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7
Digidesign Products
Pro Tools Products
Developed by our Digidesign audio division, Pro Tools is a multi-track, non-linear digital audio workstation
comprising a variety of hardware options and bundled software that runs on Macintosh and Windows platforms. The Pro
Tools workstation provides solutions for the entire audio production process, including recording, editing, signal
processing, sound synthesis, integrated surround mixing and mastering. Pro Tools users work in the prosumer and
professional music, film, television, radio, multimedia, DVD, and Internet production markets. Pro Tools systems support a
rich third party development environment, with more than 100 development partners providing a variety of additional
software and hardware add-on options.
Digidesign offers Pro Tools systems in a variety of price points and configurations, ranging from high-end systems
for professional music and post-production, to the affordable Mbox, Digi 002, and Digi 002 Rack systems for home
production studios. The first Pro Tools|HD system, which began shipping in early 2002, was further enhanced in October
2003 by the introduction of the Pro Tools|HD Accel card which provides greatly increased power in the DSP hardware (the
basis of all Pro Tools|HD systems) that performs the audio processing. The Mbox product, introduced in early 2002, is an
“all-in-one” two-channel USB audio interface with integral inputs for microphone, instrument or line level signals. Bundled
with Pro Tools LE software, the Mbox system integrates audio recording, editing and mixing in an affordable, portable
package for entry-level users, as well as professionals who wish to use additional low cost satellite systems. The Digi 002
product, introduced in late 2002, is a more comprehensive home audio production device. The Digi 002 combines a
versatile multi-channel audio interface with multiple microphone or line level preamplifiers, a full-featured and compact
control surface with touch-sensitive motorized faders, and can also act as a standalone compact digital mixer. It
communicates with the bundled Pro Tools LE software via a 1394 FireWire connection. The Digi 002 Rack product was
introduced in 2003, and is a more compact, rack-mountable version of the 002, without the motorized fader control features.
The Pro Tools product family accounted for approximately 24%, 25% and 27% of our consolidated net revenues in 2004,
2003 and 2002, respectively.
D-Control and ICON
The D-Control mixing surface is Digidesign’s high-end, expandable hardware control surface for tactile control of
Pro Tools software and hardware. It also contains a stand-alone audio monitoring system called XMON. A D-Control
combined with a Pro Tools HD system and one or more PRE multi-channel microphone pre-amplifiers can replace all the
recording, editing, processing, surround mixing, monitoring, pre-amplification and control capabilities found on a more
traditional analog or digital console. We describe such a combination system as an “ICON” or Integrated Console
Environment. D-Control connects to the host computer (and Pro Tools software) via Ethernet, serving as a comprehensive
front end for professional Pro Tools systems. With its modular design, a D-Control mixing surface can be customized to fit
any studio, providing from 16 to 80 channels of simultaneous control.
ProControl
Our ProControl product line provides a solution similar to D-Control and ICON at a lower price point. Like D-
Control, it connects via Ethernet to a Pro Tools-equipped computer, and provides a comprehensive front end and full tactile
control of Pro Tools functions. The ProControl mixing surface can be customized to fit any studio, providing from 8 to 48
channels of simultaneous control. The Edit Pack option adds integrated control of advanced editing and surround mixing
features, rounding out the ProControl product range.
Control|24
Our Control|24 product is a mixing control surface that combines hands-on access to Pro Tools software features
and high-quality microphone pre-amplifiers from Focusrite. The Control|24 product communicates with the host computer
(and Pro Tools software) via Ethernet, and provides tactile control of most Pro Tools functions. The Control|24 product is a
24-fader, fixed-size control surface, designed for music production and broadcast applications.
AVoption|V10 and AVoption|XL
The AVoption|XL and AVoption|V10 hardware options for Pro Tools systems allow users to record, edit and
process sound synchronized with Avid-format, non-linear digital video. Designed for post-production professionals working
in film, TV and video, the AVoption products enable capture, playback, and basic editing of broadcast-quality picture from