Avid today introduced Pro Tools | Carbon, a new audio interface that they say is designed to combine the power of the your computer’s native CPU with the performance of HDX DSP acceleration.

“Pro Tools | Carbon is a complete project studio solution that has immense capability. without the complexities that bog down music creators,” says Dana Ruzicka, General Manager of Audio at Avid. “It has onboard HDX DSP, which lets you record through effects in real-time, virtually eliminating latency, along with some of the highest quality I/O we’ve ever delivered to record a whole band and dial in individual low latency cue mixes for each player.”

The Pro Tools Hybrid Engine lets you access on-demand, low latency channels to record through AAX DSP plug-ins in real time—with sub-1 ms latency monitoring performance. With the ability to easily toggle a single DSP Mode button per track in Pro Tools, users have the flexibility to simplify their workflow for recording and mixing, so they can focus on the music they’re making—not what they’re making it with.

AAX DSP delivers the same sound quality in both native and HDX DSP Acceleration domains, enabling users to toggle in and out of DSP Mode while maintaining sound quality. This also lets you disconnect Pro Tools | Carbon and and take advantage of laptop mobility.

Specifications:

INPUTS

Combo Mic/Line Inputs

8 balanced XLR/TRS with Variable Z (impedance) on inputs 5–8

DB25 Line Inputs

8 balanced via 25-pin D-sub

Instrument (Variable Z) Inputs

2 unbalanced ¼-inch TS

Digital Inputs

ADAT: 16 channels @ 44.1–48 kHz
ADAT: 8 channels @ 88.2–96 kHz
ADAT: 4 channels @ 176.4–192 kHz

A/D CONVERSION

Mic Preamps

Dynamic Range: 126 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: -105 dB (0.00056%)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.1 dB
EIN: -129 dB (A-weighted)

Line Inputs

Dynamic Range: 125 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: -106 dB (0.0005%)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.1 dB

Line Inputs (True Bypass)

Dynamic Range: 126 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: -113 dB (0.00022%)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.1 dB

Instrument Inputs

Dynamic Range: 125 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: -103 dB (0.0007%)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.1 dB

OUTPUTS

DB25 Line Outputs

8 balanced via 25-pin D-sub

Monitor Outputs

2 balanced ¼-inch TRS

Headphone Outputs

4 stereo ¼-inch TRS

Digital Outputs

ADAT: 16 channels @ 44.1–48 kHz
ADAT: 8 channels @ 88.2–96 kHz
ADAT: 4 channels @ 176.4–192 kHz

D/A CONVERSION

Line Outputs

Dynamic Range: 120 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: -110 dB (0.0003%)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.1 dB

Monitor Outputs

Dynamic Range: 120 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N: -110 dB (0.0003%)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.1 dB

Headphone Outputs

Power: 100 mW into 300 ohm; 200 mW into 32 ohm
Dynamic Range: 116 dB (A-weighted)
THD+N (32 ohm): -87 dB (0.0045%)
THD+N (300 ohm): -100 dB (0.001%)
Frequency Response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.1 dB

DSP ACCELERATION

HDX DSP

8 HDX DSP processors
(2.8 GHz aggregated processing)

Pricing and Availability

Pro Tools | Carbon is available now, starting at $3,999 USD, which includes a one-year Pro Tools subscription.