Phonic Corporation Introduces the Summit Digital Mixer and Software Upgrades

The Summit offers 16 microphone and line input channels, all of which can be routed to any of the 8 internal AUX mixes, 8 subgroup mixes, control room mix, effect processor or main stereo mix. AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs are also included, routed to and from the main mix. A series of XLR and 1/4" outputs send your main, control room, headphone, AUX and group mixes out to external devices. All of this is accomplished through the powerful 40-bit fixed-point digital signal processor. While digital mixers are becoming fairly standard in studio and touring environments, many people still find their interfaces and operation somewhat clunky and unintuitive. "We took the comments of customers to heart with the Summit," explains Grant Murray, Phonic Product Marketing Specialist. "When it came to digital mixers, interfaces were a big issue for many. The effort that was put into creating our user interface was incredible, and the results show." The user interface is accessed through a large, full-color touch screen. All menu items are listed clearly, with accompanying graphical icons. Virtual faders and rotary controls can all be adjusted using the screen and onboard controls. Users can add digital effects through the two digital effect processors. A dynamic processor – gate, expander, compressor or limiter – is available on each and every input channel, as well as the outputs. "The Summit is feature heavy, and easy to use," says Larry Lai, Phonic Product Manager. "There's just no other way to explain it." Anybody planning to attend the 2010 Winter NAMM session, held between January 14 and 17, can feel free to stop by booth 6878 in Hall A to check out the Summit. Phonic USB devices compatible with latest-generation operating systems Phonic is happy to announce Windows 7 and Mac OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard compatibility for the Firefly 302 USB and Helix Board 12 Plus. ???We're extremely happy to be able to provide these updates for our customers," says Larry Lai, Phonic Product Manager. "Windows 7 is a great new operating system, and a lot of people are excited to be able to upgrade. Naturally there's a little apprehension as to whether their gear will be compatible once they do, so it's great that we can assure people that their Firefly 302 USB or Helix Board 12 Plus will run just as smoothly with the latest available operating systems." Version 1.21 of the Phonic USB PC driver for the Firefly 302 USB and Helix Board 12 Plus is now online and can be downloaded here. This driver has been thoroughly tested and is compatible with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista (SP1) and Windows 7. Also online is the new USB driver for Mac OSX 10.6, downloadable here. This driver has been tested on a various number of different Intel-based Macs and is compatible with OSX 10.5.8 up to version 10.6.2. Cubase LE 4 now Windows 7 and Mac Snow Leopard compatible! It's with great excitement and pleasure that we announce that Phonic customers who previously purchased the Helix Board or Firefly digital recording interfaces bundled with Cubase LE 4 can now use this program on the Windows 7 and Mac OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard operating systems. By downloading the hotfix or install patch found here, users will be able to continue recording with the Cubase LE 4 software on the next-generation operating systems released this year. Officially announced by Steinberg on December 11, 2009, these hotfixes/patches ensure Phonic products - including the Helix Board 12 Plus and Firefly 302 USB, which have recently had driver updates - can still record with the free Cubase LE 4 software that was packaged with their units. Be sure to keep the Phonic website bookmarked for more Windows 7 and Mac OSX announcements over the next few weeks. These will include more drivers and firmware updates for the Helix Board and Firefly series of digital audio interfaces. Phonic will be releasing a number of exciting new updates for their audio interfaces in the coming weeks.