![]() |
Avid Pro Audio CommunityHow to Join & Post • Community Terms of Use • Help Us Help YouKnowledge Base Search • Community Search • Learn & Support |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
![]()
Just thinking out loud and asking if I'm seeing this right:
I'm browsing around for new Protools edit rigs (post production), evaluating all options, modern interfaces etc. We are running full native now as it's more powerful than our hdx systems. Looking at interfaces and all-in options the MTRX Studio seems like a wonderful machine. Proper IO options, room calibration, monitor control, etc. But the only way to connect it to a Mac is via Digilink. No thunderbolt or usb. And with the HD native being end of life (now both pci and thunderbolt), the only way to get a Digilink port is with a $4999,- HDX card, which is only used for the port(!). Am I missing something here? If one wants to stick to Avid hardware, there is now a HUGE $10.000,- gap between the new stereo mbox and the cheapest multichannel options (HDX+thunderbolt chassis+MTRX Studio combo). I am aware there are still leftover stocks of thunderbolt HD native being sold and those still work. But I am wondering what is Avid's stance on this? Why isn't there a multichannel interface option with a thunderbolt/usb connection? Is it in the works? Is there some new digilink box coming up? Yes I can buy a Dante interface and use that to connect it to a MTRX, but then I might as well buy a proper MTRX Studio alternative and skip this whole double interface setup. So what is Avid's own recommendation getting multichannel audio out of Protools? |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
![]()
Current recommendation is obviously HDX.
It wasn't a long time ago they opened CoreAudio to 256 i/o so that may (or may not) be a hint.
__________________
Janne What we do in life, echoes in eternity. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
You can use a MTRX Studio without DigiLink and connect it via Dante. However, it would be best using a hardware Dante interface, like a RedNet PCIe card (or whatever the replacement for that currently is) rather than DVS, as latency with DVS is far from optimal and DVS stability on Apple Silicon hasn't wowed me, so far.
__________________
Scott Gatteño |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
I pointed this out in another main thread concerning the HD Native.
Avid shot itself in the foot. I'm not sure if they have a plan or if they didn't think that far ahead. It's ridiculous. Dante is not a viable option. Until they get realistic and put in a USB or Thunderbolt interface on the MTRX Studio they're a non starter for anyone who doesn't already have HD Native or HDX. Of course maybe they feel it isn't a big deal since MTRX Studio isn't available anywhere...
__________________
~Will |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
![]()
__________________
Bob's room 615 562-4346 Interview Artists are the gatekeepers of truth! - Paul Robeson |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
I've been wondering the same thing since the announcement at the end of the year. I don't think Avid is in a position of not critically thinking of every decision they make. We may not like them or feel that they are helpful but I'm fairly confident that this very question has come up within their walls and EOL'ing TB Native is part of a some kind of plan. In the "near" future (who knows how soon because Avid keeps everything close to the chest) I feel a Thunderbolt adapter will be available for the MTRX Studio. I took the liberty of removing the small panel on the back of my unit only to find a slot ready for Thunderbolt. See here. I know there are no guarantees but why even go the route of building this into the MTRX Studio if not for expansion in the future? Again, it being a part of Avid's plan to pull TB Native from the lineup, it makes sense that TB would not be included on the MTRX Studio upon introduction because it would likely cut into sales of the soon to be retired TB Native box. I'd be curious to know when the last run of production happened for those. The sequence of events is consistent with how they operate so none of this is really a surprise. The elephant in the room still has to do with connectivity to the Sync X since the digiserial port is tied to frame edge sync. As you suggest, maybe some kind of updated TB/digilink device not dissimilar to what was just retired would be sufficient. Something that capitalizes on the speed and bandwidth of TB with a low enough latency option for tracking seems within reach. But, we're all asking the right question with "HDX...really? This is our only option?" It is long in the tooth and most aren't really up for forking over that kind of cash for 20 year old tech. My hope is that when/if the expander card for the MTRX Studio is released we'll get some insight to how PT will perform with a direct TB option of their own making and hopefully introduce the next evolution of connectivity along with it. As mentioned, they unlocked the I/O of PT to CoreAudio that was forever beholden to the number of HDX cards you had. With them slowly lifting all the hardware restrictions it feels like the shift towards a new host based connectivity (or DSP evolved) version of PT is forthcoming. The writing is on the wall that HDX will eventually find itself on that EOL list but not until Avid is ready with the "new new". They have to/need to adapt to stay in the game but it will happen on their term$. Which means we're in the dark...until we're not.
__________________
• MacPro (4,1 to 5,1) 12 Core 3.46 GHz // 96GB // AJA Kona LHi // OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad, USB 3.0, eSATA • PT HD|Native 2024.3 on macOS 12.7.4 (OpenCore Patcher 1.4.3 on Crucial SSD) • Avid Dock, iPad 7th gen & EuCon 2023.11 • DADman/Eucon monitoring • BSS (DAN + 100), QSC DCA 1644, JBL 7 Series • MTRX Studio // 7.1.4 www.quesound.com |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
On the Pro Tools facebook group I asked an Avid representative what this means for sync peripherals moving forward. All I got was a somewhat backhanded reply of "HDX + Sync X" followed by something along the lines of "well, if you don't need it, you don't need it" when I queried the sudden increase to $9000 worth of hardware to achieve something simple like edge frame sync.
I would love to think that Avid have a new solution to this on the horizon, but it also wouldn't surprise me if this was just the death rattle of Avid audio interfaces in general. We are already seeing a spate of new USB/TB multichannel interfaces that really lift the bar in feature sets and performance. The AX-64 is pretty darn impressive compared to the MTRX. A lot of people are using Metric Halo stuff which supports surround sound, various expansion card options, room EQ, monitor control, Eucon, etc. Other stuff like the Focusrite Red Pre/Line series has been around for 7 years now, and is next to impossible to find in 2023. If Avid move to TB with the MTRX Studio, then I suspect most of those older digilink-based interface designs floating around will disappear and be replaced with newer and more powerful stuff... Then suddenly, there won't really be much that is unique to the MTRX Studio at all, other than the Avid logo. I just really hope they don't decide to do more with AVB. What a silly choice.
__________________
Pro Tools Ultimate 2024.3. OSX 13.6.5. Win 10. HD Native. Lynx AES16e. Lynx Aurora 16. i9-13900KF. ASRock Z690 Steel Legend. 64GB Ram. AMD Vega 64. BM Decklink. Dolby Atmos Renderer 5.2. Trinnov D-Mon. D-Command. |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
Quote:
I love the nature of DAD's architecture and feel they were a great partner for offering a new interface(s). Being an HD Native user it was logical for me but to stick with digilink and jumped on the MTRX Studio as soon as it was announced. It checked almost every box I needed in a new interface so I know they're capable of doing it right (sometimes). I feel like it was a byproduct of feedback from a lot of users who were looking for an all inclusive Atmos solution that could handle 9.1.6. They actually got it right (minus the TB connectivity)...and AES but, whatever. It's 1RU with tons of flexibility, sounds great and it has been rock solid so far. No complaints. So, we know they're capable of something right. I hope, for all of us, that the next move is on that same path. Quote:
+1 on this too. I prefer Audinate's integration and design over the limited experiences I've had working with AVB. Though the Apple Silicon challenges are a little unsettling.
__________________
• MacPro (4,1 to 5,1) 12 Core 3.46 GHz // 96GB // AJA Kona LHi // OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad, USB 3.0, eSATA • PT HD|Native 2024.3 on macOS 12.7.4 (OpenCore Patcher 1.4.3 on Crucial SSD) • Avid Dock, iPad 7th gen & EuCon 2023.11 • DADman/Eucon monitoring • BSS (DAN + 100), QSC DCA 1644, JBL 7 Series • MTRX Studio // 7.1.4 www.quesound.com |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Unless the business relationship has soured in some way my guess is there will be a new AX64-based MTRX.. the previous one was based on the AX32 platform of course.
|
#10
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I have no need anymore for a next gen HDX-like system (unless it's something revolutionary), but now they are pushing me away from their interfaces as well, which have always been top notch. Quote:
![]() Also, before Covid all our studio's were fully booked. Now half of them have been empty for years. Most of our (freelance) crew is working from home these days, parttime or even fulltime. None of them is buying Avid interfaces or hardware other than the s1. This can't be good in the long term. I really want to drink the kool-aid but it's hard ![]() |
![]() |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Protools 11 requires network card disabled | electroteque303 | Pro Tools 11 | 6 | 04-19-2022 01:17 PM |
Protools 2018 Still Requires Quicktime for Movies? | Piano Pete | Pro Tools 2018 | 7 | 09-18-2018 10:48 PM |
Sample Tank 3 requires re-authorization in Protools 11/ HELP | soundartsonline | Pro Tools 11 | 10 | 11-17-2016 06:04 PM |
Multichannel midi recording in ProTools 11 | vinap1 | Virtual Instruments | 2 | 03-11-2015 09:36 PM |
Multichannel export from ProTools | sburgess | Pro Tools TDM Systems (Mac) | 1 | 07-20-2000 12:10 AM |