Mackie Designs Inc., which makes and markets professional audio systems, has announced Mackie Control C4, a US$1,099 MIDI controller for musicians that offers mixing, editing, automation, and navigational control for any supported digital audio workstation.
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MIDI is the acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. The MIDI protocol allows electronic devices (usually synthesizers, but also computers, light show controllers, VCR’s, multi-track recorders, etc.) to interact and work in synchronization with other MIDI compatible devices.
The C4, which helps with the control of digital “virtual instruments,” eliminates the need to constantly “bank switch” a standard control surface display in order to access software modules, according to Mike Newman, Mackie Designs’ director of product development. The C4 has multiple displays and corresponding knobs for simultaneous access of up to 32 parameters of a given software module. Function buttons beneath the displays and knobs allow users to select the arrangement of those parameters and how they show up on screen. The C4 also acts as a “quick fix” tool for fader and pan settings across 32 channels, and can be used independently or with additional Mackie Control and/or Mackie Control Extenders, Newman said.
It will be available at U.S. dealers in the second quarter of the year; the C4 will be go on sale in Europe this summer. At the time of release, C4 will be supported by MOTU Digital Performer and Emagic Logic Audio. Support from other Mackie Control software partners will follow soon after, according to the folks at Mackie Designs.