Fairlight will support Autodesk's (www.autodesk.com) open serial peripheral interfaces (SPIs) to deliver a connected workflow between its DREAM and Pyxis audio products and Autodesk's Fire and Smoke editing/finishing systems, as well as the company's Inferno, Flame and Flint visual effects systems. Fairlight plans to support the Autodesk Wiretap application-programming interface (API), enabling file transfers of media and metadata between products from both companies.

A typical workflow may involve a Fairlight system accessing multi-track editorial audio content over a local area network (LAN) or secure wide area network (WAN) to permit mixing of audio to picture in the Fairlight systems. The completed mix would be returned to an Autodesk system for a seamless file-based "digital data" workflow.

"Developing a transparent file transfer between Autodesk and Fairlight systems will offer significant benefits to both companies' customers," explains Fairlight CEO John Lancken. "Our collaboration will provide an immediate workflow advantage to facilities that currently enjoy using both Autodesk and Fairlight products and also to any future customers who may need to implement a totally integrated and comprehensive, network-based data workflow."

The technology will be demonstrated by Fairlight at next month's Audio Engineering Society Convention in New York.