Protools 9 Released

[Text_Edifice]

http://www.avid.com/US/products/Pro-Tools-Software

Work with an audio interface—or without. Create bigger, better-sounding mixes with more tracks, Automatic Delay Compensation, and other pro features included as standard. Open your workflow to projects created in other audio and video software—and to the entire Avid Artist Series and Pro Series (formerly Euphonix) console/controller line. With Pro Tools 9, you can compose, record, sequence, edit, and mix the way you want—in more ways than ever.

- Get the flexibility of using Pro Tools 9 with your favorite Avid audio interface or third-party Core Audio- or ASIO-compatible interface—or use Pro Tools 9 completely standalone for easy on-the-go creation.

- Develop larger, more complex projects, with up to 96 or 192* simultaneous audio tracks, 128 instrument tracks, 512 MIDI tracks, 256 internal busses, and 160 aux tracks

- Expand your post production capabilities with powerful features now included as standard, such as the Time Code Ruler, OMF/AAF/MXF interchange, variable stereo pan depths, and updated 7.1 surround panner*.

Good... Good...

- Get the Pro Tools HD software feature set**—without a Pro Tools|HD or Pro Tools|HD Native system—with the Complete Production Toolkit 2 option.

[mylesgm]

Now we're talking!!

[SteveL]

Wow. US$599 too, now even cheaper in $AUS! Time to explore the PT world (long time Logic user here)...

Steve

[Drumstruck]

.... and cross-grade from LE for $249 or M-Powered for $349 !! Same hardware independent build.... ProTools don't fear the Reaper

[Dallas]

.... and cross-grade from LE for $249 or M-Powered for $349 !! Same hardware independent build.... ProTools don't fear the Reaper

...... I've been trying to like Reaper, but it's just not happening!!

[mylesgm]

I want like reaper but just cant. great idea that disappoints in realisation...

[Linear]

wow what a game changer.

already bought crossgrade from m-powered. will report how it goes with my apogee symphony system.

i'll have to take back all the nasty things I said about digidesign! man, i'm kinda glad i didn't buy HD...

Chris

[waitup]

Win!!!

[SteveL]

Hah, I remembered I bought an Mbox 2 mini from another TRocker last year, just dug it out and used the serial number to pick up PT9 for AU$246.....

Steve

[Hybrid88]

Nice!

So does this mean you can have Logic and Pro Tools running off the one interface, like an RME or Apogee or similar?

Because the one thing I wasn't sure of, I'm a Logic user and want to make a switch to Tools but the quality of the MBox interfaces for pro quality work seem to be questionable going by what some have said. But if this solves that then thumbs up for Digidesign. Gotta say I thought they'd always keep you buying their interfaces.

[tunetown]

So does this mean you can have Logic and Pro Tools running off the one interface, like an RME or Apogee or similar?

Exactly. I've ordered mine and can run it with my RME/Apogee system along side Nuendo. Total compatability with every studio.

Very cool Avid.

[Drumstruck]

Yes - all good about the interface. I'm currently running PT8, Reaper and Wavelab7 of the same interface so I anticipate PT9 will do the same.

Only 64 bit compatible though - bye bye 32 bit systems......

[Sammas]

I don't think so. The tech doc's say you can run it on Windows 7 32bit or 64bit. It also supports all mac pro's... the earlier models can only run a 32bit kernel so it is definitely compatible with 32bit systems. It appears they are only supporting the latest operating systems though.


Great move either way. I shall be a protools user by the end of next week!

[SteveL]

I downloaded the upgrade last night and PT9 runs fine off both a 16in/out Mackie Onyx 1620 firewire mixer and an Apogee Duet (I have a 2009 Mac Pro). It allows aggregation of devices under the mac core audio system, so provided your interfaces have core audio drivers (if you're using a mac), several can be aggregated into one "device" seen by PT9 with all inputs and outputs available....

[Drumstruck]

Sounds like you are the first Steve - so is it prettier? faster? smoother?

[wez]

fitter? happier? more productive?

[SteveL]

Sounds like you are the first Steve - so is it prettier? faster? smoother?

I can't really say, as I've been a long time Logic user and really only kept PTLE8 around to become familiar with the PT way of doing things, I stuck with Logic mostly. Now PT9 is out with lots of the earlier limitations gone, it seems a good time to dive in and get to grips with it in depth. That, plus I'm off work for most of next week after a nose op so I'll have time on my hands to play with the software!

Steve

[13thbeach]

Wow this is crazy stuff... I'm just about to upgrade my system and was looking at the HD Native option and now there is this spanner in the works.
Does anyone know the benefits using HD native as opposed to just running Protools 9 HD software???

[ghengis]

Protools 9HD (on HD Native and HD TDM) will still allow for a couple of extra options over PT9 Native.

They are:

Latency - TDM is still king, HD Native in between, PT9 Native last
Destructive punch only on PT9 HD
Individual Track Input Monitoring only on PT9 HD - can't live without this!
I/O Expansion - HD systems allow for more I/O expansion beyond the 32 i/o that PT9 Has (HD Native=64, HD2=64 HD3=96 etc)
VCAs - These do come when you purchase the complete production toolkit
Sync I/O Compatibility is only on HD Native and TDM systems for 9 pin and Timecode/Syncing options.

HD systems' are required for any of the "Satellite" functionality (Satellite link and video satellite)

The only other limitation between HD Native and TDM is TDM iteself. Some plugins are still TDM only eg Crane Song Phoenix, TC Electronics Unwrap, HEAT, Revibe etc

If I were buying a new system now I'd probably be going the HD Native route. The fact that you can get a full compliment of high sample rate voices while using RTAS plugins on Aux tracks (as opposed to stealing voices going backwards and forwards in a TDM system) is a great advantage imo.

I think the biggest excitement should still come from the apparent direction that Avid are taking PT!

Thanks
Geoff

[Sammas]

I thought Mat was referring to using protools HD software "standalone" as opposed to using it with the HD native card.

This whole new approach is literally from one extreme to another. Now protools software can be used in all manner of ways! I'm
still struggling to comprehend it all.

I can't really find any info on using protools HD 9 as standalone software. You would lose all the benefits of DSP, but is it really that
big a deal with HD native? Surely it is nothing ADC wouldn't take care of? You would revert to using ASIO/Coreaudio drivers so the
latency would be dependent on those drivers (apogee symphony anyone?) and you would be limited to 32 channels of recording
compared to 64 offered by HD hardware.


I officially offer my most sincerest apologies to AVID. Can I have a hug? They aren't such bad guys in the end...

[Aearth]

Gee might get back to PT again. I wonder what Logic will come out with.

nIC

[jkhuri44]

clap clap.

well done protools.

catching up.

[mylesgm]

PT9 is pretty cool at first blush. On location tracking a jazz trio with 14 channels going into my Apogee ad16 and then by lightpipe into Fireface 800. A little fiddly to setup the aggregrate device ofr audio interface but very flexible and I didn't look at the manual. low latency too, I think I've got it a 256 samples and no glitching and could probably go lower but I haven't tried. So great to finally be able to use my portable system with PT with the right features and no LE interface.

On a side note I grabbed a DEX audio valve mic pre for a steal off ebay USA (how did it get there?) a few months ago and it is really sweet! Tracking the Alto Sax though it right now and its very smooth, warm and incredibly detailed. Tried it on male voice and its now the vocal preamp for the whole album. Anybody else got one of these?

M

[Drumstruck]

I don't think so. The tech doc's say you can run it on Windows 7 32bit or 64bit. It also supports all mac pro's... the earlier models can only run a 32bit kernel so it is definitely compatible with 32bit systems. It appears they are only supporting the latest operating systems though.


Great move either way. I shall be a protools user by the end of next week!

Oh, so it's not native 64bit? I hope that's not true

Otherwise the app will only address <4GB RAM regardless of how much RAM your PC has installed - so we're still only half way there.......

[mylesgm]

no idea but surely its in the specifications on the AVID website.

[The Tasmanian]

The crack does 10,000

[Dallas]

Can anyone confirm... Does PT9 (inc HD) now allow 192 voices at 96k?
An AVID guy at AES mentioned it - just hoping it's true.

48 @ 96kHz for PT9
96 @ 96kHz for PT9HD

[Dallas]

Oh yeah, that's just audio tracks, 128(PT9) & 512(PT9HD) voices for virtual instruments (whatever they are!!! )

[Thirteen]

Finally I might be able to ditch Nuendo... I love it but I feel like the victim side of an abusive relationship with Steinberg. Great product, dreadful company. Can I ask, has anyone crossgraded from an older version of PTLE? According to the Avid website you can buy the cheap LE crossgrade if you have the serial number of an LE interface to type in for activation (plus your iLok key). I have an original Mbox, but don't want to pay for the crossgrade until I am sure that I can activate it....

[mylesgm]

I think the limiting is a bit weird but seriously, who uses 192 tracks of 96k? I've done close to 100 and I like complex mixes but 192?!

M