Guitar Center To Be Primary U.S. Sales Channel For XYNERGI Media Production Centre

Guitar Center, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTRC) has announced an agreement with Fairlight for GC Pro, the outside sales division that focuses on the needs of professional users, to be the primary U.S. sales channel for the new XYNERGI Media Production Centre. The XYNERGI will be featured at several GC Pro locations and supported by GC Pro's team of local account managers, known for their extensive knowledge and individualized service to recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more.

XYNERGI organizes and delivers a suite of all of the media processing tools needed for high end audio for video production in all widely used surround formats. XYNERGI is based around a completely new concept in tactile control, which harnesses the awesome 'green' processing power of Fairlight's CC-1 digital media engine.

The XYNERGI controller features a unique implementation of self-labeling key switches, which are able to display full color images, icons or text to provide intelligent control over the entire recording, editing and mixing process. In addition the controller can support any type of language or icon driven menu structure with an 'on-demand' QWERTY keyboard for routine naming tasks and immediate access to MS Office™ tools such as email, Word™ and Excel™. The controller also features eight touch sensitive rotary controllers and multiple soft keys arranged around a color control zone known as the "pad". These can be used to support XYNERGI's sophisticated mix automation system as well as provide precise control over extensive signal processing facilities which include multi-band EQs, three stage dynamics, multi dimensional panning and auxiliary sends.

The real essence of the controller lies in its ability to intelligently know what mode the operator is in, presenting ONLY the functions relevant to the desired mode whilst hiding those that aren't. The result is less keystrokes, more control and greater productivity all of which contribute to an enhanced creative operational experience.

"The XYNERGI Media Production Centre brings together the most powerful, versatile and scalable media production systems in the world today" announced John Lancken, Chief Executive Officer, Fairlight. "This revolutionary new control interface literally puts multi-dimensional tactile control at the fingertips of the creative community. When combined with the CC-1 engine, XYNERGI dramatically increases the creative firepower that engineers, artists and producers have to work with."

GC Pro will work closely with Fairlight over the coming months to provide a unique outlet for this new product. Commenting on GC's exclusive U.S., distribution of the Xynergi, Bryan Bradley, Guitar Center's Director Professional Audio and Recording Merchandise stated, "We believe the Fairlight XYNERGI will be a perfect fit for Guitar Center, our GC Pro division and its clients. The XYNERGI was received extremely well at the recent IBC Exhibition in Amsterdam, and we are looking forward to bringing that same excitement to our customer base."