Durability of HDX cards

[stargazer]

My HD Omni died, so I’m getting a replacement.
I’ve had it for around ten years, like my HDX card.
I’m thinking of getting a used HD Native PCIe card as a temporary backup in case of failure.
(Avid End of Life Dates):
https://avid.secure.force.com/pkb/ar...-support-dates

Are you trusting your HDX cards to be reliable for some more years?

[XJENSEN]

Don't do it. HD Native is no replacement for HDX. It only kind of half works.

[stargazer]

Can you explain more?

I’m thinking I could use a Native card if my (I only have one) HDX card breaks, as a temporary solution while waiting for a new HDX card.
With a Native PCIe card my HD Omni would still be usable, I hope?

I can get a used Omni with a Native card for roughly the same price as a replacement Omni from Avid.
Buying from a private seller I’d only loose the 3 months warranty that Avid offers with their refurbished ones.

Also, at the moment I have no HD compatible interface at all, so I use an old Fast Track Solo, to be able to work at all.
Obviously, I can’t use DSP plugins or my HDX card, but I can edit and mix if the sessions aren’t to demanding.
So a HD Native and an Omni would be a step up as a backup/emergency setup, compared to the Fast Track, I guess (if it works)?

[LDS]

It depends what you are doing, really. My HDX card is sitting on my shelf at the moment. I'm using a HD Native PCIe card as it hosts a much bigger session due to the 384 voices it has.

[stargazer]

Ok, thanks!
I wonder what XJENSEN means by ”it only kind of half works”.
Maybe he’s just referring to the latency aspects while recording and the lack of DSP on the cards?

[stargazer]

Originally Posted by LDS

It depends what you are doing, really. My HDX card is sitting on my shelf at the moment. I'm using a HD Native PCIe card as it hosts a much bigger session due to the 384 voices it has.

Then it would make sense to get a HD Native PCIe card if I get a very good price as apart of a package deal with an HD Omni.

[stargazer]

My initial question was regarding the durability of the HDX cards. Do I need to worry about that at all?
My rig is around ten years old, and my Omni just died, hence my concern.

[LDS]

Originally Posted by stargazer

My initial question was regarding the durability of the HDX cards. Do I need to worry about that at all?
My rig is around ten years old, and my Omni just died, hence my concern.

I don't think there is anything inherently unreliable about HDX cards... but with that said, nothing lasts forever either. If you are anything like me, the worry is purely a symptom of not having an adequate plan B in place.

[stargazer]

Originally Posted by LDS

I don't think there is anything inherently unreliable about HDX cards... but with that said, nothing lasts forever either. If you are anything like me, the worry is purely a symptom of not having an adequate plan B in place.

Thank you, LDS!

[XJENSEN]

Originally Posted by stargazer

Ok, thanks!

I wonder what XJENSEN means by ”it only kind of half works”.

Maybe he’s just referring to the latency aspects while recording and the lack of DSP on the cards?

Yes, I was indeed referring to the known latency and LLM problems with HD Native. Plus lack of sidechain compensation and a few other things.

As for durability of the HDX cards, every firmware update is a serious risk, as it is known to fry some DSPs occasionally. You can bypass broken DSPs if you want, so it doesn't make the card completely unusable if it happens. I also believe the ball grid array soldering of the chips is prone to mechanical damage.

Just a few thoughts.