For immediate release

Propellerhead Software and Digidesign announce ReWire2 for Pro Tools

Propellerhead Software and Digidesign announce ReWire2 for Pro Tools

Transfer both midi and audio seamlessly between applications

NAMM o ANAHEIM, CA --January 16, 2003 - Propellerhead Software and Digidesign® today announced the strategic relationship between the two companies that will include the development of ReWire2 for Digidesign Pro Tools® systems. ReWire is a cross-application technology to transfer both MIDI and audio seamlessly between Propellerheads' Reason and ReBirth applications and Pro Tools. ReWire was designed as the software equivalent of a multi-channel cable between two audio applications and integrates MIDI, audio and transport control in one invisible application link.

The ReWire2 technology automatically connects two compatible applications such as Reason and Digidesign Pro Tools. When a connection is established all Reason sampler, synth, drum machine and Dr Rex outputs are connected automatically to the Pro Tools audio environment. The user can then apply the mixer facilities and effects in Pro Tools to those outputs or record them onto hard disk tracks. ReWire is also a virtual bi-directional MIDI cable that seamlessly links devices in Reason to Pro Tools. Recording and playback is as integrated as any plug-in architecture, by selecting a Rewire 2 device such as a Reason synth from an output list.

"Digidesign is excited to work with Propellerheads to deliver close integration between Pro Tools and ReWire (which brings us integration with the Propellerheads flagship application Reason). Our customers have given us a tremendous amount of feedback that suggests that this feature set will be widely used and enjoyed by our growing population of creative, music and MIDI-oriented users," remarked Dave Lebolt, General Manager of Digidesign.

"Pro Tools is the obvious de facto standard in the pro audio community so implementing ReWire on the Pro Tools platform is a huge benefit to Reason users," commented Ernst Nathorst-Böös, Managing Director of Propellerhead Software. "This option has been more of the most requested features by our user base so we are very excited to announce it."

Synchronization between the devices is also handled by ReWire. Once the applications have detected each other (which happens automatically) they are in complete, sample accurate, sync. There are no settings to make and no parameters to worry about. The audio in ReWire 2 is of extremely high quality and the system can handle practically any sample rate while floating-point arithmetic's provide extremely high bit resolution.

Reason is an enormously successful software program for both Windows and Macintosh platforms that emulates a rack of electronic synthesizers, samplers, drum machines and recording equipment. Reason has been awarded Editor's Choice Awards from Electronic Musician, Mac World, Remix, Computer Music magazines and cnet.com and the highly coveted TEC award.

About Digidesign

Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID), is the world's leading manufacturer of digital audio production systems, and the winner of the 2001 Technical Grammy Award. The company is the exclusive distributor of the Focusrite hardware and software product lines in North and Latin America. Digidesign provides the professional music, film, video, multimedia, and radio broadcast industries with tools for digital recording, MIDI sequencing, editing, signal processing, and surround mixing. Digidesign products are marketed in over forty countries worldwide through a distribution network of value-added dealers, distributors, and OEM relationships. For more information, visit www.digidesign.com.