I challenge you to prove that HDX sounds better than TDM!

Zep Dude · 16th January 2012

I'm sure this is going to be as popular as Digital Vs Analog debates so perhaps we can just hear a mix printed in each and quickly lay it to rest.

If there's anyone in the NY/Brooklyn area that wants to exchange Pro Tools sessions I would like to propose a test mix to settle this sound quality question:

I will supply a mix which follows Paul Frindle's recommendations for levels (nothing peaking above -6db), primarily acoustic instruments, with printed external verbs/fx and plugins that are compatible between our systems. You open the session, print it as is and we see if they phase cancel.

I feel the sound quality claim is more about marketing. 1 + 1 already equals 2 on TDM so how much more correct than "2" can HDX be?

Anyone game?

VT rich · 16th January 2012

I have actually wanted to do this exact test since I first heard of HDX and their claims... unfortunately 90% of the plugins I use are from waves and since waves aren't available in the the new AAX DSP i'm holding off on upgrading.

T_R_S · 16th January 2012

HDX does sound better.
I am using all my old Waves plug-ins just fine with HDX.
RTAS plug-ins come up as Native in HDX.
I'll load your session up for you PM me for my rates as we are pretty booked up right now.

psycho_monkey · 16th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_R_S

HDX does sound better.
I am using all my old Waves plug-ins just fine with HDX.
RTAS plug-ins come up as Native in HDX.
I'll load your session up for you PM me for my rates as we are pretty booked up right now.

Ummmm....not in the spirit of things?

Incidentally you owe me 50p for reading your post

dimag333 · 16th January 2012

had enough time to post though

LeMauce · 16th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Ummmm....not in the spirit of things?

Incidentally you owe me 50p for reading your post

Epic...

T_R_S · 16th January 2012

That's what's great about being the boss - these guys do the grunt work and I get the glory....

zimv20 · 16th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_R_S

That's what's great about being the boss - these guys do the grunt work and I get the glory....

one guy doesn't get a wheeled chair? the horror!

passmore · 16th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zep Dude

I'm sure this is going to be as popular as Digital Vs Analog debates so perhaps we can just hear a mix printed in each and quickly lay it to rest.

If there's anyone in the NY/Brooklyn area that wants to exchange Pro Tools sessions I would like to propose a test mix to settle this sound quality question:

I will supply a mix which follows Paul Frindle's recommendations for levels (nothing peaking above -6db), primarily acoustic instruments, with printed external verbs/fx and plugins that are compatible between our systems. You open the session, print it as is and we see if they phase cancel.

I feel the sound quality claim is more about marketing. 1 + 1 already equals 2 on TDM so how much more correct than "2" can HDX be?

Anyone game?

Rent a system, go to studio with a system.
You have to hear it to believe it.
I ordered my 3rd system today.
All of our TDM rigs are going. ( I'll keep one HD3 as spare to open old sessions)

parkay909 · 16th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_R_S

That's what's great about being the boss - these guys do the grunt work and I get the glory....

He is not wearing a Star Trek shirt...

Ru_C · 17th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimv20

one guy doesn't get a wheeled chair? the horror!

lol...all the cash went on the HDX upgrade..

Andy_R · 17th January 2012

I'm game. Upload the session and PM me the link.

Zep Dude · 17th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_R

I'm game. Upload the session and PM me the link.

Hey Andy, sounds good. What plugins do you currently have as HDX? I'll try to modify a mix to work with what you have (assuming we have some things in common).

Also, just to confirm, you have the full PT10 with HDX card?

Converters don't matter as this will be all ITB.

VT rich · 17th January 2012

Alright cool... hey can you guys do screen grabs of the DSP usage as well

Andy_R · 17th January 2012

Yep, 10.1, HDX. Keep it simple, Waves Platinum? Screen grabs are no problem.

jmarkham · 17th January 2012

There have been other DAWs that have had these same 64bit pipelines for a long time
(Sonar, Reaper, Cubase). If it was bits .. you'd see a lot more of these systems churning
out multi-platinum records. But they haven't .. why is that? Maybe it's the Wizard, not the wand? Maybe it's all the things outside the computer that matter?

hmmmm.

Camera · 17th January 2012

Yes, the people that say HDX sounds better are all correct. The only way you can get any music to sound good is to have the very best equipment.

PERIOD!!

Zep Dude · 17th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_R

Yep, 10.1, HDX. Keep it simple, Waves Platinum? Screen grabs are no problem.

Waves Platinum is fine, but are they HDX yet?

Sonnox EQ?

Andy_R · 17th January 2012

Oops, sorry, right, needs to be AAX.

I guess we have to stick with the stock digi eq/dynamics/reverbs stuff then.

No Pultec, Reel Tape, Impact, Revibe or Smack, but I do have Reverb One.

dubrichie · 17th January 2012

Can you not use all or most of your existing RTAS plugins in HD10 running on HDX?

I thought you could, but perhaps I am wrong.

Neil Pickles · 17th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubrichie

Can you not use all or most of your existing RTAS plugins in HD10 running on HDX?

I thought you could, but perhaps I am wrong.

You can use RTAS, AAX Native or AAX DSP on HDX PT10

Andy_R · 17th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubrichie

Can you not use all or most of your existing RTAS plugins in HD10 running on HDX?

I thought you could, but perhaps I am wrong.

I'm glad it's not just me... lol, that's what I thought, at first. But I believe the comparison is between a TDM mix and an AAX-DSP mix, no RTAS. I can't imagine there would be any difference between the DSP mixes... but I'm no expert.

To me, the advantage comes from the system in it's totality, the HDX card and the new HD interfaces. Again, I'm no expert, but to my ears, my sessions on HDX/Omni and blue 192/HD3 aren't even remotely comparable.

I remember, after using the blue 192/HD3 for a while, feeling that it still kinda sucked... I felt like such an idiot for selling my Amek console.

But the HDX/Omni system is doing the trick for me. I've really, really been enjoying making music on it.

Andy_R · 17th January 2012

@Zep Dude - I do have HEAT, as well.

cut · 17th January 2012

I know some of you have probably seen my posts in the HDX Happy thread, to be clear I went from PT9 on HD3 to PT 10.1 on HDX, so form 24 bit to 32 bit, the difference was incredible. I did NOT take the intermediate step of 10.0 on TDM. Perhaps there is no difference going from that to HDX. My experience was marked and shocking.

cut · 17th January 2012

I look forward to hearing the results of this 'shoot out'. I have to ask though, don't you guys have clients to work for?!?!?

Doc Mixwell · 17th January 2012

I heard the difference right away, Zep, you gotta try it out,

SureSound · 17th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimv20

one guy doesn't get a wheeled chair? the horror!

ok so you paid out the ass to upgrade to HDx but forgot to get the 2nd engineer a chair?

SureSound · 18th January 2012

I'm skeptical of HDx sounding "better"

there are benifits to upgrading, I'm in no rush to upgrade, its almost like avid has become like apple

oh you have to get the next 4.99G iphone! oh wow now the 5.0G iphone clear is out which will help keep you updated to when the next version comes out, awesome!

DimaK415 · 18th January 2012

Actually, Avid hasn't rolled anything new out since TDM (Mix and Farm days). We have been stuck on 10 year old tech up until now. And they switched the PCI formats of the cards only to keep up with what Apple was doing. I have heard HDx, and I have seen it in action. Coupled with PT10, it is AWESOME.

In regard to changing the bit depth of the summing and mix engine, I am more impressed with the "floating point" aspect. The quieter elements of your mix should be noticably clearer. Plugins moving to 64 bit is pretty sweet as well. All good things. All things Avid users have been asking for for a while, and things simply impossible with their current hardware (legacy blue face and TDM).

Lipps · 18th January 2012

TDM guys are still protecting the shield?

16th January 2012	#1
Zep Dude Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,051 Thread Starter	I challenge you to prove that HDX sounds better than TDM! I'm sure this is going to be as popular as Digital Vs Analog debates so perhaps we can just hear a mix printed in each and quickly lay it to rest. If there's anyone in the NY/Brooklyn area that wants to exchange Pro Tools sessions I would like to propose a test mix to settle this sound quality question: I will supply a mix which follows Paul Frindle's recommendations for levels (nothing peaking above -6db), primarily acoustic instruments, with printed external verbs/fx and plugins that are compatible between our systems. You open the session, print it as is and we see if they phase cancel. I feel the sound quality claim is more about marketing. 1 + 1 already equals 2 on TDM so how much more correct than "2" can HDX be? Anyone game? __________________ Angelo Montrone Majestic Music Factory: Studio / Label Majestic Music Mastering Twitter: @MajesticMusicNY Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY STUDIO SHARE AVAILABLE (make Majestic Music your home for 10 days/month) PM for info.

16th January 2012	#2
VT rich Gear Head Joined: May 2006 Posts: 69	I have actually wanted to do this exact test since I first heard of HDX and their claims... unfortunately 90% of the plugins I use are from waves and since waves aren't available in the the new AAX DSP i'm holding off on upgrading. __________________ www.vividtonerecording.com

16th January 2012	#3
T_R_S Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Canuk Posts: 5,278	HDX does sound better. I am using all my old Waves plug-ins just fine with HDX. RTAS plug-ins come up as Native in HDX. I'll load your session up for you PM me for my rates as we are pretty booked up right now. __________________ FB Page ========== Surplus Sale

17th January 2012	#16
jmarkham Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2006 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 2,240	There have been other DAWs that have had these same 64bit pipelines for a long time (Sonar, Reaper, Cubase). If it was bits .. you'd see a lot more of these systems churning out multi-platinum records. But they haven't .. why is that? Maybe it's the Wizard, not the wand? Maybe it's all the things outside the computer that matter? hmmmm. __________________ Please donate to the American Red Cross Japanese Relief Effort Joe Barresi : Tracking Rock is now available!

17th January 2012	#20
dubrichie Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 2,375	Can you not use all or most of your existing RTAS plugins in HD10 running on HDX? I thought you could, but perhaps I am wrong. __________________ Regards, Richie. "a paradigm of restraint and good taste at a time of frequent excess"

16th January 2012	#5
dimag333 Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2011 Location: nj Posts: 288	had enough time to post though

17th January 2012	#12
Andy_R Gear nut Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 114	I'm game. Upload the session and PM me the link.

17th January 2012	#17
Camera Gear addict Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 303	Yes, the people that say HDX sounds better are all correct. The only way you can get any music to sound good is to have the very best equipment. PERIOD!!

17th January 2012	#19
Andy_R Gear nut Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 114	Oops, sorry, right, needs to be AAX. I guess we have to stick with the stock digi eq/dynamics/reverbs stuff then. No Pultec, Reel Tape, Impact, Revibe or Smack, but I do have Reverb One.

17th January 2012	#24
cut Gear nut Joined: Nov 2008 Location: S.W. Connecticut (N.Y.C Burbs) Posts: 102	I know some of you have probably seen my posts in the HDX Happy thread, to be clear I went from PT9 on HD3 to PT 10.1 on HDX, so form 24 bit to 32 bit, the difference was incredible. I did NOT take the intermediate step of 10.0 on TDM. Perhaps there is no difference going from that to HDX. My experience was marked and shocking.

17th January 2012	#26
Doc Mixwell 70% coffee & 30% beer Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Quincy, MA Posts: 7,728	I heard the difference right away, Zep, you gotta try it out,

18th January 2012	#28
SureSound Gear Head Joined: Jan 2012 Location: CT USA Posts: 30 7 Reviews written	I'm skeptical of HDx sounding "better" there are benifits to upgrading, I'm in no rush to upgrade, its almost like avid has become like apple oh you have to get the next 4.99G iphone! oh wow now the 5.0G iphone clear is out which will help keep you updated to when the next version comes out, awesome!

18th January 2012	#29
DimaK415 Gear nut Joined: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 124	Actually, Avid hasn't rolled anything new out since TDM (Mix and Farm days). We have been stuck on 10 year old tech up until now. And they switched the PCI formats of the cards only to keep up with what Apple was doing. I have heard HDx, and I have seen it in action. Coupled with PT10, it is AWESOME. In regard to changing the bit depth of the summing and mix engine, I am more impressed with the "floating point" aspect. The quieter elements of your mix should be noticably clearer. Plugins moving to 64 bit is pretty sweet as well. All good things. All things Avid users have been asking for for a while, and things simply impossible with their current hardware (legacy blue face and TDM).

18th January 2012	#30
Lipps Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Hercules, Ca Posts: 1,298	TDM guys are still protecting the shield?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My problem to accept that one mic sounds better than the other	pedwin	So much gear, so little time!	3	17th September 2010 03:12 AM
an inexpensive pre that sounds better than digi002 pres?	lucasmusic	So much gear, so little time!	15	2nd January 2008 11:01 PM
Phones that sound better than Grado?	Blueflame	So much gear, so little time!	18	16th November 2007 06:36 AM
How many of you actually think's your stuff sounds better than what u hear on commerc	HIGHENDONLY	High end	18	26th May 2007 09:54 AM
Magic Gear that Sounds Better than it Should	phelbin	So much gear, so little time!	13	29th December 2006 06:07 AM