ProMedia Training is the leader in accelerated audio and related multimedia training for individuals and corporations. We are the premier Digidesign Pro School having certified more students than any other organization. Our packages and programs are delivered at our facilities, and at partner facilities in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Nashville, San Diego, and New York.

 

From the BLOG of Pro Media Instructor Shawn Simpson - http://www.blog.protoolstraining.com/?p=264

Maybe it’s a sign of my age that I spend so much time thinking about how things once were. Windows has been a royal pain for a long time in the pro audio world. That’s why you find so many guys using Pro Tools who are bona fide PC haters. In fact, I would personally have fallen into that category with regards to my creative world…

But not anymore.

I guess my problem with Windows machines stems from the inconsistencies from one machine to another. The list of compatibility issues for Pro Tools systems on Windows is longer than the phonebook from my hometown. So imagine my concern when I found out we were adding a set of Terra Digital MX2 machines to our Dallas training center!

Now before you get the idea that this is going to be something negative, I’ll spoil it for you…This has a happy ending. My first impression on taking these machines from the box is that they are built like tanks. The case is very sturdy; this is no plastic framed machine. Despite the strength of the frame, a single thumb screw on the back unlocked a side panel allowing access to the inside of the machine.

We were installing HD systems in these machines, so the fact that you can still get a Windows computer with PCIx slots made this move a no-brainer. We already had a number of PCIx HD cards that are virtually unusable in the current Macintosh computers; in order to use them we’d need an expensive PCI-e-PCIx expansion chassis. Terra Digital has taken great pains to build machines that adhere to the compatibility requirements of Pro Tools HD users.

These machines didn’t come preconfigured for wireless internet, so we added some Linksys wireless PCI network cards. I made the mistake of initially trying to use the supplied Linksys connection utility, which had mixed results. It took a Windows guy to tell me that the “zero config” tool native to the Windows systems worked better. He was right. Once I had a good network connection, I updated to Windows XP, Service Pack 3 and installed Pro Tools|HD 7.4cs5. Pro Tools fired right up and behaved beautifully. The standard issue plug-in assortment we use in the classes also went on with the greatest of ease.

So in an earlier posting I bragged of how easy it was to install a group of iMacs in the Dallas facility. It’s official now though, it was as simple as can be to install the HD systems in the Terra Digital computers. These guys are even blessed by Digidesign officially, so it should come as no surprise that it all worked so well. After all, would Digidesign ever lead you astray? Well ok, not this time anyway.

Sunset Post Inc.

Toronto, Canada 

We have been using Protools for 10 years, on the Mac platform. Coming from a musical background and the analogue world, the new era of post production was born. Everything changed one day when we met the guys at Terra Digital Audio. Not only did they open our eyes to the pc platform but to the fact there are just some things that the Mac platform just can not give us. Having switched our systems over to the Terra Digital MX2-R, we are now able to post audio/video fully integrated with Avid’s A/V option right on the same box. Gone are the days of syncing an external computer to get the picture or importing QuickTime movies. Everything is all there in one box. Did I mention the ease of upgrading the box and these MX2’s are not only built like tanks, they are fully certified by Digidesign.

Our first MX2 arrived and we simply opened the box, unpacked the contents, installed the Protools cards, made a few more connections and we were up and running. No messing around with the system BIOS or other settings, everything was done at Terra Digital. At Sunset Post, we do all types of projects including short and long format film/video, 7.1 mixing, remixing, ADR along with music production for video or CD. We can not afford to have any down time. Our mobile 48 track Protools HD3 system is powered by an MX2-R and we can’t keep it in the shop. We are currently upgrading to and Icon 32 Fader D-Control and yes that will be powered by an MX2. The scalability of the box is simply incredible. Just tell them what you need and then they do the rest, customizing the box to your needs. We are excited about our switch from the Mac to the MX2-R from Terra Digital Audio and we are currently adding more MX2’s to our facility.  

Terry Williams 

Lead Engineer

Darrell Jones-Music Professional, Videographer and IT Professional 

DigitaLoft Media, LLC

I’ve been in the music business for many years as a bassist for Patti Labelle, Billy Preston, and Shalamar. I’ve been and IT professional for over 20 years. When I decided to upgrade my home studio, I discovered Terra Digital Audio over 3 years ago and in 2005 I purchased my first Terra Digital Audio system; the M6-R to run my Pro Tools studio. Last year I added video production to the studio and purchased the Terra Digital Audio MX2-R quad processor system. These systems are fantastic and yes; I will continue to do business with Terra Digital Audio for my future updates as well.

Peace

Darrell Jones

DigitaLoft Media, LLC 

Delaware, OH USA