The EtherSound protocol provides fully deterministic, real-time transmission of synchronised audio channels over standard Ethernet. The technology has already been licensed to a number of different manufacturers across the globe, all of whom are developing EtherSound products for their markets.But what of control? Would it be possible to develop a control system that would be compatible with all EtherSound products, regardless of the manufacturer? A number of meetings with Stardraw.com confirmed that this would be both possible and desirable. The new software tool, 'Stardraw Control', is to be shown for the first time at this year's PLASA show.

"So far, we've had unanimous support from all the EtherSound licensees who have had the opportunity to be presented with the project," says Digigram MD Philippe Delacroix.

Stardraw.com CEO, David Snipp, points out: "Stardraw is dedicated exclusively to software development - this is the obvious advantage of specialisation and Digigram were quick to acknowledge the value we could add to EtherSound technology. In fact, we are so excited by its potential that we have embarked on a true partnership and will develop and deliver the EtherSound control application entirely at our own cost. By this we mean that all EtherSound Licensees and integrators will have free access and distribution rights to the control authoring application." Phillippe Delacroix concurs: "This partnership is an important step for EtherSound technology and a great example of how imaginative companies can combine their unique skills to deliver leading-edge solutions."