If you read our NAMM Report, you know that Digidesign’s new Pro Tools|HD system caused quite a stir. We just received several of Pro Tools|HD products here at Sweetwater, so we’ll give you a quick run down. The new Pro Tools|HD is without a doubt Digidesign’s most powerful, comprehensive audio production system yet. It’s capable of sampling rates up to 192kHz. We just received a shipment of Digi’s three Pro Tools|HD Core Systems. Pro Tools|HD 1 features the HD Core card, a PCI card with twice the power of the Digidesign MIX Core card. It supports up to 32 channels of I/O with Digidesign audio interfaces and features a host of powerful DSP. The Pro Tools|HD 2 configuration features the HD Core card and an additional HD Process card for a significant jump in mixing and processing power, and support for up to 64 channels of I/O with Pro Tools audio interfaces. Pro Tools|HD 3 features the HD Core card along with two additional HD Process cards, supporting up to 96 channels of I/O. THAT’S power! The Pro Tools|HD Process card – available with the HD 2 and HD 3 configurations – can also be purchased separately for extra I/O capabilities and DSP power.
Also new in stock are two incredible interface systems for Pro Tools|HD. To go along with the Pro Tools|HD 192kHz sampling rate capabilities is the 192 I/O Multi-channel Audio Interface, which lets you work with today’s current 96k sampling standard and prepares you to handle standards of up to 192kHz. Along with its outstanding sonic specs, 192 I/O features an additional I/O option bay, allowing you to add more inputs or outputs. For those not ready to take the leap to 192kHz, Digi’s new 96 I/O offers Pro Tools|HD users a high-resolution, multi-channel audio interface with excellent sonic performance at a good price. It supports sampling rates of 96, 88.2, 48 and 44.1kHz. There’s a lot more to the story here: there are special upgrade packages for current users, and there are ways some of the old hardware can still be used if you do upgrade. Also, the pricing on the (now) old Mix systems has dropped significantly so either way you look at things the time is better than ever to jump into Pro Tools.
Just in case you haven’t heard by now Sweetwater has dropped the price on all Korg Tritons, CX3 organ, X5D, the Electribe series, the Kaoss, and the MS2000 and 2000R synthesizers.