Pro Tools 9 External Sound Cards

[eschybach]

I have a few questions that have remained unanswered to me about Pro Tools 9.

1. I've been told PT 9 allows the usage of 3rd party hardware that use core audio or are compatible with core audio. Forgive my ignorance, but how do I know what hardware uses core audio? I have a firewire mixer that talks with my MacBook, does that make it compatible with PT 9?

2. I intend to do recording, editing, and mixing of not only music but film audio. I would LOVE to do it in 5.1, but having a MBP, I do not have the necessary outputs for this. I was thinking about purchasing a USB 5.1 adapter, and they all use external sound cards. Can PT still run using say, the said mixer above (it's a Phonic Helix 12 MKII) and the 5.1 usb adapter, recording, monitoring, mixing, and the whole shebang?

Any help would be wonderful, as I'm trying to decide if it's worth the crossgrade from LE.

[fakir_cz]

Originally Posted by eschybach

1. I've been told PT 9 allows the usage of 3rd party hardware that use core audio or are compatible with core audio. Forgive my ignorance, but how do I know what hardware uses core audio? I have a firewire mixer that talks with my MacBook, does that make it compatible with PT 9?

Core Audio is a standard for Mac sound card drivers. The alternative in a PC world is the ASIO (just FYI). If your interface runs on your Mac, it's compatible with Core Audio. However, not every sound card with Core Audio drivers is compatible with Pro Tools 9. Check this page to find out: http://www.airusersblog.com/pro-tool...dware-checker/.

Originally Posted by eschybach

2. I intend to do recording, editing, and mixing of not only music but film audio. I would LOVE to do it in 5.1, but having a MBP, I do not have the necessary outputs for this. I was thinking about purchasing a USB 5.1 adapter, and they all use external sound cards. Can PT still run using say, the said mixer above (it's a Phonic Helix 12 MKII) and the 5.1 usb adapter, recording, monitoring, mixing, and the whole shebang?

If you want to do 5.1 work, you need to get either the Complete Production Toolkit (expensive, but unlock all features of PT HD software), or at least Neyrinck Mix51 (which is much cheaper, but gives you only the 5.1 capability, nothing more). Monitoring 5.1 output is nothing difficult, any sound interface with 6 or more outputs will work. Not sure what do you mean by a 5.1 USB adapter, but if I guess correctly, it's most likely a 6-ch USB sound card anyway. You might get i.e. an Mbox2 Pro on eBay very cheap these days, it can do 5.1 monitoring and you don't need to care for compatibility with PT 9.

There are many ways to do what you need, you should definitely do your research before buying something.

[eschybach]

Thank you Tom! That was a very helpful response!

All the best!
--Matt