Pro Tools Interfaces

All great DAW systems center around a studio-quality audio interface. Although Pro Tools 9 is compatible with virtually all USB and FireWire audio interfaces, Avid interfaces still offer some compelling advantages over third-party hardware, including advanced driver compatibility and integrated software controls.

Eleven Rack

An incredible all-in-one recording and live performance tone machine, the Eleven Rack combines amazing DSP guitar effects and amp modeling and software control, in and audio interface made specifically for guitar. From sparkling clean to brutally aggressive, every serious amp sound and effect style lives in the Eleven Rack. And unlike many other "amp emulation" units, the Eleven Rack's True-Z input gives you the super-realistic push-and-pull response you'd expect from a real tube amp, making it an excellent live effects unit. What's more, the Eleven Rack integrates seamlessly with Pro Tools and Avid's Eleven guitar plug-in.

Pro Tools Mbox Mini

Pro Tools power, in an ultra-portable interface! The totally redesigned Mbox Mini gives you professional-grade I/O, a first-class mic preamp, easy-to-use controls, and even a handy DI/line in for your keyboard or guitar. The 2-channel Mbox Mini is USB bus powered and is small enough to fit in your laptop case; it's the ultimate in pro-sounding portable recording for songwriters, artists, and engineers!

Pro Tools Mbox

You'll love what the latest-generation Mbox does for your tracks! This compact, affordable interface is loaded with pro-quality features; you get impressive Softclip limiting, great-sounding onboard DSP, cue mixing, and outstanding AD/DA conversion quality. The elegant Mbox gives you the top-of-the-line analog, MIDI, and S/PDIF I/O you need to turn your ideas into great-sounding tracks. It even includes a built-in guitar tuner!

Pro Tools Mbox Pro

This marvel of a FireWire audio interface gives you all the analog and digital I/O you need to record the whole band in Pro Tools! The latest incarnation of the Mbox Pro has it all: stellar 24-bit/192kHz conversion; four outstanding mic preamps (each equipped with Softclip limiting and inserts); top-quality digital I/O; and even onboard DSP for great-sounding cue monitoring. You also get dual headphone outputs, a very handy multifunction button, and enough balanced outputs to mix in full 5.1 surround. You get all this and more, in a very desktop-friendly, easy-to-use, and versatile interface.

003 Rack+

Offering eight onboard pres, ADAT, S/PDIF, word clock, and bundled software and plug-ins, the 003 Rack+ is an amazing "out-of-the-box" Pro Tools experience.

003 Factory

Take a hands-on approach working in Pro Tools, with this desktop control surface. Eight faders, four mic pres, and tons of I/O round out the features.

Third-party Interfaces

Pro Tools 9 is more flexible than ever before, thanks to its open support of third-party audio interfaces. This opens up a huge selection of USB, FireWire, and PCIe interfaces to you, allowing you to set up your studio to best suit your needs. Here are some of the most popular audio interfaces being used with Pro Tools 9 today.

Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56

The Liquid Saffire 56 is an incredible 24-bit/192kHz FireWire audio interface that sports a staggering amount of I/O (28-in/28-out) at an incredibly affordable price. What's more, the Liquid Saffire 56 features two channels of Focusrite's famous Liquid technology, offering 10 famous preamplifier models, based on gear from Neve, Manley, Avalon, API, Universal Audio, and more. If you plan to use Pro Tools primarily for tracking individual instruments, the Liquid Saffire 56 is a great choice.

Mackie Onyx 1640i

The Mackie Onyx 1640i delivers a staggering feature set that's perfect for live tracking. Loaded with 16 16 Onyx preamps, inline EQs, and comprehensive analog routing options, the Onyx 1640i's most apparent function is as a live mixer. However, unlike most FireWire or USB mixers, the Onyx 1640i sends individual tracks over FireWire, making it perfect for tracking entire bands. If you plan to do a lot of live recording, or simply need 16 inputs and like the feel of an analog mixer, the Mackie Onyx 1640i is the way to go.

M-Audio ProjectMix I/O

An 18-in/14-out FireWire interface and an 8-fader control surface in one, the M-Audio ProjectMix I/O delivers professional features at an incredible low price. Moreover, the ProjectMix I/O features a complete set of transport controls and eight microphone preamps, making this studio-style controller/interface perfect for tracking, editing, and mixing.

MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid

If you need tons of I/O and complete flexibility, then the MOTU 828mk3 Hybrid is the interface for you. Paired with Pro Tools 9, you get the recording and editing environment you need, plus amazing DSP mixing and live processing. Built-in EQ, compression, and reverb, plus complete I/O routing make the 28-in/30-out 828mk3 Hybrid an excellent interface for highly demanding recording sessions. And since it features both USB and FireWire connectivity, you can easily go from your USB-equipped PC desktop in your studio to your FireWire-equipped Mac laptop in your mobile rig.

RME Babyface

Small form factor meets 100% pro-studio-quality conversion in the RME Babyface. This USB interface features an incredibly small footprint, making it perfect for smaller setups and mobile rigs. Equipped with a pair of top-notch microphone preamps and a hi-Z input, the Babyface is an excellent interface if you plan to take your Pro Tools rig to the artists you'll record. The Babyface also features ADAT I/O, so you can easily expand its I/O with one of the many available 8-channel ADAT-equipped microphone preamps on the market.

M-Audio FastTrack Pro

One of the best first audio interfaces on the market, the M-Audio Fast Track Pro has an extraordinarily comprehensive feature set. No only does the Fast Track Pro come with the I/O you need to record vocals, guitars, and other instruments, it also includes S/PDIF I/O for expansion with a S/PDIF-equipped preamp. The Fast Track Pro also includes inline analog insert points, so you can add analog gear to your recording path.

MOTU MicroBook

Roughly the size of a paperback novel, the MOTU MicroBook is perfect for recording on the go. In addition to a surprisingly wide selection of I/O, the MicroBook features MOTU's popular CueMix digital routing/no-latency monitoring software. But that's not all, you also get British console-style and classic compression onboard, which makes the MicroBook perfect for one-take-only mobile recording projects, suck as live shows and concerts.

Focusrite Saffire Pro 24

The Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 is an excellent all-around project-studio-ready FireWire recording interface. A pair of Focusrite's award-winning Saffire mic pres are easily accessible on the front panel, and flexible I/O (including eight channels of ADAT optical input) are in back. What's more, the Saffire PRO 24 features powerful DSP-based mixing and routing, which allows you to create custom headphone mixes that completely bypass Pro Tools' signal routing.

M-Audio Delta 1010LT

The Delta 1010-LT PCI interface offers low-latency PCI-based recording that's compatibile with older systems. This time-tested interface features a wide variety of I/O, including six line-level inputs, two XLR microphone inputs with pre amps, S/PDIF, and MIDI I/O.

Mackie Onyx Blackbird

The 16 x 16 Onyx Blackbird FireWire interface is the most affordable way to get eight of Mackie's top-quality Onyx preamps into your Pro Tools rig. Loaded with a built-in DSP matrix mixer complete with analog insets, plus ADAT I/O for expandability, the Onyx Blackbird is a great starting point for your Pro Tools 9 system.

Pro Tools|HD Interfaces

These formidable units are specially designed for uncompromising performance with a Pro Tools|HD system.

HD I/O

Welcome to the next generation of Pro Tools|HD! The HD I/O gives you premium fidelity, ultra-low latency, and a host of onboard features that make recording easier, faster, and better than ever. The onboard Curv dynamics processor lets you track with hotter input levels and get warmer tones in the process. Improved AD/DA converters make the already outstanding Pro Tools|HD experience even more impressive. You can even choose from three "flavors" of HD I/O! The HD I/O 8 x 8 x 8 gives you eight channels of analog I/O and eight channels of digital inputs and outputs. The HD I/O 16 x 16 Analog provides 16 analog inputs and outputs plus AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and ADAT I/O. Want the perfect all-digital interface for post-production? Choose the HD I/O 16 x 16 Digital. This box gives you AES/EBU, TDIF, S/PDIF, and ADAT I/O plus two empty bays for expansion.

HD MADI

Bring Pro Tools|HD into the world of MADI! The all-digital HD MADI interface lets you integrate your HD or ICON rig into any MADI environment, at any sample rate. You get an outstanding 64 channels of MADI input and output, which adds a new level of performance to your Pro Tools studio. HD MADI comes complete with both coaxial and optical I/O, so it's an easy fit for any setup.

HD Omni

Looking for the ultimate "all-in-one" Pro Tools|HD audio interface for your high-end project setup? Here it is. The HD OMNI interface gives you the 192kHz performance you demand plus the studio-friendly features you need. It's equipped with the same amazing Curv dynamics processor found on its HD I/O siblings. It has two premium built-in mic preamps. The HD OMNI's analog and digital I/O lets you stream 8 x 8 audio to and from Pro Tools, while two extra channels of "Cue" output come in very handy. You'll also appreciate the integrated monitoring section and 14 x 26 mixer, which lets you monitor in up to 7.1 surround!

Sync HD

System peripheral that provides a near sample-accurate lock to time code or bi-phase/tach signals and a 192kHz–capable, low-jitter word clock.

Pre

Remote-controllable 8-channel mic preamp.

Pro Tools|HD Native Core

Avid Pro Tools|HD Native lets you use professional-quality HD series interfaces with your native Pro Tools system. You get the blazing fast I/O and near-zero latency of HD, while your computer's CPU still handles your plug-ins and mixing. If you have a high-powered computer or prefer to track with outboard signal processors (rather than plug-ins), then Pro Tools|HD Native is perfect for you.