Testing Pro Tools 8 (OSX)

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I have also moved to PT 8 on OSX 10.5.5.

I still have OSX 10.4.10 and PT 7.4.2 as a safety net.

PT 8 is very good, and certainly worth the upgrade in my opinion. The extras alone are worth the cost. The new interface is also a big welcome, as are the new graphics.

However, here are a few things that are not good, although they reside with 3rd party companies and not Digidesign.

1. EZ Drummer loads and plays, albeit with a few quirks. Nashville & Percussion modules do not load their samples. You get their MIDI loops, but no sounds. I have uninstalled the said modules and then re-installed to no avail. The Mixer and MIDI loops windows do not open either, which makes the software 90% unuseable....
2. IK Multimedia Amplitube 2 works fine until you access the Tuner and switch it on. Pro Tools freezes and the computer has to be re-started.
3. WaveArts 5.3 works, albeit the Panaroma plug-in is not loaded at PT start-up. You get a message to dump it in the Plugins (Unused) folder.


That's it so far. I am in the studio again shortly to put PT 8 more through its paces. If this is interesting for you all, I can gladly continue to update this info.

 

[Biskopen]

Spectrasonics RMX 1.6.1 also has a problem.

The sound bank, regardless of how you link it to the plugin, does not find the samples - even when it says it has???

 

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Just got a call from a local rock band requiring a weekend session this friday. So I will be able to check out how PT 8 and OSX 10.5.5 fair in a pro recording setup.

This will be an audio-only session, so I am interested in seeing how the new pitch plugin works on the vocals, as well as how the new comping of tracks feature works.

Again, I´ll keep you all posted!

 

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Another update.

The band are in now as they would have had to wait til the new year. I am heavily booked right now..

They have set up the gear and I will be setting the mics tomorrow. Recording starts tomorrow at 17:00 and will run for 2 days.

I will let you know how PT 8 fairs afterwards....

 

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PT 8 Session Results

I recorded a trio band (punky rocky type music).

Tracks as follows:
Kick Shure Audix D2 / TLAudio Fat2 Valve Compressor
Kick Shure SM7
Snare Top Audix D4 / Samson C-Valve
Snare Bottom Shure SM57 / Samson C-Valve
Toms 1 & 2 (1 Audix D2) / T1952 Valve Compressor
Floor Tom Audix D2 / T1952 Valve Compressor
Overheads Audix ADX51 / Samson C-16 Stereo Compressor (spaced pair on cymbals)
Bass DI (Radial J48) / ALTO compressor
Bass Cab (Ampeg Combo) Audix D2
Rythm/Solo Guitar DI (Radial J48)
Rythm Guitar / Line6 Spider Valve/ SM57 Top / AKG C414 Bottom
Solo Guitar / Line6 Spider Valve / SM57 Top / AKG C414 Bottom plus software amp setup emulation from Line 6 Gearbox
Vocals Røde K2 with Sovtek replacement valve

All tracks were recorded via a Malcom Toft ATB analog console. The band were recorded together in the same room (Studio 1). Cue was supplied on different lines to accomodate the volume differences between the musicians.

Pro Tools handled the whole session brilliantly!

Sample rate was 44.1/24bit. Buffers were set at 64, for the initial recording of the first 15 tracks. Solo and Vocal tracks were recorded post without any problems (at a constant 64 buffers). Impressive.

The session was recorded on a Mac Pro with OSX 10.5.5, 8 GB ram and one of four internal 500GB SATA drives.

From the list above, it is easy to see that I used a good portion of both high quality and semi-pro equipment. So far, the audio result is excellent sounding.

I am now in the process of editing and mixing and will get back to you all with those results too.

 

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Okay, the good news is that I still am working with PT, but back in 7.4.2.

Either PT8 has the problem, or it´s related to OSX 10.5.5, but I have hit a serious flaw when using PT8.

I have been recording multitrack songs all in the same session. 2 stereo audio tracks, 2 mono audio tracks, 1 Aux for Reverb and the Master Bus.

Once the songs are recorded, the problem start when editing. A simple placement of the curser at a designated part in the timeline, followed by CMD + E (cut at curser), causes PT8 to crash. The rolling ball appears and PT8 must be force closed.

I managed to export all files to PT 7.4.2, but will not be reviewing PT8 further until the big boys have sussed it out.

Pity - it was great when it worked.....

 

[pezking]

Try pressing B instead assuming you have command focus on.