Thoughts on the Future of the 001...and Apple

[lwilliam]

Hmmmm...I'm not so sure that Apple & Digi are partners either. With OS X coming out with integrated MIDI support (this is GOOD!) but also integrated hi-quality (we'll see...) integrated multi-channel audio i/o, that will totally change the way all Mac DAWs, including Protools (DP and Logic, also) will eventually work on a Mac. I understand that OS X will also provide a "standardized" plugin format to compete with the DirectX format from Windoz. Well, so much for 2x the price on TDM plugins..

Digi is about to introduce "Digidesign Time Stamping" for it's upcoming midi interface - this will have a product life of about a year - unless there is something better about it than what will be integrated into OS X. The hardware may survive, but the drivers will HAVE to become OS X native.

If the most espensive part of what Digi is doing becomes integrated into the OS (TDM buss), then TDM as a plugin format as well as DAE as an audio engine, have a limited lifespan.

Of course, none of this stops Digi from charging $12,000 for ProControl and $10,000 for an entry-level HD system, but it will change the way hardware interfaces with the Mac.

Just another $.02...