Pro Tools Unity Client Configuration for Mac OS 9 Systems
Slot Order
Expansion Chassis required. This configuration diagram assumes a qualified Apple Power Mac G4 (AGP graphics) and Magma or Digidesign 13-slot expansion chassis (68-pin connector on round black cable, chassis serial number NB0600100C or higher).
CPU
| Slot | Card | |
| AGP | Graphics | |
| PCI 1 | Chassis HBA | |
| PCI 2 | Empty | |
| PCI 3 | Optional Audio SCSI HBA (3 slot Mac) or Empty | |
| PCI 4 | Optional Audio SCSI HBA (4 slot Mac) or Empty | |
Chassis
|
Bridge
|
Slot | Card |
|
1
|
Chassis interface | Chassis Interface Card |
|
1
|
1 (4) | Core card |
|
1
|
2 (5) | Optional Farm/Process card |
|
1
|
3 (6) | Optional Farm/Process card |
|
1
|
4 (7) | Optional Farm/Process card |
|
1
|
5 (8) | Optional Farm/Process card |
|
1
|
6 (9) | Optional Farm/Process card |
|
2
|
7 (4) | Optional Farm/Process card |
|
2
|
8 (5) | |
|
2
|
9 (6) | |
|
2
|
10 (7) | |
|
2
|
11 (8) | Optional Video SCSI (for 1:1 or 2:1 capture/playback) |
|
2
|
12 (9) | Meridien card |
|
2
|
13 (10) | FibreChannel card |
Note: The numbers in parentheses represent the silk-screened numbers on the chassis motherboard.
Maximum Number of Clients
The following configurations have been thoroughly tested by Avid and Digidesign, and are provided as guidelines only. Actual performance depends on specific configuration and program material. More cofigurations will be announced as they are tested.
Pro Tools-Only Workgroups
Pro Tools|HD (v5.3.1)
1000 ms Audio Edit Density
Video Drives: 10
|
Clients
|
Tracks
|
Sample Rate/Bit Depth
|
Video
|
Audio Drives
|
|
1
|
32
|
48kHz / 24bit
|
1:1
|
10
|
|
3
|
48
|
48kHz / 24bit
|
3:1
|
10
|
|
3
|
24
|
96kHz / 24bit
|
3:1
|
10
|
Pro Tools|24 MIX (v5.1.3)
1000 ms Audio Edit Density
Video Drives: 10
|
Clients
|
Tracks
|
Sample Rate/Bit Depth
|
Video
|
Audio Drives
|
|
1
|
24
|
48kHz / 24bit
|
1:1
|
10
|
|
3
|
48
|
48kHz / 24bit
|
3:1
|
10
|
|
9
|
32
|
48kHz / 24bit
|
3:1
|
30
|
Mixed Workgroups
Mixed Workgroup A
|
Type
|
Clients
|
Video
|
|
Composer
|
4
|
1:1 Dual-Stream
|
|
Pro Tools
|
1
|
3:1 Single-Stream
|
Mixed Workgroup B
|
Type
|
Clients
|
Video
|
|
Composer
|
4
|
1:1 Dual-Stream
|
|
Pro Tools
|
3
|
3:1 Single-Stream
|
Mixed Workgroup C
|
Type
|
Clients
|
Video
|
|
Composer
|
9
|
3:1 Single-Stream
|
|
Pro Tools
|
3
|
3:1 Single-Stream
|
Mixed Workgroup D
|
Type
|
Clients
|
Video
|
|
Composer
|
2
|
10:1 Dual-Stream
|
|
Composer
|
6
|
3:1 Single-Stream
|
|
Pro Tools
|
3
|
3:1 Single-Stream
|
Allocation Group Sizes
Number of dedicated audio drives required for the specified number of Pro Tools systems to play back 48 tracks of 48 kHz, 24-bit audio at the specified edit density.
|
Pro Tools Clients
|
Edit Density:
1000 ms |
Edit Density:
500 ms |
Edit Density:
300 ms |
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
8
|
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
16
|
|
3
|
8
|
10
|
24
|
|
4
|
28
|
28
|
28
|
|
5
|
28
|
28
|
NA
|
|
9
|
30
|
NA
|
NA
|
Notes:
- NA = not applicable
- Number of disks is based on Pro Tools|24 MIX systems running on Mac OS9 with no video playback.
- The 4, 5 and 9 system configurations are only supported with 2 GB fibre channel switches and JBODs.
- Numbers are approximate. Your performance will vary with your configuration and program material.
- Mirroring: Pro Tools Mac OS 9 clients are not compatible with "mirrored" Unity systems. Pro Tools Windows XP clients are fully compatible with mirrored Unity systems.
Sharing Allocation Groups and Media
Audio and video files can be shared among several MediaNetwork clients. However, keep in mind the following restrictions when sharing files:
- Audio files for Pro Tools clients should be in a separate allocation group from the video files.
- Pro Tools clients cannot use files that are in a shared uncompressed allocation group.
- Each Composer Product client that is using dual-stream 1:1 video (Media Composer or Symphony) must have dedicated access to the single-user allocation group containing the video files. No other clients can share the video files while these clients are using them.
- Only one Pro Tools client can access a finishing allocation group containing 1:1 video files. The allocation group may not be used simultaneously by a video editing client, and the Pro Tools client can only play a single stream of video.
- Up to three Pro Tools clients and one video editing client can access an allocation group containing 3:1 or lower compressed video files.
- In an environment with at least one Avid Composer Product client running two streams at 1:1 video resolution, the maximum number of clients that can be supported is seven. However, if protection is enabled and the environment contains 18 GB HH or 50 GB HH drives, the maximum number of clients is six.
- Each finishing video allocation group must connect directly to a MEDIASwitch port.
- For additional information on MediaNetwork configuration requirements and restrictions, see the Avid Unity™ MediaNet Release 3.0 Supported Configurations (Acrobat PDF, 1.6 MB download)