AEQ Debuts Modular FORUM IP PLUS Console Supporting 180 Audio Channels

The shift toward software-defined production has forced hardware manufacturers to prioritize remote accessibility and IP interoperability. By integrating Dante/AES67 and a virtual control layer, AEQ is targeting the 'hybrid' studio model where physical surfaces must act as nodes in a larger networked ecosystem. For streaming engineers, this simplifies the ingest of high-channel-count audio into digital headends without proprietary conversion bottlenecks. The focus on modularity suggests a move to capture mid-market broadcasters who need to scale fader counts as they pivot from audio-only to visual radio and multimedia streaming formats. Watch for AEQ’s IBC2026 demonstrations to see if the Virtual FORUM latency meets the requirements for high-stakes live sports production.

The transition to Audio over IP (AoIP) has become the baseline for modern broadcast infrastructure. Per RedTech, June 2026, the global adoption of AES67 has standardized how different manufacturers exchange audio data, reducing the reliance on proprietary walled gardens. This interoperability is critical as broadcasters increasingly move toward decentralized production models where talent and technical staff may be in different geographic locations. AEQ's update to the FORUM line follows a broader industry trend where physical hardware serves as a tactile interface for underlying software-defined networking.

Market competition in the modular console space remains intense. According to Radio World, April 2026, rivals like Wheatstone and Telos Alliance have recently expanded their cloud-based processing suites, allowing stations to run entire mixing engines on standard COTS servers. AEQ’s decision to maintain a 3RU hardware engine (FR_CORE) alongside virtual control reflects a market segment that still values dedicated local DSP for 24/7 reliability while demanding the flexibility of remote access. These technical shifts are occurring as the industry prepares for the IBC show in Amsterdam, where the focus is expected to be on the integration of AI-driven gain staging and automated metadata tagging within the audio chain.

Further reporting from Broadcast & Cables, May 2026, indicates that European broadcasters are specifically prioritizing hardware with lower power consumption and smaller footprints to meet new environmental sustainability standards. AEQ’s modular approach directly addresses this by allowing facilities to purchase only the fader counts they currently require, minimizing idle hardware and energy draw. As streaming platforms integrate more high-fidelity spatial audio, the ability for consoles like the FORUM IP PLUS to manage complex bus routing becomes a key differentiator for production teams managing multi-platform delivery endpoints simultaneously-multi platform delivery endpoints.