Pro Tools
 

[IMG]http://i19.tinypic.com/3ydit6w.jpg[/IMG]

Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation which integrates hardware and software. It is widely used by professionals in music production, post production, TV and film scoring.

As one of the first programs to provide CD-quality (16 bit and 44.1 kHz) multitrack digital audio editing on a personal computer, Pro Tools quickly grew in the sound recording field. It originally became popular because of its simple, streamlined interface for non-linear, non-destructive editing. This appealed to analog producers making the switch to computer-based digital audio production. Digidesign received a technical Academy Award of Merit for the development of Pro Tools in 2004.

Pro Tools is criticized for its lack of support for musical notation. However in 2006, Avid acquired Sibelius music notation software company. Pro Tools 7.3 supports exporting to Sibelius.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Pro Tools systems
* 2 Pro Tools timeline of releases
* 3 Current Pro Tools Hardware
* 4 External links

[edit] Pro Tools systems
Pro Tools HD3 System
Pro Tools HD3 System
The 192I/O interface for the ProTools HD
The 192I/O interface for the ProTools HD

The professional-level Pro Tools|HD system uses PCI or PCI Express cards to perform audio processing on DSP (digital signal processing) chips to reduce computing burden on the CPU. Similarly, it utilizes TDM (a proprietary interconnect based on time-division multiplexing) to communicate with external I/O devices and other DSP cards to reduce burden on the computer's PCI bus.

Pro Tools HD uses three types of PCI-X / PCIe cards. When Pro Tools HD was launched, the HD Core and HD Process were the 2 cards that were available. Each Pro Tools system requires at least 1 Core card. Later, owing to supply problems from DSP manufacturers Motorola, the line was given a revamp and rebranded HD Accel. The HD Core card remained the standard basic card, but the HD Accel Process card replaced the HD Process. Accel cards offer faster DSP chips and additional RAM compared to Process cards. All cards contain 9 DSP chips. Digidesign offer the cards in 3 bundles (HD 1, 2 and 3). A core is common to all, but the latter two have one or two Process or Accel cards respectively. Additional Process and Accel cards may be added to a system to increase capability (it is possible to mix the types), up to a total of 7 cards. Digidesign offers a PCI-X expansion chassis product called 'Expansion HD' to accommodate larger systems. This is available with both PCI-X and PCIe host cards for the computer.

When Apple changed the expansion slot architecture of the G5 to PCI Express (PCIe), Digidesign launched a line of PCIe HD Accel cards. It's interesting that the PCIe HD Core is now an 'Accel Core', whereas the original PCI-X Core remains 'non-Accel'. This is relevant since there are TDM plugins that require the presence of Accel chips to run. As of 22nd October 2006, there is no Windows software support for PCIe HD cards.

Prosumer-level systems (such as the Digi 003, Digi 003 Rack, and MBox 2 family) perform all processing on the host CPU. Prosumer systems offer limited track counts, 32 (or 48 with Music Production Toolkit or DV Toolkit options) in LE vs. up to 192 in HD, fewer internal routing options, and a feature-reduced version of the Pro Tools application (called Pro Tools LE, or Limited Edition). Pro Tools LE also only supports up to 16 outputs (8 analog, 8 ADAT optical on 002/003), without surround capabilities. An HD system's outputs depend on the number and configuration of interfaces, also surround sound output (i.e. 5.1, 7.1 etc.), is possible.

A fairly new addition to the range is the ICON: Integrated Console Environment, combining a tactile control surface and a Pro Tools|HD Accel system in one unit. Designed as a replacement for existing analog studio consoles, it attempts to give the user the feel and control of an analog system, but with a powerful Pro Tools core. A similar system (VENUE) was release for live sound applications.

In April 2005, Digidesign released Pro Tools M-Powered which brought almost all Pro Tools LE functionality to a subset of M-Audio USB, Firewire and PCI interfaces.

"Pro Tools Free" was released as a free version of Pro Tools 5.x. It is limited to 8 audio tracks and 48 MIDI tracks. It will only run on Windows 98/ME and Mac OS 9. There was also "PowerMix" version of Pro Tools 3.4-4.3 that was able to run on Macintosh built-in audio.

An official Pro Tools training curriculum and certification program was introduced by Digidesign in 2002. It includes a full range of Pro Tools–related courses in music and post production. The curriculum is delivered by a number of schools and universities around the world.

[edit] Pro Tools timeline of releases

* 1989 - Sound Tools stereo recording & editing system
* 1991 - Original Pro Tools system is released featuring 4 voices, ProDECK and ProEDIT software, MIDI, and automation
* 1994 - Pro Tools III system, provides 16-48 voices
* 1997 - Pro Tools|24 (supports 24-bit audio)
* 1998 - Pro Tools|MIX (expanded DSP capabilities for mixing audio)
* 1999 - Digi 001 with Pro Tools LE (light edition of Pro Tools)
* 2002 - Pro Tools|HD system (supports 96kHz and 192kHz HD audio); Mbox and Digi 002 (March and Sept.)
* 2003 - Pro Tools|HD Accel system (additional DSP capabilities); Pro Tools Users group founded in Los Angeles. [1]
* 2005 - VENUE (Pro Tools for live sound); Mbox 2; Pro Tools M-Powered (Aug); Pro Tools 7.0 (Nov), 7.1 (supports Apple's PCIe G5) (Dec.)
* 2006 - Pro Tools 7.2 (Aug.) and 7.3 (Dec.); Pro Tools LE and HD support Intel-based Mac (May and Sept. respectively); Mbox 2 Pro, Mbox 2 Mini
* 2007 - 003 and 003 Rack (Feb)

[edit] Current Pro Tools Hardware

Pro Tools HD

* HD 1/2/3 Core Systems
* 192 I/O (8ch 192KHz interface)
* 192 Digital I/O (8ch 192Khz interface)
* 96 I/O (8ch 96KHz interface)
* 96i I/O (16ch 96KHz interface)
* Pre I/O (8ch microphone pre-amp)
* SYNC I/O (Time Code Synchronizer)
* MIDI I/O (MIDI Interface)
* Expansion|HD Chassis


Pro Tools LE

* Digi 003
* Digi 003 Rack
* Digi 002
* Digi 002 Rack
* Mbox 2
* Mbox 2 Pro
* Mbox 2 Mini
* Mbox


Pro Tools M-Powered
M-Audio Interfaces:

* Audiophile Series
* Delta Series
* Fast Track USB
* FireWire 1814
* FireWire 410
* FireWire Solo
* Black Box
* Ozone
* MobilePre USB
* Ozonic
* ProjectMix I/O


Control Surfaces

* VENUE (live sound console)
* ICON (current flagship control surface)
* ProControl (former flagship control surface)
* Control|24 (24 fader control surface with 16 built it Focusrite Mic Preamps)
* Command|8 (small 8 fader control surface)

-Bob

Good review. I've HD3, and I'm disappointed in it's quality and sound.

Nice. Bob Rock writes something serious. ;)

Pro Tools is great to record in, it's a very complicated interface though. I guess it wouldn't be so after studying it a bit, but i can see why a lot of people use it even if i have barely scratched the surface.

can u download it?

No. You need the hardware in order to run it.

He copied that from a webpage. The 'Hide' things make it obvious.

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Tools[/url]

We're completely turning off the Pro Tools on our new album.

[QUOTE=Rupert Neve;14598381]Good review. I've HD3, and I'm disappointed in it's quality and sound.[/QUOTE]

what equipment are you using?

Yes thats a little surprising about hd3. I personally have a digi 001 using PT 6.4, I honestly couldent be more happy with it (ok I lied I wish it had like 24 simultainious inputs, but thats not very likely). But the digi 001 is a super solid system and I assume that the 002 and 003 are even better.

As for learning pro tools meatplow I suggest buying a book on it. Only 4 days ago I knew nothing at all of pro tools, or any recording software. Now today I have finished 1/3 of my book and I can already do much more then just basic recording. So far I have a good grasp on how to route midi digital or analog to tracks, apply plug ins, set various abilitys with tracks, I know tons of customization features, and I know many of the hot keys to do what I want quicker. I know once I finish this book I will have all the knowledge for pro tools to record to the best of its abilities.

I assume most books are created equal I just chose the one with big giant pages rather then small tiny pages, and it comes with a walkthrough cd. Books called Pro Tools Clinic, by Mitch Gallagher. Itll help to just take a week of your life and read this bad boy.

Anyways gl everyone.

[quote=supernaut_1;14618499]what equipment are you using?[/quote]

Sony DMX-100R->AES->RME AES-to-optical Converters->HD3, using Blue Sky SAT 6.5 MK II monitors with a SUB 12 subwoofer.

I recommend doing raw recordings over Pro Tools.

I still don't understand why anyone would want an MBox =/

They're like 4x the price of other interfaces with seemingly identical features.

[quote=Jon;14701761]I still don't understand why anyone would want an MBox =/

They're like 4x the price of other interfaces with seemingly identical features.[/quote]
pro tools support.

Bob Rock is a great guy for doing this! He is!

I can hook ya'll up with pro tools my boy down in the bay area can get them for $200 a pop you know what im sayin'

[QUOTE=Sanjna;14717766]I can hook ya'll up with pro tools my boy down in the bay area can get them for $200 a pop you know what im sayin'[/QUOTE]

You're sayin"They're HOT!

Which Tools? Are they explicitly Pro?

[QUOTE=Fraggy;14710587]pro tools support.[/QUOTE]

that is so ****ing gay BTW .. seriously

Digidesign blows

true story

my uni has this f'uck off pro tools interface which cost stupid amounts of money. however the built in talk back mic is utterly broken. regarding this matter digidesigns customer service has been poor. however they sorted out a friends mac upate pro tools problem feature immediately.

yeah but the interfaces look neato

the interface is glorious to use. it was a little overwhelming at first, but really is cool. just the damn talkback.

i want my own Pro Tools setup soooo soooo bad, except that i want a TDM rig, no LE... if anything just for the delay compensation

i love good production but likewise i also love some stuff raw

i was on a console for the first time in weeks (a frankenstein SSL) and i must say... i've taken a bit of a liking to the 'Tools

I prefer SADiE or Pyramix.

i wanna get pro tools at home but i dont know if it will work on my pc

pro tools HD will come out for vista before the end of 2008. for now best shot is either get a mac get hold of cubase 4 or nuendo

Pro-Tools sucks. End of Story.

Oh, uwpro, HD already works on Vista.

Nub.