mixed combinations of Screen / KM, for example:
• KM above the fader modules to have physical keys for sends and screens in meter mode
above the central to monitor selectable levels
• KM or Screen above the
fader modules and Panel PC
between the central module
and a blind module
mounted near the Central in
order to allow the docking
of the panel without
cluttering above the faders.

Fig 53: Example frame

14.2.4 Connectors for external auxiliary modules

The Frames (starting from a minimum of 2 or 3 modules according to the chosen power supply)
have 2 Neutrik EtherCon RJ45 connectors for the connection of external auxiliary modules, useful
for example for the connection of modules in frames to be placed next to the main frame for have
additional channels, or for the direct connection of modules (for example Personal Monitor or
"Sfumino") to be made available to the speakers or otherwise separated from the main frame.
14.2.5 POE power supply for auxiliary modules
Frames are usually equipped when possible with 2 Neutrik EtherCon RJ45 connectors for connecting
auxiliary modules. Depending on the size of the frame (number of modules) and the power supply
options it is possible to have an internal POE injector to supply the auxiliary modules via Power Over
Ethernet and therefore to be able to connect single auxiliary modules with a single cable. This option
is particularly suitable in frames for mobile use to provide the speaker with a customized control
panel that can be quickly set up.

Page 147 of 150

14.3 Power options
It is possible to feed a frame with different options, depending on the size of the frame and what
accessories are required.
14.3.1 Power supply for single module
Obviously usable only for 1-module frames, it can also power any KM module or additional
hooked Screen with a cascade connection.

14.3.2 POE Power

It can only be used for 1-module frames, it does not allow to power other modules in
cascade. A standard POE + POE injector of at least 60W is required for the Fader, Central and
JM modules, while a standard 15W POE is sufficient for Screen and KM modules.

14.3.3 Internal power supply

Available in different variants depending on the size of the frame:
o Single power supply
o Redundant power supply
o Option POE injector

Page 148 of 150

15 Table of possible power supply combinations
Summary table of the possible power supply combinations for the frames, assuming that there is
one and only one Central module mounted. Combinations without Central or with more Central are
possible and should be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

N° Availability of auxiliary module Internal power supply

modules connectors AUX OUT Single Redundant AUX OUT
POE injector
1
2 if there is no Screen ✔ ✔
2
or no Central is mounted
✔ ✔
3 ✔
✔
✔ ✔
4 ✔
✔
✔ ✔
5 ✔ ✔ Only if no Screen
modules are provided
✔ ✔
6 ✔
✔ ✔
✔ ✔
7 ✔
✔ ✔
✔ ✔
8 ✔
✔ ✔
✔ ✔
9 ✔
✔ ✔
Tab 15 – Available options for FRAME

Frames with a width greater than 9 modules must be discussed case by case, it is however advisable
to make them in 2 shorter sections, side by side without visible divisions.

Page 149 of 150

16 Flush-mounted control surface
All ARES modules can be flush mounted in a specially made bench. For the Screen and KM modules,
kits are also available for surface mounting in combination with recessed Fader or Central modules.

16.1 External power supply ARES: ARES-SUPPLY-700W-12

In the case of built-in installation, it is still possible to power the individual modules via POE +, but
the use of the ARES SUPPLY 2U power supply is recommended. This is a standard 2-unit, fanless,
redundant passively cooled rack mount chassis power supply that can power even large control
surfaces.

Fig 54: ARES-SUPPLY

The 12V ARES-SUPPLY-700W-12 single output version is supplied for powering flush-mounted
systems, which combined with the ARES-PB power distribution units allows for simple and tidy
wiring.

16.2 Power distribution unit ARES-PB

Fig 55: Power distribution unit ARES-PB

ARES-PB power distribution units are small-sized boxes equipped with pass-through connection for
a high-power power supply line, and terminal block connectors for branching up to 8 output lines.
The output lines are protected in pairs by a fuse, and there is a LED indicating the presence of the
power supply. The container is flanged to allow easy installation in control desks of any type.

Page 150 of 150