What is Pro Tools Project II? Is this the better system we have be asking for?

[toecat]

I was just checking out the Musians Friend website. Listed is a Pro Tools Project II bundle. There is no information on it, but the picture show the Adat Interface and two pci cards. I assume one card is for the interface. It also shows a computer screen with the Pro Tools software on it. Cost about $2700.00. I don't know if this is the package everyone is been asking for, but Bruce or someone in Custom Service give us some information on this.
Also there is a Pro Tools Project. No information no pictures. Cost $799. I think I will give Musicans Friend a call, maybe they can cast some light on this.

[Avid]

That information is incorrect. Or at least incorrectly titled. Pro Tools Project was a discontinued 8 voice non-TDM disk I/O that you could hook up to a single 882 or 888. Project II was a PCI card, also discontinued, that was basically a modified d24 card. It was never supported by Pro Tools software and is not TDM capable. It is used with third-party software using Direct I/O, so you can run it with Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer, or other app that supports Direct I/O. It requires an optional audio interface like the 882/20, 888/24, or ADAT Bridge I/O. The original bundle mentioned included the ADAT Bridge 20-bit version before the 24-Bit ADAT Bridge was released, so it is likely that the ADAT Bridge they are including would need to be upgraded to the 24-Bit version if you wanted to use it for transferring ADAT 24-bit digital rather than 20-bit maximum. (see the ADAT Bridge FAQ)

I don't have access to the information at my fingertips, but think the bundle included:
<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Project II card, (the smaller of the pci cards pictured)<LI>SampleCell II (the other pci card)<LI>2 different bundles, one with an 882/20, one with an ADAT Bridge.<LI>There was some software included, but definitely not Pro Tools software.[/list]
Maybe one of you can identify the optional sequencing software being used on the screen from the enlarged photo at

http://web.musiciansfriend.com/ex/sh...352?pid=240462

I would talk with someone at Musicians Friend first before ordering, so you know exactly what you are getting. As long as you do not need to use it with Pro Tools, it was a pretty good deal. Some of the components could be used with a Pro Tools system, like the SampleCell II and ADAT Bridge I/O. The SampleCell II could also be used with a Pro Tools LE system.
You can also call Presales Product Information at Digidesign and they will be able to give you more information on both of these discontinued products listed at www.musiciansfriend.com

Thanks for asking about this, toecat, otherwise I wouldn't have noticed it. I've asked the dealer rep for Musicians Friend to change the title listing of the bundle so that it doesn't say Pro Tools on it. Probably just a case of the person creating the web page not knowing all of the details about this somewhat obscure product.

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Bruce Paine
Digidesign Customer Service

[toecat]

Bruce,
I was not planning on ordering. Way out of my price range. I assumed it was a new product becasue it said information in two to three weeks. I assumed the software shown in the picture was Pro Tools since it said it was the Pro Tools Project II bundle. I think the software may have been Logic. It kind of looks like their mixer pictured.
So if it is discontinued it is possilbe that Musians Friend maybe move it to clearance. Something to watch out for. Would there be a problem running it in the same computer with the 001?

[Avid]

I don't think there would be a problem having a Project II card in the same computer as a 001. I know that some people have an AMIII card in with a Pro Tools|24 system in order to use Sound Designer. The Project II like I said is a modified d24 card. I seem to remember hearing of people also having a 001 card in with TDM cards, although you can't use these at the same time. I would imagine the same is true for a Project II card and a 001 card, meaning that they could exist in the same cpu, but wouldn't both be functional simultaneously. Project II doesn't use the DAE engine, but it does use DSI with Direct I/O.
I don't know if anyone' s ever tried it, actually.

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Bruce Paine
Digidesign Customer Service