The power of LE means many projects are fully realised on these native CPU processing-based systems, never leaving the LE software realm unless the limits of the 32 simultaneous audio tracks prove too constraining. A project can be recorded, edited and tweaked until it’s time to migrate the session up to a more empowered DSP-driven HD and TDM systems. The beauty of these cheaper ProTools LE devices lies in their seamless integration with ProTools TDM software. Building on the considerable success of the original Mbox – which itself gave rise to a series of copycats – Digidesign’s Mbox 2 looks set to make ProTools to recording what the Windows platform has become to the internet. The musical revolution that has taken place in the home since CPU-based (native) processing became a viable alternative to vastly more expensive, proprietary DSP card-driven platforms, has spawned an explosion of entry-level interfaces, and the latest of these is Digidesign’s own Mbox 2, which utilises its ubiquitous LE software.
In a universe where tape has all but disappeared in favour of hard drives, Digidesign has earned a position in history as being the professional studio replacement for tape and tape editing.
Brad Watts tucks in.ĭigidesign has certainly had more than its fair share of loyal customers over the years, as well as a smaller band of vociferous detractors, but no matter which camp you consider yourself resident of, none would contest the fact that the ProTools platform permeates the audio world like no other. 5 October 2005 Digidesign has souped-up its entry-level ‘studio in a box’ with more I/O and a bit more besides.