Mackie Designs has come up with an all-inclusive compact recording system which it says comes with all the hardware and software needed to track, mix and record music on a Mac or PC - and it's aimed specifically at "technically challenged musicians".

Slated at $419 USD, it's called the the Spike Powered Recording System and will be available in Q4, 2003.

"Spike is really about providing a turnkey, out-of-box recording solution that will allow even the most technically challenged musician to be tracking and editing their music in a matter of minutes rather than days," says Mackie's Dan Moore.

Given that's the claim, we're trying to organize a test-drive. In the meanwhile, there seems to be a lot of stuff that'll challenge any non-techie, but we'll list it anyway:

Included Hardware:
The hardware portion is Mackie's new 2-channel XD-2 USB Audio/MIDI interface with 24-bit, 96kHz resolution and support for ASIO 2.0, WDM and OS X Core Audio. It features two Mackie low-noise digital mic preamps for "extremely low distortion". Each input channel features a combo jack that can support a line level or an instrument input in addition to the mic preamp. Other input/ output options include SPDIF I/O, MIDI I/O as well as stereo monitor outputs and front panel headphone jack and level control.

The XD-2 features low latency monitoring feature by use of a "Mix" knob located on the front panel along with a Monitor level control. Other input/output options include SPDIF I/O, MIDI I/O as well as stereo monitor outputs and front panel headphone jack. It also features an onboard SHARC DSP chip that supports a full suite of dynamics processing for recording. This includes a 4-band parametric EQ, a Compressor/Limiter and a Gate/Expander, all of which can be re-arranged in order along the signal path for each input or output channel. The onboard DSP also allows for low latency monitoring of effects while recording.

Included Software:
The software bundle acts as the XD-2 hardware interface and 'begins' with a copy of Tracktion, a new mutitrack recording and MIDI sequencing software application from Raw Material Software. Tracktion's interface allows users to record, overdub, edit, mix and play back any combination of audio tracks or MIDI sequences. Through a drag-and-drop interface that maximizes the use of a single screen, Tracktion provides unlimited track count, full VST and VSTi support automation. Tracktion ships with a number of bundled effects and soft synths.

As part of the Spike Powered Recording System, Mackie is also including is a copy of Abelton Live Mackie, a powerful loop-based sequencing software application for live performance based on the award-winning Live software from Ableton.

Mackie is bundling two free plug-ins with the Spike Recording System: the new AmpliTube LE guitar cabinet and distortion modeler from IK Multimedia, as well as the new Warmer-Phaser modulator based on the popular Blue Tubes bundle from Nomad Factory.

Thanks for the info Bill my daughter is getting into the music field and this sounds like it might be a good entry level system for her ill check it out