The Allen & Heath AR2412 is a professional 24-input, 12-output digital stage box and audio rack designed to serve as the remote I/O heart of Allen & Heath's GLD and iLive digital mixing systems. Its primary function is to be placed on or near the stage, where it connects directly to microphones, instruments, and other audio sources via its 24 high-quality microphone preamplifiers. It then transmits all these channels, along with 12 return channels from the mixer, over a single Ethernet cable using Allen & Heath's proprietary ACE (Audio Control Ethernet) protocol to a compatible mixer surface located up to 100 meters away. This system dramatically reduces the stage-to-FOH cable run to a single Cat5e/6 cable, replacing a bulky analog multicore snake and streamlining setup.

Engineered for reliability in touring and fixed installations, the AR2412 features a robust, rack-mountable steel chassis. Its 24 inputs are provided on combo XLR/TRS jacks, each with discrete gain control, phantom power, and a 48V LED indicator. The 12 outputs are on XLR connectors. The unit includes dual redundant Ethernet ports for connecting to the mixer and for daisy-chaining additional AR series stage boxes, creating a scalable and fault-tolerant audio network. Comprehensive status LEDs provide immediate visual feedback on sample rate, clock source, and network activity. The AR2412 is powered by an external power supply and can be remotely controlled from the mixer surface, allowing gain adjustments to be made at FOH.

As a core component of a modern digital mixing ecosystem, the Allen & Heath AR2412 provides a clean, flexible, and high-fidelity solution for capturing and routing audio. It empowers sound engineers with the convenience of digital snake technology while maintaining the sonic transparency and reliability required for professional live sound. By centralizing analog connections at the stage and digitizing the signal for long-distance transmission, it enhances system performance, reduces setup complexity, and provides a scalable foundation for both small and large audio systems.