Can I use ProTools with a Tascam US 428 and a PowerMac? If so, is ProTools ready for OS X?

I heard that in order to use ProTools, you have to also use DigiDesign hardware...so I am wondering if this is true...which means that I can't use my Tascam controller (US 428)??

It depends on which pro tools you're using (is it free, le, tdm, htdm? ;-)
Free version can run with the us-428 (2 ins / 2 outs), just select it in the sound manager control panel. Le & tdm need specific hardware, made by digidesign only.

Bye.

All ProTools versions are supposed to be OS X ready by Christmas - that's what a Digi marketing chap told me in June. Although he didn't say whether he meant this Christmas

Thanks guys.

Yukulele,

So I can probably assume that the free version of ProTools is very limited, just as the Cubasis version that comes with the Tascam is, correct? If that is the case, it's not worth getting.

What kind of investment would I have to make in order to use the 428 with the middle of the road version of ProTools?...or are you saying that I would have to find some type of Digidesign interface to use as the controller and that the 428 is useless to me?

Lastly, what software are you running on your US 428? Are you happy with it?

except for ProTools FREE mentioned below... you really have to get Digidesign hardware to get use of ProTools. If you purchase the Mboc or Digi001... you get ProTools LE with it which is nice but limited to 24 tracks (may get boost to 32 soon). You can purchase ProTools TDM seperately I think but you won't get full use of it without buying the DSP cards which are quite expensive. So unless you are considering buying Mbox or Digi001, you might want to consider using another app like Logic, Cubase SX, or Digital Performer.

Yes, very limited concerning pro tools: no timecode, no beat-detective, no tdm plugins, only 8 listening tracks (24 virtuals), no OMF support, no movie support, etc.
I don't know for cubasis, as i've NEVER used it before, even if it came with my us-428, too ;-)



You can't enjoy all of the us's functiunality with pro tools, only 2 ins / 2 outs (with soundmanager), and the MIDI controler functions (CS-10 emulation with pro tools, ie using play/stop/rec, faders, jog, etc.), at best
You'll have to buy an AudioMedia III, a M-Box, or a Digi001/2 to use LE in 32 tracks, still no timecode & beat-detective, actually. Mix & HD systems are way more expensive (full TC support, OMF, movie, ...).



I'm using DP3.02 right now, works beautifully with the us-428, there is a plugin for DP, made by Tascam (thanks folks for the great support)... No troubles at all, all controllers on the us are assigned to a DP function. To summarize, i'm VERY happy with it.
I know it works well with Nuendo, too.
Even on windows with gigastudio/sampler, nuendo, samplitude, sonar, etc. (i did check!).
Nice piece of hardware, even if it's ugly (plastic blue, erk :-)

bye.