Well! A bunch of new product releases announced today! Pro Tools HD version 8.1, a free update for 8.x HD system owners!
Now, you may think, 8.1 is a point release, probably some bug fixes and support for the NEW INTERFACES ( back to those in a tic) but in actuality, 8.1 sees the release of a massive, amazing, brilliant new feature set that will save serious mixers potentially hours and hours of their life. No, its not HEAT, the new tube/analogue warmth buss flavour feature….it’s the I/O setup.
Yes, the I/O setup! New in 8.1, the I/O setup has been totally overhauled to make moving sessions between rooms a much, much easier process! Avid audio listened to the gripes about moving large projects between rooms, endlessly moving those little squares around to just get audio out your speakers. Taken from the I/O Setup primer:
“In Pro Tools 8.1, changes to the I/O Setup have
been made in order to solve session interchange
issues (such as maintaining studio settings on
different Pro Tools systems) and to provide better
overall workflows for session interchange. In
lower versions of Pro Tools, I/O settings are recalled
from the Pro Tools session document, so
studio settings corresponding to your hardware
could potentially change each time a session is
opened. This can result in a temporary loss of
monitor paths. In Pro Tools 8.1, I/O settings can
be recalled from the system. This means that
your studio settings can be maintained when
opening sessions created on other Pro Tools systems”
So, THAT is cool! Cant wait to play with it and put it through its paces.
Secondly, the new interfaces! It’s been over 7 years since Avid nee Digidesign released the 192io and 96io series of HD interfaces. Since then, manufacturing has gotten cheaper, specs on AD/DAs have improves and low jitter clocks have become much more affordable, time for Avid to up the competitiveness with some new hardware. AND they got Butch Vig to talk up the sound of them!
The pick of the bunch definately looks to be the OMNI…preamps, monitoring, some analogue and a bunch of digital ins and outs…a bit of everything for everyone in small 1RU box. Retailing in Australia for around $3600, cant wait to hear what this box sounds like.
Another important and long overdue addition to the IO choices is the new MADI interface. I’m guessing that with 64io to arrange in your I/O setup this box was a bit part of the reason to overhaul the way ProTools addresses output paths versus internal bussing.
Given Avid just acquired Euphonix I wonder if they looked over the Euphonix AD/DA specs before release? Only good can come from that pedigree. Another interesting question will be how these interfaces fair against the main rival that was announced a few weeks back, the updated Apogee Symphony IO. I’m sure info will come to light soon, hopefully some of it will be objective!
Lastly, HEAT…Harmonically Enhanced Algorithm Technology. Niiiiiiice acronym usage! So basically, a button at the top of your channel strips to turn it on or off and a global “character” setting for drive and tone across your mix buss. Very cool idea. A 30 day demo download is available and I’m very keen to try it out in the coming weeks.
We’ll also be running 8.1 and HEAT at the Integrate trade show in Sydney next week at AT World is anyone is stopping by. I’ll be running two masterclasses on behalf of UTS:ProSchool and plans were hatched today to present a mixing automation seminar at AT World as well. Hope you can make it!






































