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Average Price: $320
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Description
Transform your studio into a powerhouse of production with the Digidesign Pro Tools HD3. This high-end audio interface is engineered for professionals seeking unparalleled control and flexibility in their recording sessions. Whether you're capturing the subtle nuances of a solo performance or managing a complex orchestral arrangement, the HD3 ensures your sound is captured with the utmost precision.
At the heart of the HD3 system lies the HD Core card and two HD Accel cards, providing robust processing power that can handle up to 192 simultaneous audio tracks without breaking a sweat. Perfect for a wide range of setups, the system is compatible with both PCI and PCIe-equipped computers, offering seamless integration into your current studio environment. The system's expandability further enhances its appeal, allowing you to effortlessly add more HD Accel cards as your production needs grow.
With support for sample rates up to 192 kHz, every detail of your sound is preserved, giving you the clarity and depth you need for professional-grade recordings. The Pro Tools HD3 also comes bundled with a suite of virtual instruments and plug-ins, including the rich tones of the Boom drum machine and the iconic sound of the DB-33 tonewheel organ emulator. This makes the HD3 not just an audio interface, but a complete sonic toolkit for the discerning audio professional.
Key Features:
- HD Core card and two HD Accel cards for enhanced processing power
- Supports up to 192 simultaneous audio tracks
- Sample rate support up to 192 kHz
- Compatible with PCI and PCIe-equipped computers
- Includes Pro Tools HD|8 Software
- Bundled with a comprehensive selection of virtual instruments and plug-ins
- Expandable DSP power and I/O capacity
- Proprietary DigiLink interface standard for extended connectivity
- Full session compatibility with systems running Pro Tools 5.1 software or higher
Product specs
| Brand | Digidesign |
| Model | HD3 PCIe Pro Tools HD Card System |
| Finish | Standard |
| Year | 2000s |
| Categories | Audio Interfaces |
| Bit Depth | 24-bit |
| Bus-Powered | Yes |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS |
| Computer Connectivity | PCIe |
| Electronics | Digital |
| Format | Modular |
| Number of Analog Inputs | 0 |
| Number of Analog Outputs | 0 |
| Number of Channels | 96 |
| Number of Digital Inputs | 96 |
| Number of Digital Outputs | 96 |
| Number of Headphone Outputs | 0 |
| Number of MIDI Inputs | 0 |
| Number of MIDI Outputs | 0 |
| Number of Mic Preamps | 0 |
| Sample Rate | 192 khz |
FAQs
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What are the main connectivity options for the Digidesign Pro Tools HD3?
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The Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 uses PCIe connectivity, making it compatible with both Windows and macOS systems for high-performance audio processing.
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How many channels does the Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 support?
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The Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 supports up to 96 digital input and output channels, providing extensive routing capabilities for complex studio setups.
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What is the maximum sample rate supported by the Digidesign Pro Tools HD3?
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The Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 supports a maximum sample rate of 192 kHz, allowing for high-resolution audio recording and playback.
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Is the Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 compatible with virtual instruments?
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While the Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 itself does not include virtual instruments, it is compatible with Pro Tools software, which supports a wide range of virtual instruments and plugins.
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Does the Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 require an external power source?
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No, the Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 is bus-powered via its PCIe connection, eliminating the need for an external power source.
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Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Digidesign Pro Tools HD3.
User experience
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Owners appreciate Pro Tools HD3 for its reliability in professional settings, handling complex projects without latency or CPU issues, especially when paired with older Mac Pro setups.
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Comparisons
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The Lynx Aurora 16 is favored over Digidesign 192 for its compact 1U size and quiet operation, offering 16 analog I/O versus the larger 192 units.
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Owners transitioning from HD Accel to HDX note that HDX accommodates complex routing and large track counts without latency, unlike older setups.
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Features and functionality
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Pro Tools HD3's stability is highlighted in environments where uninterrupted performance is crucial, such as movie mixing in surround sound.
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The Pro Tools HD Accel system excels in offering zero-latency monitoring, crucial for tracking with real-time plug-ins active during recording sessions.
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Value and pricing
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Users emphasize the long-term investment value of Pro Tools HD3, particularly when avoiding costly upgrades and subscriptions.
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Use cases and applications
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Despite its age, Pro Tools HD3 remains adequate for professional dialogue editing, showcasing its enduring relevance in specific workflows.
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HDX systems are capable of handling sessions with complex routing, real-time plug-in monitoring, and are suitable for scenarios requiring quick-punch and zero latency for talent recordings.
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Software and compatibility
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A transition to HDX allows for seamless session handling with over 50 tracks, maintaining zero latency with multiple monitor busses, while the Mac Pro 6 core manages routing effortlessly.
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The MTRX Studio paired with a Mac Mini for post-production offers a compact solution with zero-latency performance, suitable for audio post environments.
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Pro Tools 10 is the last version supporting older HD interfaces like the 96i/o, needing Mac OS 10.8.5 for optimal setup.
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HD Native cards can support 96i/o converters, allowing use with newer Pro Tools versions and plugins.
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Pro Tools 10.3.5 on Mac OS 10.8.5 retains RTAS and 32-bit compatibility, marking the end of these features before transitioning to newer systems.
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Setup and maintenance
5.0 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Used by producer John Cuniberti on Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock:
"Satriani and crew spent three weeks mixing at The Plant, where Cuniberti bypassed the SSL altogether to mix exclusively 'in the box.' After three weeks, they moved to his home studio, affectionately dubbed Digital Therapy Labs, which offers a Pro Tools HD3 system and enough plug-ins to allow him to use the same techniques as he would during a traditional mix session."
"Jean-Michel’s plan was to follow as closely as possible the original recording process, using the same synths and effects wherever possible, but replacing the Scully eight–track with a Mac–based Pro Tools HD3 system, recording at 24–bit, 96KHz via a Summit Audio TPA 200B Dual Tube preamp and Neve and API processors. “I put almost everything through the Summit,” he says, “and I got this good, fat, analogue sound."
Pro Tools HD3 is included in the list of equipment used to record the Recoil album "subHuman."
On the website, a post by Keith Clark on 07/17 at 11:28 AM states that Mick Jagger used Pro Tools HD3 in a small studio called "Bamboo Room Studio".
Used for The Renaissance, as stated in his January 2008 Remix interview. Transcripts can be found at the Future Producers forums (linked) and this Prince.org forum.
With recording engineer Blair Wells waiting in the wings on a Digidesign Pro Tools|HD3 system, Tip would often take whole sections of live jams and either layer them with sampled elements — kicks, snares and claps in particular — or reprocess them entirely.
“Really the one consistent piece has always been Pro Tools,” Wells notes. “We have it set up so the [Chandler LTD-1] mic pres run direct into the Pro Tools rig, through the patch bay. We've got everything patchable so we can sample back out of Pro Tools or sample back in. We try to route everything in a flexible way so that we can really experiment with the tonality and the overall structure of the songs.”
(...) Digidesign Pro Tools|HD3 Accel, 192 I/Os
Used to record The Fall, as stated in this February 1, 2010 Electronic Musician interview with Jones, producer Jacquire King and assistant engineer Brad Bivens.
Recording in mid-2009 at New York’s The Magic Shop, Studio A (Neve 80 Series console with 1079 modules to 16-track Studer A827 2-inch 24-track to Pro Tools|HD3) and L.A.’s Sunset Sound, Studio 2 (Neve 8088 with 1073 preamps and EQs to Studer A827 2-inch 24-track to Pro Tools), Jones and King adopted a quasi Steely Dan approach, often recording the same song with different groups, then cherry-picking the best performances.
"ProTools HD 3 Accel" is included in the equipment list on his website.
Larrabee Studio 2 Equipment List https://www.larrabeestudios.com/s/Studio23.doc
“The Pro Tools hardware that is plumbed in here is the old 888 system running from a G4 with as much memory in it as you can cram. That really hasn’t changed but all I use that for is recording. There’s no point in upgrading this at the moment because it is good quality, zero latency recording, and that’s all I need from it. In the other room we have a traveling system which is a Pro Tools 8, 192 HD3 setup. Manipulations and assemblies tend to happen in the second rig in my main room which has a Logic 7/Native/MOTU system on it."
Album Usage
The Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Digidesign Pro Tools HD3, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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