New WinNT/Mac product is it true?

[JFJR]

I saw this on the Logic users group is it true?Does it support directX on the PC?
Any upgrade path for Session 8users?

Digidesign's Project Studio* Provides an Affordable, =
Professional-Quality
24-bit Audio I/O Solution for Popular Sequencing Packages.

Palo Alto, California =B7 July 13, 1998 =96 Digidesign=AE announces =
Project Studio*,
a standalone, 24-bit digital audio card designed for use with the =
industry's
most popular sequencing/digital recording software packages for Apple =
Power
Macintosh and Microsoft Windows NT systems. The card is an affordable,
economical solution for users who want to enjoy the outstanding, =
professional
sound quality of Digidesign's Pro Tools|24 system without making a =
substantial
investment in hardware.

Project Studio supports up to 16 channels of professional quality I/O =
when
used in conjunction with Digidesign's audio interfaces, including the =
882|20
I/O, 888|24 I/O, and ADAT Bridge, allowing users to select the =
input/output
device that best meets their needs, applications and budgets. The =
card also
permits the recording and playback of up to 32 tracks of digital audio
(depending on the capabilities of the software used with the card). =
Project
Studio can be upgraded to Pro Tools|24, allowing users to expand =
their systems
as their needs grow and enjoy the increased flexibility and benefits =
of
features such as TDM's real-time DSP power on demand.

Project Studio will be shipping in Fall, 1998, and will sell for a =
world wide
suggested retail price of $795 (US) (=A3525 + vat UK Sterling).

For further details or to schedule a personal demonstration contact:
______________________________
Music Lab Ltd.
The digital systems specialists

72/76 Eversholt Street
London NW1 1BY
United Kingdom

Tel: (0044) 0-171 388 5392
Fax: (0044) 0-171 388 1953
24Hr0044) 0-7771 761501
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.musiclab.co.uk

[Przemek]

Thanks Bruce!!
But of course we need more info : Does it mean that it can be sort of TDM for NT (after buying more hardware, of course)?
Or is it onbly more powerful Session8/PC?
Of course I'm talking PC/NT only.
Thanks,
Przemek.

[JFJR]

Mr.Paine
Can you give a little more info if possible?
Specifically is Direct X supported and what software will it work with?It says its upgradeable to Pro tools.Is that just the Mac or is a PC version in the works?Will the 882 I/O16 bit work or do you have to use on of the new I/O's?Is the 882/16 upgradeable to 882/20?Thanks for any help you can provide?

[ProdInfo]

Project Studio allows the host application (i.e. Cakewalk, VST, etc.) to use it's own audio engine. Since the app is using it's native audio engine, all plug-in support is purely dependent upon the host application and what plug-in formats it uses. Those applications that don't use Direct I/O to talk to the Project Studio card will use Output Sound Drivers on the Mac and full-duplexing Wave Drivers on NT. If an app can use a plug-in with either of these formats, it should work.
We have provided mac drivers for development on the mac side already, and the drivers for NT development are expected to be ready this fall. To my knowledge, none of the third party software development on either Mac or PC is complete, so it would be premature to say exactly which companies will have support at what time.
This new Digidesign hardware will initially be used only with third party Sequencing/Recording programs, so it is important that the program you wish to use it with has confirmed that they have support for the new card. That means tested, approved, and shipping.
So we're a little way away from all this, but since word leaked out a bit early, you might as well know as much as we can share with you at this time. We haven't finalized the upgrade program for these cards yet, but we will, as usual, offer options for current Digi owners. We'll have that type of information next month on the mac release, and in the fall for the PC.
I know that the current generation of audio interfaces, the 882/20, 888/24, and ADAT Bridge I/O will work with this card, but I don't know about the 16 bit 882 or 18 bit 888. Again, upgrade options are not complete yet, although there are currently upgrades available from the ADAT Interface to the ADAT Bridge, and from the 888 to the 888/24.

That's all for now, but it sure feels nice to be able to give some good news to PC owners, while we make a really affordable option for high quality/high track count digital audio recording available for mac users as well.

Bruce Paine,
Digidesign Product Information

[ProdInfo]

Yes it is. We won't be making a lot of noise until next month, but that is the gist of it, and the information is accurate.

Bruce Paine
Digidesign Product Information

[jlarsson]

Now I am not sure I understand. This card
will not work with ProTools software?

I own ProTools software and AM-III. I am
considering expanding. My choice has been to
give up ProTools and upgrade to Cubase VST/24
and any of the low-cost multi-channel boards
that are available now.

The only reason to buy this new hardware would
be if ProTools (the software) works with it
and gives me the channels + effect sends I need (something Cubase XT/VST already give me with AM-III, at least 4 channels but
Digidesign has been unable to implement
this in ProTools/DAE).

Otherwise this is just a me-too product that
is more expensive than the competition.

/jan.larsson

[ProdInfo]

A future version of Pro Tools will support this card.
-BGP-

[sixgun]

Where will the AMIII (for windows) sit in the market place as a result of this new hardware? Is it being phased out?

[Przemek]

And what about PC software? Will it be some Session/Session8 version for it in near future?
Thanks,
Przemek

[jsuh]

Come on~~
Digi even cannot release a simple windows full duplex driver for AMIII.
What makes you people believe Digi can develop a new, workable product for PC?
I have no reason to believe that this new card will work for PC after waiting for AMIII driver for over an year.