A controller for controlling printing on both surfaces of a sheet of print media includes a first print controller for controlling printing by a page width printhead of a first print engine and a second print controller for controlling printing by a page with printhead of a second print engine substantially simultaneously with the printing by the printhead of the first print engine. A first communications link interconnects the first print controller and the second print controller for synchronizing the print controllers. An second communications link is connected to at least one of the print controllers for interfacing with a host system for receipt from the host system of descriptions of pages to be printed on said surfaces of the sheet of print media by the print engines.