The rumors have been running for more than a year regarding Digidesign's release of a comprehensive remote surface for Protools. Now, the it's official! Digidesign announces its new system, ICON (including the new D-Control console, the X-Mon monitoring interface and Protools HD Accell).

D-Control features:

Each channel includes 2 x 32 segments, VU meters, and 6 rotary encoders assignable (per track) to the aux sends, pans, i/o selections, plug-in selections, plug-in parameters... Each encoder is surrounded by LEDs with the ability to change their colors according to what they are displaying (e.g., Green = Volume, Orange = VU Meter, Red = Peak Hold). Under each encoder, there is a fluorescent display showing the function assigned to the encoder, and two switches assigned to pre/post, bypasses, etc... The next 10 luminous switches are used to select the various functions assigned to the encoders.

At the top of the fader, there are record and auto-input buttons, solo, mute and select buttons, a display indicating the track's name, and 2 buttons to choose the automation mode. Near the Penny & Gilles motorized faders, there are several LEDs indicating the automation mode and the assigned group.

The central section breaks up into a special channel (like other channels), but is assignable to any track, followed by 2 large rectangular blocks including the compressor (at the top), and the equalizer (at the bottom), respectively. The equalizer includes all the buttons of a 5-band parametric EQ, with filters and levels. The small switches at the center are used to select on which channel one works, in the case of multi-channel plug-ins. It should be noted that any plug-in assigned to the compressor or equalizer sections will keep the same parameters on the same encoders, regardless of who the plug-in manufacturer is.

Next comes 2 transport commands (Protools + remote machine), the transport controls (Preroll, loop, etc...), assignable software keys, a scrub wheel, a Qwerty keyboard (full size) and a trackball.

Lastly, the monitoring section (which controls the X-Mon analog rack) has a 7+1 output, with a 7+1 machine's return, 3 pairs of speakers outputs (Main, Mini, Alt), 3 CUE outputs, 1 headphones out for the engineer, and a talkback. The empty block in the central section will receive optional modules: the first one should be filled with joysticks.

The central screen is rather intended for visual monitoring, as Digidesign clearly designed this control surface so that one can work without ever using a mouse or looking at the screen: even the menu items are assigned on dedicated buttons, printed on dedicated displays!

The console is delivered with 16 faders in the master section. It can extended to 80 faders (in blocks of 16 faders). It interfaces only with Protools HD Accel, using a simple Ethernet cable. Digidesign has apparently learned from its previous Control-24, for example by giving priority to the VU meter display, even when automation starts to be charged.

Priced around $70,000, Digidesign is clearly targeting professional studios, where Protools rapidly replaced tape based multitracks, but never succeeded for mixing music or cinema compared with big names like SSL, Neve and Euphonix. The introduction of such a console could change this, especially at this price point.

The formal presentation of this console, which will undoubtedly make some noise, will take place on March 26 on the Digidesign website.

Ask Blinkbits BlinkList Blogmarks Bluedot Connotea Del.icio.us Digg

Diigo Dzone Facebook Fark Google Bookmarks Ma.gnolia Netscape Newsvine

Rawsugar reddit Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Smarking Spurl Squidoo

StumbleUpon SWiK Tailrank Technorati Windows Live Wists Yahoo! My Web