HDX vs HD Nativeīoth HDX and HD Native are hardware based systems that include a PCIe card or in the case of HD Native, a Thunderbolt option.
Click here for a full and comprehensive list of the features available in Pro Tools and Pro Tools HD. There are far too many added benefits that Pro Tools HD offers to list here but hopefully the above has simplified things a little. It may sound surprising but Pro Tools (non-HD) only allows users to mix in stereo, if you want to expand this to work with multi-channel mixes all the way up to 7.1 then you will need Pro Tools HD. If you plan to run sessions with large track counts then you really should be considering Pro Tools HD. Pro Tools HD offers a maximum number of simultaneous audio tracks 48/96/192kHz respectively – 256/128/64 per HDX Card or HD Native card, compared to 128/64/32 in Pro Tools. The second major benefit of Pro Tools HD is the increased track-count. As Thunderbolt 3 continues to roll out this should decrease further still. The introduction of Thunderbolt interfaces has also contributed in lower round-trip latency. It should also be said that as today’s computers continue to have more power and speed, latency becomes less of an issue. So if you’re working with sound to picture for example, then Pro Tools HD is almost a must in our opinion. Pro Tools HD with a HDX card offers almost zero latency when paired with Avid’s HD I/O interfaces.
Talk to any professional working in the audio industry and they will tell you how latency issues can drastically affect your workflow. This can be both at the production stage (playing a note on a guitar) or the mix stage. Latency, put simply is the time it takes for a signal to be processed and monitored back through your studio monitors or headphones. Traditionally there have been two main benefits of using Pro Tools HD with a HDX card – almost zero latency and higher track count.
Users of Pro Tools 9, 10 or 11 can upgrade to the latest version by purchasing – Avid Annual Upgrade Plan Reinstatement for Pro Tools Do I need Pro Tools HD?Īnother question we often get asked, is whether customers need the full HD version of Pro Tools. Users who have an existing Upgrade and Support Plan for Pro Tools can renew for a further 12-months by purchasing – Avid Annual Upgrade Plan Renewal for Pro Tools I have Pro Tools 11 or earlier and want to upgrade to the latest version For this upgrade path you must own a Pro Tools 11 or higher perpetual license, which you will surrender in exchange for a copy of Pro Tools HD as well as a 12-month Upgrade and Support Plan which includes bonus plug-ins – Avid Pro Tools to Pro Tools HD Upgrade – I have Pro Tools 12 with an active Upgrade and Support plan that is soon to expire
I have Pro Tools (non-HD) but want to upgrade to Pro Tools HD to get the added benefits of HDĬurrent users of Pro Tools (non-HD) can now upgrade to Avid’s flagship DAW software – Pro Tools HD. Users of Pro Tools HD9, HD10 or HD11 as well as users with Pro Tools 9 or 10 with the Complete Production Toolkit can upgrade to the latest version by purchasing – Avid Pro Tools HD Annual Upgrade and Support Plan Reinstatement – this entitles you to 12-months worth of Upgrades and Support with Avid as well as bonus plug-ins.
I have a Pro Tools HD 11 or earlier and want to upgrade to the latest version I have Pro Tools HD 12 with an active Upgrade and Support Plan that is soon to expireįor users who have previously purchased a new system that included Avid’s Upgrade and Support Plan or have purchased an Upgrade and Support Plan last year and it’s soon to expire you will need – Avid Pro Tools HD Annual Upgrade and Support Plan Renewal – this entitles you to 12-months worth of Upgrades and Support with Avid as well as bonus plug-ins. In this guide we will try to simplify things and outline the relevant options available to you for your system. What Pro Tools activation code do I need?Ĭonfused about the myriad upgrade options relating to Pro Tools? Fear not, you are not alone – we get a lot of calls here at ESV regarding the best upgrade options.