[nst7]

First of all, since they don't actually start shipping until now, you should be able to cancel your order, if you want. Shouldn't be that big a deal.

But FYI, HD Native gives a few advantages:

1. 64 I/O vs. 32

2. The ability to use the various Satellite, Video Satellite, and Sync HD products. While this is aimed at Post guys, it may have advantages for music also.

3. The ability to use the new Avid HD interfaces. This is not a small thing, as they are reported to sound amazing, some of the best around.

4. Also, with the design of the new HD interfaces, it achieves lower latency vs. other interfaces with the same buffer setting. I.E., a 128 buffer feels more like 64, 64 is more like 32, etc.

5. The stability of PCI, vs. firewire or usb.

6. Having an integrated high end solution with software and hardware designed by the same company.

And if you think about it, to get all that you get with the Omni bundle, with a reasonably high quality converter, it's not as cheap as you might think.

For example, let's say you get a Rosetta 200, that's $1800. Then you get the X-Firewire card to use it as an interface, that's $355. Then you buy Protools 9 for $600. Complete Toolkit for $2000.

Now you're already up to $4755, and you still don't have any preamps or a monitor controller.

This would be somewhat cheaper if you're crossgrading from LE, and/or already have the Complete Toolkit, but you get the general idea.

So Protools 9 works out cheaper if you're getting a low to mid budget interface, but once you start getting to the higher quality stuff, HD Native is quite competitive.

And if you already have Complete Toolkit, and PT LE and hardware, you may be able to sell them, offsetting your costs.