Mackie's Digital 8-Bus A Preview Don't start clearing space in your studio for it just yet, but the word is that Mackie's Digital 8-Bus should be available very soon. Exactly what that means is anybody's guess, but the excitement this console is generating in the industry is nearly overwhelming, meaning that when the units actually ship, there's guaranteed to be a long list of people who already shelled out some hard-earned cash to be one of the first to get one. Obviously Greg Mackie's team has done it again and this new board is everything we expected it to be, and then some. Here's just a partial list of its features: 48 true channels for tracking, overdub and mixdown; jitter-free, touch-updatable motorized faders; 12 aux sends per channel; 32-bit internal processing with full 24-bit output; dynamic and snapshot recall of all parameters; multiple, simultaneous digital effects, dynamics processing and equalization; an SVGA monitor output plus mouse and keyboard inputs; a built-in hard drive plus floppy drive (let's pause here to catch our collective breaths, shall we?). Here's more: A powerful CPU with 8 megs of on-board memory; a built-in multifunction meter bridge; record-ready button on every channel; dedicated transport controls plus jog/shuttle; instantly upgradable DSP effects. Whew! Even if this were the full feature list, you'd be thinking this is one phenomenal machine. But here's where it gets even cooler (if that's possible): the Digital 8-Bus comes with a built-in 33.6 kB modem and direct internal dial-up software that lets your Digital 8-Bus phone Mackie Central for DSP upgrades, system enhancements, diagnostics and even e-mail - and all in your choice of languages! Small wonder that this console got so much attention at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim. Over two full years in development, the 48x8x2 Digital 8-Bus has the features and sound quality you'd expect for serious production work (including full surround capability). In terms of automation versatility, this console can go head-to-head with other mixers in the $200,000 price range, yet it will carry a suggested retail price of less than $8,000 (now aren't you glad you were sitting down?). We won't kid you: We don't have a firm delivery date on this beast yet, but you can bet that whatever units might show up at the Sweetwater loading dock are going to be going right back out, probably the same day. So we beg you, plead with you, don't wait another minute - get the latest up-to-the-minute info from your Sweetwater sales engineer immediately! Master Index | Sweet Notes Index | Home | Previous Page | Next Page