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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EAW Shipping UMX.96 Digital Console To Europe, Asia Pro Audio Markets

Whitinsville, MA – June 18, 2008 - The much-anticipated EAW UMX.96 digital console has officially landed in Europe, with the company’s distributors in Spain, Poland and Greece the first in the world to take delivery of fully tested and approved production models. In addition, the company reports it is simultaneously filling orders from several distributors in the Asian pro audio marketplace as well, with production of the consoles now in full swing.

The UMX.96, the first console offering from EAW, was first shown in prototype form at several trade shows beginning in 2006. From that point, it has been on constant display by the company as the development and refinement process continued, culminating with a UMX.96 serving as the house console for FOH Engineer Don Dodge on Foreigner’s 2007-2008 world tour.

“The UMX.96 puts every channel at my fingertips, and overall, there’s a very analog feel to the board,” confirms Dodge. “The sonic signature is the other aspect that really impresses me. The mic preamps sound fantastic, and the console as a whole has a very warm, pleasing sonic quality.” (NOTE: Dodge has again selected the UMX.96 for the current 2008 U.S. concert tour by Foreigner, and will also utilize the UMX.96 when Bryan Adams and his band join the tour later in the summer.)

Even as it underwent the strenuous refinement process, the UMX.96 retained its original design tenant of presenting mix engineers with an integrated live sound environment that includes a 3 by 12 system processor, a 16 by 8 Matrix, and the first console integration of the EAW Smaart tuning/analysis platform, with RTA microphone also provided. The other primary design tenant of engineer comfort and familiarity was maintained as well, with the console’s surface including all 48 input channel faders as well as a master section bringing together a 15-inch touch-sensitive color LCD with a rotary encoder (“Big Knob”) that changes its "feel" depending on the parameter selected.

After initial assembly at EAW’s Far East production facilities, every UMX.96 is then shipped to the company’s Woodinville, Washington (USA) location for final assembly as well as exhaustive inspection, testing and verification. This is a “fine-toothed comb” process where every single component, and then the console as a whole, is addressed by the production team.

Highlights include a 72-hour static "burn-in" period, followed by a visit to the facility’s environmental chamber, where each UMX.96 runs continuous for 48 hours while being cycled through a range of thermal cycles. Further, every PC board is removed and examined via a precision “Micro-Vu” video inspection system, with boards only put back into place after passing this rigorous test.

”A final set of tests are performed on every input and output, as well as every DSP function,” adds Martyn “Ferrit” Rowe, UMX.96 product manager for EAW. “The consoles also must pass our own critical listening tests before we consider them suitable for our customers. The overall process calls to mind a ‘hand-built Ferrari’ approach.”

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The EAW JFL210 UMX.96 digital console.
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About EAW
Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) is a global leader in producing high-performance professional audio equipment trusted by the most discerning professionals for every possible sound reinforcement application. EAW is a registered trademark of LOUD Technologies Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.