Was Dave Hill ever involved in the AVID HD I/O hardware?

[Firechild]

There is some rumour Dave Hill was involved in the development of the AVID HD I/O. At least from some member of the realgearonline forum.
It may be some misunderstanding as he was the mastermind behind the HEAT algorithm released during the same period of time.
However if someone knew it would be really interesting to know.
Why...because the AVID HD interface still sound in pair with current released high-end 5000$ stereo AD converters...and the AVIDs are now 15 years old...
They are kind of too good...being that old....

[Electronic1982]

Regardless, for the higher-growth of the Company, I think Avid should re-consider the $5,000+ price tag for en empty shell and then the $2,500 for 8 Analog Inputs,
essentially, Avid is asking people to spend approx. $7,500 for an interface with 8-inputs just to start with if you want Analog AD Conversion.

I think the latest line of interfaces was being developed and released during the lockdown period along with various problems internationally which may have pushed the cost of product development and manufacturing up.

The latest interfaces are excellent, but there needs to be a new re-envisioned approach to hardware with a different price tag to get more people onboard,
with also the possibility of leaving out DSP all-together while doing so.


My thoughts.

[BScout]

Originally Posted by Electronic1982

Regardless, for the higher-growth of the Company, I think Avid should re-consider the $5,000+ price tag for en empty shell and then the $2,500 for 8 Analog Inputs,
essentially, Avid is asking people to spend approx. $7,500 for an interface with 8-inputs just to start with if you want Analog AD Conversion.

I think the latest line of interfaces was being developed and released during the lockdown period along with various problems internationally which may have pushed the cost of product development and manufacturing up.

The latest interfaces are excellent, but there needs to be a new re-envisioned approach to hardware with a different price tag to get more people onboard,
with also the possibility of leaving out DSP all-together while doing so.


My thoughts.

You can use any CoreAudio or Windows ASIO audio hardware you want.
The DAD (Digital Audio Denmark) made stuff (MTRX family) is for people in the high end -- no need for that to be for everyone. It's is rebranded from a very high end company and has nothing to do with lockdowns. If you want DAD converters, they are expensive.

(I honestly don't know what your complaint is... because the world is open to anything you want at any price you want. All without DSP.)

[Darryl Ramm]

And another take is I don't think Avid should be trying to do their own boxes ever again. It's doubt it is ever going to make sense economically. The best thing they have done for (yes high-end) customers was partnering with DAD/NTP I did not see that one coming and it was a smart move.

And (reaching for the opinion bus send fader..) I question the whole Carbon thing on multiple levels, and don't think the low-end MBox Studio was well thought out.. and maybe like past forays into hardware Avid's strategy seems to be get something into the market, use bundles and low price to try to move units.

[Electronic1982]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

And another take is I don't think Avid should be trying to do their own boxes ever again. It's doubt it is ever going to make sense economically. The best thing they have done for (yes high-end) customers was partnering with DAD/NTP

I would agree with this, it would leave more resources to focus on Pro Tools as software and modernize the DAW to match features of all the other DAWs rather than lose the edge to them over a collection of basic features (for example, in pro tools you can' even edit the plugin menu, which is not good to get new people onboard).

Regarding hardware, up-selling some new sub divisions of the latest converters from the DAD line would be good, meaning have a box that's for Analog AD/DA only, then another box for MADI only, and so on.
it does not need to be 1 Box for $5,000 for all types of connections.
It should be possible to create a good initial install base by selling each Box type around $500 for an empty shell, then $1,000 per 8 Inputs, $1,000 for 8 outputs which you can slot in to the correct Box type.
At least this is the way I see it.

[massivekerry]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

And another take is I don't think Avid should be trying to do their own boxes ever again. It's doubt it is ever going to make sense economically. The best thing they have done for (yes high-end) customers was partnering with DAD/NTP I did not see that one coming and it was a smart move.

And (reaching for the opinion bus send fader..) I question the whole Carbon thing on multiple levels, and don't think the low-end MBox Studio was well thought out.. and maybe like past forays into hardware Avid's strategy seems to be get something into the market, use bundles and low price to try to move units.

As a Carbon user, I don't know if it was the knockout product that was maybe intended, but I find the hybrid engine implementation and the variable impedance direct inputs to be absolutely invaluable on a weekly basis. I had a few uncomfortable years using an HD-native system and I suffered through a UA interface when I travelled., but I know feel that there is a major advantage for "zero-latency" "through-the-plugins" recording that Avid should continue capitalizing on.

[Electronic1982]

Originally Posted by BScout

the world is open to anything you want at any price you want

I wouldn't 100% agree with this, for example, I haven't got the option to an Analog only DAD Converter at a different price, the only option is $5,000 for all features (but I don't need all features)
Avid should use the DAD partnership, sub-divide the features and up-sell each feature/ option separately each at a lower price.

[Firechild]

Interesting turn this thread took
However still no one who can confirm or deny Dave Hills involvement in the old AVID HD I/O (released 2010) hardware?

[BScout]

Originally Posted by Electronic1982

I wouldn't 100% agree with this, for example, I haven't got the option to an Analog only DAD Converter at a different price, the only option is $5,000 for all features (but I don't need all features)
Avid should use the DAD partnership, sub-divide the features and up-sell each feature/ option separately each at a lower price.

Buy from someone else!
That is why Pro Tools's ecosystem is available to anyone.

Avid doesn't own DAD. If you can't afford it, it's not for you. Avid's partnership with DAD is really based on digilink -- so if not using HDX cards (or can't afford them or don't want the DSP), it wasn't designed for you anyway. There are other ways to use DAD hardware today as standalone converters (and more recently, Thunderbolt interfaces.) But the cheapest thunderbolt interface option will cost you $750 on top.
Just to access the hardware chassis.

You can also buy direct from DAD for a lower price (not much, but some) -- you just don't get digilink connectors. Which, once again, if you can't afford HDX cards and Pro Tools Ultimate, isn't of a concern anyway. It's actually a better deal with more options if you don't use digilink.

Not everything on offer is for all tiers of users. And that's ok.

[BScout]

Originally Posted by Firechild

Interesting turn this thread took
However still no one who can confirm or deny Dave Hills involvement in the old AVID HD I/O (released 2010) hardware?

No one is going to confirm this. It was all rumor anyway and now he's gone. He did do the Heat plugin. Meanwhile, I had heard Fred Forssell was the guy consulted on the HD IO.
But who knows.
And Fred and Dave Hill also worked together on a few pieces of equipment IIRC. Throw in Douglas (DW) Fearn and you've got the trifecta of that gen of boutique American designers (Dave Hill did the PWM part for Fearn's compressor)