Digidesign Announces HD Accel PCI DSP CardIncreased DSP Power, Higher Voice Count, & Support for Powerful HD Accel-compatible TDM Plug-ins
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September 13, 2003Digidesign has announced the HD Accel, a new PCI card for Pro Tools|HD systems which delivers nearly twice the DSP power of first-generation Pro Tools|HD cards; Pro Tools 6.2 TDM software now included with all Pro Tools|HD systems to support the Pro Tools|HD Accel cards; and the latest HDpack plug-in bundles providing hundreds to thousands of dollars worth of premier professional plug-ins for free. The products are planned to ship on September 15, 2003.
Pro Tools|HD Accel
While the HD Core card remains unchanged from original Pro Tools|HD systems, the HD Accel card replaces the previous generation HD Process cards, and may be added to any Pro Tools|HD system to supercharge its processing power and provide access to new, HD Accel-optimized plug-ins and features. Pro Tools|HD 2 Accel and HD 3 Accel systems feature the HD Core card and one or two HD Accel cards, respectively. The HD Accel card offers nearly double the processing muscle of HD Process cards, nearly four times that of MIX Farm cards, and exclusively supports next-generation professional plug-ins, including Digidesign's new Impact mix bus compressor TDM plug-in.
The use of HD Accel cards result in fifty percent higher voice counts across all sample rates (44.1 -- 192 kHz). Users will see substantially increased DSP power and plug-in support, and the capacity to support future DSP-intensive plug-ins and features that would otherwise cripple a host-only system. Additionally, Pro Tools|HD Accel seamlessly integrates with the entire line of Pro Tools|HD audio interfaces and peripherals, so all previous Digidesign hardware investments remain entirely viable.
Because Pro Tools|HD Accel systems utilize the HD Core card, existing HD-compatible plug-ins are fully supported. HD Accel-enhanced systems continue to support TDM, HTDM, RTAS and AudioSuite plug-in formats, allowing users to exploit HD Accel's potent, dedicated DSP and the native resources of the host computer for further processing options.
Pro Tools TDM 6.2 Software
Pro Tools TDM 6.2 software, which now ships with all Pro Tools|HD systems, is the first release to support the new HD Accel cards. Pro Tools TDM 6.2 software's interface combines the impressive 6.1 feature set with support for the new 96i I/O audio interface, (the HD-only, 96 kHz-capable 16-input/2 output audio interface), and import and export support for Microsoft's popular media format, Windows Media Audio 9, for use in both production and delivery.
Pro Tools TDM 6.2 software offers full cross-platform session compatibility with systems running Pro Tools TDM/LE 5.1 software or higher and supports all older Pro Tools sessions.
Plug-ins Galore
Along with the included standard DigiRack plug-in bundle, Pro Tools|HD Accel systems include the latest HDpack plug-in bundle, providing hundreds to thousands of dollars worth of premier professional plug-ins for free. At the very top of the savings list, Pro Tools|HD 3 Accel systems include over $6,600 US in free TDM plug-ins including Access Virus Indigo, Focusrite d2/d3, Line 6 Amp Farm, Sony Oxford EQ, Wave Mechanics Speed, and Digidesign's new Impact plug-in, Maxim, D-Fi, Bruno/Reso, Sound Replacer and Reverb One -- making this core system the biggest bang for the buck. Visit www.digidesign.com for full information on the latest HDpack plug-in bundles.
Pro Tools|HD to Pro Tools|HD Accel Exchanges
For a limited time, Digidesign is offering a special exchange program from Pro Tools|HD to Pro Tools|HD Accel hardware. This special exchange program ends December 20, 2003. Check Digidesign's Web site for more details.
Pricing
MSRP for Pro Tools|HD 2 Accel (HD Core + one HD Accel Process card) is $10,995 US and Pro Tools|HD 3 Accel (HD Core + two HD Accel Process cards) is $13,995 US. Both systems come with Pro Tools TDM 6.2 software, either the HDpack 2 v.5.0 or Hdpack 3 v.5.0 plug-in bundle in addition to other free, valuable software.
For more information, visit their web site at www.digidesign.com. | 
