Buying ProTools?

IvisonGuitars

I'm in the market to buy it again (my last one, PT7 is on my PowerPC iBook) to use on my MacBook Pro. 

Just wondered if anyone here had bought their ProTools from the US? Seems like a big saving. Anything to be wary of? 

Specifically thinking of this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVID-PRO-TOOLS-12-11-10-FULL-VERSION-ACTIVATION-ilok-2-KEY-PROTOOLS-/281372905180?hash=item418321cedc:g:rYgAAOSw-yxU28RP

Cheers

Neil

spark240

Yeah....try Studio One

Winny_Pooh

I cant think of any issues. Any reason you need pro tools in particular?

Nerine

I use Pro Tools HD day in, day out, and I love it.

However, if you're a hobbiest or whatever, don't bother. It isn't worth it.

IvisonGuitars

Winny_Pooh said:

I cant think of any issues. Any reason you need pro tools in particular?

I used ProTools for years, it's my preferred DAW. I also have Logic X but it just seems a bit toy-town compared to PT (IMHO of course).

I just wondered if there'd be any issues with a US version as it seems much cheaper. I'm going to hang on for a bit though as it seems Avid are in a state of flux/don't know what the hell they are doing at present.

Winny_Pooh

You can trial Reaper for a fair while and it just works. I use PT10 (not gone AAX yet) but would start over with Reaper if necessary.

What hardware are you using?

IvisonGuitars

I have a Digi002 Rack and a Focusrite Sapphire.

Drew_TNBD

I wouldn't bother with Pro Tools. It's been utterly superseded on feature set, stability, price, and pretty every other metric you can think of.

IvisonGuitars

@Drew_fx would it be worth me getting my head around Logic X then as I already have that or what would you recommend?

Drew_TNBD

miserneil said:

@Drew_fx would it be worth me getting my head around Logic X then as I already have that or what would you recommend?

Logic is a shadow of it's former self imho, but is still worth having a look at.

I'd also look at:

- Cubase 8
- Reaper 5
- Studio One v3.0

wayneirie

I'm Just getting back into recording after a while out. I was previously a pro tools user how ever I opted for logic considering what you get in terms of features/ content/ instruments its relatively cheap.

Pros so far for me. Plug ins are very good really like the stock compressors, Space designer is very impressive especially with briscati IRs. Its simple to use its easy, to set up multi track sessions add virtual instruments etc. Virtual drummer is great you can export midi, to create your own variations really easily. Theres some great sounds In the producer pack. You can export Virtual drummer stereo files as individual tracks. Creating Busses, aux sends, Monitor mixes is a doddle.

Cons. Audio editing feels a little fiddley. I'd say it's a little less intuitive than protools. You definitely need a second screen (although this could probably be quite an easy work around if you take the time to build your own template/enviroment) 

I've only really scratched the surface to be honest but I'm enjoying using it. Far more than I thought I would. I agree it looks a bit toytown (the GUI is a bit cutesy) but I feel like its worth persevering with. 

Snap

What always surprises me, when talking DAWS, is how Sonar usually gets overlooked. Its one of the original PC DAWs and the current incarnation is superb. Better still, they offer a membership purchase option, where you pay a montly fee, and for that you get monthly updates and extras. Not just stability updates, but usually new plugins, add ons etc.

In terms of completeness, Sonar Platinum comes with near everything you could possibly want. The bundled plugins are very high quality and you can do everything from basic recording to full mastering within the program.

All its versions, from entry upto top are very good, very stable and very easy to use. Worth a look IMO, though note it's PC only.

final word on Sonar - it used to be glitchy, but they appear to have remedied this, and in my experience its very stable.

octatonic

wayneirie said:

I'm Just getting back into recording after a while out. I was previously a pro tools user how ever I opted for logic considering what you get in terms of features/ content/ instruments its relatively cheap.

Pros so far for me. Plug ins are very good really like the stock compressors, Space designer is very impressive especially with briscati IRs. Its simple to use its easy, to set up multi track sessions add virtual instruments etc. Virtual drummer is great you can export midi, to create your own variations really easily. Theres some great sounds In the producer pack. You can export Virtual drummer stereo files as individual tracks. Creating Busses, aux sends, Monitor mixes is a doddle.

Cons. Audio editing feels a little fiddley. I'd say it's a little less intuitive than protools. You definitely need a second screen (although this could probably be quite an easy work around if you take the time to build your own template/enviroment) 

I've only really scratched the surface to be honest but I'm enjoying using it. Far more than I thought I would. I agree it looks a bit toytown (the GUI is a bit cutesy) but I feel like its worth persevering with. 

I'm going to argue with the cons.

The problem most people have with Logic is they started with a different DAW and Logic does it slightly differently.

It feels less intuitive because you already know a different approach.

I find Pro Tools less intuitive because I started with Logic- it isn't the fault to Pro Tools- it is me knowing Logic really well and having spent 20 years using it, there is no way I can be as fast with PT.

 

You definitely do NOT need a second screen with Logic.

Logic has screen sets- look into them- they have been around for years- like more than a decade- and specifically designed to deal with having multiple windows open- I have 9 different screen sets (you can have up to 100) with different window options, including 2 audio editing screen sets.

They will change how you mix.

The only thing these days that I prefer PT for is multi channel drum editing- it still is better than Logic for that, I'll grant you.

Learn the Logic key commands- I do almost everything wth them these days.

wayneirie

I was speaking from my own relatively limited experience with Logic so far. You are correct in stating that it's Probably because I'm used to another product. Key board shortcuts are a given in any daw.

The shortcuts overlay is incoming. I did state that I hadn't yet created my own Template/enviroment. Thankyou for the screen sets tip. I shall investigate. I feel like I'm a little cramped on my laptop screen currently. So hopefully the Screensets will resolve this. 

Danny1969

The thing with Protools is it's strength is built on the software's integration with it's own hardware. I've had (and still have) the original D24 card system with the DSP Farm cards, then Protools Mix with Mix Farm cards then HD with core and accel  cards. For a tracking a band I would rather use any of those systems than a modern mac and Logic  \ PC with  Cubase etc because you can setup zero latency stereo headphone mixes for the band and monitor directly through the software. 

For mixing and editing or recording at home any of the modern DAW's are fine although Protool's still offers the best plugs, the best drum editing and it's the easiest software to learn if you have a background in hardware analog audio. 

.