Edirol has released a free update that turns its M-16DX digital mixer, multi-i/o computer interface and production console into a control surface for popular DAW apps.
The v2 software includes Cakewalk SONAR and Apple Logic modes that enable these DAWs to be controlled out of the box, with the knobs on the hardware assigned to their equivalent software controllers. In Logic, for example, the hardware M-16DX appears in the software’s list of compatible controllers and the equivalent controls are tied together automatically once it’s selected. In both SONAR and Logic the controls are assigned in a logical way so that users will quickly be able to navigate around their chosen software with the EDIROL hardware.
The new v2 software can also be used to control all other software that has a MIDI learn facility such as Reason, Ableton Live and many soft synths.
The software update also includes expansion of the Scene Memory function with the number of memories doubling from 8 to 16 and now each memory is editable while loaded.
It’s a pity that Edirol didn’t bother to create presets for any DAWs other than Apple Logic and their own product Cakewalk Sonar. Overall, I think the M-16DX has been a disappointment. Lots of potential but not quite realised. Hopefully there will be a later version, preferably one that comes as a single unit rather than the current unwieldly separates.
Steve – great point.
It would be great if companies could keep products for multiple years, so that they’d have time to develop full compatibility with the common platforms.