Digidesign and Focusrite Launch Control|24
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(Click for a close-up of the top panel) |
January 18, 2001Digidesign® and Focusrite® are pleased to announce the
release of Control|24™, a new mixing control surface with built-in high end
analog pre-amplification for Pro Tools®. Combining the Grammy® award-winning
inventiveness of Digidesign's Pro Tools and the lineage of Focusrite hardware
engineering and studio recording console design, the new Control|24 breaks the
mold of conventional mixing desks. Balancing the need for tactile mixing control
without the limitations of a standalone console, Control|24 offers Pro Tools MIX/MIXplus
owners a creative and cost-effective solution. This development came about following
discussions between the companies two years ago when the emerging need for a Pro
Tools console including microphone preamplifiers and comprehensive monitoring
control was identified.
The innovation of Pro Tools mix automation and the peerless quality of Focusrite's
analog design comes together in Control|24. Offering 24 touch-sensitive moving
faders, dedicated EQ and dynamics switches on every channel, and illuminated switching
for mute, solo, record arm, channel selects and automation modes, Control|24 has
the traditional ergonomics of a mixing desk but without the limitations. Large
LEDs display transport location, each channel strip offers dual channel metering,
and 26 scribble strips provide system feedback for channel names and plug-in parameters,
Underpinning the solid Focusrite modeling of Control|24 is Digidesign's Pro Tools
recording, editing and mixing automation. Control|24 connects to Pro Tools via
10BaseT ethernet for lighting-fast response and accuracy and offers hands-on control
of nearly every recording, routing, mixing, and editing function in Pro Tools.
Focusrite's world leading design provides 16 Class A mic/line pre amps on Control|24.
Control|24's analog mic processing is a perfect compliment to the Digidesign's
audio interfaces, and integrates seamlessly with existing MIX and MIXplus set-ups.
Providing accurate and detailed audio quality, the Focusrite designed mic pre
amps fulfill the production chain at an affordable price. Control|24 also includes
two DI inputs on the first two channels for directly plugging in instrument-level
devices.
The new Pro Tools 5.1 surround mixing features are addressed by Control|24's
comprehensive surround monitoring section. Also included are talkback capabilities
and an integrated submixer section with 8 stereo inputs for command over submixes,
synths and more.
Focusrite and Digidesign have enjoyed an excellent relationship since the Focusrite
d2 and d3 plug-in emulations of the classic Focusrite Red 2 Equalizer and Red
3 Compressor debuted in 1995. These have become two of the most popularly used
plug-ins for Pro Tools and are exclusive to the Digidesign platform.
Focusrite Chairman Phil Dudderidge comments: " For a number of years we
debated the future console design policy for the company and were unable to develop
a clear strategy because of the change from analog to digital recording until
it became clear that Pro Tools was emerging as the new standard for multi-track
recording and mixing. Our excellent relationship with Digidesign put us in a unique
position to offer a design resource which could collaborate with the product strategists
at Digidesign and deliver a ready-to-manufacture design. This is the best way
for us to go back into the console business!"
"Collaborating together, Digidesign and Focusrite have used intelligent
and solid design aesthetics for Control|24. Control|24 moves beyond the convention
of moderately priced desks by integrating with Pro Tools and commanding the existing
power and flexibility that is within our system," comments Gannon Kashiwa,
Digidesign's Product Manager for Control|24. "We built on our experience
with control surfaces and Focusrite's experience with analog consoles to create
a new controller that any mix engineer can sit down and be comfortable with. The
controls are laid out in a very intuitive manner and it looks and sounds great
to boot!"
Control|24 is a co-branded Digidesign and Focusrite product. Already in production,
it goes on sale in February 2001 with the expected worldwide retail price of (US)
$7995. For more information, visit their web site at www.digidesign.com. | 
