ethernet

So you can just plug them into your LAN, launch Eucontrol, and choose which surfaces you want to assign to which machine.

In Walter's situation, I would suggest putting a switch at the end of that long ethernet cable to connect multiple units.

Not quite so simple when you're running an Ethernet SAN as we are here. As I noted in the article, we ran into some stability issues with our SAN when we first tried the JL Cooper Eclipse in here. That was due to IP address issues and how we connect the Cooper to the system, which was to connect it directly to one of the Macs. Because of that lesson, we were able to set up the MC Color pretty quickly, but control surfaces can create some havoc with Ethernet based SANs. With the documentary programming we're doing, this has made a lot of economical sense in maximizing our facility.

As for that "long ethernet run," we currently have 4 edit suites and will have 8 in the new facility. So that's 8 runs of ethernet back to the machine room and then 8 additional runs for each adidtional control type surface we were to use.

With USB devices, we simply connect through the Dell monitors that are in each suite which are already connected back to the machine room via USB extenders. So there is no additional wiring required beyond what we already have set up.

We already have a 24 port router which is 3/4 full running the SAN. I would rather keep the additional ports open so we can add another editing workstation than tie them up with control surfaces. We have already had two instances where we needed another editing system, so I have literally gone to the Apple store, picked up a machine, brought it back, connected to the SAN and we're editing a short time later.

That's why I prefer to stay away from ethernet based control systems and stick with USB based control systems. The MC Color is a great product, just not suited for me and for me, not as functional in Color than the Wave. Neither control surface is nearly as functional as the JL Cooper Eclipse.

I'm fortunate that I have had the opportunity to really test and use all three of the control surfaces available for Apple Color today and I can tell you from my own experience what does and does not work in our shop. I'm not sure Ethernet based SANs were considered during the development of your product, but I can tell you they are being used more and more widely as word gets around of their affordability and ease of use. I might have been on the "cutting edge" when I first installed it here, but some major studios are now working them into production.

Folks definitely have to be able to get a hold of these surfaces and try them out for themselves. Each will make the right decision for their own situation. Ethernet may not matter at all to some folks, but here it is a consideration.