Distribution and marketing limited solely to co-branded products

Digidesign announced that as of January 1, 2005, its distribution and marketing of Focusrite products in North America will be limited solely to co-branded products. These include Mbox, Control|24, and Command|8 as well as the Focusrite plug-ins developed exclusively for the Pro Tools platform, including the d2 and d3 and Forte Suite. Distribution for all other Focusrite products will be assumed by American Music and Sound Inc. in the United States doing business as Focusrite USA and by Erikson Audio in Canada.

“Our relationship with Focusrite has been revolutionary in many ways,” says Dave Lebolt, Digidesign General Manager. “ Digidesign and Focusrite came together during a time of exciting synergies between the analog world and the digital revolution. During that time we created products together that integrated both Focusrite and Digidesign quality and we even came to distribute some of the best sounding ‘front end’ hardware for Pro Tools systems in North America. We wish Focusrite much success in continuing their tradition of manufacturing some of the best-sounding gear in the industry.”

“We have enjoyed a strong partnership with Digidesign for more than eight years,” says Phil Dudderidge, Chairman of Focusrite. “However, after identifying strategic differences in our future plans, we mutually agreed to explore new distribution arrangements. Our relationship with Digidesign has been and hopefully will remain excellent, and I would like to express my gratitude to everyone at Digidesign for their contribution to our success in the North American market.”

Dino Virella, Sales Manager for Focusrite products at Digidesign , will continue representing Focusrite products as an employee of Focusrite North America.

For more information about Focusrite in the United States, please contact Dino Virella at 1-866-FOCUSRITE. In Canada, contact Jeff Carman; Erikson Audio at 1-800-667-3745

For more information
www.digidesign.com
www.focusrite.com