Thoughts On Pro Tools HD Native

If you are into the world of Pro Tools then you’re aware that Avid has dropped some serious hardware  updates to their product line over the past 2 months. It started with brand new HD interfaces, then moved on to a revamped line of Mbox hardware, and most recently last week we had the unveiling of a new version of Pro Tools HD…the “native” version.

Why Pro Tools|HD Native?

Pro Tools comes in two general flavors: you have Pro Tools|HD, the high end powerhouse version that combines Pro Tools software with PCI cards loaded with DSP chips to handle all the processing, giving you rock solid (and guaranteed) track counts, super low latency, and a ton of power to handle plugins and complex sessions. Then you have the more “home/project studio oriented” Pro Tools|LE and M-Powered versions, which are simply a USB or Firewire interface bundled with almost the identical software as the HD version. Your limited in areas like track count, buses, and some other potential “deal breakers” for some (lack of ADC and I/O limitations).

To get the software, DSP card(s), and HD audio interface needed for a basic Pro Tools|HD system you need about $10,000. To get everything you need for the most affordable LE system you need about $300. Big difference, but then again these are two products aimed at two vary different markets. Most home studio owners are singer/songwriters looking to get professional results with minimal fuss and money. Most pro studios will pay whatever it takes to have super high track counts, I/O, without relying on a firwire or USB connection and yoru computer’s processor to handle it all.

But there are many people who fall somewhere in between the above mentioned extremes. Perhaps a small project studio that doesn’t have a lot of high end clients, but still needs to track bands and do complex mixes. Sure there are the bigger LE and M-Powered interfaces (003, Profire 2626, etc) but many people have hoped for something with more power than the current LE offerings without all the trappings (and price tag) of an HD system. Enter Pro Tools|HD Native.

So What Is It Already?

In a nutshell, Pro Tools HD|Native is simply a version of Pro Tools|HD that has most of the same functionality and power, but costs less. This system consists of a PCI card with DSP (very similar to the HD Accel cards) and your choice of an HD interface. All in all you can get into HD Native for about $6,500. So what is the difference with this setup and an HD rig? For one, Native doesn’t use the proprietary TDM architecture of the current HD line.  This means no TDM plugins, just your regular RTAS plugins that us LE and M-Powered users are already familiar with. And of coures the big idea here is that this is a “native” version of Pro Tools meaning your system power is determined by how fast your computer is. So the faster the processor, the more plugins you can run.

My Thoughts…

To many of us, Pro Tools|HD Native is irrelevant. It costs way more than we are willing (or even should need) to pay. But let’s be honest, most of us don’t need 64 channels of zero latency I/O in a session! This doesn’t mean however that this product release isn’t important. In fact, I believe (and many others smarter than I are saying the same thing) that this launch means two very important things for us LE and M-Powered users:

1. Avid is listening to their customers. PT users have asked for a long time for a system priced in between the biggest LE rig ($3000) and a basic HD rig ($10,000). Now we have HD|Native priced right in the middle and really a great compromise for those needing a ton of power not offered by typical native DAWs but not the whole HD enchilada.
2. There will be more options for Pro Tools users in the future. I think we have seen more and more of a leaning towards offering PT at many different price points with many different types of hardware. Not every studio has the same needs, and Avid is recognizing that. This HD Native release is great because it is moving away from the old TDM system and is bringing the greatness that is Pro Tools software and matching it up with better interfaces and letting you tap into the power of the latest multi-core processors in today’s computers. Again, all of this is giving more flexibility for Pro Tools to be customized to the individual’s needs and budget.

On The Horizon

New HD interfaces, new LE Mbox interfaces, and now this new HD Native option…this can only mean one thing:  the new 004 line of interfaces should be amazing (and out soon) along with major Pro Tools software updates. Avid is on a roll of pure momentum right now. It is launching a new product every month on average for the past 3 months and word has it there will be major stuff announced at this year’s AES in early November. So sit back and watch the magic unfold as we see what Avid has up it’s sleeve next!