Using Pro Tools HD with UAD system

[darknesscrown]

I'm considering just coughing up the bread for Pro Tools HD 12 software since it does not require special hardware (or so I'm told). I vaguely remember there being a bridge - for lack of a better term - needed...not an HD audio interface.

I have an Apollo system, but would really like the added features of HD...and really have no desire to drop $4,000-$11,000 on more hardware if possible.

The essential details of my system are as follows:

-Pro Tools 12.8 (non-HD...obviously)
-UAD Apollo 16 MkII (Thunderbolt 2) <--primary interface
-UAD Apollo Twin 1st-gen (Thunderbolt 2)
-Avid 11R
-Late 2013 iMac 27" quad-core i5 w/ 32GB RAM (maxed out)

Does anyone know how to incorporate these hardware items to work with HD software? If it's relatively affordable, great. If not, whatever. I'll manage with Pro Tools regular. Thanks for the feedback.

[panamajack]

The HD license will enable the HD features. Your current PT install and your existing hardware should be all you need, except for the expenditure to upgrade from vanilla to HD. Might lighten your wallet a tad.

There are a few on the forum that have been using Apollo setups with PT. Search under the PT12 area to find them.

[darknesscrown]

So to be clear, if I upgrade my *software* to Pro Tools HD, I need no other hardware or anything? Just buy the HD license and I have HD? And yeah, $2,400 for HD software is absurd...

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by darknesscrown

So to be clear, if I upgrade my *software* to Pro Tools HD, I need no other hardware or anything? Just buy the HD license and I have HD? And yeah, $2,400 for HD software is absurd...

That's it. The Pro Tools installer actually installs all the features. Its the iLok license that tells the software which features to enable.

Having said that, do you really need HD software? If you are working in surround, then yes, HD is the way to go. But otherwise, I'm not sure the HD software offers much, now that several formerly-HD features have been opened up to Pro Tools "vanilla"(like VCA's, input monitoring on a per-channel basis, RAM caching and a few others). Even with HD software, you will be limited to a max of 32 IO, no matter what 3rd party hardware you use. If you record mostly music, HD would be a waste to me

[darknesscrown]

Valid point. Looking at the comparison chart it really doesn't seem like such a huge upgrade for music and basic video post, does it? Haha. Thanks for the input and feedback.

I will say that while I'm glad Avid opened up "HD" features to everyone regardless of hardware, their pricing is actually laughable. I literally laughed when I saw the price tag for the software.

[panamajack]

Originally Posted by darknesscrown

. . . And yeah, $2,400 for HD software is absurd...

I thought the upgrade from vanilla to HD was $1,800.

The other aspect is keeping current: HD renewals cost more. But HD plans include several plug-ins...

[darknesscrown]

$1,800 is still ludicrous. It's 1s and 0s...but it IS, in fact, better than $2,400. For $1,800 I can take a trip to Morocco (I know this because I'm doing it next year haha) I'm not going to stop using Pro Tools just because I'm disgusted by their prices, but it strongly reeks of "just give us your money-itis"

[Barry Johns]

There's no need to pay the upgrade price you can easily find a brand-new full-blown ProTools HD 12 for sale for around $1200.