This is an interesting piece of news to come out of NAMM 2016, but not without history and now it would seem that 21 years after their first collaboration, Avid and Focusrite are in "deep discussions" once more.
Avid and Focusrite have had a long history of key collaborations, from the world’s first plug-ins to feature a fully skeuomorphic GUI (D2 and D3), to the original Focusrite-designed Mbox® interface that brought Avid Pro Tools® software to the masses, and Control|24, Avid’s first mid-format console. Twenty-one years after that first collaboration, Avid and Focusrite are in deep discussions once more, the results of which they look forward to announcing soon. Dave Froker, CEO of Focusrite PLC, comments...
We want to make the experience of using Focusrite hardware and Pro Tools software together the best possible experience for all our customers. Avid recognises Focusrite as an ideal companion to Pro Tools and Focusrite recognise Pro Tools as the most mature professional recording platform for new Focusrite customers to adopt.
Tim Carroll, Avid's VP of audio products added...
Avid is committed to giving artists the tools they need to create the best-sounding audio possible. Focusrite shares that passion and is a key strategic addition to the rapidly growing number of leading technology providers that are using the Avid Connectivity Toolkit and Avid certification programs to develop solutions with that goal in mind. Focusrite interfaces provide the ideal hardware solution for Pro Tools.
Avid and Focusrite look forward to announcing further details of their collaboration in the spring of 2016. With the legacy of the Mbox, Control 24, and the D2 & D3 plug-ins what would you like to see Avid and Focusrite collaborate on? New interfaces? Perhaps a replacement for the 003 series, or perhaps a new control surface? Please share your thoughts as we know Focusrite will be listening...