What is pro tools?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nick The Man
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Nick The Man

Nick The Man

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??????????????????? tottaly clueless...... somethin i havent researched
 
pro tools is a software designed to operate primarily with other pro tools made hardware. For instance a pro tools mixer would operate with a pro tools sound card and both those would be connected to the pro tools software. The software is what lets you mix, master, edit, and control the recorded tracks. The sound card is where you would directly plug your instrument chords into like microphones and such. Pro tools also happens to be the industry standard for DAW's which are all types of computer based recording programs. Only recently have other companies, like Steinberg with their program CUBASE SX3, been able to match the quality and freedom found with pro tools. For short, pro tools is what the PROfessionals use. However keep in mind, now a days you can use Cubase and/or other softwares for cheaper and come realitively close to the same quality. Hope that somes it up for ya.
 
Samplitude, and Nuendo can match, if not kill Pro-Tools in a number of ways. Pro-Tools "did it first" so they have a foothold and "Legacy" status in studios and academia and IS a very nice piece of kit. Pro-Tools is almost a generic term in many circles, but make no mistake about it, there are better progs out there.
 
I agree...they're all about their legacy. But other companies are jumping foward every year with better and better software. Pro tools kinda just sits their and takes baby steps foward. At that rate, it can't be the best for ever...it just had a head start cuz it was the first on the scene.
 
I agree that many programs can match the quality of pro tools, but in my opinion, the greatest thing about pro tools is that since it is the industry standard, when you have it, you are compatible with the majority of the professional studios. In my case, I send stuff that I record out of my bedroom to a guy that I know in Nashville that owns a studio. Also, since it is a well known program, many other programs try hard to make their software compatible with pro tools...for examle, IK Multimedia's Amplitube, Sample Tank, and T-Racks. I personally still believe that Pro Tools is the best, and I would not trade my unit for something else...but many people today are experimenting with the different software, and getting good results.
 
i guess i was wrong in saying i was clueless i just said that so i would get a full responce

and it ended but being pretty much exactly what i thought it was

the only thing i dont understad is that you have to buy specific machines that work with pro tools

am i wrong in saying that?
 
Nick The Man said:
i guess i was wrong in saying i was clueless i just said that so i would get a full responce

and it ended but being pretty much exactly what i thought it was

the only thing i dont understad is that you have to buy specific machines that work with pro tools

am i wrong in saying that?
Click to expand...

No, that is correct. ProTools software requires the purchase of proprietary hardware to function.
 
Yes typically you need only pro tools hardware to work with their software, however this has slightly changed just very recently. (which I'm surprised nobody mentioned yet) A few months ago the same company that owns pro tools bought out "M-audio" and has recently changed things so that now pro tools software and m-audio hardware are compatible. This is important to point out because in the past pro tools was usually very expensive. The digi002 for example is about 1200 bucks for only 4 inputs! But now, you can get a cheap m-audio 2 channel card AND the pro tools software all for just over 300 bucks. Personally, I think that move is going to keep pro tools very competetive in the field of low budget home recording. However, if you are looking for a practical sound card I still would recomend going with an 8 channel Firepod and purchassing some sort of software that's compatible to that. The reason being that Firepods can daisy chain together so that you can hook up to 4 of them up to one computer and have up to 24 simultaneous tracks for recording! (typically pro tools users are limited to 8 or 12 simultaneous tracks) Furthermore, pro tools software has a limit of 32 tracks that can be played back at the same time while other softwares have no limits. This means if you have a very in depth recording you might run out of room. It's just little things like that to think about when making your decision.
 
For the record, the Digi 002/002R has 18 inputs that can operate simulaneously. 8 analog, 8 ADAT, and 2 S/PDIF. There are only 4 mic preamps, so maybe that's where you got confused. Also, to use the ADAT and S/PDIF inputs you need to buy additional hardware that spits out ADAT or S/PDIF signals.
 
Hubbawho said:
Yes typically you need only pro tools hardware to work with their software, however this has slightly changed just very recently. (which I'm surprised nobody mentioned yet) A few months ago the same company that owns pro tools bought out "M-audio" and has recently changed things so that now pro tools software and m-audio hardware are compatible. This is important to point out because in the past pro tools was usually very expensive.
Click to expand...
Yeah, up until very recently, i had no interest in protools. Now that it is pretty damn affordable because of my soundcard, it has rekindled my interest. It's mainly the convenice factor that every studio, and every friend i know who works in a studio and has i home set up owns it. That greatly simplifies things.
 
AlexW said:
For the record, the Digi 002/002R has 18 inputs that can operate simulaneously. 8 analog, 8 ADAT, and 2 S/PDIF. There are only 4 mic preamps, so maybe that's where you got confused. Also, to use the ADAT and S/PDIF inputs you need to buy additional hardware that spits out ADAT or S/PDIF signals.
Click to expand...


That's essentially what I meant. Thanks for clearifying that. However 18 inputs when you only have 4 mic preamps isn't nearly as good as a Firepod's 10 inputs and 8 preamps. (and it's ability to daisy chain with other firepods)
 
Actually, what you said is that PT users are limited to 8 or 12 tracks.
 
The big advantage to ProTools is the "industry standard" thing. At least here in LA, if you go to any professional recording studio, soundstage, or post house, it will be PT. That is the beginning and end of it, it's the defacto standard. So as a result, many of the smaller project/home studios are using PT to be able to easily interface with the bigger places and the post houses. PT sessions are the expected delivery format to the editing/mixing rooms.

Whatever features other DAW's may have become less important than the compatibility issue, if you are working in this segment of the business. If you are working in a home studio environment and don't have to concern yourself with interfacing with pro studios or post production houses, then you have the enviable luxury of being able to pick your own favorite software and hardware.

That said, I do find PT to be a great piece of software, even if it is missing some of the bells and wistles other programs might have. PT is very mature and stable and puts the important stuff right at your fingertips, where it is easy and fast to work with.
 
Yeah I've recorded 15 tracks at once before, so 8 to 12 is bs. Another thing is everyone bitches about how expensive it is. Add the cost of lets say logic pro to something like the firepod that equals 1600 bucks to the 002r's 1200 plus you can add a digimax lt for around 700 thats 1900 bucks for 12 mic pres not 8 and IMO a much better interface. When you step back and really look at it, its no more expensive that anything else, what it does lack however is good softsynths and high track counts, you're limited to 32 however you can get around that.
 
Well, I would be surprised if I ever needed 32 + tracks out, but I'm a minimalist. I went to Pro Tools for some compatibility with other studios, as others here have. Pro Tools, as a concept, is firmware. If you have to use Digidesign hardware with the thing, it has to be *good* hardware. Most people use the 002R, the rack mount unit. I have the mixer version, 002. It has proven itself a good digital mixer in standalone mode. Mostly, I do small acoustic acts and Classical and folk ensembles. If I have to mic up a kit, I can always have some mixer quality additional pres with an octane or even Behringer ADA8000. What I'm considering is a standalone convertor to make better use of those 8 light pipe channels. My twinQ can talk to an optical ADAT, so right now I'm running 10 tracks, soon 18. Hell, I don't have the rooms to mic up more than 18 sources. Oh well, Pro Tools. It's a learning curve. The pres in the 002 are useable, but nothing special. Touch sensitive faders are so cool! I'll admit, the first time I put a mouse on a virtual fader, moved it, and watched the motorized fader move to match it, that was a great moment.-Richie
 
please do not confuse Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools TDM.
Pro Tools LE was geared towards the home users/small project studios who don't have a need for more than 32 tracks. People who constantly need more than 32 should look into upgrading to TDM anyway. Not only can you mix more than 32 tracks at a time, but you can also record more than 32 tracks at a time (up to 96 I/Os simultaneously....i don't know of any other hardware that you can do that with). But then again, I doubt any project studio needs that much.
 
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