So the news of the day is Steinberg will be acquired by Pinnacle Systems. You would wonder why Pinnacle Systems wants Steinberg. Is it because they wanna sell Cubase themselves? Maybe, but more likely because they want to integrate the audio technology into their own video editting products ... 5.1 surround audio, high quality 32 bit/96Khz data handling, etc ...

There are 2 other companies similar to Pinnacle (now that Pinnacle has Steinberg). Avid, who owns DigiDesign, and Apple, who owns emagic. Those 3 are the companies who own best of both [audio and video] worlds in their hands. It will be interesting to see how they compete from here on.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for launching the thread I did it already in the FR forums, and I think it's an important news… lots of things are moving in the Computer/audio sector, and some certainties are in balance I think.

- It's a "logical" consequence of the Apple/Emagic deal and before the Avid/Digi, even if Pinnacle wouldn't have been on my lists,. We could add Gibson/Opcode (even if Gibson has a lot of dead trophies

- MOTU, propellerheads to name two must feel VERY lonely…

- Steinberg whatever they said before and in their adds was then not in a so great shape (lack of liquidities like Emagic? The slowdown in the economy?…)

- Now I would wonder about a maintained commitment of Steinberg to the mac.… really.

there are chances it's not finished…

Blimey, that's big news. Like LPM says, almost inevitable after Apple+Emagic. I'd say Apple have a good hand, consumer/prosumer-wise, with Final Cut Pro and Logic etc.

You never know what's going to develop from these arrangements - maybe nothing, maybe something huge. I thought Cubase SX for Mac looked pretty good - I'd be surprised if they abandoned it, though the PC platform is their strength.

In the same e-mail collection in my inbox today came the announcement of Live 2.0, with its new multitrack recording features. Good to see other companies operating beyond the realms of the Big 3. Live + Reason = one pretty cool Mac seetup.

keep in mind that all audio software companies are mostly little companies.

It can change fast! And in my point of view it'll happen again. But on the Steinberg/Pinnacle deal, time will tell.

You can add to the list, joemeek goes to PMI audio Group, Mackie is under a new investor Sun Capital, TC works and TC electronics are merging…

Seeming time is hard for everyone…