Is it likely that the new 10.5 software only release will be able to employ existing DX Hardware?

No.  AJA Kona 3 hardware only for Media I/O support.  And only guaranteed (and supported) to work with a limited selection of HP workstation models.

Over time, we will allow more freedom and choices but we need to start carefully, and do this one step at a time.

That's a shame. As a DX owner I personally feel that Avid are missing out on sure fire sales here. It felt like this was fantastic upgrade opportunity from Symphony Nitris DX, but it's obviously not.

Simon Coldrick:

That's a shame. As a DX owner I personally feel that Avid are missing out on sure fire sales here. It felt like this was fantastic upgrade opportunity from Symphony Nitris DX, but it's obviously not.

I hope Avid does find a way to attract folks like you to upgrade

-but-

as i understand it -

1) the DX box's HBA does not fit in a DS qualified machine

2) DS has been using the GPU for RT effects for years now

3) the machine would be slower and less compentent with the DX box - even if you could attach it

So all good reasons to be asking for an upgrade path, but not expecting to be leveraging your existing DX box, on the good side the DX box is replaced by an off the shelf Nvidia GFX card

They should be looking at ways to offer DS to existing Symp owners.. no priceing for upgrade paths has been announced yet...

Let's see...

d/

If all the Media I/O is handled by Symphony, one option will be to use Avid DS 10.5 (when it is released) but in software-only mode.

This way, you digitize your media in Symphony, conform in DS, work your effects or anything that you want DS to produce, and export back to Symphony via Timeline to MC (consolidated AAF clip + MXF media) if the intent is for the finishing and output to tape to be done in Symphony.

Obviously, you will need Windows 7 Professional 64-bit or DS 10.5 can't be use.

Using an AJA for DS in co-existence with the Avid Nitris DX for Symphony might work but we have not tried this configuration, so we don't know the possible risks...

The ideas of using the Symphony as an I/o devise is fine but that doesn't get around having proper monitoring while working.

Simon Coldrick:

The ideas of using the Symphony as an I/o devise is fine but that doesn't get around having proper monitoring while working.

So very true..

What machine do you have? can you fit a Aja in there? or does the Nitris HBA use the space?

Does it have a 3700/4800 or other supported Nvidia card?

If the GPU is working, and you can stuff in the Aja, then a dual boot if nothig else?

d/

Dermot, the System is as per Avid supplied Symphony. I upgraded the OS, and RAM later.

HP8600 running Windows 7- 64bit, NVIDIA FX3700 GRFX, 6 gig RAM.

The idea of already having Avid DX hardware capable of 4:4:4 without the potential to utilize it with other software is very frustrating, especially when you consider what you can open up a system to with just about every other 3rd party card.

Maybe in a later version as Sylvain suggests.

S

That's a great machine...

can you drop in the Aja?

Seems like you'd be good to go, maybe a touch more RAM would be good for DS.. i think 8 Gig is the minimum, and 16Gig  for running 2K?

But your machine is very close...

I also run Nuke on my machine and it uses the Aja, drives and some use of the cuda cores so i get playback to my mon & scopes, i know what you mean about open hardware, and i'm glad DS has moved to Nvidia & Aja already...

d

In theory an AJA would fit. To be honest I'm Not sure what it connects to internally.  2K would be an absolute must for the work it would be doing.

This is the standard PCI slots allocation for hardware with Avid DS in the HP xw8600:

http://aviddssupport.avid.com/index.htm?&section=drivers/v10.x/hp_xw8600

Maybe you have an available slot for the AJA in your Symphony workstation.

Dermot does not mention another possibilities, which is that you can replace the NVIDIA 3700 with a 4800 and use the Avid DS Graphics-Link option instead. With this GL option, you can view your 4:4:4 and 2K material off an external monitor, such as HP DreamColor (color accurate) or other 16 by 9 monitors. No Media I/O support, but if monitoring is your only need in DS, and if you finish everything in Symphony, then GL might be an idea for you.

But this is not a validation that this will work and be supported. I am just exposing possible options with Avid DS 10.5 because we will be opening the application so users can experiment. This has been a long time request, after all.

I guess that keeps it alive. Sylvain, maybe I could email you with a little bit more information to check I am going down the right path for what I need?

Simon Coldrick:

In theory an AJA would fit. To be honest I'm Not sure what it connects to internally.  2K would be an absolute must for the work it would be doing.

Sylvain's idea of just getting a 4800 sounds even better than the Aja for most things, there is very simple scopeage in DS/GL mode, but a far cry from complete, still enough to get by, and you have the Symp DX for tape based injest & outputs... win / win...

I'm betting you will need allot more RAM for 2K tho

d/