iMac27 replaces my HD3 system

[Oli P]

I got it up and running now, and have been opening sessions that maxed out my old system (HD3 on 2007 MacPro).
The iMac plays them with no problems at around 60% CPU load at 1024 HW and with Eleven Rack as soundcard.

Pretty impressed actually...also at how effortless Eleven Rack seems to work.
No problem with latency when recording guitar/bass/vocals...and the converters sound great when using my normal mic/pre/comp/eq chain for vocals.

(I don't use the Eleven Rack mic pre of course...just the line input converters.)

[sunburst79]

So that's working for you!

The newer gear is quite powerful.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by sunburst79

So that's working for you! The newer gear is quite powerful.

Sure it looks promising, mixing-wise. And that HD|N system with Thunderbolt bridge surely looks tempting -- could still get 64 i/o with HD interfaces and only thing lost would be the HEAT.

But what I'd need to know is whether the legacy blue interfaces work with it and PT11 or not. In case PT11 requires new Avid-branded interfaces I might just choose to stick with the TDM setup for the foreseeable future.

[crizdee]

Originally Posted by JFreak

But what I'd need to know is whether the legacy blue interfaces work with it and PT11 or not. In case PT11 requires new Avid-branded interfaces I might just choose to stick with the TDM setup for the foreseeable future.

Hi,

I thought the blue interfaces were going to continue to work with PT11. from what ive read thats the case.

Chris

[Oli P]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Sure it looks promising, mixing-wise. And that HD|N system with Thunderbolt bridge surely looks tempting -- could still get 64 i/o with HD interfaces and only thing lost would be the HEAT.

But what I'd need to know is whether the legacy blue interfaces work with it and PT11 or not. In case PT11 requires new Avid-branded interfaces I might just choose to stick with the TDM setup for the foreseeable future.

If you need 64 i/o ...then this option is not for you.
It only works because I don't need more than a couple microphones at the time, and my major pet peeve with anything native, is latency when using amp sims.

11R really takes care of that...and gives me TDM latency both with microphones and amp sims.

HD native is just a way to communicate with AVID hardware...but it won't help your latency (other than maybe being slightly better than other native alternatives)

[nst7]

Officially, the blue interfaces will not be supported past PT10.

Avid has stated they will not do anything to intentionally break support, but they will no longer be testing them as they move on with further updates, etc.

So it's possible they could work fine, at least for a while.

[CME]

Originally Posted by Oli P

(snip)

HD native is just a way to communicate with AVID hardware...but it won't help your latency (other than maybe being slightly better than other native alternatives)

Not entirely true. The HD|N systems do have some on board processing that lowers the latency and takes some load off the computer. I don't own, and admittedly haven't used one, but I've read that buffers up to 256 are often useable with HD|N. That's from people used to TDM.

Not saying it's as good as TDM/HDx, but it's at least between them and most native interfaces. The converters used with the HD|N card will also matter. The new avid ones do have lower latency than the older blue ones. Every little bit helps.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by crizdee

I thought the blue interfaces were going to continue to work with PT11. from what ive read thats the case.

Hi,

If that's true it's very good news. I see nothing wrong with my blue 192's and would hate to spend thousands just to get them updated. I think the new purple interfaces are required for native 32-bit float processing but I'm fine with 24-bit fixed so let's see how it is once PT11 is out.

The big question remains: when (...the 3rd parties are ready for it)?

[CME]

The interface doesn't have anything to do with the 32-bit float option. As far as I know the new interfaces have 24-bit converters. 32-bit float is all about internal processing.

That said the older interfaces should work with pt11. Avid isn't doing anything to break compatibility. They're just not testing and supporting them. So if/when they quit working avid won't do anything to fix it.