Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

I am thinking of switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt.

- both solutions can run Pro Tools HD software
- both have the same latency

So what's different?

Input Monitoring Off

With Pro Tools HDX and HD Native there is no way to switch the input monitoring entirely off. Pro Tools software offers that option only for 3rd party interfaces. That truly helps with monitoring overdubs and punch ins using either analog console or Ensemble's built in Maestro console.

Any downsides? At this point I don't see any.

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

Well you have to navigate 2 different eco systems of software - that's all

Being that it is Apogee you would expect flawless execution of that software.......

My Focusrite was hit and miss in the early days of Saffire Mix...and actual that software was what drove me to Mac.....

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

I currently have Focusrite Red4 Pre for a test and it is nowhere near as well integrated with Pro Tools HD as Ensemble. At the same time I'm supervising recording an album with two Ensemble Thunderbolt rigs and it is flawless.

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

Another advantage is multi client driver. I can have my Pro Tools running together with iTunes or other software running through the same DA converter.

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

It does? Where is that setting/pref?

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

It's disguised under "Low Latency Monitoring" label.
With 3rd party interfaces it functions as "Input Monitoring Off".

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

Ah makes sense. I've never run ProTools as a native DAW.

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

I am going forward with the change.
Today I sold my HD I/O.
Still have HDN+Omni for sale but I'm already ordering Ensemble Thunderbolt.

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

What motivated you to make the change? What improvements are you expecting? Just curious.

Re: Switching from HD Native to Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt - Input Monitoring Off
 

- more flexible monitoring options (input monitoring off)
- quieter
- no additional thunderbolt box
- more I/O in 1u rack unit
- reamping I/O