I just got back form the emagic.de website to find some interesting news. Looks like Emagic and Mackie worked on a control system *together*, then Mackie turns around and releases an EXACT REPLICA much to the surprise of Emagic, here is the blurb:

Logic Control — The Original
July 24th 2002

In Spring 2001 the Emagic engineers and a team led by Greg Mackie made a decision. They planned to develop a hardware controller for Logic Software which was better thought-out, of higher quality, more expandable and more successful than any other controller that had gone before. Ten months of intense cooperation followed during which time Emagic made major contributions to the concept, hardware layout, feature set and the functionality of Logic Control. Today this hardware is regarded as the most successful controller ever. Therefore we want to thank all our Logic Control customers.

Now, after Emagic's considerable and successful campaign introducing this product to the market, Mackie Designs recently made a surprise announcement regarding the delivery of a structurally identical controller called "Mackie Control". With regard to that we want to emphasize the following:

* 1. The Mackie Control is not compatible with Logic Platinum
* 2. Emagic will continue marketing and delivering Logic Control

If you are interested in a hardware controller then make sure you experience for yourself the perfect combination of Logic Platinum 5 and Logic Control. Available now from your local Emagic retailer this perfectly integrated system is internationally acclaimed and comprehensively tested, setting the highest standards now and into the future.

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They look EXTREMELY similiar check em both out:
http://www.mackie.com/products/mackie_cont...kie_control.asp
http://www.emagic.de/english/products/logi...ic/control.html

Pretty-sneaky-Cis

Saw this as well. Don´t know about the backstabbing, the article wasn´t too specific. Looks more like emagic didn´t make sure they had the exclusive rights to the design, else there´d be more severe measures taken against Mackie I´m sure (especially since Apple is now in charge of emagic´s legal representation).

Pretty low move by Mackie though, I admit. I don´t really need LC (yet), but I´m sure it´s a great product.

Since there is no logic support in the mackie… I'd say that the lawyers agreement was for Mackie not to issue a control surface Logic compatible other than the one they already make for Emagic : LC.

That way, Logic has the LC, Mackie can market other surfaces, lower costs (good for Emagic too) and bring his technology to a greater market. Emagic also is sure that the LC will be dedicated to his soft, and running smoothly from that. It's when you have to support multiple hardware/softwares that problems arrise.

Not sure it's a stab. Emagic will benefit of it too, in a non direct way.

I remeber hearing something about this. These music manufaturers are catching on to the stupid way of business that you see all the big "shark" companies doing. Its sad. ever since the home studio explotion companies have ben bitterly fighting for our money. And although I don't really see this as "bad" business, I can see other things getting really ugly. Roland for instence. They are so worried about making money they have not released a new synth engine since the XP60.

I mackie rep told me this was coming about a month before it was released cause i was asking him q's at guitar center about the logic control cause i knew it was basically a mini logic version of the HUI. he said if i was gonna use logic stick with the logic control, but if i was gonna use nuendo, cubase, etc the mackie control would be out soon and would be the best bang for my buck. and he told me not to tell anyone about it till it was released.

at first i thought it was a little low, but since it doesnt really affect the market for emagic, IE the logic control is for logic only, and the mackie control is not for logic at all, it works out. if someone was basing thier software decision on the logic control design then emagic might lose out, but i dont think itll hurt in the long run.

First of all i really don't think it's back stabbing. Emagic just made sure people don't buy the wrong one cause they look so similar.

Mackie built their Mackie Control especially for Steinberg's and other's Software. NOT Emagic.

And why change the layout? Both Logic and Mackie Control come from the same firm. Sure they keep the outfit.