Avid enhances Pro Tools quality and performance
Published: ASIA
WORLD: Avid has introduced a series of newly-designed hardware and software solutions designed to enhance the quality and performance of its Pro Tools|HD digital audio workstation.
The new HD I/O, HD OMNI and HD MADI series interfaces are reported as providing flexible configurations to support a variety of analogue and open digital formats for audio recording, mixing and playback.
The HD I/O, HD OMNI and HD MADI interfaces for Pro Tools|HD are being introduced as improving the quality of digital audio conversion with a variety of new configuration options and increased support for open digital standards such as the MADI protocol. Features include advances in design, filtering and clocking alongside flexible digital I/O connectivity, offering support for a variety of formats. Additionally, Curv, a new soft-knee analogue limiter in HD OMNI and HD I/O, cuts the time users spend re-recording and editing by tracking hotter signals when recording and thereby preventing distortion when overloading inputs.
New I/O options include the HD I/O, which provides audio recording and playback with the option of 16x16 analogue, 16x16 digital and 8x8x8 analogue, plus digital configurations in a 2U rack-mountable chassis. HD OMNI can integrate numerous outboard components and includes conversion, two mic pre-amps, headphone outputs, a full-featured surround monitor section and a 14x26 channel mixer that functions even when the computer is off. HD MADI opens up workflows and speeds up production time by offering to easily connect a Pro Tools|HD systems to industry-standard MADI infrastructures without the need for a format converter. Built-in sample rate conversion on all inputs and outputs allows customers to integrate into workflows with multiple sample rates using a single, 64-channel 1U rack-mountable interface.
Additionally, new Harmonically Enhanced Algorithm Technology (HEAT) software can now add vintage analogue sound to the Pro Tools mixer via a single global control, thus eliminating time consuming plug-in changes across multiple tracks. Designed in collaboration with Crane Song’s Dave Hill, the HEAT software option for Pro Tools|HD is described by the manufacturer as an innovation for users who value the sound qualities of tubes, tape machines and analogue consoles, but want to eliminate the complications and expenses of using tape machines and vintage outboard processors.