Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

http://www.avid.com/US/products/Pro-Tools-HD-Native

All I have got to say is "Wow".

I have never in my life seen such shoddy industrial design. I built better looking things at college in the 70's. The headphone socket looks like something from RadioShack, and there are no markings for the volume pot. You guys have simply got to be joking right? Not to mention the fact that it requires an additional interface to even work. I have seen studio techs cobble together better looking pieces of gear overnight to solve a problem.

Take a look at Apogee's new Quartet box, and the beautiful industrial design. Compare. Find out who designed it, and hire them.

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

The headphone jack looks like a standard Neutrik M Series

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

Its an IO card in a box, not an interface. I don't think there is anything wrong with the industrial design. They decided case cooling/no cooling fan, thank God, and use of Thundebolt cable power. Both good if obvious decisions. I hope they have a nice rack mount kit.

If Avid shipped a newgeneration of thunderbolt interface boxes that obsoleted or were not easily interchangeable with current Omni and HD IO boxes users would be screaming blue murder. This is the nice small but logical step that provides a HD solution for Macbook, iMac and other users.

Darryl

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

+1000,000!
Looks like they took an M-box casing and cobbled up a front panel for it out of the cheapest available parts. The volume pot is seriously the worst i have ever seen!

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

its a thunderbolt solution.. thats all... why would you wanna waste $$ on fancy case?

as posted.. not an interface.. you still need an HD interface...

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

Given that it only works with AVID I/O boxes, I thought something like this would at least be rackable. So it can sit in a 2RU travel case, with an OMNI for example. Odd

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

The "fancy case" aluminum extrusion acts as a vital heat sink.

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

You can screw or Velcro this to a rackable shelf.

So why is it small? To answer that, ask what one of the reasons was that it was built? For laptop travel if neccessary.

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

One of the most important things with the design to keep in mind is that this intended to be a mobile solution.

There are many Live Sound scenarios I can think of for which it is great to be able to just put it in your backpack together with your laptop and show up at the gig with a full blown 64 IO extremely low latency recording rig that you setup in say 25 seconds flat.

I think there are plenty of options out there to adapt it to standard 19 inch racks as well.

Chris

Re: Pro Tools HD Native Thunderbolt
 

If I used a Thunderbolt MacBook, I would buy it.

Ugly is the new beautiful. Especially when it's closing time...