AudioMedia - March 2009 - (Page 34) DIGIDESIGN PRO TOOLS 8 Audio Production Software With the debut of PT8, our industry’s ubiquitous DAW is now equally adept at processing MIDI or audio. igidesign’s Pro Tools was previewed at last Autumn’s AES show to an awe-inspired crowd. The application is the next evolutionary step of the industry-standard music creation and audio production software. This new version has been completely updated with a new user interface, over plug-ins and virtual instruments, fully integrated MIDI and score editors, and an expanded array of editing features. The MIDI upgrades are so significant that Pro Tools can no longer be considered a DAW with MIDI functionality, but rather a platform equally adept at processing MIDI and audio. The Pro Tools package (which is available in HD, LE, and M-Powered versions) provides everything users need to create, compose, score, record, mix, produce, and broadcast within a single application. D THE REVIEWER RUSS LONG, a Nashville-based producer/engineer, owns The Carport recording studio and is a regular contributor to Pro Audio Review. www.russlong.ws As most of you are at least somewhat Pro Tools savvy, I am primarily going to focus on PT ’s new features. The Digidesign website is packed full of general Pro Tools information including hardware and software options, system requirements, and tons of downloadable manuals and streamable demonstration videos. Unless stated otherwise, all references to Pro Tools refer to all three versions of the software. Digidesign has introduced the Quick Start window and has fully implemented template suppor t. Several templates are included and offer useful starting points for a number of different situations. This will be exceptionally useful to beginners who are still trying to grasp the mindset of Pro Tools as a whole. PT boasts a stylish new GUI that includes redesigned icons and a complete visual overhaul. Most of the familiar Pro Tools functionality is still in place, but with several subtle enhancements and easier access to many editing options that were previously only found in the Preferences. Features “The MIDI upgrades are so significant that Pro Tools can no longer be considered a DAW with MIDI functionality, but rather a platform equally adept at processing MIDI and audio.” The Edit and Mix windows have been polished and are easier to navigate. Both windows retain their basic layouts, but the Edit window features some major improvements including a Universe View at the top of the edit window (which replaces the older Universe window which has been dumped) and several new rulers such as Chords. In addition to the omnipresent grid values, counters, and core edit controls, the Zoom, Transport, MIDI, and Synchronisation controls can now be added to the Edit window’s toolbar and placed in the user’s preferred sequence. While I’ve never felt too strapped for monitor space in my multi-monitor studio setup, having the extra controls on my toolbar is particularly helpful when running LE on my MacBook Pro. Back in Pro Tools . , Digidesign added the ability in both the Edit and Mix windows to infuse the track’s background with its selected colour by using a quick key command (though it was somewhat buggy at the time). PT has added control of this feature (which now operates perfectly) in the colour palette window by adding saturation and brightness sliders to adjust the amount of colour that is applied to the background. Several small touches have greatly improved the program. There is now a Timeline Insertion/Play Start Marker Follows Playback button in the Edit window, so this function can be changed without opening the operation preferences. In addition to the toolbar’s zoom controls, there are now horizontal and vertical zoom buttons in the lower-right corner of the Edit window. Automatic delay compensation is now applied to sends as well as inserts, making it possible to record with delay compensation enabled. The Mix window’s horizontal pan controls have been replaced with circular controls and each channel now supports up to inserts instead of five. 34 AUDIO MEDIA MARCH 2009 http://www.russlong.ws
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