RCF FORUM Conference Management System

RCF FORUM is a completely digital system for managing conferences in which numerous participants speak, allowing control of the discussion and offering additional possibilities for voting, simultaneous interpretation, sound reinforcement and audio recording.

Ideal for council chambers, congress centres, law courts and parlimentary chambers, etc. Extremely easy to use, manage, choose and install, Forum is the digital conference management system of choice.

The size of the backlit graphic display makes the Forum System easy to read with icons and text associated with keys to make the system easy to use, even for non-expert users. Multiple languages can be displayed, including those with ideograms.

The two main keys for talk/book and cancel (or priority-mix for president) and loudspeaker volume are easy to reach and relevant LED indicators, additional to the display, give you an immediate feedback of the status while you are seated/relaxed. The screen can also be used for displaying messages originated from the PC interface.

The delegate units can display information regarding voting, time lapse for conference and voting, booking queue, date and time, and so on. The delegate unit features a professional cardioid microphone with LED ring on a gooseneck, designed for speakers who are standing or seated.

A high-quality loudspeaker provides clear sound making listening a pleasure while reducing feedback issues. The use of the chip-card is fully supported by the display that interacts with the user for wrong card and incorrect insertion. Headphone and external microphone connectors are available forty-pin lavalier microphone, and to listen to translated languages or for "hard of hearing".

The President has a warning button on the console to alert delegates who might be ‘disrupting’ the normal conference meeting. Several pre-sets involving conference mode, voting mode, room set-up etc., can be stored and then recalled very easily using chip-cards on the main unit, so that even a non-skilled person can set-up a meeting quickly just inserting a chip-card in a slot… Three of the pre-sets can be recalled through switches connected to dry closing contacts.

Two additional universal inputs are provided on the main unit as extension outlets for wireless microphones and or lectern microphones. A priority program relationship with the system units can also be set.

The main system unit allows access to all the basic system functions and set-up thanks to graphic display and interactive keys. Connecting a PC to the system opens a gateway to a more friendly and powerful interactive dimension allowing the conference manager to control a meeting with mouse pointing and clicks.

Management from the PC

The management software of the system is extremely simple to use and makes it possible to perform a vast range of operations. The GUI (Graphic User Interface) with its intuitive controls and layout is a pleasure to see.

Thanks to its versatility, the software seamlessly manages discussion, voting, input and output volume control, and the video output for the audience. Another interesting and practical feature is the agenda, which makes it possible to prepare the items to be discussed, including all the relevant notes and to choose the type of conference and type of voting that are automatically associated.

The system stores to memory the conference proceedings step-by-step (date, start and finish time, who spoke and for how long, the items on the agenda discussed, all the voting carried out and the voting results). All this information can be printed out in whole or in part.

Four different conference modes are possible:

1. Open discussion
2. Automatic discussion
3. Automatic timed discussion
4. Managed discussion

One of two voting modes can be selected:

1. Identified
2. Confidential

The voting response options are numerous and can be personalised, as can the time allowed for voting. Additional tools are available in Voting Mode like a further confirmation of attendance before a voting session or a progressive voter's check – different for evident and secret sessions.

Different weight can be assigned to the voters and also a "quorum" can be set in percentage or number. The use of chip-cards makes it possible to register and check attendance.

The entire system is wired with CAT5 cable and RJ connectors. The units are designed to be semi-flush mounted as well. No audio/data boosters or splitters are needed: all the sets can be connected to the four inputs available on the main unit.

Diagnostic Software tools and LED indicators help the installer to check connections and start up the system immediately. A loudspeaker and headphone output on the main unit front panel allows monitoring of the audio signal during any phase. All these characteristics enable quick and easy installation. An anti-feedback processor is built-in to help reduce the Larsen effect against feedback.

Four audio outputs are available to drive the same number of loudspeaker lines. Each line can be associated to a group of microphones and can be attenuated when the microphone group is working so as to limit any possible feedback.

Forum: Main Features

• Completely digital (both audio and control)
• Separate data lines for audio and control to get better performance
• Digital audio not compressed, ensuring the maximum quality
• Up to 120 delegate units connected to the control unit (on 4 lines) without the need for boosters/splitters
• Expandable up to 240 stands by connecting a second control unit
• All system wiring with CAT5 cable and RJ connectors
• Maximum distance between the control unit and the last stand connected to a branch: at least 150m
• Built-in anti-feedback device on the control unit
• Four audio outputs for voice reinforcement, where needed, which can be associated to groups of units and can be deactivated or attenuated with microphones in operation
  Built-in chip-card reader/writer on the control unit

• Two auxiliary inputs (microphone, microphone with phantom or line) can be set mixed or with priority on/under the system
• USB and RS232 serial connection
• REC output available on main unit
• Basic functions can be accessed without PC connection, configuring system main unit through graphic display and keys; PC software is available on request for complete and expanded management of conference and voting
• Microphone console unit made of pressure die-cast zinc-aluminium alloy, with graphic LCD screen and chip-card reader/writer
• Pro cardioid microphone
• High quality loudspeaker built into each unit
• Facilities for simultaneous interpretation
• MIC-Headphone connectors on units