Digidesign Pro Tools|HD Core Systems Will Soon Be Available in Two Versions — PCI and PCI Express
Digidesign will soon be offering two versions of its award-winning, professional Pro Tools|HD® digital audio production systems. By continuing to provide the existing PCI version and releasing a PCI Express (PCIe) version, Digidesign is ensuring continued compatibility of its Pro Tools|HD systems with a wide range of PCI, PCI-X, and PCIe-equipped computers. Existing Pro Tools|HD core systems are designed to work in PCI and PCI-X slots only and are not compatible with PCIe technology.
Digidesign is now concluding its qualification process of the PCIe systems with the new range of Apple Power Mac G5 computers. Windows–based computers equipped with multiple PCIe expansion slots are not yet commonly available. Digidesign is planning to test and qualify its PCIe systems with Windows–based computers once machines with at least three usable PCIe slots as standard are introduced to the market.
Since the new Power Mac G5 computers have only three usable PCIe expansion slots (and because those computers will be the only ones qualified at the launch of the PCIe Pro Tools|HD systems), initial Digidesign support for PCIe-based Pro Tools|HD® systems will be limited to a maximum configuration of three cards. If you plan to use the new PCIe-based Power Mac G5 computers and want to build an expanded configuration (beyond three cards), you will need to use the PCI version of our Pro Tools|HD cards in conjunction with an expansion chassis.
To accommodate the installation of expanded Pro Tools|HD configurations on a wide range of PCI, PCI-X, and PCIe-equipped computers, Digidesign will also introduce the Digidesign Expansion|HD chassis, a brand-new six-slot PCI expansion chassis that connects to the host Windows or Mac computer using either a PCI/PCI-X or PCIe expansion slot.
Available Soon
PCIe-compatible Pro Tools|HD core systems are scheduled to ship before the end of this year and will be sold at the same price as their existing PCI counterparts. Digidesign will offer a cross-grade program for PCI users who wish to switch to a PCIe solution. Full details and pricing of this offer will be communicated soon.
The Digidesign Expansion|HD six-slot PCI expansion chassis is also expected to ship before the end of the year. Full details on the specifications and pricing for this product will be announced soon.
Q&A
Q: Will the current PCI HD Accel cards still be available? Is Digidesign planning to replace the current PCI cards used in Pro Tools|HD systems with the PCIe versions?
A: PCI and PCIe are both current technologies, and Digidesign will keep manufacturing, selling, and supporting both versions of Pro Tools|HD systems and the optional HD Accel cards for the foreseeable future.
Q: Will the price of the PCIe-compatible Pro Tools|HD core systems be higher than the current PCI versions?
A: No. Pricing of both versions of the Pro Tools|HD 1, Pro Tools|HD 2 Accel, and Pro Tools|HD 3 Accel systems, and optional HD Accel cards, will be identical.
Q: Which version of Pro Tools HD software will be required for use with the PCIe systems?
A: Pro Tools HD software version 7.1 will be required for the PCIe systems. As with Pro Tools 7.0 software, users of PCIe systems wishing to exchange sessions with users of Pro Tools 6.9 or earlier software will need to perform a simple “Save Session Copy” operation.
Q: Will PCIe systems be available only for Mac computers? What about Windows-based PCIe solutions?
A: At launch, the PCIe-compatible Pro Tools|HD core systems will be qualified only for use with Power Mac G5 computers. As Windows-based computers equipped with at least three usable PCIe expansion slots as standard become available, Digidesign will test and qualify Windows-based PCIe solutions.
Q: Will Digidesign offer a hardware exchange program from the existing PCI-compatible Pro Tools|HD core systems (Pro Tools|HD 1, Pro Tools|HD 2 Accel, and Pro Tools|HD 3 Accel) to the PCIe versions?
A: Yes. Digidesign will be offering a cross-grade program for PCI users who wish to switch to a PCIe solution. Full details and pricing of this offer will be communicated soon.
Q: Will Digidesign offer a hardware exchange program from legacy Pro Tools TDM systems, as well as legacy and current Pro Tools LE systems, to the PCIe versions of the Pro Tools|HD 1, Pro Tools|HD 2 Accel, and Pro Tools|HD 3 Accel core systems?
A: Yes. When making your hardware exchange purchase, you will be able to choose either PCI or PCIe for the same price.
Q: Will I be able to install my Pro Tools|HD system for PCI in a PCIe-to-PCI expansion chassis offered by a third-party manufacturer?
A: Digidesign is manufacturing its own PCI-to-PCI and PCIe-to-PCI expansion solution—the new Digidesign Expansion|HD six-slot PCI expansion chassis. Due to testing overhead, Digidesign currently does not plan to test or qualify other chassis offered by third-party manufacturers.
Q: Does the new Digidesign Expansion|HD chassis come with both a PCI and a PCIe host card?
A: The host card for the Digidesign Expansion|HD chassis will be sold as a separate product so that you can choose the format you need (PCI or PCIe). You can also purchase both, if necessary.
Q: Can I build an expanded PCIe Pro Tools|HD system (more than three cards)?
A: At this time, it is not possible to build a PCIe Pro Tools|HD system beyond a three-card configuration. Currently, there are no computers that have more than three usable PCIe expansion slots, and there are no PCIe-to-PCIe expansion chassis available on the market today.