Compatibility between Pro Tools 11 and HD2?

[tomciccone34]

Hey guys,

I'm a recording artist and working on setting up my own home recording space.

I'd like to get the Mbox artist pro bundle, so I can be using Pro Tools 11 for all of my audio recordings that I work on at home.

The studio that I usually do all my recording at utilizes Pro Tools HD2. The thing is, I'd like to have the ability to bring my session files over there and do any mixing or further tracking. Would that be possible? Could I load up my Pro Tools 11 file into his HD2 set-up?

[Darryl Ramm]

HD2 is the hardware configuration, not the version of Pro Tools. Pro Tools 10 is the last version of Pro Tools that runs on HD/TDM hardware.

Pro Tools 11 (or 12 which you might be more likely start on now) can open and save older Pro Tools session formats. But there are lots of details here you need to worry about. Including if your computer is powerful enough to run a HD2 session (which should not be hard with a modern computer) and whether you have all the plugins needed on your system (that alone might cost many thousands of dollars). There are other details here to be sorted out, the best place you should be asking for advice is the studio you are working with they should be able to give you advice on a system, software versions, plugins needed, and be able to talk about workflows (including round-tripping out to you and back again) and how they do this with other artists.

I'd also ask them for advice on what bundle to acquire. And make sure whatever you are getting is fully compatible with the computer you have or will be buying. The MBox Pro is a nice interface but a bit old and there are certainly many nicer interfaces out there, make sure you understand what you are getting into with an Artist series controller (they tend to be finicky) or even if you really need a control surface at all.

[JFreak]

If the HD studio has PT10, then as said the session files are compatible.

Just remember that PT10 is a 32bit application so if you load more than 4GB virtual instruments, the big studio isn't going to be able to open the session; therefore print the tracks to audio and have the originals inactivated.

Also, if you want to "continue mixing" on your own, ask the big studio only use stock Avid plugins so you have 100% plugin compatibility. Or in addition, the plugins you have yourself. Otherwise there is no point in transfering session between HD studio and your own setup.