How the Xynergi Keyboard Functions

In September 2007, Fairlight, an Australian-based company, launched the Xynergi, a cutting-edge digital audio production device. While gadget blogs referred to it as a $28,000 keyboard, such descriptions don't do justice to its true nature. Labeling Xynergi as a $28,000 keyboard is akin to calling the audio system in a Bentley a $250,000 radio—this overlooks the broader context.

The Xynergi keyboard is an essential component of a desktop media production setup, specifically designed by Fairlight to cater to small, professional media editing studios. With Xynergi, users can record audio, manipulate tracks, apply effects, mix audio, and even edit video files. Although its complexity and high price tag may put it out of reach for the average consumer, it’s a solid option for small recording studios or media companies that need an efficient interface for editing both audio and video.

The Xynergi keyboard resembles a large computer keyboard with additional keys, several knobs, a jog wheel, and a rectangular color display above the main key array. Fairlight refers to this display and the surrounding controls as the pad. The keyboard follows the standard QWERTY layout, with a number pad on the right. The knobs, keys, and jog wheel provide engineers with precise control over digital audio and video files.

If you’ve ever observed a professional audio mixing console or video editing control system, you’ll notice an abundance of switches, knobs, and toggles that far exceed those on the Xynergi keyboard. To emulate the functions of these large consoles, Fairlight devised an ingenious solution—self-labeling keys. These are keys that dynamically change their functions and labels based on what the user is doing. Each key is essentially a small computer monitor capable of displaying letters, symbols, and words. Xynergi features an 'animate' function that makes the keys flash, change colors, or even display video during specific tasks. As engineers transition between modes (e.g., from word processing to audio mixing), the key labels update and the keys reassign to new functions.

This article will delve into the inner workings of Xynergi, explore its various functions, and shed light on Fairlight’s market approach for the device. We’ll also cover where to purchase one and what price you can expect to pay.

In the upcoming section, we’ll take a more detailed look at the technology powering Xynergi.

Xynergi Components

The core of Xynergi’s exceptional performance lies in Fairlight's CC-1 card. 'CC' stands for Crystal Core, which is Fairlight's processing platform for its audio hardware. The CC-1 card functions both as a microprocessor and a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-Express) card. To use Xynergi, engineers must first connect it to a PC via the CC-1 card, installing the card into one of the computer’s expansion slots, linking it to the computer’s motherboard.

The CC-1 card is a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a device that can contain thousands of logic gates, the fundamental elements of digital circuits (to learn more about logic gates, check out our article on How Boolean Logic Works). Fairlight designed the CC-1 to serve as a dedicated processor for all audio production functions, which run through the CC-1 instead of the PC’s CPU. This allows the PC’s processing power to be used for other tasks. In the past, audio editing on a PC required the computer to be nearly fully dedicated to audio work, due to the high demands of audio processing. But since the CC-1 takes care of this heavy lifting, you can use it on a regular PC and still run other applications while working on audio and video projects.

Fairlight provides four configurations for the Xynergi system, all capable of performing the same basic functions. However, the higher-end models offer more processing power. The top-tier option is the Xynergi MPC-230F, featuring 230 processing channels, 96 simultaneous recording tracks, and 192 concurrent playback tracks. This allows engineers to record, edit, mix, and play back numerous audio tracks, creating rich, detailed master recordings.

Xynergi systems also come with an I/O toolbox known as the SX-20. The SX-20 includes two preamps, which amplify signals before they’re sent to other components (to learn more, see our article on How Amplifiers Work). The system also offers two analog inputs, 12 analog outputs, four digital inputs, and eight digital outputs, enabling engineers to connect various components such as microphones, instruments, and speakers.

The Xynergi media production center operates on Fairlight’s proprietary production software. While Xynergi can create and edit a variety of media file formats, its interactive keyboard is not compatible with other audio and video production software.

Xynergi’s combination of hardware and software provides the system with extraordinary capabilities. In the following section, we will explore more of Xynergi's features and functions.

Xynergi Features

Xynergi’s interactive keyboard offers application awareness, which means the keys only display relevant symbols and commands depending on the active application. For instance, if an engineer needs to take notes in Microsoft Word, pressing a key on the Xynergi keyboard opens Word, and the keyboard switches to a standard QWERTY layout. Afterward, pressing the Edit key takes the engineer back to Xynergi's editing software, and the keys adapt once again.

Since each key is essentially a miniature color monitor, it changes colors to indicate which function is currently active. For example, when an engineer wants to focus on a specific track, they can press a button assigned to that track. The key will change from blue to red, signaling that the track is now active and ready for editing or mixing. If the engineer has given the track a name, that name will appear on the corresponding key as well.

Engineers rely on the jog wheel whenever they need to quickly navigate through an audio track. Turning the jog wheel clockwise or counterclockwise moves the track forward or backward, respectively. This feature also allows engineers to mark sections of the track for editing—by using the wheel to define a specific range, the engineer can apply effects to that portion of the track without altering the rest of the recording.

Fairlight refers to the area surrounding the color screen, along with the buttons and knobs, as the pad. The screen provides vital information about the audio tracks, offering a visual representation of the digital file. It can display track names, bars showing the distribution of sound across various speaker channels, an equalizer, and a time code. The surrounding buttons and knobs give the engineer control over the track or allow them to engage Xynergi’s automated editing mode.

Here are a few key functions of Xynergi:

The Xynergi system offers the same powerful features you'd expect from large-scale audio or video editing setups, but at a much more affordable price. In the following section, we'll dive into how much the Xynergi system actually costs and where you can purchase it.

Xynergi Marketing

Fairlight originally estimated that the retail price for Xynergi would be 20,000 euros, which is over $29,000, but the actual price is more affordable. In North America, Guitar Center Pro is the exclusive distributor of the Xynergi Media Production Center, selling it for $22,973. This price includes the keyboard, CC-1 card, SX-20 I/O toolbox, and the Xynergi software toolkit. However, you'll still need to provide a PC (Xynergi isn't compatible with Macs), along with monitors, speakers, and other input/output devices, as these aren't included in the package.

Once you've purchased a Xynergi system, you may find its features a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, Fairlight anticipated this challenge and included a helpful, interactive guide called Xplain. To use it, simply hold down the Xplain button on the keyboard and press any other key to see an explanation of its function and usage. A corresponding message will appear on the pad's screen, giving you a quick guide for each button you press.

Some of the keys on the Xynergi system are programmed to launch shortcuts for other applications. For instance, pressing the button for Internet Explorer will open the browser, and the keyboard layout will switch to the QWERTY style. Users can also map keys to launch specific functions or programs not native to Xynergi, although its application awareness feature may not work with every program.

Fairlight began shipping the Xynergi system to customers and retailers in September 2007. The first U.S. business to adopt the system was Buzzy's Recording, a Los Angeles-based studio. The company plans to use Xynergi for voiceovers and automated dialogue replacement (ADR) [source: Fairlight]. Fairlight anticipates the system will quickly gain traction in the audio and video editing industry.