User guide

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How many HTDM Plug-Ins can be used in a session?
Depending on the host CPU speed and the number of audio streams per Plug-In, you can instantiate up to 32 mono
or 16 stereo HTDM Plug-Ins. The number of Plug-Ins you can run is also practically limited by available memory, as
many HTDM Plug-Ins require large amounts of additional RAM.
As an example, on a G4/450 (not the fastest machine out there now!), you can easily run three or four of these
Plug-Ins without the host CPU's UI getting bogged down, or error messages.
HTDM Index | All FAQ Index
[7246]
How much memory will I need?
A good rule of thumb will be to add roughly 20 Megabytes per Plug-In to the memory allocation of DAE. Please note
that some HTDM Plug-Ins also require more memory in Pro Tools, so it might be a good idea to allocate significantly
more memory to Pro Tools also. Running several Plug-Ins simultaneously might require as much as 200 Megabytes
for DAE and Pro Tools or even more!
HTDM Index | All FAQ Index
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Will I experience latency when using HTDM Plug-Ins?
Yes. Unlike TDM Plug-Ins that run on DSP chips with infinitesimally small amounts of delay, a host-based Plug-In
will always add a certain amount of latency. HTDM Plug-Ins will be prone to latencies that depend on the version of
Digidesign StreamManager you're using and can vary between 512 and 128 samples.
HTDM Index | All FAQ Index
[7249]
In Pro Tools v5.1 and higher I can use RTAS Plug-Ins on a TDM system. Isn't HTDM the same?
Yes you can use RTAS and HTDM on a TDM system. No they are not the same. There are certain limitations to using
RTAS Plug-Ins on a PT 5.1 TDM system. In particular:
- RTAS Plug-Ins can only be instantiated on disk tracks, not on aux tracks or on master faders.
- Even on disk tracks, all RTAS Plug-Ins must be inserted before TDM Plug-Ins.
- RTAS Plug-Ins do not support sidechain inputs on 5.1 TDM systems.
- RTAS Plug-Ins must have symmetric I/O (i.e. 1 in, 2 out is not allowed)
HTDM Plug-Ins do not have any of those limitations.
HTDM Index | All FAQ Index
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What is the difference between DirectConnect and HTDM?
DirectConnect and HTDM are very similar, in that behind the scenes they are using the same basic StreamManager
technology. The audio is "streamed" in or out of the TDM mix environment by a single DSP, which can handle up to
32 mono or 16 stereo "streams" of audio. The difference is that HTDM Plug-Ins exist directly within the Pro Tools
mix environment, and can make use of Pro Tools automation rather than using MIDI only.
DirectConnect supports stand-alone applications that can stream in or out of TDM, but they are not directly
integrated as HTDM Plug-Ins are. Instead you must move between Pro Tools and other DirectConnect "client
applications" when working.
HTDM Plug-Ins also let you use Pro Tools TDM-compatible control surfaces like ProControl, Control|24 and
inexpensive MIDI controllers to control these Plug-Ins, a major plus!
HTDM Index | All FAQ Index
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