JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum ProTools or not ProTools

Hi, I 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)?

this is a personal preference type of "?". so perdonally you have to ask yourself " is this really going to make a dramatic improvement in my music?" that's a question i try to ask myself before purchasing anything. are you acheving the results you want now? and if not is you're audio editing software really the problem?
i went though this same thing and found that the things i was recording for radio sounded better because i was being more anal about the results. my setup is very modest, but it must sound good enough for them to play it nearly every morning. so who knows.
good luck
jt

I think it depends on what you are recording, audio instruments (vocals, guitar, etc.) or if you plan on using any midi instruments. Also, how many tracks are you planning on recording at the same time? ProTools is definitely the best tool for recording a band with all audio instruments. But there are other products out there that combine great audio recording with midi functionality such as VST instruments and other great plugins. Steinberg's Cubase, or eMagic's Logic, for example. Both of these come with some basic plug-ins and a few software synths or VST instruments. You could also check out the "Producer's Corner" forum at http://cornerband.com/tisql/ . Blake is great at answering gear questions like this. Hope this helps!

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[b]Paula Bellenoit[\b]
http://humanfactor.net
http://hfproductions.com

Having been in Pro Tools studios since 1995, I think Pro Tools is the best. Even the 001 comes with some good plugins (EQ, D-Verb, Gates, Compression, Reverser, Limiters, Delay, Time shifting, etc..). I have to agree with the other post regarding your personal taste. You have to figure out what you are recording (analog, MIDI, full bands, solo artist, radio spots etc) and what you are comfortable with. Please remember that anytime you change software and or hardware there is a learning curve. If you are in the middle of a project I would not change my system. It will only frustrate you and delay your project.

Check out www.digidesign.com for all your Pro Tools questions. They have a great board and good customer service.

Hope this helps.

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Brian
Assistant Manager
Cleo Entertainment Management Inc.
http://www.thebandwick.com

I've had a ProTools LE Digi-001 system for about 3 years now and I really like it. The audio editing features are really great and fairly easy to use. The software comes with about a dozen plug-ins, most of them fairly basic. But there are plenty of other plug-ins out there and a few are even free. Another cool thing about ProTools is the "Bounce To Disk" feature, which allows you to create stereo master files that you can then burn to CD. You don't have to master your music to an external source such as DAT or a CD-DA recorder. (but you still can if you want!) ProTools is a bit weak in dealing with MIDI. I've never used Cubase, but everyone says it is a much better program for working with MIDI. The only other digital audio workstation I've used is the Roland Virtual Studio 880-EX. I prefer ProTools. And finally, I like having my recorder's controls displayed on a computer monitor 'cause it's easy to see.

-Shawn