Avid Pro Tools Carbon

Pro Tools | Carbon is a new type of audio interface from Avid. It is a hybrid system for professional audio production with an unrivaled sound quality, which combines the computer’s own CPU power with built-in HDX DSP acceleration. You can simultaneously use almost all the computer’s resources when mixing and still record through AAX DSP plug-ins with close to 0 latency. And you stay in Pro Tools throughout the process.

DSP and native – the best of both worlds

Thanks to the new Hybrid Engine, you can move a track and its associated plug-ins and aux channels to DSP mode at the push of a button, so you get the super low and completely inaudible latency known from the Pro Tools HDX system. When the track will not be used for recording for a long time, you move the track back into native mode and thus free up the DSP for use on other channels. Since all AAX DSP plug-ins are also available in a native version, Pro Tools handles the entire process imperceptibly for the user.

AAX – designed for more than one format

64-bit float double processing and an unrivaled dynamic range characterize AAX plug-ins. The architecture was born for the hybrid possibilities and delivers the same sound quality in both DSP and native domain. This means that you can take your mix around and collaborate with others who do not own a Carbon interface.

HDX DSP acceleration

With eight built-in HDX DSP chips, Carbon is a powerhouse. Regardless of how big your session has become or how many plug-ins you add, you can always record with less than a 1 ms latency. And you free up the computer’s CPU for virtual instruments and mixes.

New converters and preamps

With a dynamic range of 126 dB and support for 32-bit/192 kHz audio conversion, the Carbon is also equipped with the best preamps that Avid has ever delivered. With Carbon, you can be sure of being able to make the absolute cleanest recordings either through the built-in preamps or by connecting your own favourites. With built-in variable impedance, you can get an optimally adapted signal from any type of microphone, or from guitar and bass.

Lots of I/O

With 25×34 simultaneous in/out, Carbon is ready for any type of session from solo artist to full orchestra. Eight crystal-clear preamps, built-in talkback, four headphone outputs and 16-channel ADAT I/O open up countless possibilities for recording, cue mixing and monitoring with multiple speaker sets. The super-fast Ethernet connection not only ensures a stable signal path, but is also designed for future expansion possibilities.

Pro Tools and plug-ins included

Carbon comes with a 1-year Pro Tools subscription with “perpetual parachute”* 115 AAX plug-ins (of which 70 AAX DSP plug-ins) including UVI Falcon, Avid Complete Plug-in Bundle and Heat 5.4 GB sound library Additional plug-ins included: • Arturia Rev PLATE-140 • Brainworx bx_console N • Brainworx bx_rockrack • Brainworx bx_masterdesk • Brainworx Purple Audio MC77 • Embody Immerse Virtual Studio • McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip HD • Native Instruments Vintage Organs • UVI Model D

*Carbon comes with a one-year Pro Tools subscription, which must be renewed every year if you want future updates. If you choose not to renew, the license will be changed to a perpetual license so that you can continue to use Pro Tools and the plug-ins that came with it as perpetual licenses. If you already have a Pro Tools or Pro Tools Ultimate license (perpetual or subscription) with an active update plan, instead of starting a new subscription, you can choose to extend your current update plan or subscription by one year. At launch, Carbon can only be used on Mac computers and requires MacOS Catalina and Pro Tools 2020.11. Windows compatibility is expected later.