Avid has announced that the HDX Thunderbolt 3 solutions that they announced at NAMM 2020 are now available to buy. The range includes two Thunderbolt 3 chassis solutions for Pro Tools HDX cards, one desktop and one rack mount) as well as a range of packages built around their new Thunderbolt 3 chassis. We have the details…

If you already own an HDX card, then you can upgrade your system with the Thunderbolt 3 chassis, and take advantage of tapping into a range of Thunderbolt 3 equipped computers. No more Thunderbolt adaptors.

Avid has designed their TB 3 chassis solutions in conjunction with Sonnet, to enable users to be able to configure either a totally self-contained 1U rack mount HDX system that can house both an HDX card and a Mac mini, or if you prefer, a desktop solution to take an HDX card to use alongside a computer like an iMac Pro or MacBook Pro.

Specifications

If you are looking to put together a new system then Avid are planning a range of bundles for you to choose from.

Pro Tools Thunderbolt 3 Chassis Based Bundles

These bundles have been designed to enable you to set up your professional studio easily with a Pro Tools HDX Thunderbolt bundle that’s fully assembled and ready to go.

Each bundle will include a Pro Tools HDX Thunderbolt 3 Chassis, one HDX card, Pro Tools Ultimate software, and your choice of Pro Tools hardware I/O interface with the bundles priced to offer savings over buying the items separately, plus, get over 70 AAX DSP plugins and a 1-Year Software Updates and Support Plan included with the Pro Tools Ultimate software.

What We Think Of The Avid Thunderbolt 3 Chassis Solutions

I am looking forward to testing the rack mount solution that can also take a Mac mini to replace my aging Mac Pro 5,1.

As many of you know I have been squeezing every last drop out of my 2010 Mac Pro, changing the video card, adding an SSD and upgrading the processors, but for some time I have been looking for a new solution. In my situation, I cannot justify buying a new 2019 Mac Pro, but I have been following the Mac mini 2018 story with great interest and even before Avid made this announcement I was planning to get the existing Sonnet chassis in to test as for me the idea of a rack mounting a Mac mini with my HDX card in it, could make an excellent and cost-effective replacement for my old Mac Pro.

Overall it looks as though I am going to have an expensive time over the coming months but the combination of the rack-mounted HDX chassis with a Mac mini 2018, together with a Pro Tools MTRX Studio interface is going to set me up for at least the next 5 years.

Pricing And Availability

The Avid HDX Thunderbolt 3 solutions should be available now from your Avid dealers. With the COVID-19 epidemic, it may take a little longer for them to get through but check with your dealer, as Avid assure us that they are on their way.

• Pro Tools | HDX Thunderbolt 3 Desktop Chassis – $499 USD MSRP

• Pro Tools | HDX Thunderbolt 3 Rackmount Chassis – $699 USD MSRP

The first two bundles to be released are…

• Pro Tools | HDX Thunderbolt 3 HD OMNI Desktop & Rackmount Chassis – $7,999 USD MSRP

• Pro Tools | HDX Thunderbolt 3 MTRX Studio Desktop & Rackmount Chassis – $9,999 USD MSRP