MESSE13: Copperlan Promises 16bit Plug-in Control

I like to keep up with the CopperLAN developments when we visit Musik Messe and this year, aside from the usual collection of circuit boards and laptops, was a physical product from CME - they have incorporated the CopperLAN protocol into a new keyboard. This could well be a tipping point in the uptake of this new network enabled transport.

For those that dont know, CopperLAN is a protocol that allows for the setup of self aware MIDI and audio networks running over Cat5, USB and FireWire - plug something in and all the other Copperlan enabled devices just know its there and what parameters it has. Pretty neat.

And as Eric demonstrated, the resolution of this new CME control is not limited to 128 steps, plugins and other devices can be controlled with 16bit plus resolution - kind of what MIDI 2.0 is aiming for right? Enabled plugins can receive high res controller information.

Check it out, I think it has tremendous potential. All we need is for more manufacturers to take up the Copperlan protocol and we're in business. Just goes to show how incredible it was that the MIDI spec came together at the speed it did...

CME tell us that this first keyboard will be in the market in around 6 months.

More Information

• copperlan.org

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• Klavis And ZP Engineering Join Forces 15-Apr-09
• MESSE09: CopperLAN - One Wire To Link Them All 10-Apr-09