PT11 - HDN vs Metric Halo ULN8
 

I am an old TDM guy. 18 months ago I switched to PT10HD + ULN8 with an old presonus Digimax for an extra 8 inputs when needed via AES/EBU.

The ULN8 is great and a step up in A/D D/A from my old 192 but I miss the simplicity of running a TDM rig vs running a second software layer for all my input monitoring.

SO! Here comes PT11 and it looks like they have a way to get to better than TDM performance (with the new independent input buffer) using Thunderbolt and I assume only an AVID I/O. So there is the OMNI -- but 4 analog ins won't cut it for me. To get the 4 digitals ins to be on par with the first 4 looks like more than $2K - maybe a lot more. And my ULN8 won't work because the only way to get 4 digitals into the OMNI is ADAT - (AES and SPDIF are 2 only and can't be simultaneous). So then it looks like the only way is the 8X8X8 but now I need a high quality monitor and headphone solution. Could keep the ULN8 but I was hoping selling it would pay for most of this!

I guess the question is.... how are others solving this
8X8 I/O HDN system -
a) OMNI + extra A/D converters + 6 Preamps
b) 8X8X8 + HP/Monitor control system + 8 preamps
c) Forget it and just use the ULN8 and get by with non-HD PT11
d) After writing this I see that getting an 8X8X8 and using the ULN8 as preamp/converters and maybe monitoring/HP (via digital I/O of the 8X8X8) too may be an option I should consider. More $$ than I was thinking but when all totaled, maybe not so bad... :-)

I do have 6 very good outboard preamp channels already - I don't count the Digimax as anything I want mission critical going through :-)

Re: PT11 - HDN vs Metric Halo ULN8
 

i have the same situation as you, and quite honestly, i came to the same solution you did...8x8x8 and ULN-8. not that i can afford the 8x8x8 anytime soon unfortunately...