US
Not your run-of-the-mill audio interface. 08/09/03
Spike - the housewifes choice
This weeks Plasa Light and Sound show in London's Earls Court was not the place I expected to see a new XD-2 USB audio/MIDI interface from Mackie.
The new audio interface, Spike is a 24-bit 96kHz, SHARC DSP powered USB audio interface featuring Mackie's high-headroom digital mic preamps, plus MIDI i/o.
The on-board SHARC DSP enables dynamic processing features without taxing the host CPU. Drivers are currently in development for XP and OSX as well as being bundled with Tracktion - an easy to use audio multi-tracking and MIDI sequencing software package and Ableton Live Mackie - a cut down version of Abletons excellent Live! loop remixing software. You also get the Blue Tubes VST plug-in free.
Connections are:
S/PDIFi/o
2x mic/line
MIDI i/o
Stereo monitor outputs and front panel headphone jack and level control
Support for ASIO 2.0, WDM and OS X Core Audio
More details as we get them.
Expected to ship towards the end of the year the Spike will retail at around $419 /£429