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Can a Controller Have Sex Appeal? Yes.
With the power off, Dexter looks like a giant Etch-A-Sketch. But power it up, and you're staring at a controller with exceptional aesthetics-to say that Dexter is visually stunning is an understatement. But what about mixing?
INTO THE ETHER
Dexter connects to your computer via Ethernet, either directly or as part of a network. I installed the software, plugged it in, told Sonar 7 the control surface existed, and was tweaking parameters in minutessimple. Currently, Dexter has templates for Cubase 4 (Mac/Windows), Logic 7.2 (requires installing a small applet), and Nuendo/ Sonar on Windows. The company is sketchy about when, and which, additional programs will be supported.
For now, users of other programs are better off with Jazzmutant's Lemur controller, which is based on the same multitouch technology and costs less, but is more complex to customize for your needs. While Dexter users can download the free dual-mode software that allows booting into Lemur or Dexter mode, curiously, Lemur owners must fork over $400 for this option-not exactly a way to reward early adopters. Still, it...