Help putting new system together. . .

[jkess]

I've gone back to school for the time being after putting my studio in storage and selling off my PT HD3 rig. Want to be able to do some work for myself and with friends and I am thinking of buying a setup but not sure the best way to go. Hope you guys can offer some advice.

I would ultimately like to have PT on two computers - one is my 17" unibody macbook pro, the other is a Westmere Tower that I decided to hang on to. I plan to have a modest setup for helping friends work on films and scoring and would like to be able to work off both computers depending on where I am, though never both computers at the same time. I'll either be on one or the other.

What is important is being able to handle a film score and perhaps some high track counts.

Here are my questions:
1) Outright, does anything sound like a silver bullet solution to you?

2) Will HD Native be able to handle everything I am looking to do?

3) Are there hardware requirements if I go HD Native? (I would prefer if I only needed to bring my iLok with me when I travelled between places.)



Thank you ever so much for your time.

Best,
Joshua

[nst7]

If you buy an HD Native system, you can use the HD software on its own with just your laptop, using the built in output, or a firewire/usb interface. So that's not a problem.

As to whether you need native or HDX, you may want to provide more detail about what you do. If it's mainly virtual instruments, native may be the way to go, as HDX won't help much in that area.

[jkess]

I expect there will be some virtual instruments. If I can wrangle more post work, I expect my requirements to be syncing to video and whatever will allow that to work best.


What will I not be able to do if I go Native? Also, if I go native do I need any specific hardware or can I run something like a Mytek 8x192 straight into the computer via Firewire?

I am so out of touch with this stuff these days.

Thanks,
josh

[Craig F]

from 9 on you can use most any audio interface you want

by Native do you mean plain 11 or HD|Native?
check list link for most of that Q&A: http://www.avid.com/US/products/pro-...Specifications

[jkess]

Thanks Craig. Does 11 still come with 10? I have a fair number of RTAS plugs that I would like to use.

[mesaone]

11 comes with 10, same for HD. And no matter what hardware you buy (HDX, HDN) the Pro Tools HD license will work fine with your laptop's built-in sound card. An HD license is not limited to only being used with HD hardware.

[jkess]

I guess the last question here... I intend to utilize my academic status to get get a discount on my the software. The question is does the discount apply to a full Native rig or the software only?

Thanks,
josh

[mesaone]

As far as I know academic discounts are only available on Pro Tools (not HD), fast track and MBOX interfaces (not MBOX Pro), and Artist series controllers.

No HDX, no HD native, no HD software.

[Craig F]

Depends on your academic status. If you're buying for a school contact Avid for an Educational Sales rep.

[mesaone]

He said he has gone back to school. I assumed he meant "as a student".