Pro Tools 10 HD Native (PCIe Card) vs Lynx AES 16e

[Babe Records]

Originally Posted by mirrorboy

Hey man,

I use a 7-slot PCIe 2.0 to PCIe 2.0 expansion chassis.

Which brand/model, please?
Also PM'ed you with a couple questions... Thanks!

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by amost

Re: PT and a Lynx piece of gear

Just for the sake of...ya know I know you're a big proponent of the "one company" system and it does make sense but...Lynx has it together as far as tech support. They will actually answer the phone or return your call even if you've bought a piece used and without paying for some type of service plan.

I'm sure they do.

However, if there's a problem with the HD card and their interface (and the Lynx doesn't work with some variants of HD card, and there have been reported issues with HD Native and HDX as well), Avid won't help you (and why should they?).

I don't have anything against lynx, but if you buy an interface from them, make sure you can return it if it doesn't work properly. Of course, buying 2nd hand, you can probably sell on for your purchase price.

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by Babe Records

Which brand/model, please?
Also PM'ed you with a couple questions... Thanks!

Hey sorry for the delay-

It's a Magma clone (literally identical- but 50% of the price) made by a user here on GS. I believe his user name and company are called Cryptic Globe.

Thx.

Scott

[amost]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

I'm sure they do.

However, if there's a problem with the HD card and their interface (and the Lynx doesn't work with some variants of HD card, and there have been reported issues with HD Native and HDX as well), Avid won't help you (and why should they?).

Well, that could be...all I know is the Aurora 8 & 16 have worked with my HD2 PCIe rig really well and the few times I've had some operator error type issues...they've sorted them out quickly via a phone call.

I'm thinkin' Avid would probably not hate life if the Auroras didn't work with Native & HDX. I'm a fan of their software though, their policies...not so much but such is life.

[Mike O]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

I'm sure they do.

However, if there's a problem with the HD card and their interface (and the Lynx doesn't work with some variants of HD card, and there have been reported issues with HD Native and HDX as well), Avid won't help you (and why should they?).

I don't have anything against lynx, but if you buy an interface from them, make sure you can return it if it doesn't work properly. Of course, buying 2nd hand, you can probably sell on for your purchase price.

Could you be specific? Which variants? Like you, I believe the "all Avid" approach gives you one place to problem solve and it likely more "change proof" with regard to PT11 etc.

I've personally not seen any un-resolved issues with Lynx in combo HD Native or HDX or for that matter "variants of HD card". I quite possibly have missed those issues and would appreciate you pointing them out. Lynx seems to be at least as responsive and Avid.

Thanks!

[mirrorboy]

Originally Posted by Mike O

Could you be specific? Which variants? Like you, I believe the "all Avid" approach gives you one place to problem solve and it likely more "change proof" with regard to PT11 etc.

I've personally not seen any un-resolved issues with Lynx in combo HD Native or HDX or for that matter "variants of HD card". I quite possibly have missed those issues and would appreciate you pointing them out. Lynx seems to be at least as responsive and Avid.

Thanks!

I'm curious about this, too. I remember reading about this...but never knew what came of it.

I've been running a Mac Pro 12 Core w HD Native 10.2 on OS X 10.6.8 w. an Aurora 16. Works flawlessly.

Actually, just upgraded the OS to Lion and I cant believe how painless it was. I literally didn't have to re-install, uninstall anything. Everything just works great! And I have a TON of plugs!!!

Cheers,

Scott

[amost]

Originally Posted by mirrorboy

I'm curious about this, too. I remember reading about this...but never knew what came of it.

Here's one for ya.
I'll save the suspense & tell tell ya how it ends...it was the Native Card, not the Aurora.

HD Native and Aurora problem
HD Native and Aurora problem

[Mike O]

Originally Posted by amost

Here's one for ya.
I'll save the suspense & tell tell ya how it ends...it was the Native Card, not the Aurora.

HD Native and Aurora problem
HD Native and Aurora problem

Not representative of what psyco_monkey said at all. In the example you link to, one of the the problems reproted was resolved by updating the HDN firmware. Please read psyco_monkeys statement again. He clearly impies there are unresolved issues with Lynx. And there may be but I don't see any.

As far as "problems" go over to the DUC and check all the problems people have who a "Avid only". BTW - I'm not suggesting that "all Avid" might not hold some benifits or that there are not unresolved problems with the Lynx. I've just not seen them, that's all and would like to have them pointed out if possible so I can attempt to avoid whatever issues there are.

[amost]

Originally Posted by Mike O

Not representative of what psyco_monkey said at all. In the example you link to, one of the the problems reproted was resolved by updating the HDN firmware. Please read psyco_monkeys statement again. He clearly impies there are unresolved issues with Lynx. And there may be but I don't see any.

As far as "problems" go over to the DUC and check all the problems people have who a "Avid only". BTW - I'm not suggesting that "all Avid" might not hold some benifits or that there are not unresolved problems with the Lynx. I've just not seen them, that's all and would like to have them pointed out if possible so I can attempt to avoid whatever issues there are.

Seriously, you don't think so? This was an issue that was posted on here. Turned out it was a non issue with the Aurora though...but for a few days, it was an issue with the Aurora. No? I'd like to see the issues also. I do get that if there is a problem and you're not using an AVID Interface, they won't care about resolving it for you - they ain't gonna try to fix it for ya. I get all that & that's fine. What's the issue is what I'm asking. All i could find is this one...which was a non-issue.

[oceantracks]

Sometimes you get lucky.

HD Native is not recommended on the Mac Pro 2008 model I have (lots of people with problems) and it is working without a hitch for me

Welcome to computers and software.

Crossing my fingers.

TH

[Mike O]

Originally Posted by amost

Seriously, you don't think so? This was an issue that was posted on here. Turned out it was a non issue with the Aurora though...but for a few days, it was an issue with the Aurora. No? I'd like to see the issues also. I do get that if there is a problem and you're not using an AVID Interface, they won't care about resolving it for you - they ain't gonna try to fix it for ya. I get all that & that's fine. What's the issue is what I'm asking. All i could find is this one...which was a non-issue.

I think we agree but I'm confused. While the user was indeed using an Aurora, the problem was not the Aurora. And BTW, I've had great tech support from both Avid (HDN firmware not updating) and Lynx (using advanced routing mode). Both were aware that I was using an Aurora and were very helpful and did not attempt to blame the other. That can and probably will happen in some situations though.

[psycho_monkey]

One of the studios I worked at had issues with a certain revision of hd card, lynx and pt9 at higher sample rates. This was not an avid issue, but a lynx compatibility issue.

There are other reports of hd native not working with lynx - and that's common enough to make me want to avoid that combination.

[Mike O]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

One of the studios I worked at had issues with a certain revision of hd card, lynx and pt9 at higher sample rates. This was not an avid issue, but a lynx compatibility issue.

There are other reports of hd native not working with lynx - and that's common enough to make me want to avoid that combination.

I've enjoyed reading many of your posts, agree with you much of the time, and have no reason to doubt you and the studio you were at had some sort of issue. I do have to wonder however what your reaction would be if someone posted, "I've heard that some users have trouble with PT9 and the Omni with certain revisions of the HD card".

Wouldn't you then be asking/observing:

1) There have been several releases since PT9. Most of those revisions fixed something for "all Avid" customers. Surely this doesn't this mean I shouldn't use or have chosen Avid?

2) Specifically with what revisions of HD card and what sample rate did you have problems with?

3) Specifically what other "reports of hd native not working with lynx" have you heard?

I DO appreciate that "all Avid" is the way to go for many people. But users really do deserve to make their decisions on specific fact, not hearsay or vague descriptions of problems that "have been reported". Otherwise it begins to sound a lot more like politics.

And again, I'm not saying there are not problems, only that a specific problem has yet to be documented here. Perhaps you can provide further help with that.

Thanks for your time!

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Mike O

I've enjoyed reading many of your posts, agree with you much of the time, and have no reason to doubt you and the studio you were at had some sort of issue. I do have to wonder however what your reaction would be if someone posted, "I've heard that some users have trouble with PT9 and the Omni with certain revisions of the HD card".

Wouldn't you then be asking/observing:

1) There have been several releases since PT9. Most of those revisions fixed something for "all Avid" customers. Surely this doesn't this mean I shouldn't use or have chosen Avid?

2) Specifically with what revisions of HD card and what sample rate did you have problems with?

3) Specifically what other "reports of hd native not working with lynx" have you heard?

I DO appreciate that "all Avid" is the way to go for many people. But users really do deserve to make their decisions on specific fact, not hearsay or vague descriptions of problems that "have been reported". Otherwise it begins to sound a lot more like politics.

And again, I'm not saying there are not problems, only that a specific problem has yet to be documented here. Perhaps you can provide further help with that.

Thanks for your time!

My reaction? I dunno, I've not heard that. I guess I'd expect avid to resolve it in a cs update, even though it's not the current product. I'd imagine it would have been caught when 9 was the current product though, so it's kind of a weird question.

1 - I'm not aware of any pt revisions that plain "didn't work" for any avid users.

2 - I don't know I'm afraid. Wasn't my system and I've forgotten the system details - the problem was at sample rates above 96k, and an older revision of the hd cards. As the owner of the rig had some sway with avid, they exchanged the hd cards for a newer revision and all was well.

3 - there have been reports here, on the avid and lynx forums, and I've even seen mr kittonian, the biggest lynx fan ever and dealer for them, advise against it. It's not just vague commenting, and to be honest I'm not even giving it as concrete advice. I've just said that I personally wouldn't advise it. I don't want it on my reputation that I'm recommending an option that I've not got 100% confidence will work. As ever, this is my personal opinion, professional advice, and is worth what you paid for it

In a professional paid tech support situation, I'd install the gear I think would give minimal hassle, all things being equal. That's the same advice I give here, it's not political at all, even if it at times might appear so.