Pro Tools SE

[Gaetano Capuano]

My wife just got me a Avid Keystation for Christmas. I am siked. I really dig this little keyboard and will be using it with Abelton. It came with Pro Tools SE, I just wanted to know if this software is any good?

[tomerikac]

Well......not so good. protools se software came with the m-audio audio interface I bought. My old desk top could not handle the CD download, so I purchased a Toshiba laptop, i5 processor, 750 gb hard drive, 2.2ghz, 5400 rpm processor, 6 gb ram memory. It seemed to work well for a few days, but quickly ran into "error codes," losing tracks, tracks would not record, recorded tracks trurning to white noise, not able to reopen past recordings. A quick look at youtube showd some fella "saving" each track as it was recorded. This did not help me. I mean this thing really went haywire. I was told that perhaps I needed to visit the protools sight to download a driver. But hey, what was on the 2 discs I downloaded??? Besides, my laptop would terminate dowload half way through process. I'm thinking that protools is a very nice software program and for my needs (a little amateur home recording with my keyboard and guitar) I'm thinking that the se would be adequate. I checked the user manual and the only specifications they give on a laptop that will handle the program is that one needs at least a 2.0ghz processor (the i5 has 2.2) and at least 5400 rpm hard drive (the laptop has this). Can someone out there give me some ideas??? I'm thinking that either A) I need to get a laptop with a bigger processor (only because the boys at Staples and Best Buy claim that is my problem, they want to sell me a laptop with an i7 processor (another $200 at least). or B) I need to start over again with the download. Maybe uninstall and start over. or C) Maybe I need to go to a more user friendly software audio recording program. Any ideas? Thanks so much and happy recording.

[Steenamaroo]

Hi there,

There are a couple of things I'm not following here.

so I purchased a Toshiba laptop, i5 processor, 750 gb hard drive, 2.2ghz, 5400 rpm processor, 6 gb ram memory.

This is a great setup. You don't need to upgrade.

My old desk top could not handle the CD download

What do you mean? Were you downloading software from the internet or is there a physical disc.

A quick look at youtube showd some fella "saving" each track as it was recorded. This did not help me.

This might be a good work around for a heavy session that's overloading the computer
How many tracks are you running? You almost certainly shouldn't have to do this.

I checked the user manual and the only specifications they give on a laptop that will handle the program is that one needs at least a 2.0ghz processor (the i5 has 2.2)

They're most likely referencing core2duo technology too, so either way you're definitely in the clear.

I need to start over again with the download. Maybe uninstall and start over. or C) Maybe I need to go to a more user friendly software audio recording program. Any ideas?

You say you had Pro Tools SE running, so what's the download?

It seemed to work well for a few days, but quickly ran into "error codes," losing tracks, tracks would not record, recorded tracks trurning to white noise, not able to reopen past recordings.

What operating system do you have? Is your version of Pro Tools supported?

It shouldn't be this problematic so there's probably a simple solution but reaper is a cracking alternative software suite if you end up having long term problems.



What were your error codes?

[tomerikac]

Hello, Steenamaroo. I'll try to answer your questions here.
1- Yes, I was advised that and i5 processor with at least 6gb of RAM should be plenty power.
2-Originally, I was trying to download the program from the two CDs software program that came with my m-audio interface onto my old laptop. It didn't have the memory for it.
3- I was only running 2-3 tracks. A drum track from the program, a piano track I played on my Yamaha motif, and a bass track, also from the motif.
4- A friend of mine had difficulty downloading his audio recording software (I'm not sure which) and he had told me that he had to eventually donload a driver from the software sight. Yes, I had assumed that the driver would have been included in the 2 CDs download.
5- Yes, the protools software seemed fine at first but gradually became worse and worse.
6- The system is Windows 7, and it is listed as compatible with the software.
I wound up taking the laptop back to Staples (they were the ones who told me that "it probably couldn't handle the program. The tatooed, pierced manager mentioned his roommate who had to buy a $2000 computer to handle his pro tools system. I'm wondering if that program was much more advanced than the se.
As I recall, the error code was "DAE error 9060." Repeatedly.
So, I'm considering purchasing an HP laptop (i5, 750 gb, 5400 rpm, 8gb RAM) for around the same price and it has the Beats audio system to boot and trying again. Any suggestions? Thanks so much for your response.

[Steenamaroo]

These guys are just full of shit if you'll pardon my language.

If you're running a few simple tracks there absolutely no need for a big powerful setup and to be honest, you've already got one anyway.

I run PT9 on my macbook. 2.3ghz i5, 4gbram. Easily 30-40 tracks dripping with effects.


Anyway, You're using an maudio interface and Pro tools se, so I'd recommend updating the software for both of these online if you can.
Pro tools should have a 'check for updates' in the help menu or somewhere like that.

The maudio drivers you'll just have to look for, but they'll be on AVID.com I guess.

Once you know for sure you're fully up to date, let us know what's happening, ok?


edit* Where are you saving your sessions to?
Try a different location, or better yet an external hard drive.

[tomerikac]

Thanks, Steenamaroo for the expertise. I'm looking forward to getting a new laptop this weekend and starting over with the downloads. I'll check the websites for any updates and keep you posted. Actually, I really liked the pro tools when it was working. I'll also check out reaper. Thanks again, and take care.

[Steenamaroo]

No sweat. Let us know, yeah?

[tomerikac]

No sweat. Let us know, yeah?

Hello, Steenamaroo. I hope all is well. So, you're from the land of the Beatles!! Forgive me, I'm a 59 yr old product of the 60s and back then....well, you just had to be there. I had hoped to be up and running by now but would appreciate your opinion on one more thing. I have put off purchasing a nice laptop for my home audio recording till I finish investigaitng the importance of a 7200rpm processor over a 5400rpm processor. On some forums I've read that, without a doubt, for recording purposes a 7200 rpm is needed. Othrs claim that unless you're going to be running/recording many (maybe more than 10-12 tracks with effects, or recording 3 or more tracks simultaneoudly) that a 5400rpm is more than adequate. Plus I've read that it is common and highly recommended to run an external hard drive (price $100-$200) for recording, separate from storage. So, a nice laptop (Toshiba, HP, Dell) laptop with 750gb hard i5 processor 5400rpm, 6gb ram runs for around $599 here. However, looking on line at Dell refurbished or scratch and dent, I can pick up a dell laptop with the above specs, plus a 7200 rpm processor for about $560.

Gets a little complicated. But I'm thinking that if I can get by with a 5400rpm processor with the little recording I'll be doing (probably 1 track at a time with my yamaha motif/vocal/guitar) maybe up to about 10 tracks) then if and when things get more complicated and I eventually know what I'm doing, I'll add a 7200rpm external processor to speed things along. Does this sound like logical and practical approach to you? Hey, thanks again for your input. Take care an d happy recording.

[Steenamaroo]

Hello, Steenamaroo. I hope all is well. So, you're from the land of the Beatles!! Forgive me, I'm a 59 yr old product of the 60s and back then....well, you just had to be there.

I wish I had been. Might have got a job back then :P



Hi Tom. All's well thanks for asking. Hope it's the same with you.


A 5400 drive can go a long way but a 7200 external is generally the recommended setup I guess.

I think your idea is absolutely the best.
Work with what you have, see how it goes, and if you run into issues just plug in an external drive later on.

You can't really lose doing it that way round.



I did my entire university project session (which was hefty) from a 5400 drive, all be it, just about.lol.

Hope that helps.


PS. In my opinion software hasn't expanded at the same rate as hardware recently.
People are running the same stuff they had on their core2duo machines on their new i5/i7 machines.

Any laptop with an i* processor is going to be very capable.

[tomerikac]

Hello, Steenamaroo. Sorry to hear about your job situation. Personally, I'm about to retire (couple more years) as a Middle School Spanish teacher. It's been a long haul. About 25 years. Anyway, I'm interested in your masters thesis on a 5400 rpm processor. Was it a musical composition? How many tracks? Last time we talked I was convinced that I could get by with a 5400 and just add a 7200 rpm hard drive to the system. Most everyone is recommending running the software through a different hard drive than the recording itself. If that makes sense. Can I run the pro tools software through my laptop then recod my tracks onto an external hard drive? Anyway, I'm going to go (I think) with the scratch and dent dell inspiron 17r laptop, i5 processor, 6gb ram, 7200 rpm processor speed because 1) It's about $60 cheaper than the models I see advertised now and they just have 5400 rpm processors and 2)just about everyone is saying that you'll never regret getting the 7200 over the 5400. I'll still get the 7200 external hard drive. After my initial experience with the pro tools se program, I would rather overkill than run into some difficulties. Anyway, keep in touch and let me know how that 5400rpm processor did for you. Take care........mate.