Avid's Pro Tools|HDX digital audio workstation and Pro Tools 10 software promise improved performance, sound quality, faster workflows and easier collaboration. The company has set a Nov. 18, 2011 global release date for Pro Tools|HDX. Pro Tools 10 Software is available now.
The Pro Tools|HDX system offers up to 5 times more DSP per card, over a thousand dB of additional headroom, and up to 4 times the track counts and twice the I/O compared to its Pro Tools|HD Accel predecessor. The system can be scaled up even further to increase track counts, power, and I/O, using up to three Pro Tools|HDX cards and multiple Pro Tools HD Series interfaces.
The addition of Pro Tools|HDX gives customers a choice: They can opt for the Pro Tools|HD Native system if they need the advanced workflows and sound quality of Pro Tools HD, and want to leverage their host computer to get the best performance and lowest latency. Or they can choose the new DSP-accelerated Pro Tools|HDX system if they require consistent peak performance and near-zero latency to handle extremely large and complex productions.
With Pro Tools HD 10 Avid also introduces the new AAX (Avid Audio eXtension) plugin format, designed for better workflows and sound parity when sharing sessions between DSP-accelerated and native-based Pro Tools systems. The two available formats include AAX DSP and AAX Native.
Avid's Pro Tools HD 10 software lets users record and play back up to 256 audio tracks per card (or play back up to 768 tracks with three cards). The extended disk cache, which can load entire sessions into RAM, promises improved recording and playback responsiveness and maximum track counts from networked-attached storage, such as Avid Unity ISIS, and slower local drives. Users can also control up to 12 Pro Tools|HD systems from one using the Satellite Link option. They can also mix audio from up to two Pro Tools|HD systems with a D-Command control surface through Multi-mode.
Pro Tools 10 also offers users new tools and timesaving workflows, such as the user-requested Clip Gain, which separates pre-mix levels from Pro Tools software's mixing automation, which promises to speed up and improve workflow between sound editors and mixers. Users can also expect better performance-even on network-attached or slow local drives-with disk handling improvements and real-time fades.
Pro Tools 10 also promises more flexibility and 24-hour timeline capability when conforming multiple projects into a single timeline. Users can also use multiple file formats and mixed bit depths in the same project-including interleaved-without converting files. Pro Tools 10 also lets users record, edit, and mix in higher resolution with 32-bit floating-point file format support. Users can also get the sound of the System 5 console EQ and dynamics with the Avid Channel Strip plugin, which is now included with Pro Tools 10
Along with Pro Tools 10 and Pro Tools|HDX, Avid is launching its Vantage, an annual membership program giving Pro Tools customers unlimited online technical support and discounted phone support.
Pricing is as follows:
- New Pro Tools|HDX systems start at $9,999 US MSRP
- Pro Tools|HD 1 owners can crossgrade to Pro Tools|HDX starting at $7,999
- Pro Tools|HD 2 owners can crossgrade to Pro Tools|HDX starting at $6,999
- Pro Tools|HD 3 owners can crossgrade to Pro Tools|HDX starting at $5,999
- Pro Tools|HD Native owners can crossgrade to Pro Tools|HDX for $7,499
Pro Tools 10 software
- Pro Tools 10 software (full version) retails for $699 US MSRP (please note that Pro Tools HD 10 software is bundled with Pro Tools|HD family systems only, and is not available for separate purchase except as an upgrade)
- Pro Tools 9 owners can upgrade to Pro Tools 10 for $299
- Pro Tools HD software owners can upgrade to Pro Tools HD 10 starting at $999
Crossgrade pricing is also available for owners of Pro Tools LE, Pro Tools M-Powered, and Complete Production Toolkit.
For more information, please visit www.avid.com.
