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Merging Technologies Launches 256-Channel MassCore Console Mix Engine and Ramses Integrated Console System (27/4/2007)

Merging & Smart AV Reveal OEM Alliance For New 256-channel Integrated Console System

Switzerland's Merging Technologies, developers of the Pyramix digital audio workstation, have revealed a strategic alliance with Smart AV, the Australian manufacturer of the Smart range of console control surfaces. The alliance is designed to take full advantage of Merging's new 256-channel 'MassCore' console mix engine, also announced today, which has been fully integrated with Pyramix into a newly designed range of small, medium and large control surfaces that will be manufactured by Smart AV exclusively for Merging and carrying the Merging brand.

The new MassCore engine is the result of a long-term development program within Merging to produce a fully integrated and networkable digital console/record/editing/mix solution targeted at the post-production and multi-track live recording markets. Merging's new system, called 'Ramses MSC', will be premiered at NAB in Las Vegas and then at AES Vienna a few weeks later.

The alliance between the two companies has been kept under wraps for some months until Merging's new MassCore engine was ready to go public. Ken Barnsley, Merging's Head of Marketing, explains the correlation between the new MassCore engine, Pyramix and the OEM alliance with Smart AV.

"Pyramix is already one of the most powerful workstations on the market, but as the demand for more power and more tracks seems never-ending, we took the decision to develop the next version, V6.0 Pyramix, on a new generation 'real-time' engine that did not rely on the Windows or Mac operating systems. This then avoids the inherent latencies and processing restrictions caused by using these platforms, and allows us to take the I/O channel/track count - and, importantly, the internal bus structure - to a new level.

"The result is that MassCore is a very powerful real-time mix engine. I am not allowed to say how we have achieved this until all the patents are filed, but I can say that MassCore is scalable from just 16 channels to 256 channels with up to 256 buses. It also offers the world's first fully integrated 48-channel DSD/DXD system, and retains all Pyramix's real-time editing, making it far more capable than anything else on the market today.

"With so much mixing power at our disposal and with the recording, editing and processing capabilities of Pyramix, there was just one thing missing, and we decided to seek out a console partner to fully integrate a custom-designed control surface to our own specifications. This would then allow us to incorporate the Pyramix and MassCore engine as a fully integrated console system. After speaking with several potential companies Smart AV became the obvious choice. In our opinion, their integration of OASIS (Merging's Network-based control protocol) and their module technology is leaps ahead of anybody else's, and their extremely efficient manufacturing means we can offer a very powerful and fully integrated console solution at a very competitive price.

"A new operational functionality for the console surface has also been developed jointly between Merging and Smart's engineers that takes full advantage of Pyramix's automation, mixing and editing capabilities. I should explain that the 256-channel/track capability is per Pyramix system running the MassCore engine and we can control up to five workstations simultaneously from the console surface. I'll let you do the sums!

"'Ramses MSC' is essentially a digital console integrated into a large multi-track record/editor with two modes of functionality for post-production and for live multi-track record/mixing. With provision to incorporate Standard or Hi-Definition video in the system as well, Ramses MSC definitely has the real WOW factor! And with Ramses European pricing starting at around 25,000 Euros, it's seriously affordable compared to other systems"

The MassCore engine still utilises Merging's Mykerinos and I/O hardware, and will also be available for Pyramix as a standalone workstation and as an upgrade to existing Pyramix users.

www.merging.com/ramses

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