it is time for me to buy Pro Tools

can someone recommend a package of software?
should I get the inputs to go with it?

I need some advice

2/6/2009 10:49:44 PM

the overwhelming response has been really helpful

thanks guys!

2/7/2009 1:59:05 PM

what is this pro tools that you speak of?

2/7/2009 2:05:00 PM

the industry standard for audio editing

its from a company called DigiDesign, owned by Avid

the shit is usually paired with some hardware and won't run without it - this makes owning it really god damn expensive (like $250 for a software license and another $150 to infinity for the hardware interface)

I use it at work and school but I want it at home so that I can get good at it

2/7/2009 2:10:32 PM

personally, I'd just hit the torrent networks or newsgroups.

2/11/2009 4:49:11 PM

^^ 400 dollars for a production software application + hardware is extremely cheap.

I always thought Pro Tools was considerably more expensive than that. Take a look at other production software industries, and be thankful your chosen path is cheap as hell.

2/11/2009 5:16:14 PM

^ exactly. $400? can you even get the 'upgrade' of photoshop for that much?

2/11/2009 5:39:54 PM

yeah, i would have guessed that pro tools would have been a 4 figure purchase.

2/11/2009 8:32:20 PM

more like bush league tools at that price

2/11/2009 11:33:33 PM

the plug-ins and stuff is where pro tools gets you cost wise. The studio we go to, yes the guy has pro tools, but he also has a ridiculous amount of plug-ins he uses when recording and mixing albums and im sure a ton more he is paying for that I dont see him use for our stuff. I don't know tons about it but you can easily spend a quick thousand on a few "industry standard" plug-ins/plug-in packages based on the little ive talked with him about it.

Quote :

"exactly. $400? can you even get the 'upgrade' of photoshop for that much?"

if you arent looking for extended, my friend just upgraded his CS2 to CS 4 for $150.

[Edited on February 11, 2009 at 11:35 PM. Reason : ]

2/11/2009 11:33:48 PM

Quote :

"^^ 400 dollars for a production software application + hardware is extremely cheap."

Quote :

"the plug-ins and stuff is where pro tools gets you cost wise."

both incredibly true.


also, you can get pro tools (i think it's LE, though) if you buy an m-audio interface. that's probably your cheapest option.

(found it: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProToolsMPowered8.html )

you can't run it unless you have some sort of digidesign hardware (they own m-audio, i think)

you might be able to find a dongle/device emulator on newsgroups/trackers, though.

2/11/2009 11:37:30 PM

^^hell you can spend a couple of grand on FONTS as a designer, not even touching on plugins for Adobe products, or Final Cut.

2/12/2009 12:07:36 AM

true hoefler is quite proud of their fonts

2/12/2009 12:59:06 AM

at least with fonts, unless it is extremely unique, there is usually a free or at least cheap alternative that serves the same purpose or looks very similar. And making your own font to mimic one you like is always an option

But yea I know there is a lot of money invested if you are wanting to do graphic design as well besides just buying CS heh.

But also keep in mind that in a music recording setting, pro tools is nothing but a fancy piece of software in a studio without a nice mac, additional plug-in packs for pro tools, scores of high quality mics, cables, mixers, vocal booths, a good studio will also supply extra amps and cabinets and guitars and basses, etc. etc.

2/12/2009 9:51:57 AM

umm Pro Tools IS software. Its a whole setup...

What makes you think you need Pro Tools? There are many serious producers who are fine w/o it.

I'd focus on good mics, solid hardware, and software like Cubase.

2/12/2009 10:39:02 AM

^

Quote :

"I use it at work and school but I want it at home so that I can get good at it"

(for the record, i prefer Logic Pro to pro tools...)

2/12/2009 11:58:26 AM