…and so is 9 as the console manufacturer extends the highly successful PRO Series with two new digital audio systems, reports David Davies. Part of a major product launch that also encompassed a host of new items from sister company Klark Teknik, Midas introduced the new systems to the world at InfoComm 2010.
The new launches take place six months after Midas and Klark Teknik were acquired by Behringer parent company The Music Group in a high-profile deal that surprised many in the pro-audio world.
Speaking to IE, Midas/Klark Teknik general manager John Oakley reflected: “InfoComm was an amazing show for us and is increasingly important in our annual calendar. The quality of visitors to the booth was very high and it was constantly crowded. We launched six new products including three new digital consoles, allowing more people than ever to experience Midas mixing.
The PRO3, an affordable 48-input member of the PRO Series of consoles, generated huge interest and many orders are now in the pipeline. The simple upgrade route from PRO3 to PRO6 to the 88-input PRO9 also proved very attractive to customers. Equally pleasing for us was the great reception we received for the Klark Teknik DN9652 Dual Network Bridge, which allows easy bridging between many multichannel audio formats, including MADI and Dante, by virtue of its integral 144 channels of sample rate conversion and dual clock regimes.”
Intended to widen access to Midas technology, the PRO3 offers a feature set including: VCA and POPulation groups, allowing users to navigate channels intuitively; the same comprehensive choice of effects and dynamics processing as the PRO6 and XL8; and 48 input channels with remote controlled mic pres, 27 buses and six stereo effects.
The PRO3 also incorporates the newly developed DL251 fixed format 5U I/O rack, which is designed as a more cost-effective solution for those not requiring the flexibility of modular I/O hardware. However, the system can be enhanced subsequently, if required, to the 88-channel PRO9 with additional hardware and firmware upgrades.
Meanwhile, the PRO9 features an 88-channel input count and 35 buses, with the dual stage boxes offering placement flexibility up to 200m apart and 500m from the FOH position. Other features include: the DL431 24-channel five-way mic splitter; VCA and POPulation groups; and expandable modular connectivity to allow the system to suit most applications.
Richard Ferriday, brand development manager for Midas and Klark Teknik, commented: “Midas customers can now gain additional benefits from our open-architecture approach to system design and our modular hardware implementation. The new PRO Series additions, PRO3 and PRO9 offer both easier affordability and increased capacity while remaining true to the brand values.”
The Midas/KT presence at InfoComm 2010 also included the Klark Teknik DN9650 and DN9652 high-channel count digital audio format and sample rate converters.
