The Big Upgrade PCI to PCIe. Native or Accel!!!

[MusoPro]

Hi Guys,
I have a dilemma. I am about to upgrade everything including my computer to PT9 HD. That means also upgrading my cards. I just learned that AVID is discontinuing their upgrade to HD2 Accel. That leaves only the Native Card.
We are doing audio post, scoring, ADR, mix, foley etc. I'm still a bit worried about going Native after so many years on TDM. Are any of you using the Native card? What's it like for monitoring or using it for ADR?

I hate the fact that I would be trading in cards I paid 10 K for for a card worth $3500.

Please relay me any info you may have on this subject ASAP.

Thanks
Mitch

[Frank Kruse]

I´m in the same boat. After years of resisting the x-grade I was ready to go for it a few days ago only to learn that they canceled it.

Now I´m thinking of dropping TDM and 192 entirely since I only need a 5.1 monitor out and 2 inputs max. The HD native card doesn´t really makes sense for sound designers since we don´t need a madi-bridge etc. in an edit-suite.

The only TDM-only plugin I had was NoNoise.

Sorry, AVID I guess my money will go to a second hand seller instead of you.

EDIT: The other interesting side info is that even the Mix+ to HD upgrade are not offered any more. So in a way this sounds like they are running out of Accel hardware? I´m just speculating here, but what kind of business model is it that is based on not selling something ;-) so I leave it to you to make your own conclusions. Maybe wait another few weeks for NAB in april? My guess is that either new hardware is coming or they offer PCI to HD native cross-grades or it´s simply a marketing thing to stirr up the dusted demand for PCI-X tp PCIe cross grades just like they did a few years back when they issued "final chance to upgrade Mix+" dead-lies every 2 months.

[Postman]

1. To me it makes absolutely no sense to throw away tdm processing for a native system.
2. We all know there is a replacement for accel coming, so a pci-pcie crossgrade is a waste of money.
3. Expansion chassis solves the pci-pcie problem. I even bought yet another accel card off ebay (prices are pretty good right now, accel cards are being dumped onto the used market because new hardware is coming soon. I think Avid is doing some of the dumping.)

Having a faster cpu is nice. Having PT9 is nice. Neither is necessary at the moment. I have opted to get a new cpu with PT8. I'll probably skip PT9, it is an expensive software upgrade for what it gives back. I'll wait for the next major version. Avid is churning things so I don't think it will be a long wait.

If you absolutely refuse to use an expansion chassis, then DO NOTHING now, put your money in the bank and wait for new hardware to be introduced. I don't think it will be a very long wait, less than a year, then replace everything at once. I've decided to go more incrementally. BTW, this 6 core Westmere MacPro is extremely quiet.

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by Postman

If you absolutely refuse to use an expansion chassis, then DO NOTHING now, put your money in the bank and wait for new hardware to be introduced.

Yep. That´s what I´m going to do.

[pindebraende]

No new HD products in 11 or 12, ive been told today
Damn this is stressfull.

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by pindebraende

No new HD products in 11 or 12, ive been told today
Damn this is stressfull.

So new HD in 13?

Seriously, I think this is like the famous CIA response to inquiries regarding the freedom of information act:

"the CIA can neither confirm nor deny the existence or non-existence of records responsive to your request.”

Substitue CIA with AVID and you have your info when new HD hardware will be released.

[myke2242]

Originally Posted by Postman

1. To me it makes absolutely no sense to throw away tdm processing for a native system.
2. We all know there is a replacement for accel coming, so a pci-pcie crossgrade is a waste of money.
3. Expansion chassis solves the pci-pcie problem. I even bought yet another accel card off ebay (prices are pretty good right now, accel cards are being dumped onto the used market because new hardware is coming soon. I think Avid is doing some of the dumping.)

Having a faster cpu is nice. Having PT9 is nice. Neither is necessary at the moment. I have opted to get a new cpu with PT8. I'll probably skip PT9, it is an expensive software upgrade for what it gives back. I'll wait for the next major version. Avid is churning things so I don't think it will be a long wait.

This is what i did. I found a 4 slot Magma Expansion chassis for $400 and purchased a PCIe host card for $300. You just cant beat those numbers. Maybe i'll buy another accel card with money i saved!

In the end i spent less then $3k for computer and Expansion chassis.

[Brandonx1]

Originally Posted by Postman

1. To me it makes absolutely no sense to throw away tdm processing for a native system.

I think a native system is the only system that makes sence. Computers processing power doubles every year. How long does it take digi to double there DSP power? Every ten years? How much more expensive is it to upgrade a DSP card and your computer as opposed to just upgrading your computer? I don't understand the advantage of TDM at this point.

[pindebraende]

Originally Posted by Brandonx1

I think a native system is the only system that makes sence. Computers processing power doubles every year. How long does it take digi to double there DSP power? Every ten years? How much more expensive is it to upgrade a DSP card and your computer as opposed to just upgrading your computer? I don't understand the advantage of TDM at this point.

Having an HD2 Accel and a dinosaur dual g5, which is starting to act funny (getting hot, noisy etc) I dont see what else I could do.
The expansion chassis is still an option, yes, but I have tried getting my hands on a used one, but without luck. A new one will cost me 4000 danish kroner more then the upgrade.
Here is for hoping that one would be able to upgrade PCIe to whatever, one day......

Mikkel

[s0und80y]

I'll probably get shot down for this,
You could always switch to a PC with windows 7, you can buy a qualified avid PC to save you the stress of a build.
Windows 7 and Protools 9 runs great, no issues, no crashes.

A good PC is only a couple of grand, the only downside is you can't use a black magic card, I get away using 2 video cards for 4 monitors in my system.