TDIF, ADAT and R-BUS are EOL. And firewire and USB2 are both plagued with connection problems because of competing chipsets by severall hardware manufacturers. One connection now is tried and true. And that's Ethernet. And together with an XLR exterior you can wrap it in rubber and when not needed you can put a cap on it. Making is a roadproof and backwards compatible setup.
Tascam Gibson and Cakewalk are now all owned by the Gibson owner. And Gibson has been silently developing an audio over ethernet protocol since 2005. With tried and true products like Sonar and all hardware manufacturing under one roof it could well be there will be a new product out there very soon. Wich may even be backwards compatible with the DM series.
I have tried the new ALLEN & Heath QU-16. And I have seen and used the SSL, Midas (XL8 and lower) and Soundcraft SI and VI series of digital mixers. And still the ALLEN & Heath wins hands down on price and feature set. The only competition here is the Presonus line of mixers.... Wich forms a nice group of products...
Scribble scripts, motorfaders, Linux, ethernet connectivity, recording to USB stick and DAW controll are mandatory to stay afloat with a new product. It should be rack ready. As small and handy is the name of the game. The Marketplace is that of the small independent musisican. The big names are no longer the big spenders that matter. As the volume created by the home and bar musisican is what matters. And with YouTube in place any small hit can make it to the top...
Because of the purchase is not yet ready Roland realised that Gibson can not yet release its product now as the deal towards Cakewalk is not yet finalized. I suppose a new "big product" like the QU-16 is still a half year away.....
