Do the 8 HDX DSPs on the Carbon work for the DB25 inputs?

[gp23]

Hey ya'll, quick question:

I see that there are 8 A/D converters on my proTools Carbon.

Do the 8 converters (HDX DSPs for AAX DSP Processing) only work for XLR/line In inputs, or do the also work for the DB25 input connection?

I know you can assign which input to use via i/o in protools, but what about the DSP.

The graph on the Avid website (see attachment image) shows the DSP outlining the XLR/line-in inputs only and does not specify if the processing is also available for DB25 connection inputs.

Just doing some planning and wanted to verify, as I couldn't find this info on any listed documentation.

Thanks for the help!

carbonSpec.jpg

[Darryl Ramm]

The same 8 ADCs are used for the DB-25 and XLR inputs.

It makes no difference to DSP processing where an input comes from, preamp, TRS or DB-25 line, or any digital source digital, or DAW return, ...

[nst7]

To clarify a bit more, the DSP chips are not converters, they are processing chips both for low latency audio and for plugins. The fact that there is 8 of them is purely coincidental. The DSP chips are for processing low latency audio and plugins.

The A/D and D/A converters are completely separate components.

There is enough horsepower in those 8 chips for all inputs and outputs on the unit, both analog and digital, plus all headphone outputs, as well as up to 16 more inputs and outputs from 2 Carbon Pre's if you hook them up, for a total of 40 inputs (plus the talkback) and 40 outputs (plus the 4 headphone outs). And you would still have some processing left over for a certain amount of DSP plugins.

[gp23]

Thanks ya'll, appreciate it! So it's 8 DSP no matter the input source...got it!

Can I use 8 inputs from the XLR and also 8 from the DB25 to record at the same time for a total of 16 inputs?

I have some outboard gear that I"m trying to patch in (DB25) and didn't know if that was possible or not.

Thanks!

[Darryl Ramm]

The same 8 ADCs are used for the DB-25 and XLR inputs.

[BScout]

Darryl is kindly pointing out you have only eight (8) ADC in the Carbon.
XLR or DB-25 for inputs for conversion you still have a total possible of 8 channels of conversion.

So, to be direct, no, you can't convert 16 channels of analogue to digital on the Carbon. You would need the expansion (for instance) to get another 8 channels or an 8 analogue to ADAT add-on converter.

[gp23]

Ok thank you for the info. Appreciate it!

One last question: are the 8 inputs on the DB25 treated as inserts within protools, or are they inputs (like XLR)?

Thanks again

[Darryl Ramm]

They are inputs, the DB-25 inputs are straight into the ADCs, the TRS inputs bypass the corresponding DB-25 inputs if you insert a TRS. This is all described well in the Carbon Documentation. I suspect you are missing a whole lot of stuff by not just picking up the documentation and reading at least the interesting bits.

You can do whatever you want with Pro Tools H/W inserts as long as you follow the I/O port matching requirement of Pro Tools. But I'm guessing you are asking about preamp inserts in the interface hardware, but those are not Pro Tools inserts, not ever visible in Pro Tools and the Carbon does not have mic hardware inserts.

[gp23]

yes sir got it! Thanks