Help me understand..

[paw1]

I'm Not trying to offend anyone, I'm just trying to solve a mystery: Why the heck would anyone buy the non-HD version of ProTools 10?

It costs about the same as the full version of Cubase 6, about four times as much as Logic Pro 9, is limited to 32 tracks (or something like that), comes with inferior stock plug-ins (can't verify that myself), and just seems to be generally limited due to its bigger brother, the HD(X).

The only advantage I can think of is PTs claimed superiority in the editing-compartment. But really, could it be so much better than what the competitors are offering?

The reason I'm asking is because I'm in the process of upgrading my home studio, which isn't much at the time. Currently I use PTLE 7.4 with an MBox2. I just feel that the other DAWs mentioned (Cubase, Logic) offer so much more, and that a LE (or non-HD) version of PT will always be very limiting.

Am I missing something here?

 

[Steenamaroo]

I'll not defend Pro Tools to the hilt, it does have its problems, but I think your observations are a little off.
I don't know 10, but going on 9.....
I think the maximum number of tracks you can have is 128 or something; 512 if you have the music production toolkit.

32 is the number of simultaneous tracks you can record.
Just my opinion, but i don't imagine that's a big restriction on any home users. I don't imagine many of us have more than 16 or 24 inputs anyway, but i could certainly be wrong.

That puts PT9 on a par with PT9 HD1 which i think is pretty reasonable.

What's more worrying to me is the limit they've put on ADC. If you exceed the limit on any given track (which can happen with only one plugin), then you effectively don't have ADC any more.

I own plugins that i can't use without going back to manually delaying tracks. How crappy is that?

They claim to have quadrupled the limit in PT10, but i haven't used that yet so IDK for sure.


But to answer your question, there are three main reasons in my opinion.

Familiarity. Maybe you learned it at college or whatever?
Compatibility. People still believe that it's important to be compatible with other studios by using the 'industry standard'
Hype. Kinda ties in with the above, but they really know how to sell that shit huh?

 

[Track Rat]

To my mind the only reason to have ProTools and that's portability between studios. I have had a ProTools/MAC system once upon a time but sold it and went with PC/Cakewalk. I don't need the portability and PT is just too expensive.

 

[paw1]

Steenamaroo, you're probably right about the track-numbering, so that's less of a worry (will never use more than 128 tracks anyway). The issue with ACD, which you mentioned, is more of a worry, although less if its limit's been quadrupled. Still, I don't understand why I should spend the same amount, or more money, on a limited DAW, when the options seems to be just as good, but not limited. I really couldn't care less about Pro Tools being "industry standard" as I'm only interested in making my music as good as possible in my own environment. Still, more comments are welcomed.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I really couldn't care less

'atta boy

If that's the case, there really isn't a good reason for your to buy it IMO, and I'm a PT user.

If I were you, I would just look at other equally/more capable daws.

I think if i was starting over I'd look at reaper or logic, but I'm not really interested in changing things up now. I'm too comfortable using Pro Tools.

 

[Washburn100]

Never did understand the loyalty to PT. When I started recording a few years ago, I was shocked that you had to have "special hardware" to use PT. That turned me off and I went with Cakewalk as well. I know the new version allows any hardware, but too little too late. And this ACD bullshit, sheesh. With Cakewalk (and most other DAWs) arm, record, insert plugs, no need to piss around with delay compensation crap, the software does it for you.

 

[paw1]

'atta boy

If that's the case, there really isn't a good reason for your to buy it IMO, and I'm a PT user.

If I were you, I would just look at other equally/more capable daws.

I think if i was starting over I'd look at reaper or logic, but I'm not really interested in changing things up now. I'm too comfortable using Pro Tools.

Well, as I earlier stated, I'm a Pro Tools user as well When I bought PT LE 7 some years ago, I really had no clue, and I really didn't know about the competitors. I just wanted to learn how to record and I guess it was a bit of an impulse (some times I just get an idea which I just HAVE to execute asap). Right now I have no problems using PT 7.4, but as I will be moving on to better equipment and better (and bigger) productions with more plug-ins, I can image how pissed off I'd become if I bought some DAW which limited my potential.

If I had a HD-version of Pro Tools though, I'd probably still use it or even upgrade to 10.

Thank you all for your opinions. Guess these observations have convinced people to not choose Pro Tools many times before me.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Putting it that way, I don't think Pro tools will really limit your creativity or capabilities.

If you like using it and would like to stick with it, upgrade with no fears.

If you want to jump ship, there's a solid argument for that too.

Honestly, it really is as simple as preference; I mean, i know i keep bringing up the ADC thing, but it just means there's one plug that i just don't use. Sure that's annoying, but that aside, I'm happy with PT.

 

[paw1]

The problem is that upgrading from PT LE 7 to some HD version would cost a fortune. It's simply more affordable to buy a full version of another DAW.

Maybe PT10 (non-HD) wouldn't limit me in any way at all, but I'm not going to take the risk to find out. When there are equally-priced and cheaper alternatives that won't limit me like any PT non-HD version could potentially do, I don't see any reason to go the PT-route. Not bashing PT at all, but I feel that the competitors offer basically the same as a HD-system but for a fraction of the price.

Like I asked in the start of the thread: Is there anything I'm missing? Or is Avid able to take four times the price of other DAWs, which are just as functional, because of their reputation and the fact that PT is the standard in the world of commercial recording?