Avid, maker of the music industry’s leading digital audio workstation software called Pro Tools, has officially announced its first Thunderbolt interface for Pro Tools with the new Pro Tools|HD Native Thunderbolt interface and PCIe card. Thanks to Thunderbolt, Avid says the new Pro Tools|HD Native provides the “highest performance and lowest latency of any native DAW” yet. As usual, Avid bundles your choice of either the Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card with its Pro Tools HD software, and you will also get a choice of a Pro Tools HD Series audio interface including either the HD OMNI or HD I/O.
In addition to an “audiophile-grade headphone output” powerful enough to drive high impedance headphones, a few of the benefits of the new Thunderbolt interface according to Avid:
Unlike USB- or FireWire-based DAWs, which are inherently prone to latency, Pro Tools|HD Native employs either a high-speed Thunderbolt interface or PCIe core card to connect Pro Tools HD Series interfaces with your laptop or desktop computer. By eliminating distracting monitor latency while recording, increasing your I/O capabilities, and providing 64-bit floating-point processing for more headroom and a higher mix resolution, you get a professional native solution that meets the highest audio standards.
Pricing for the two packages ranges from $4,999 to $5,999, but Avid is also offering Digi 002, Digi 003, and Mbox Pro owners a hardware trade-in worth $1000:
-Pro Tools|HD Native (Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card), Pro Tools HD software, and HD OMNI system: $4,999
-Pro Tools|HD Native (Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card), Pro Tools HD software, and HD I/O system: starts at $5,999
-Digi 002™, Digi 003™, or Mbox Pro exchange to Pro Tools|HD Native (Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card), Pro Tools HD software, and HD OMNI: $3,999
We showed you some nice new non-thunderbolt interfaces from Apogee and Focusrite the other day coming in at a much lower price point. However, Avid provided a comparison of latency between the standard USB and Firewire interfaces and its new Thunderbolt HD Native system:
Avid Supports New Standards and Provides Flexibility with the Pro Tools|HD Native Thunderbolt Interface
Harness the native power of a desktop or laptop computer with Pro Tools|HD Native, now available in a Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card
AMSTERDAM–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Avid® (AVID) today announced the new Pro Tools|HD Native Thunderbolt™ interface, delivering the lowest latency and the highest sound quality of any host based audio workstation for Thunderbolt technology equipped CPUs. The Pro Tools|HD Native Thunderbolt interface brings the industry-standard Pro Tools® HD toolset and premium conversion of Pro Tools HD Series interfaces to a broader group of customers who use a laptop or other computer with Thunderbolt technology, at a great value.
With its elegantly implemented Thunderbolt connectivity, the Pro Tools|HD Native Thunderbolt interface gives producers, engineers, and mixers the incredible sound quality, low latency, and sheer power of the award-winning Pro Tools|HD Native system in a mobile-based hardware solution, while connecting with Pro Tools HD Series interfaces (such as HD OMNI and HD I/O) for capturing and monitoring audio with pristine clarity. In addition, customers can conveniently monitor mixes using the interface’s built-in audiophile-grade headphone output, which is powerful enough to drive headphones with high impedance loads.
Pro Tools|HD Native enables customer to:
- Harness the power of your desktop or laptop computer with choice of Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card
- Attain the highest performance and lowest latency of any native DAW
- Achieve pristine audio clarity with Pro Tools HD Series interfaces
- Get the advanced tools and workflows of Pro Tools HD 10 software
- Monitor every mix detail with the built in audiophile-grade headphone output
“Pro Tools|HD Native makes it easy for professionals to get top quality sound and performance in an affordable, host-based solution,” says Chris Gahagan, senior vice president of products at Avid. “With Avid’s new solution, pros now can choose from two Pro Tools|HD Native designs: the new Thunderbolt interface for Thunderbolt-equipped laptop and desktop computers, or the original PCIe card.”
Pricing and availability
Pro Tools|HD Native is sold as a system that includes a choice of HD Native core —Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card — Pro Tools HD software, and a choice of Pro Tools HD Series audio interface. System prices are the same for both core systems. In addition, customers who own a Digi 002, 003, or Mbox® Pro can trade in their hardware towards a new Pro Tools|HD Native system and save $1,000 off GRP. System prices are as follows:
- Pro Tools|HD Native (Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card), Pro Tools HD software, and HD OMNI system: $4,999
- Pro Tools|HD Native (Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card), Pro Tools HD software, and HD I/O system: starts at $5,999
- Digi 002™, Digi 003™, or Mbox Pro exchange to Pro Tools|HD Native (Thunderbolt interface or PCIe card), Pro Tools HD software, and HD OMNI: $3,999
For more information visit: www.avid.com/US/products/Pro-Tools-HD-Native
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