In January, Stanton announced FinalScratch OPEN, which was basically two things at once. The first was an open invitation to developers. According to a Stanton press release, "Stanton has now opened the Final Scratch format, allowing all software companies big and small to take advantage of time code support. The company believes that by providing this technology free of charge to developers, as well as linking its use with the ScratchAmp, FinalScratch users will now enjoy an unbelievable new realm of possibility."

At the same time, FinalScratch OPEN provided a cross-platform option for DJs, with a wide variety of software choices, all which could be used with ScratchAmp, the Stanton 96k, 24-bit firewire audio interface. Stanton's aim with ScratchAmp was to offer something DJs could use with programs that don't ship with a soundcard. Software such as Traktor DJ Studio, Ableton Live, MixVibes, and more, according to Stanton, "providing the connections needed from turntables, cd players, and microphones. ScratchAmp also provides output connections to the DJ mixer and headphones for sending audio out of the computer."

Part of the plan included a discount program. "FinalScratch OPEN also gives FinalScratch DJs the ability to purchase an additional ScratchAmp at a reduced cost to use for back-up or club installation."

Part of Stanton's early claims regarding ScratchAmp included the ability to, quote, "work with virtually every audio application on the planet."

Since the announcement of OPEN, Stanton has fielded plenty of questions on the subject of Intel-based Mac compatibility for FinalScratch 2 users. Now, Stanton has issued a press release on the subject, saying that the problem is basically a software issue.

According to a recent press statement by Stanton, "The ScratchAmp is and always has been fully compatible with all Mac technology, but an Intel-compatible update for FS2 users on the software side was never developed, and all of Stanton's requests for this software update have been denied by the developer."

The question that immediately springs to the minds of some FS2 users is most likely, "Why don't they just fix it themselves?"

But Stanton does not do "in-house software development," and have stated that opening up hardware code to external developers was preferable to taking a partnership with a single developer.

This may seem to some as though Stanton has retreated to its corner to concentrate on its hardware. At the same time, the fact that the company has provided developers access to FinalScratch effectively throws down the guantlet to companies such as Native Instruments, who use FS code in their products. Will a developer step forward to offer Intel-based Mac support?

As of this week, Stanton is urging its customers, "For software solutions, including Intel-Mac compatibility questions, please contact Native Instruments."

Gearwire is attempting to contact Native Instruments to see whether Intel-Mac issues might be addressed for Stanton products in the future.