Press Release

For over two years Euphonix has been working closely with several leading pro audio and video manufacturers to provide a range of product solutions that integrate together over Ethernet ‘ extending their individual capabilities and greatly enhancing their appeal and usefulness. Over the last decade, the video, film and music production process has been migrating to computer-based systems which has reduced costs and provided more creative options, but at the significant expense of fast, intuitive, tactile and visual control. It is now common for creative staff to move quickly between several software applications, greatly increasing their creative freedom, but are tied to the cumbersome constraints of keyboard and mouse. Euphonix is one of the only companies to address these issues when devising solutions to speed up the workflow process and at the same time facilitating a complete open end-to-end production solution. The MC and System 5-MC controllers are squarely aimed at addressing these important industry needs.
The bridge between MC and System 5-MC and a software application, or hardware analog or digital processor is EuCon, which is a sophisticated high-speed Ethernet communications protocol developed by Euphonix. Euphonix has worked for over two years to solidify EuCon and make it sufficiently broad enough to handle even the most demanding and complex audio and video applications. The new version 3.1 of Steinberg’s Nuendo DAW fully supports the EuCon driver allowing it to tightly integrate with both the MC and System 5-MC controllers. Merging’s Pyramix version 5 with the OASIS option also fully integrates with the System 5-MC and MC via EuCon.
The MC Intelligent Application Controller is available as a stand-alone product as well as forming the centerpiece of the System 5-MC console surface. Euphonix recognized that users want to switch applications, and in many cases switch between multiple workstations, both Mac OSX and PC. This formed a central part of the MC design with 4 levels of control; keyboard and trackball, 56 LCD SmartSwitches that can be programmed to send out keystroke commands and labeled, HUI and Mackie Control protocol, and EuCon for the tightest, fastest, most in-depth integration possible. The System 5-MC adds the Euphonix System 5 style channel strips to a central MC for audio mixing applications.
Now it is possible to start a project on a laptop with Cubase SX3, for example, move to a desktop with an MC controller and Nuendo, then to a mix room with a System 5-MC switching between Nuendo, Pyramix and Pro Tools. Euphonix is also planning the integration of EuCon into its existing System 5 console range for 2006, so that EuCon enabled applications can be seamlessly integrated, including the large multi-operator film consoles. Applications such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Digital Performer and Final Cut Pro, to name just a few, can be controlled with a combination of keyboard and trackball, SmartSwitches, HUI and Mackie Control.
What sets the MC and System 5-MC apart from the competition is the ability of the control surface to switch between different applications and instantly reconfigure all switches and channels to match that application. At the push of a button the operator can switch from working in Nuendo, to Pyramix, to Pro Tools to a video edit application such as Final Cut Pro.
EuCon control is not limited to DAWs. Digital Audio Denmark have announced that they will be including EuCon connectivity in their ADDA 2402, 8-channel mic preamp unit which also includes high quality 24-bit, 96Khz A/D and D/A converters. This will allow remote control of the preamps from the MC and System 5-MC surface. The possibilities with EuCon control are endless.
By providing a way for these different applications and components to work together the user is able to access a wide variety of software and hardware from a single unified control surface. The MC and System 5-MC allow users to “Break Free” from the constraints of the mouse and keyboard and also from the closed environment of proprietary systems ‘ creative professionals now have a sophisticated control surface that can work with any application.
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