Midas ‘breaks new ground’ with low cost Pro1 console

Midas has announced the launch of the Pro1 live audio system, which the company is describing as ‘breaking new ground for Midas digital consoles in several areas’. The desk – which represents Midas targeting its lowest ever price point at less than US$10,000 – was launched by the Music Group-owned company on the eve of the Infocomm 2012 exhibition in Las Vegas.

Billed as the ‘first standalone Midas digital console’ with comprehensive onboard I/O, the Pro1 also boasts an all-new, lightweight aluminium frame intended to help ‘set new standards of portability and performance for a compact digital console’. It is compatible with the complete Midas digital range, supporting existing show files.

‘The Pro1 opens new territory for Midas on a number of different levels,’ explained brand development manager Richard Ferriday. ‘New manufacturing materials and techniques, the first standalone Midas digital console, with comprehensive I/O on the back, and a previously undreamed-of price point. The Pro1 will be accessible to freelance engineers, small music venues, and anyone who actually cares about audio quality, reliability and portability.’

Other features on the compact, 24-channel board include 40-input channels, a daylight variable 15-inch TFT screen, 28 Klark Teknik DN370 31-band graphic equalisers, six Population Groups, 96kHz 40-bit floating-point processing throughout, and three AES50 ports for further I/O options.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer has also debuted the Mixtender iPad app, which is now available from the iTunes app store. The software is intended to provide wireless remote control of the manufacturer’s Pro series digital consoles as well as the flagship XL8.

With the app, 64 input and 27 output meters can be viewed simultaneously in real-time on the ‘console overview’ screen, aiding fast channel navigation. An additional benefit lies in the fact that multiple iPads can be used on a single console simultaneously, providing a mix engineer with the option to ‘lock’ each device so that it can only access one mix. This allows each performer to control their monitor mix on their own iPad, without making changes to any other area of the console.

The Mixtender app also offers wireless remote control of all fader levels, including input faders, all bus contributions and masters, VCA, and importantly, MCA fader levels. Remote control of the Pro2’s onboard Klark Teknik DN370 graphic EQs, as well as input and output channel mutes, is also possible using the iPad’s multi-touch interface.

Shipping: TBC
Web: www.midasconsoles.com