The CalDigit TS3 Plus is Russ Hughes’ Hardware Product Of 2020, he explains why.
It would be easy to think that when it comes to studio hardware choices the selection would be a vintage valve compressor or a microphone. The idea that it is a computer peripheral like the CalDigit TS3 Plus indicates the way recording has been transformed since we introduced computers into recording studios.
So, yes the thing that had made my life easier this year is the CalDigit TS3 Plus, a Thunderbolt 3 Hub that means my entire recording studio can run off one Thunderbolt 3 cable connected to my MacBook Pro.
The connectivity is impressive;
2 x Thunderbolt™ 3
1 x DisplayPort 1.2
5 x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gb/s, 1.5A, 7.5W)
2 x USB-C
1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gb/s, 1.5A, 7.5W) Rear
1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ( 5Gb/s, 1.5A, 7.5W) Front
1 x SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II)
1 x Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF)
1 x Gigabit Ethernet
1 x Analog Audio In (Stereo)
1 x Analog Audio Out (Stereo)
Furthermore, the CalDigit TS3 Plus is built like a tank and it also offers constant power to my MacBook Pro which I run in Clamshell mode when in the studio.
When I need to leave the studio and take my MacBook Pro with me, it’s as simple as unplugging one Thunderbolt 3 cable and I’m done.
The CalDigit TS3 Plus has allowed me to transition from a desktop Apple Mac Pro to running my studio on a MacBook Pro with minimal headaches. That’s why it has been given my product of 2020, it really has changed my life!
Most of us grumble about the cost of Thunderbolt cables. But do you know why they cost so much? You might think its about paying licensing fees but the Thunderbolt cable is an impressive piece of engineering. See just how impressive in this video from Adam Savage’s Tested.
The Experts team wondered what we thought people would want to find behind the windows of a dream studio advent calendar. Some of the things we own, some we wish we did. Owned or not, we think any of the things we name in the next 16 days would be a gift to a professional studio owner. Russ Hughes chooses the Caldigit TS3 Plus.
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The run-up for NAMM 2020 has been a busy time for Avid as they are announcing a new 1U interface based on the MTRX, Thunderbolt 3 Chassis solutions for HDX cards, folder tracks for Pro Tools as well as updates for AvidPlay and Avid Link.
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Russ Hughes spent the 80s programming synths, samplers and other MIDI devices for lots of top names. He went on to work as a song writer for several decades. He founded the Experts websites in 2008 after seeing many audio professionals did not have free access to high-quality content, the rest they say is history. In the last few years, he has taken a back seat to concentrate on other projects.