JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Recording Studio and Gear Forum ProTools or not to ProTools?

Hi, I am a PC user and have up till now been using Acid Pro but see ProTools as the next logical step to get the sounds I desire. would I be correct in thinking this? Also does Protools come with usefull plugins and effects or do you have to buy expensive individual ones to get professional effects. Could I go for a cheaper Protools rig (digi001 - $1000) or would the expensive option be better (ProTools HD - $8000)?

Hi SR
I was a newbie and started by using PT 5.2 with the 001 A/C Converter more than a year ago. With a G4 733 It has been very stable and powerful. The edit functions are quite amazing.
Even though you are a Peeceer You could browse the MacMusic site forum which often debates the diff Home Studio soft and hardware on the market (or the 'HomeRecording' site).
Digi's website has a DUC (Digi Users Conference) Forum specifically for PC users who ask questions about Plugins etc and they discuss compatibility for Plug-ins with diff systems. PT HD or TDM woud be overkill for me but you probably have much more experience. From what I've read in the Digi Website about their products (PT 6 is out now) there are a few diff level systems to choose from its just a matter of choosing which one best suits your requirements and current level of expertise
I'd love a HD myself but then I would need all the best equipment to go with it ( Monitors, Mics etc) to match the high standard of the product
If my budget was open-ended I would go for the hign end versions on the Digi Website (TDM?) but alas...
Hope this helps a bit
Tony


http://www.macmusic.org/home/?lang=EN

There are as many opinions on PT as there are people, I believe.

My own take is that it's a great audio recording, editing and mixdown tool and the audio editing capabilities are great, with the automation being second to just about no one.

It is NOT the best tool to use if you want something to make songwriting, sequencing, looping and other types of writing easier. Other programs such as Sonar and Cubase are definitely easier to use when you're working with midi and they seem more intuitive when you're working out an arrangement and you need to grab sounds, loops and 3rd party plugins such as synths and samplers from a variety of different sources. Protools is a more closed-end system. It does what it does very well, as long as you know it's strengths and weaknesses.

If you think $8000 is a lot for the HD system, start pricing out the TDM plugins for it. You will find that they often cost 3-5 times what other plugins cost. They are rarely (if ever) the same price as plugins for Protools LE or any other native-plugin format DAW. I know several people who have $5000 invested just in Protools plugins.

Is it the best? It depends on what your needs are. Certainly for a pro studio looking to replace a $250,000+ console and recorder with a DAW, it's a bargain. Is it the right choice for a home studio user looking to record demos and maybe make an indie CD? Is it the best choice for someone who has never worked with a DAW before? Probably not the HD system; maybe a Digi001 or Digi002. If you've got the money for a minimally set up HD system (figure $12-15,000 to start), it's certainly not a bad choice. I just would question whether it's the best bang-for-the-buck for 95% of home studio users.

I personally use both Cubase and Protools LE - but on a Mac. Protools is definitely stronger (better support) on the Mac.

One thing to keep in mind: if you end up not liking Protools LE and you've purchased a Digi001 or 002, you can always switch to another software package and at least not lose your investment in the hardware.

I know several people who started with Protools as their first DAW and are quite happy. No matter which product you use, there will be a learning curve to overcome. Protools does have a lower learning curve than some other DAWs out there.

I would suggest going into a Guitar Center or similar and playing with several packages to see which one seems to work intuitively for YOU.

...my $02.

------------------
Larry
www.audibleresponse.com


[This message has been edited by Lwilliam (edited 04-07-2003).]

Thanks guys, im currently a student thats why im a bit cautious about splashing out on anything major right now. I am working in the dance/electronic genre, (not the monotonous thumping u hear on the radio but expressive, ecclectic soundscapes) and it does seem the industry standard is currently ProTools. I guess ill wait till i graduate before purchasing anything major (so many things, new PC, ProTools, decks etc).
other ppl i have asked this question to also say "it depends what ur gonna use PT for" im looking for somthing that allows me to record audio onto my PC, but also twist it, distort it or manipulate it before incorporating it into the final mix. I then use ACID Pro 4 to sequence and loop the different tracks.
Your pricing of plug-ins seems quite daunting Larry! (maybe wait till im signed b4 that! (i wish)).
thanx again, its good to find people that can give usefull advice on the internet.
SR

I'll say that you should also seriously consider Logic 6. Best midi-audio integration there is, hands down bar none. The automation is every bit as good as Pro-tools. The best thing is, it's not hardware dependent.

The other beauty is that Logic is a really good composers tool, handles samples, loops, midi, and audio with ease. Can be stupid simple to run, or you can make it more complicated than any other program out there. All depends on how you like to work.

Jody

Yes, Logic is all of those things (except we may differ in our opinions on the automation and ease of use .

I was just using SR's statement that he was a PC user, and Logic is a dead-end system for the PC, so I've stopped recommending it for people who want to stay with that platform. If you want to consider using a Mac, I would definitely suggest you look at Logic Audio.

I will admit my own bias in favor of the Mac for most heavy-duty audio tasks, although I use a PC for CD burning and some other types of audio editing, making MP3s, and most Internet access like these posts.

IMHO, the best PC system that would compare to Protools is probably Nuendo. Like PT, it's a little weak on the midi side, but very strong on the audio side. Otherwise, Sonar and Cubase are both very popular software packages for the PC.




------------------
Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

Hey guys,
I was wondering if any of you have checked out Metro 6 (apple)? I use Metro 5, and was going to upgrade to 6, but all of the cool new stuff would only work on OS X (I'm still using gool ol 9).