Design/Ergonomics

Control Panels

Rapid operation as well as ease of maintenance were key objectives when designing the AURUS user interface. The controls for eight channel strips are distributed on panels (332 mm/13.07" in width), which are integrated into mixing-console frames of varying width.

The layout of channel strips is derived from conventional desks and formats and is based on an 8-channel grid. The panel width, the resulting channel-strip width, and the TFT-display dimensions were optimised to prevent any viewing offset between a channel strip and the corresponding display section.

The modular concept allows for a variety of control surface configurations. The user-interface restrictions imposed by analogue desks are lifted with AURUS since the console is purely a control unit. All the audio processing and I/Os are situated in remote NEXUS Base Devices. The control surface panels are interconnected with ribbon cables, so they can even be installed as detached control terminals outside the console.

The control panels are optimised for their respective tasks: Channel strips consist of SDFAD Fader panels, SDMUL Multifunctional panels, and the STFT display. The Master section of the console has the SMON Monitoring panel, the SWAC Graphics-tablet panel, and the SZCH Channel panel for accessing all parameters of the selected channel.

The individual panels are amazingly low in weight – just 2-3 kg each. The power consumption is also remarkably low.

The AURUS board range also includes the MADA A/D-D/A converter board featuring two integrated talkback-microphone amplifiers, a D/A converter for headphones and nearfield speakers, and an AES/EBU output for multichannel goniometers.

AURUS consoles can be supplied with gooseneck lamps; the meterbridge provides terminals for dimmable low-voltage lamps.

Satellite Panels

Simple and reliable cabling between the panels allows them to be installed as satellites, for example, in the apparatus area or near a producer workstation. These panels can be fitted, for example, into small desktop consoles or directly into the studio furniture. Satellite panels are always functional components of the respective console.