Does anyone have experience with Protools? I hear great things about it. I know there is a free version that runs only on windows 98/me. There is also XP version but doesn't it require digidesign hardware to run? Will it run without digidesign hardware?

How do you compare it to big names like cubase or logic when it comes to trance production?

pretty much all the tunes you hear are mastered in protools if that gives you a idea of things...

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from what I've heard protools is useless unless you have the hardware

but with hardware it's supposed to be a killer for everything except midi

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Originally posted by davedresden i suggest getting the gabriel & dresden prog-a-minute. in 3 easy steps you too could change the face of dance music. batteries not included. - dave

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Originally posted by fr0st pretty much all the tunes you hear are mastered in protools if that gives you a idea of things...

Not at all... Protools is not at all intended for mastering, but more for multitrack recording and editing.

Saying that 80-90% of the big studio's use Protools for recording and editing is probably right, mastering : hell no!

In mastering the two standards are still Sadie and Sonic Solutions' Sonic Studio, with Sequoia coming up strong.

But to stay on topic, yes, except for the free version (and the old warezed one) it needs Digidesign hardware.

Comparison is difficult, as Protools is mainly intended for audio recording and editing, which it is very good at. The latest versions have had lots of midi features added, but they are not even near the capabilities of Logic and Cubase in that area.

So, if your productions are mainly based around midi, I wouldn't go for Protools (unless you couple it with Logic, which can be bridged to Protools).
The main drawbacks of Protools are the closed system policy (digidesign hardware and that's it), the price, and Midi.

I use a protools system at work. Just as stated before, audio is it's big area of work. I don't like the midi-part of it and do all my midi in cubase. Everything is then recorded to protools and that's where all the mixing is happening, with efects, eq's and such. And, no it will not happen very much without digidesigns hardware.

Do i like protools? Hell yeah!

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Originally posted by Dj Thy The main drawbacks of Protools are the closed system policy (digidesign hardware and that's it), the price, and Midi.

DIgidesign is beginning to fix that problem by giving out the 3rd party drivers for their 002s and command|8 pieces... so now you can use the interfaces with other software and use the command|8 or digi002 controls as midi controllers in other software. this is based on an article from a magazine... i don't know how reliable the drivers are as yet.

Anyways...

If you want a decent ProTools solution for the lowest price, you can either go for ProTools free which is rather useless... or get the Mbox.. at around $600-700 USD for the box that runs via USB on your mac/pc and allows for 32 simultaneous mixing tracks in the latest ProTools LE version (6.4??i think). It's got 2 fancy Focusrite mic pres which double as 1/4" inputs too, 2 inserts, and 2 monitoring outputs and 1 headphone output.

The thing is... don't bother with ProTools unless you can deal with its learning curve. ProTools is a full-fledged recording console in virtual form. With enough plug-ins and the right reference monitors you can create product like the professionals do (don't forget the necessary skills involved).

Much like others have said.. it's great for mastering ..only if you have the right plug-ins and the quality reference monitors and the ears for the job. Remember that Logic and Cubase are more for virtual instruments and midi type productions.

if you got other questions about ProTools.. gimme a pm.. i like to vent what I've learned.

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Looks like protools isnt for me then. Sounds very messy with all the hardware and learning curve. I mostly do midi so logic or cubase would be much better. I guess for mastering it would be nice to have protools but if I ever get my song signed I will let the engineers master it.

If I had a big budget I would definitely go for Logic 7 and G5. Thats a nice package. For midi logic is ten times better then cubase. Plus there are other aspects of logic that just make life easier. However, I wouldn't mind checking out SX3. One new feature that is attracting me the most is the volume envelopes ontop of tracks (like in logic). I hate those hidden envelope tracks in cubase. What was steinberg thinking? Sonar 4 is also out and looks very nice. But, still no native vst support and the gui is too cluttered up.

For all you FL fans, I just overheard that FL5 beta was released to beta testers. I think that one of the main new features will be automation envelopes right inside of PlayList. I love FL but i think that this is the biggest thing missing.

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Originally posted by SgtFoo DIgidesign is beginning to fix that problem by giving out the 3rd party drivers for their 002s and command|8 pieces... so now you can use the interfaces with other software and use the command|8 or digi002 controls as midi controllers in other software. this is based on an article from a magazine... i don't know how reliable the drivers are as yet.

Yeah, that's for the hardware. The drivers are decent, but not terrific.

But it's more about the software that we're talking. No way for example that you can run Protools LE on an RME card for example. Except the two versions of Protools I mentionned, you need Digi hardware to run it.

And again, mastering with Protools : no!

I personally love protools, i use it for all my midi and audio recording needs, and even when i find my self using other programs for thier instruments i always record it into protools for arranging and editing, version 6.4 has imporved the midi capabilities quite alot, but for those that can't afford all the hardware n stuff you will probably get more bang for your buck elsewhere. But for me Protools is da bomb diggity