Industry compatable... Help please!

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Change of POETS

Change of POETS

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Hello all.

I'm running into some issues with my clients (mixing) as of late, because I can't import ProTools sessions.

I just lost a $1500 project last week because of it, and that sealed the deal for me...

I need ProTools. I can't find anything online, for an entry level software-only ProTools system. You can't just purchase LE 7.1 or whatever, you have to buy the M-Box2 or the Digi002 setup, and I don't need that. I just need the software, so I can import the sessions.

I'm not a PT fan, so I don't care to record with it at all... I don't do much (if any) production, so I could care less about having a Digi002 setup.

Has anyone ran into these problems? What did you do to become Industry Compatable?

Can anyone guide me to where or how I can get the ProTools software alone? I'd hate to spend $450 on the M-Box setup just for the software....

Does anyone know if you can buy the software for PC without any hardware?

Thanks.

-Brian
 
You can't.

The software won't work with any other interface other than Digidesign or M-audio.

What you might consider is just getting an M-audio Audiophile or something and picking up a copy of Pro-tools M-powered ... and just use that for mixing. You could still track with whatever hardware and program you're currently using.

.
 
chessrock said:
You can't.

The software won't work with any other interface other than Digidesign or M-audio.

What you might consider is just getting an M-audio Audiophile or something and picking up a copy of Pro-tools M-powered ... and just use that for mixing. You could still track with whatever hardware and program you're currently using.

.

I was afraid of that.

Such a crock.
 
i had this problem about this time last year. lost two projects cuz i wasnt a pro fool. i went ahead and got myself an mbox 2. to tell you the truth, i really like protools now. i still have the mbox 2, but i just upgraded to a 002r. i quickly needed more IO directly to the computer. however, i still use my alesis hd24 as a AD converter. the converters on the mbox and 002 are a bit muddy IMO. i still accasionally use vegas, and it works just dandy with the digidesign hardware. i really dont regret the descision.
 
Change of POETS said:
Such a crock.

not really when you think about it. digidesign is a hardware company, they use the software to sell hardware. they don't make money on the software, the dealer price is astonishingly low for PTLE.

that being said, you should be able to use OMF's in logic, nuendo, sonar and cubase.
 
fraserhutch said:
Welcome to the wonderful world of Digidesign.
"All for one brand, and one brand for all!" :cool:

G.
 
that being said, you should be able to use OMF's in logic, nuendo, sonar and cubase.

...so then why the f#$k doesn't digi provide this awesome capability, considering you pay more for their stuff than you do for these other programs...it's bullshit if you ask me...

correct me if i'm wrong here, but the OMF upgrade for digi is like over a grand?
 
blueroommusic said:
...so then why the f#$k doesn't digi provide this awesome capability, considering you pay more for their stuff than you do for these other programs...it's bullshit if you ask me...

correct me if i'm wrong here, but the OMF upgrade for digi is like over a grand?

there's a slew of low-cost products, anyone can get into this game at any price-point. but if you want to run with the big dogs, you have to pay like the big dogs. the digitranslator software is what you're referring to, and not only does it allow for compatibility between other audio apps, but the biggie here is Avid. post houses everywhere need to be able to send their projects to PT for sweetening. and $500 a pop for translator package, i'm guessing that's a big chunk of change for digi.

are digi the pariahs because they're at the top of the heap cost-wise? should they just give away everything they make, just to be nice?
 
Whether we like it or not, it is the way it is. Personally, I do not like it, which is why I have not yet added Pro Tools to my arsenal. However, I do firmly believe that Digidesign has every right to market THEIR product however they choose to do so. Digidesign runs things in such a manner for many reasons. Some of which I agree with, some of which I do not.

I also do not buy that anyone lost a project just because they do or don't have Pro Tools. All that was really lost was a POTENTIAL client. many of my clients ask about Pro Tools. However, my work and experience is what gains and/or loses clients, not my software. If someone does not come to my studio because I do not have Pro Tools, it means they were not sold on me or my work anyways which means the project really was not mine. If $500 is too much to invest to get a $1500 client, than something else is wrong....
 
My main rig is a MOTU/Digital Performer setup, complete with MOTU interfaces as well. But I needed PT compatibility and bought into the Digidesign thing. I also started with an Mbox and then moved to a Digi 002R. Now I use both MOTU and PT, depending on the project.

That one $1,500 gig you lost would have easily paid for either the Mbox2 or Digi 002R, and you'd have had some change left over.

If that's what your clients need or if that's what it takes to get the gig, then spend the money and don't look back. It's just the cost of doing business. I've spent tons and tons of money on gear in order to get a gig, keep a gig, or do a gig better.
 
xstatic said:
Whether we like it or not, it is the way it is. Personally, I do not like it, which is why I have not yet added Pro Tools to my arsenal. However, I do firmly believe that Digidesign has every right to market THEIR product however they choose to do so. Digidesign runs things in such a manner for many reasons. Some of which I agree with, some of which I do not.

I also do not buy that anyone lost a project just because they do or don't have Pro Tools. All that was really lost was a POTENTIAL client. many of my clients ask about Pro Tools. However, my work and experience is what gains and/or loses clients, not my software. If someone does not come to my studio because I do not have Pro Tools, it means they were not sold on me or my work anyways which means the project really was not mine. If $500 is too much to invest to get a $1500 client, than something else is wrong....
I've mixed and mastered 3 projects for this client already. He owns and operates a small indie label with 12 artists on it.

The reason I lost this project, was because the Artist turned in the album, in PT sessions. They were in a time crunch to get the album through to pressing as it's releasing August 22nd worldwide. So they didn't have time to convert the sessions to wav, so I could mix it.

This pushed me into the decision, that I need to buy ProTools to be compatable for these types of instances.

So, it looks like I'll need at minimum, and Audiophile 2496 and ProTools M-Audio Edition (LE 7.1) for $350+ tax etc...

Or, Just go with an Mbox2 setup...

Any opinions on which is better?
 
Change of POETS said:
This pushed me into the decision, that I need to buy ProTools to be compatable for these types of instances.

this may help you do a comparison of each of the products that run Pro Tools
http://protoolsforum.com/ProToolsLE1.html

sorry it didn't work out....do you know if the client even had the Digitranslator option? Sounds like to me a client like that who sends off his work to other studios to be mixed should invest in that option too...but of course you can't tell them that (it's a catch-22 ;) )
 
Personally, I would go with the Mbox 2 for portability, and that it has more features. However, there is a chance that you may end up wanting to expand later. In this case, you may want to go the M Audio route because adding more inoputs that way will be much more cost effective down the road (based on current market prices and offerings).

I also would not look at this as a client lost. If they really paid attention, this would not have snuck up like this. I do feel your pain though. I lose a lot of business to all the little studios popping up. Somehow bands seem to think that they can save money and get the same results. The good news for me is that it only happens to each band once. In the long term, I am the only studio in my area that has withstood the test of time. If you look at the big picture, all the little home setups are my best source of advertising.
 
bennychico11 said:
this may help you do a comparison of each of the products that run Pro Tools
http://protoolsforum.com/ProToolsLE1.html

sorry it didn't work out....do you know if the client even had the Digitranslator option? Sounds like to me a client like that who sends off his work to other studios to be mixed should invest in that option too...but of course you can't tell them that (it's a catch-22 ;) )
Thanks for the link, Benny. Appreciated.

xstatic, I am one of those home studios. :)

Except, I used to work at a Million dollar facility, and I actually know what I'm doing. :D
 
I'd go with the Mbox. It sounds like you just need the software compatibility, but you may find it handy to have a little box like that you can easily carry around.
 
SonicAlbert said:
I'd go with the Mbox. It sounds like you just need the software compatibility, but you may find it handy to have a little box like that you can easily carry around.
Honestly, what's the benefit of that?

I've never had an opportunity arise in the last 6 years, where I needed to track anything outside of my studio. So, what other reason would there be to drop an extra $100+...? :confused:
 
See, I'm coming from the other side, where my question is: why *wouldn't* you spend the extra $100?

I use MOTU audio and midi interfaces with MOTU software, and I use a Digidesign audio interface with PT software. So far, my experience on both has been flawless. I know that M-Audio is supposed to work with PT, and it probably does without any problems. But I personally would want the software and the hardware to be as closely matched as possible.

That's worth $100 to me, and frankly $100 is next to nothing when it comes to software and pro audio gear.
 
SonicAlbert said:
See, I'm coming from the other side, where my question is: why *wouldn't* you spend the extra $100?

I use MOTU audio and midi interfaces with MOTU software, and I use a Digidesign audio interface with PT software. So far, my experience on both has been flawless. I know that M-Audio is supposed to work with PT, and it probably does without any problems. But I personally would want the software and the hardware to be as closely matched as possible.

That's worth $100 to me, and frankly $100 is next to nothing when it comes to software and pro audio gear.
Ok, I follow you.

That is a good point. I'm going to search some forums and see if there are any problems with M-Audio users and their PT configurations.

Thanks.
 
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