I have HD Native. If I remove my PCIe Card will I still be able to run HD?

[noah330]

I have an HD Native card and HD License. I have no desire to sell the card or stop using ProTools HD.

I need more inputs/outputs and have looked into buying an HD interface, but I am seriously considering an SSL MADI interface and PCIe card. This would solve my problem and do exactly what I need.

I know I could buy an HD MADI and an SSL MADI, but that would be thousands more than just buying the SSL MADI and card.

These are the two pieces I'm considering:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MadiXtreme64

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AlphaLinkMAX

So, if one holds an HD license does the HD card need to be in the machine anymore?

Thanks!

[Meads]

No, you can use the HD license regardless of the hardware.

[noah330]

Excellent! Thanks!

Can anyone think of a downside to doing this?

[nst7]

You said you want "more" inputs. If you do not have the HD Native (or other HD card) installed using HD interfaces, you are once again limited to the 32 input/output maximum, just like non-HD Protools.

[noah330]

That's what I was wondering. Right now I have a 192 and a 192D.

Ideally, I would like to have 16 analog ins and 16 analog outs as well as 16 digital ins and 16 digital outs.

I could buy another 192, but the problem with doing that is I'm sure at some point in the near future they'll stop supporting them.

I was looking at the SSL MADI interfaces because they make one that would do the job.

If the Avid MADI HD wasn't $5000 I would go that route. Maybe I'll look into the SSL Delta Link.

[propower]

So if I understand -
You have
192 Digital = 16X16 digital ins and outs
192 = at least 16X8 or 8X16 Analog I/O (can never remember if this goes to 16X16)

So one more 192 Analog and you are totally set (like $500 in todays market).

OR - Sell yours and get
AVID I/O 16X16 (one Digital and one Analog)
Pretty much new in box from very respectable ebay sellers for less than $4K for both. Big improvement in conversion from 192s. This all preserves your direct PCI/Thunderbolt connectivity. Why go MADI??

[noah330]

Yeah, I have been thinking about that as well.

Do you happen to know if the newer interfaces will play nicely with a 192? If so I would probably buy the HD analog and hold onto my 192D for a few more months.

I know my 192 does 8 ins and 8 outs. I was under the impression that even if I added an additional analog in or out card it would still only do 8 of whatever one card was and 8 of the other.

Is it true that the new HD would do 16 ins and 16 outs simultainiusly or are they the same as the 192s?

[propower]

AVID analog 16X16 I/O is 16X16.
I believe the 192 tops out at 8X16 or 16X8 Analog

They should play nicely together but I haven't used them that configuration. IME I like having all of the same type of converters (or I/O) with Pro Tools. This way I am sure PT will correctly do all compensation for any delay from the hardware. When I use the DiGiGrid stuff I have to do this manually (using a DDMF plugin). When using the AVID I/O and PT HD Native this is automatically done.

[29CountsNY]

Originally Posted by noah330

Yeah, I have been thinking about that as well.

Do you happen to know if the newer interfaces will play nicely with a 192? If so I would probably buy the HD analog and hold onto my 192D for a few more months.

I know my 192 does 8 ins and 8 outs. I was under the impression that even if I added an additional analog in or out card it would still only do 8 of whatever one card was and 8 of the other.

Is it true that the new HD would do 16 ins and 16 outs simultainiusly or are they the same as the 192s?

The Avid HD I/O that is configured as 16 analog in and 16 analog out can do 16 I/O simultaneously. That is one of the big selling points besides the better conversion.
I have an Avid HD I/O (8x8x8 config) and also use a 192 I/O and another 192 I/O configured with 2 digital cards. They all work fine together.
I'm trying to remember how the 192's act but I think you can either have 16 analog in or 16 analog out. You can not put an analog card in slot 3 because of power requirements and I think that is what caused the restriction. A 192 can do 16 I/O simultaneously but some of those channels have to be digital. So if you put an analog input card in slot 4 you would have 16 analog inputs and 8 analog outputs and 8 digital outputs for a total of 16 I/O. If you put an analog output card in slot 4 then you could have 8 analog inputs and 8 digital inputs and 16 analog outputs for a total of 16 I/O.

Hope that helps!

[CygnusX-1Bk2]

I am running HDN with a 16x16 and an input expanded 192 giving me 32 in and 24 out. I have had no issues running them together. Since there is a cable connecting the two and the digi cable connects the 16x16 to the HDN card it's probably safe to assume the blue face boxes should work as long as the 16x16 does.