Can anything compete with a Pro Tools HD system?

[nddhc]

Im posting this in the newbie section because theres still a lot of things im unclear on... One of the things that makes pro tools so great is that a lot of the processing is handled on the actual pro tools hardware and PCI cards so no stress is put on the PC, right?

So then with something like an Mbox or Digi001/002/003 youre mainly paying for the Pro Tools name and use of its software since these units dont have onboard processing of their own, right?

So then heres my question- Is there anything you can buy (Pci cards, etc) that will essentially do what Pro tools does and handle a lot of the processing without putting stress on your computer? Maybe I overlooked something really big here.. but hey thats why its in the newbie forum

 

[Freudian Slip]

There are effects packages you can get that handle processing of the effects on a card, UAD for example. Since most of your processor power is taken up buy realtime processing (not playback of untouched tracks) that should help alot. I have never used one though and am unshure how many instances you can run at one time on say the UAD setup.

You will get alot of answers on this question I would think. Most will tell you that what they have is just as good, or that nothing touches protools.

I personally don't know. If I ever go public as a studio I will likely buy an M-box so that I can say I have protools and use sonar

Nothing will ever beat protools in the "I don't know anything about it but everyone says I need to go to a studio with protools" arena.

For me being able to run 40 tracks and 50 or 60 real time effects/processors is enough I'll stick with sonar6 producer.

The day comes that I can make big bucks on it I will go protools hd for compatability with other studios. until then I'll use what I like and what gives me the least problems.



F.S.

 

[mikemorgan]

Can anything compete with a Pro Tools HD system?


Nope, buy one.

 

[mikemorgan]

Okay that wasn't fair, Studer 2" is supposed to be good too.

 

[wreckd504]

This may seem like an even sillier question, but what does pro tools HD comprise of? Is this what people are referring to?

http://www.awave.com.au/product_inf...=2480&osCsid=44bb8359516d8ed8c9564f01377bda63

HD|24 Pro Tools Studio Bundle Features

• Control|24
• Pro Tools|HD 2 Accel system (PCI or PCIe available)
• 96 I/O
• MIDI I/O
• Control|24 TRS DigiSnakeTM Kit
• Digidesign DINRTM TDM
• Digidesign Smack!TM TDM
• Bomb Factory Pultec Bundle
• Bomb Factory Slightly Rude CompressorTM
• TL SpaceTM TDM Edition

Retail bundle price: $26,180AUS
RRP value: $38,155AUS
Savings: $11,975AUS

What alternatives to the pci card are there of the same or better quality? What is the 96 i/o? I assume midi i/o is just that, and there are endless possibilities of midi interfaces. Where is the rrp of 38k coming from? And if you spent that money on non-digidesign hardware would your money go further?

What part of the hd bundle would an apogee rosetta replace?

http://www.awave.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=2622&osCsid=44bb8359516d8ed8c9564f01377bda63

Studio i track at use's cubase and has some expensive pci cards, he said they were worth a few thousand a piece and does all his processing. I've no idea what they are though

the site is www.redferret.com

btw i'm a pro tools user, but the thing i don't like about it right now is; i just bought a 002, and for a similiar price i could have gotten a fireface which blows it away. But i didn't have the choice, because i'm limited in my selection of hardware due to the software i use. I like the software, but the hardware is has no bang for your buck when you compare it with other devices for the same price (from a low end PT users perspective). I've no experience with HD, but I think it still remains you have very few options to choose from.


Sorry i didn't answer your questions, just posed more. I'm trying to get my head around my next upgrade.

 

[mikemorgan]

Pro Tools, UAD, and Creamware all make high end pci cards designed to do the processing. Basically, they are onboard interface/signal processors.

Most consumer pci cards function as interface only and include such things as midi ports, analog IO, digital IO, lightpipe, Adat interfaces, and so on.

The high end pci cards are meant to give the user the ability to add system components of high quality when your needs expand, hence the different levels and components of ProTools.

ProTools software also interacts with ProTools hardware in a proprietary way, similar in to the way in which Steinberg has adopted and supported the Asio standard, which is able to drive quite a few consumer pci options.

ProTools has simply decided to put all their eggs in one basket providing software and hardware devices specifically match to each other. In the last few years they have discovered the need to diversify their products. Their entry level software can be used with most consumer pci devices that support Asio 2.

 

[MessianicDreams]

There are effects packages you can get that handle processing of the effects on a card, UAD for example.

That's trye, but HD offers much more tha just effect processing. It does everything on the card basically - like runs the digital mixer etc.


Comes in super handy if you're doing really processing power intesive things like having lots of 5.1 panners etc.

 

[bennychico11]

This may seem like an even sillier question, but what does pro tools HD comprise of? Is this what people are referring to?

http://www.awave.com.au/product_inf...=2480&osCsid=44bb8359516d8ed8c9564f01377bda63

HD|24 Pro Tools Studio Bundle Features

that is an example of an extreme HD setup.
Each HD system is comprised of, at minimum, a core card and one I/O interface. Then you add more accel cards and other interfaces to get a more robust system.
HD1 means a system with just a core card
HD2 means a system with a core card and one accel card
HD3 means a system with a core card and two accel cards.

Each card only supports a set number of interfaces as well. So If you plan on having usually more than two interfaces, you need to purchase more cards.

That's just the basics...but maybe this will help explain further:
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/pro-tools/intro/

In the last few years they have discovered the need to diversify their products. Their entry level software can be used with most consumer pci devices that support Asio 2.

Only M-Powered or Digidesign approved hardware can use Pro Tools LE. Only Digidesign's HD line can use Pro Tools HD/TDM. M-Powered is the select M-Audio line that was added recently. This does not mean any consumer PCI device can use Pro Tools now.

 

[danny.guitar]

Retail bundle price: $26,180AUS
RRP value: $38,155AUS
Savings: $11,975AUS

holy crap

 

[TexRoadkill]

Just get a good computer, some RME & UAD hardware and use Reaper software. Buy a few preamps with the extra dough.

 

[wreckd504]

I thought the same thing danny

 

[brendandwyer]

I thought the same thing danny

me too.....

 

[bennychico11]

again, that's an extreme price guys. They're including the Control 24 in that which is not standard with an HD system. And that thing costs $10k on it's own

 

[TelePaul]

me too.....

Relax, it's AUS dollars!

 

[brendandwyer]

Relax, it's AUS dollars!

oh!!!! i didn't realize we were talking funny money!

 

[wreckd504]

LOL i typed AUS after each figure


$26,000 Australian ($21,000US) is alot of cash, makes me wonder if i could get more value from something else for the same money