The Allen & Heath proprietary ACE™ (Audio and Control over Ethernet) link offers a cost effective point-to-point connection up to 120m over a single CAT5 cable for 64 channels of very low latency bi-directional audio plus network control. ACE™ is the primary iLive fixed format Surface to MixRack link.

M-ACE is one of a range of digital audio networking options available for iLive and GLD to enable integration with other systems, digital mic splitting and system expansion. It can be fitted to the Port B expansion slot in iLive fixed format MixRacks (iDR-16, iDR-32, iDR-48, iDR-64) or expander (xDR-16), Port A/B in iLive modular MixRacks (iDR0, iDR10) and Port A of iLive modular surfaces if they are fitted with the new RAB-2 standard. It can also be fitted to the I/O Module expansion slot in a GLD-80 mixer.

The card provides two ACE™ ports. Port 1 is the main link. Port 2 can be configured either as a mirror of the outputs appearing on port 1 to split signals to a second device, or as a second connection for redundant backup. The iLive NETWORK port can be linked to the ACE card using the short CAT5 cable provided to bridge control over the same cable as the audio.