a control surface has a network connection for connecting to a host computer and has an address and an input for communicating data with the host computer . the network interface processes packets received from the host computer . packets received include a first type and a second type , and the type is indicated by data in the packet . upon receipt of a packet of the first type an acknowledgment packet is sent . upon receipt of a packet of the second type , an acknowledgment packet is not sent . the packets of the second type include at least status information for a plurality of meters in the audio control surface . the status of the meters on the audio control surface is overwritten with the status information provided in any packets of the second type .