Avid Pro Tools is the industry standard for studio DAWs. It can handle everything from massive film scores to complex electronic arrangements and dynamic bands. Guitar Center Professional recommends Pro Tools for all kinds of pro audio applications, but getting your studio equipment to work with the software can sometimes be a messy project. That's where the Avid Carbon interface comes in. This hybrid music production audio interface is designed to maximize the Pro Tools experience, and is an ideal solution for professional studio workflows.

We’ll get into some of the details of how they do it, because we love to nerd out on studio gear, but the results are simple. Any DAW and interface will require some configuration, but with Guitar Center Professional services, you can leave it all to us. Our experts will set up your line, mic and other audio sources. Once you're connected via the massive I/O, just open Pro Tools and enjoy a seamless recording experience, running stacks of plug-ins and managing settings without leaving the DAW. It’s how music recording should be—fast, intuitive and powerful.

Pictured: Avid Pro Tools Carbon Hybrid Ethernet Audio Interface 

Run More Plug-ins With the Hybrid Engine

Running multiple plug-ins natively while recording and monitoring can be taxing on even the most powerful computers. Carbon addresses this issue with the clever Hybrid Engine. This engine lets you flip tracks to DSP Mode in Pro Tools, giving Carbon the signal to automatically accelerate AAX DSP plug-in processing with its built-in DSP. When the processor-intensive work is done, you can switch back to CPU Mode to mix and master. On a technical level, it’s a complex, impressive feat. For the user, it’s as simple as flipping a switch.

Enjoy New Capabilities Without Getting Locked In

We love Avid’s AAX architecture because of its precision and sound quality, but the flexibility is just as important. The Carbon interface supports AAX DSP plug-ins, or you have the option to run natively on the CPU. It's possible to record a session running native or third-party plug-ins with Carbon, then unplug the interface and continue to run the mix on your computer. This makes it easy to take your mixes on the road without a rack. It’s also ideal for working with others, since remote collaborators don’t need to have Carbon to work with you on a Pro Tools project.

Record Audio With Custom-Designed Processing

Avid Carbon processes audio with a custom FPGA and eight HDX DSPs at its core. It's essentially a computer specialized to do one thing: record audio with Pro Tools. The FPGA routes audio blazingly fast, one sample at a time, with near-zero latency, meaning you can monitor live through Pro Tools while you record. Meanwhile, the HDX DSPs handle the real-time plug-in processing, performing at 22.4 billion operations per second. If you often find yourself bumping up against CPU limits when recording, putting Carbon at the center of your workflow will be a revelation. You'll be able to create big, complex sessions while still running virtual instruments and other plug-ins on your CPU. Once you've tried Carbon, you'll wonder how you lived without it.

Accept No Compromise on Converters and Preamps

Clever innovations aside, at the core of any interface are the converters and preamps. Avid made this interface for top-tier professional studios where compromise isn't acceptable. So, each channel of Carbon has four ADCs, each with support for up to 32-bit/192kHz operation. This design provides a remarkable 126dB dynamic range. And because Avid has control over everything from the input to the converters to the DSP and Pro Tools, Carbon is able to keep uniform 32-bit quality all the way through the chain. The result is clean, natural audio.

Avid also went the extra mile with the preamps in Carbon, with a padless design that results in pristine capture without coloration. There are eight preamps in total, with four of them sporting Variable Z, which offers more than the typical Hi-Z switch. Variable Z gives you the freedom to adjust input impedance, altering the tone of any mic or instrument to dial in the exact sound you want.

Pictured: Avid Pro Tools Carbon Hybrid Ethernet Audio Interface 

For When You Need I/O in the Dozens

Carbon can run up to a staggering 25 inputs and 34 outputs at the same time. Premium analog inputs and ADAT I/O, plus built-in talkback, allows you to tackle virtually any session with ease. If you run a recording studio or own a large gear collection, this interface frees you up to use whatever combination you want when the mood strikes. All this I/O runs into your computer at high speed thanks to the Ethernet connection, which also adds a bit of future-proofing, since it can handle so much data. Pro Tools is always updating, and technology moves fast. Carbon is designed to be the elite interface, now and for years to come.

Call 877-687-5404 for Expert Help

Upgrading an interface is a delicate operation when you already have a studio. Guitar Center Professional experts will get to know your setup and help you buy everything you need for the transition, all at once, so there's no downtime. For a worry-free experience, we can install Carbon on-site and walk you through all the features.

If you want to make additional upgrades, or build a studio from scratch, we can even bundle equipment together for custom pricing. Call us at 877-687-5404 for expert help figuring out what you need.