Pro Tools Carbon - Deep Dive - SonicLAB Review

Long-time ProTools user Steve Evans takes a look at the new Carbon HDX DSP audio interface and while he's at it has a chat with Avid's Simon Sherbourne to answer some questions, and get some insight into the background and workings of Carbon from an AVID perspective.

#soniclab #protools #carbon

Exclusive extra content on Patreon

00:00 Intro
0:15 Steve Evans: Introduction
01:26 Simon Sherbourne: who is Carbon for?
03:50 SE: some Background; ProTools, Native & DSP and latency
06:47 SS: key differences to other low latency approaches
09:22 SE: looking at the Carbon front panel
10:58 SS: why AVB?
12:37 SE: more on the front panel
16:31 no separate software, it's all controlled within ProTools
17:40 the back of the unit
18:11 SS: why a second AVB port?
19:57 SE: dual Line inputs
20:52 variable input impedance
22:20 A problem though; no snapshots
23:04 Carbon setup within Protools
26:52 another grumble - licensing
27:38 SS: so what do you get? (subscriptions, etc.)
34:53 SE: what's the fuss all about? Audio example, showing zero-latency
40:07 DSP usage overhead
43:03 SS: some deeper options, AVB setup, etc.
48:17 some good news for non-Carbon ProTools users
51:51 SE: Summary & final thoughts



Subscribe to Sonicstate on YouTube for new content!

Watch Sonicstate's Exclusive Series:

[lairdkilbarchan]

A massive dongle you connect to your system with a Direct Debit. What's not to love?

[kingech_B]

I bought a Carbon almost two years ago. And I sold everything else. Its the best.

[GauravhMUSIC]

Great review, really detailed and I love my carbon. Great set up Simon ;)

[DaraM]

The only problem I have with any daw is when hardware & software becomes a walled, subscription based, garden

[TiagoJoaoPt]

how do you connect the x8p to carbon? through adat or do you use the pro tools aggregator?

[jdigital]

Great review of Avid's Pro Tools Carbon DAW features and the interface, I look forward to adding one to my setup and workflow.

[elgatofelix]

Last time I was this early, it was still "only 2 weeks to flatten muh curve"

[jamesdeliamusic]

I have never been so UNSOLD an audio platform. MY thaks to the creator for the enlightenment into AVID's "Hostagescription Policy".👈👉🖕

[TrapBoiFuse]

So of i got waves on my track will it be dsp

[nativeVS]

Seems like quite a neat solution, but a few years late. If I were a Pro Tools user this seems like the most interesting solution, but there should also be a nice portable 2 channel version for the laptop bag.
Also, nice Cadac there Steve.

[ian]

Thank you for this video review of Carbon. Really informative.

[MrGeekymusic]

What about side chain delay compensation?

[EnochGitongaKimathi]

I wish it had dual Thunderbolt 4 ports as well for interfacing and daisy chaining (expansion). Also I wish it supported AVB Milan for interfacing and expansion. Very good interface otherwise with modern advanced features. 4 headphone amps, whoever came up with that, needs a pay rise. The front panel controls is the gold standard, hope they enable metering for other i/o - Line, ADAT, Computer.

[rpm.]

I have had near zero latency monitoring ( 1ms at best depending on the settings ) through native and non native plug-ins since about 2000 using first my Creamware cards and now my Sonic Core Xite-1. This system is a bit picky about the PC it is used on though. I wouldn't know which system to buy if I had to get something else.

[savingsoul]

Man too bad it doesn't work with Mac studio

[JJDPROMEDIAPRODUCTION]

A. big miss IMHO, No Thunderbolt WTF??? l Also, the old Digidesign had been presented this very same Hybrid/DSP solution back in 1995 by a company named Intelligent Devices( Former Digideign Contractors/Employees). Digidesign voted to pass on this idea. Intelligent Device took the idea to Ensoniq. Thus the Daw PARIS came out in 1997..

That's how long this so-called ( New Tech) from Avid has been around. I guess, better late than never..

[elissitdesign]

Do not support or use Protools if you’re something other than a big massive studio. Their model sucks from all angles.

[leslie]

We ca produce the same quality music with sub $500 audio interface