Steinberg Media Technologies today presented the first products in a new range of Steinberg hardware developed together by Steinberg and Yamaha and manufactured by Yamaha. The new products are presented as a technical preview at Frankfurt Musikmesse, and include the MR816 CSX and MR816 X Advanced Integration FireWire audio interfaces and the CC121 Advanced Integration Controller. All three offer a previously unknown level of integration between hardware and host DAW software, dramatically extending the functional envelope beyond traditional hardware and software integration.

"This is an exciting step towards our long-term objective of providing uniquely integrated hardware and software products that will provide innovative and qualitatively outstanding solutions to audio and music professionals in all arenas," comments Kazunori Kobayashi, Managing Director at Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. "Steinberg's position as a unique brand within Yamaha Corporation creates the ideal conditions for this innovational capability moving forward," he adds.

Andreas Stelling, Steinberg's General Manager comments: "We're very pleased to be able to showcase these new products here at Musikmesse, which represent the dawning of new era of innovation. These new products are only the beginning, with many new products and technologies already planned for the coming years that will offer exceptional new solutions for many aspects of audio production."

Availability: MR816 CSX, MR816 X and CC121 will be available from Q3 2008.

MR816 CSX and MR816 X Advanced Integration FireWire Interfaces

Designed by Steinberg and Yamaha, both units feature unprecedented integration into Cubase, and offer a full range of audio I/O options and onboard DSP with the renowned REV-X reverb. MR816 CSX also offers the acclaimed Sweet Sport Morphing Channel Strip plug-in, with both DSP effects available as a VST3 plug-in in Cubase. The new units will support Mac OS X, Windows XP and Windows Vista, and will ship in Q3 2008.

"These qualitatively outstanding units represent a departure from the traditional relationship between hardware and software," comments Helge Vogt, Steinberg's Product Marketing Manager for Cubase. "Fusing directly into Cubase at core level, the new units combine with Steinberg's renowned Music Production System to offer a complete production solution comprising a first-class software DAW, outstanding FireWire I/O and high-quality DSP FX. The beauty of this system is that all these aspects of functionality are unified, so all aspects are controlled from within Cubase. This allows an extremely efficient and ergonomic workflow that we believe will set new standards," Vogt continues.

Launching Cubase 4 with MR816 CSX or MR816 X attached to the computer offers:

• True Integrated Monitoring: no latency, DSP-powered FX* and full Cubase Control Room support including independent Studio mixes
• Complete Cubase user interface integration throughout: direct access from Cubase with no additional software mixing or external windows required
• 8 discrete Class A analog 'D-Pre' mic preamps with combination XLR and TRS analog inputs with advanced new inverted Darlington circuits and switchable phantom power per channel, as well as digital ADAT and S/PDIF I/O
• Quick connect: Next-generation of plug and play with instant routing of inputs to Cubase channels from the hardware with the push of a button
• DSP power for Cubase*: Up to 8 simultaneous onboard DSP-powered Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip with compressor, EQ as well as REV-X reverb – available within Cubase during mixing

*Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip available in MR816 CSX only.

CC121 Advanced Integration Controller

Offering dedicated maximum-quality hardware controllers and an innovative and flexible new controller concept, CC121 provides full Cubase 4 integration and control. CC121 will support Windows XP Windows Vista and Mac OS X, and will be available in Q3 2008.

"Built to an extremely high manufacturing and component standard, CC121 provides totally integrated tactile control of Steinberg's Cubase range of production systems, with a unique design architecture that keeps producers and musicians 100% focused on their Cubase project and the creative process," comments Helge Vogt, Steinberg's Product Marketing Manager for Cubase. "The revolutionary and ultra-flexible AI Knob combines with a range of dedicated controls that mirror Cubase 4 functions to offer a user-experience that is exhilaratingly fast and intuitive," he adds.

The CC121 Advanced Integration Controller feature set includes:

• Ultra-precision Advanced Integration controller knob with 'point and control' support: controls any visual Cubase 4 parameter, internal FX setting or VSTi parameter using mouse pointer selection
• Instant plug and play with 'Cubase Ready' LED – no additional setup or parameter assigning required
• One motorized 100mm touch-sensitive fader
• Dedicated control of Cubase channel settings including solo/mute, record arm, 'e' settings button, automation read/write, pan and VSTi editor
• Full Cubase EQ section in hardware with 12 dedicated rotary encoders, with mode selection and bypass switches
• User-assignable section with Cubase-integrated presets for Control Room studio sends and monitoring setup.