Mackie Designs Ships HUI® Digital Audio Workstation Interface

March 11, 1998 -- Mackie Designs Inc, (Nasdaq: MKIE) is targeting the rapidly-growing digital audio workstation market with HUI®, its first digital audio product.

Aimed at video, film, multimedia and recording studio professionals, Mackie's HUI® (Human User Interface), is a hands-on control surface for Digidesign's popular Pro Tools® 4.1 digital audio workstation (DAW). HUI® enhances DAW user productivity with tactile controls and visual displays for mixing and editing functions that were previously controlled by conventional computer controls.

"HUI is a major interface advancement," observed Chief Operating Officer Roy Wemyss. "It does for digital audio workstation users what the mouse did for computer users: Familiar physical movement is instantly translated into precise creative control. For example, HUI® includes what appears to the user to be familiar rotary knobs... but the Pro Tools DAW 'sees' a virtual interface that can be stored and recalled digitally."

According to Wemyss, early positive response from major motion picture and broadcast production companies indicates that HUI® will become an essential tool for media professionals.

Mackie collaborated closely with Digidesign, the global leader in unit sales to the $245 million DAW segment of the audio post production market. Dave Frokker, President of Digidesign stated, "HUI® brings a level of control and functionality to the Pro Tools system that was never before attainable. We are extremely pleased with Mackie's successful development and release of the Human User Interface."

HUI® is the first in a series of digital audio products that includes Mackie's Digital 8 Bus recording console, slated to ship in early 1998.

Mackie Designs is known worldwide as a manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, affordable professional audio systems. Mackie products can be found in professional and project recording studios, video and broadcast suites, post production facilities, sound reinforcement applications including churches and nightclubs, and on major musical tours. Mackie Designs is marketed by 54 distributors to over 100 countries.

NOTE: "Mackie" and the "Running Man" figure are registered trademarks of Mackie Designs Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

For more information, visit their web site at www.mackie.com.