Don't worry about it. You can't wait for the next evolution. Get the one that works bug free NOW, and make money NOW. You are not going to be able to buy anything aside from true vintage mics and outboard, and expect a return on investment. So get what you need.

There are no rumors of hardware. There are no rumors of new cards just yet, because they would have to be exponentially better to get people to buy in to the difference in performance.

DSD and SACD are dead commercially. Players are not selling. Labels are not releasing the most purchased titles in the format. CDs and DVD audio are droppping in sales. Surround is dropping in sales. None of this matters to you anyway, because you are here in a forum, asking what you should do vs, being a booked studio with clientele mandating what you should do. You are not going to recover cash spent on DSD converters and such in your rates.

There is a DSD plug for PT HD anyway.

DSD is meaninless IMO. Why would you sample at 24-bit, 192kHz and then expect the DSD master to sound any better? The damage was done on the front side. The only way to make use of DSD from start to finish is to do just that with DSD converters, multitrack and mix with it. Editing really can't be done, so you can forget full DAW tricks. Then you have to look at hard-drive space, etc.

iTunes is THE NUMBER ONE SELLER OF ALL MUSIC OF ALL TIME. That is your delivery mediem. Go for it.

sheet wrote: Don't You can't wait for the next evolution. Get the one that works bug free NOW, and make money NOW.

I'm with sheet
your work flow and results is the most important thing ... then comes value for money

upgrade only when you must

that may be easy for me to say as I have an HD2 and it was running on a G4/400 ... and way too slow
I have a dual 2.3 to replace the G4 but just haven't got around to it

I bought the computer last year and obviously if I bought today, it would have been chaeper (I'm lazy and stupid)
so...
my advice is, if you do buy or upgrade, get it working asap
cos
digital and computers de-value so fast

Thanks,folks. I am aware of this.
I remember my first MAC, A g3 bege. I paid close to U$1000.

Now it is a U$20 toy. The same happening with my 2002 G4 800 QS. and the PT systems we had in the past.( PT24, 2 Mix Plus).

Below, a small resume of what I have realized:

Reasons to upgrade: (not the 200 listed by Digi)

a)a few studios in the city already have at least hd: 96k, higher track count, better a/d (not HD Accel);

b)mix hardware is gone obsolete, losing more of its value everyday and got 2 refurbishled mix systems here;

c)locked to G4 dual or a few early generation G5s only;

d)If one waits a bit longer the distance from a top notch system will be even $$$$$;

e)some great tools only available for Accel;

f)Plug-in developers also abandoned mix systems;

* reasons not to upgrade:
a)extreme stability with the current mix4;

b) a better front end (Apogee, Mytek, Pendulum)is much more important than having the a/d HD Interfaces;

c)Not really that cheap yet;

d)actual system still brings money;

e)96k and higher track count not necessary and not requested by clients;

f)repay TC, Waves, Mc DSP upgrades;

Still in doubt.. and I have to decide this till monday...

(Current: Mix4 OS 9.2 G4 800 QS TDM 1GB RAM 5.1.3/6.x 3 Adat Bridges into 02R96)
(Future: HD2 Accel 10.4.x MAc Pro 2.66 1GB RAM 7.3.x 1 Adat Bridge 24 bit + 192 I/O Digital)

Thanks for any opinions!

Hi!

Based on my pockets, market and over 20 different points of view from the DUC, RO, REP, GS and Womp, I decided to wait a little bit more.

Thanks again and if there are any rumours, let us know.

A week has passed and..... I upgraded!!
HD2Accel + MAc Pro 2.66.
Plugins: Probably McDSP and TC.
Waves? ..... not sure.
Eager to install and test the new gear.

:shock:
so that's you way of waiting ... a little

8)

Sure, Kev!
In fact the local Digi dealer dia a very good pricing at the last minute. One of my old Mix Plus systems received an extra value in the exchange process.