Lightning - Analog/Digital Hybrid

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Analog Simple. Digitally Cool.

Audioarts Lightning strikes that perfect balance between analog and digital. 

It combines the best in a standalone console with the latest in modern conveniences such as USB and Bluetooth® connectivity.

AEL HEADON FAR

Lightning comes in 12- or 16-channel tabletop configurations and has a modular design with four channel input panels, and a Master/Monitor panel with linear faders for headphone and control room level control. All faders are conductive plastic and all switches are LED illuminated. Input channels have A/B source selection, with balanced line in for the A source and trimmable -10 to +4 line in on B.

Standard features include four stereo program busses, two auto mix-minuses for call-ins, four mic preamps with variable gain trim and switchable +48V phantom power, plus built-in headphone jack and CUE speaker amplifiers. Additional four channel mic preamp cards can be fitted if needed. 

AEL RH 3QTR

Lightning is designed for studios that have mostly microphone or analog source inputs, and where a lot of studio routing isn’t required. It doesn’t have the extensive A/D, D/A conversions of a typical digital board, yet you have access to editing software, Skype or other external sources through USB and Bluetooth.

USB and Bluetooth onboard connectivity is useful for playing audio directly from a PC or to output audio to edit in VoxPro or other recording software, as well as receive and record calls from Bluetooth enabled cellphones or play cuts from MP3 players. 

The console also contains a patchable AES input for connecting a digital source to any fader, and built-in A/D conversion for the main program output so operators can access the Program Air feed as balanced analog, AES3 digital, or both simultaneously. 

While it looks and feels like its Wheatstone cousins, this digitally-enabled analog console operates as a full standalone board.

Cue thunderous applause.



Features   

  • Mainframes can be loaded with 12 or 16 inputs and always include two phone channels for trouble-free remotes and call-ins

  • Two USB inputs/outputs

  • Bluetooth connectivity

  • AES input for connecting a digital source to any fader

  • Three VU meter pairs—PGM 1 & 2 plus SWITCHED

  • Four stereo program busses with balanced outputs

  • Four high performance mic preamps with +48V phantom power and variable gain trims to precisely match your microphones (with the option to add additional four-preamp modules)

  • Electronic switching

  • LED illumination

  • Compact tabletop-mount frame

  • Built-in cue speaker can automatically interrupt your main stereo monitors

  • Split cue

  • Headphone jack with built-in amplifier
  • Built-in A/D conversion for digital or analog program out

  • Two external inputs feed the monitor section (for live or pre-delay air monitoring)

  • RJ-45 connectors for low-cost wiring

  • Balanced or unbalanced inputs/outputs for consumer or professional grade equipment 

AEL OVERHEAD

AEL PANELS

Input section

SOURCE SELECT  Selects between two analog stereo sources: A and B

PROGRAM ASSIGN  Assign the selected source signal to any combination of the console’s four stereo Program outputs

CUE Button  Places the channel’s signal on the console’s cue bus.

FADER  Sets the channel’s level.

ON/OFF Buttons  Turns the channel on and off by means of electronic switching and can simultaneously start external source machines.

 

Caller Input section

TB Buttons  When the TB switch is pressed (it is momentary action), Mic 1 will interrupt the regular caller signal, allowing the DJ to talk to the caller prior to airing.

PROGRAM ASSIGN Output switches assign the caller to any one of the console’s four PROGRAM outputs and permit live talk-ins.

CUE Buttons  Allow interviewing the callers prior to airing by including the caller’s voice on the console’s cue bus, where it may be heard by the operator.

FADER  Sets the caller’s signal level.

ON/OFF Buttons  Determines if the phone channel is ON or OFF.

Control Room Section

SOURCE PGM 1/PGM 2/PGM 3/PGM 4  Pressing one of the four program switches sends the selected output bus to the console’s control room and headphone outputs.

SOURCE EXT Switches  Pressing the EXT switches allows the operator to monitor external inputs (useful for items like recorder playbacks or air returns).

CONTROL ROOM Level Control  Determines the overall loudness of the signal being monitored on the Control Room speakers.

SPLIT/CUE Switch  Sends the cue signal to the left headphone channel, while the right continues to monitor the selected control room source.

BLUETOOTH Switch Turns Bluetooth on or off.

HEADPHONE Level Control  Determines the overall loudness of the headphone output signal.

SOURCE PGM 1/PGM 2/PGM 3/PGM 4  Sends the selected output bus signal to the Studio Monitor speakers.

SOURCE EXT Switches  Send the selected external signal to the Studio Monitor speakers.

CUE Level Control  Determines the overall loudness of the cue signal being sent to the console cue speaker.

TB TO STUDIO Button  Lets the operator’s microphone signal interrupt the normal feed to the studio speakers, allowing the operator to talk to the performers in the Studio. 

STUDIO Level Control  Determines the overall loudness of the signal being sent to the STUDIO Monitor speakers.

METER Buttons  Select the source for the switched meter pair.

TIMER AUTO/START  Automatically starts the timer when a programmed channel ON switch is pressed.

TIMER RESET  Resets timer.

TIMER HOLD  Pauses timer.

TIMER Start/Stop  Manually starts or stops timer.

Rear Panel (click to enlarge)

Opening the console’s hinged meterbridge reveals panel trimpots and programming dipswitches, plus connector maps calling out rear chassis input/output RJ-45s.

AEL REAR

AEL UPPER PANELS

Power Supply

 

Clean and proper power is key to the great performance you’ve come to expect from Audioarts. It would be easy to just purchase over-the-counter power supplies for our Lightning console. But we don’t. In order to maintain our high level of quality we’ve designed and built a dedicated separate rackmount supply - our SPS-202.

 

AudioartsLightning SPS202 PowerSupply

Specifications

AEL HEADON HIGH

AUDIO INPUT

Mic:
- Direct wire plug terminals, balanced 
- Electronic differential >2KΩ bridging 
- Adjustable sensitivity, max. input -4dBu

Line (Caller, External):
- RJ-45 balanced, >10KΩ bridging
- +4dBu = 0VU, max. input +24dBu

 

AUDIO OUTPUT

Program & Caller:
- RJ-45 connectors, balanced
- Electronic differential, 100Ω source 
- Impedance to drive >600Ω
- 0VU = +4dBu, max. output +24dBu

CR & Studio Monitor:
- RJ-45 connectors, unbalanced 

Headphone:
- Stereo 1/4” TRS connector to directly drive typical broadcast style headphones >200Ω

Cue:
- Cue speaker in meterbridge
- RJ-45 connector output to drive external power amp

LOGIC

On-Air: Low current closure to drive external on-air light relay
- Channel Start output
- Remote On input
- Remote Off input

 

PERFORMANCE

Frequency Response:
±0.2dB 20Hz-20kHz (mic & line) 

Dynamic Range:
- Line (unity gain): 110dB
- Mic (54dB gain): 104dB

Headroom: 20dB above +4dBu

Noise Mic: -128dB EIN 

Line: -86dB ref 0VU

THD+N:
- Mic: <0.02% @-50dBu in, +4dBu out 
- Line: <0.003% @+4dBu in, +4dBu out

Bus Crosstalk: -117dB @1kHz

Stereo Separation: -86dB @1kHz

Off Isolation: -115dB @1kHz

 

CONSOLE

Dimensions:
- 36.75”/93.34cm wide 
20.125”/51.12cm deep
- 5.375”/13.65cm high (rear)
- 1.25”/3.17cm high (front)

Weight:30 lbs/13.61kg

Shipping Dimensions:
45”/114.3cm wide
- 28”/71.12cm deep
- 11”/27.94cm high 

Shipping Weight:42 lbs/19.05kg

 

SPS-202 POWER SUPPLY 

AC Power:100-240VAC/50-60Hz/50W

Dimensions: 
- 19”/48.26cm wide (rackmount)
- 1.75”/4.44cm high
- 13.25”/33.65cm deep (add 2.25”/5.71cm for rear connectors)

Weight: 9 lbs/4.08kg

Cable length: 16 ft/4.88m (power supply to console)

Shipping Dimensions: 
25”/63.5cm wide 
- 21”/53.34cm deep
- 4”/10.16cm high 

Shipping Weight: 11 lbs/5kg

Genuine Wheatstone Add-Ons

Whether you are setting up interview suites or desks, or just making workflow more intuitive and efficient, Wheatstone has the gear you need to get the job done.

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