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Pro Tools

Pro Tools

Overview

What is Pro Tools?

Avid offers Pro Tools, the company's flagship music and audio editing and recording suite.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Pro Tools is a highly regarded Digital Audio Workstation, widely used in the film and television industry for audio production, mixing, …
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Pricing

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Pro Tools

$29.99

On Premise
Per User / Per Month

Pro Tools - Ultimate

$79.99

On Premise
Per User / Per Month

Pro Tools - First

Free

On Premise

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Details

What is Pro Tools?

Pro Tools Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise
Operating SystemsWindows, Mac
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Avid offers Pro Tools, the company's flagship music and audio editing and recording suite.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 9.1.

The most common users of Pro Tools are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(38)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Pro Tools is a highly regarded Digital Audio Workstation, widely used in the film and television industry for audio production, mixing, recording, and mastering. The ability to transfer files seamlessly within the Pro Tools system is crucial for maintaining workflow efficiency. Users appreciate that Pro Tools allows them to create their own music, which is particularly important when copyrighted material cannot be used. It is the preferred choice at The Production Studios of Sandbox Music Group for daily audio recording, mixing, and mastering. Additionally, it is widely employed for producing programming at WDNF-Philly.com, an internet radio station focused on independent artists. Pro Tools is also highly regarded for archiving vinyl LPs, working with analog consoles, and producing post-punk bands. While not specifically tailored for beat production, it is considered the industry standard for audio production due to its versatility and functionality. Proficiency with Pro Tools is highly valued as it allows users to easily transition to working with analog consoles. The stability of the software is crucial and any perceived instability can often be attributed to inadequate hardware or operating system compatibility issues. In addition to its extensive use in professional music studios for recording and arranging music, Pro Tools is also commonly utilized in various fields such as podcast production, marketing, instructional videos, and arts organizations. It excels in editing and recording multiple audio tracks as well as cleaning up different voices or sounds for a higher quality end product. Pro Tools streamlines the audio production workflow effectively, making it an indispensable tool in these industries.

Wide range of options: Many users have praised Avid Pro Tools for its wide range of options for recording, mixing, and transferring audio. This versatility makes it a highly flexible program that can meet the diverse needs of different users.

Highly customizable nature: The highly customizable nature of Avid Pro Tools has been commended by reviewers. Users appreciate being able to customize the performance, function, and appearance of the application to suit their specific needs and preferences.

Compatibility with various audio formats: Avid Pro Tools has received positive feedback for its compatibility with various audio formats. This feature makes it easy for users to integrate audio of different formats and sample rates into their projects. Additionally, exporting audio files is also effortless with this software.

Tedious Setup Process: Several users have found the setup process for MIDI production in Pro Tools to be tedious and time-consuming. They feel that it acts as a barrier to entry, making it difficult for new users to get started with the software.

Clunky Virtual Instrument Interfaces: Many reviewers have expressed frustration with the virtual instrument interfaces in Pro Tools, describing them as clunky and non-intuitive. Users find it challenging to navigate and work with these interfaces effectively.

Lack of Features for Loop-based Music Production: Some users have pointed out that Pro Tools lacks features specifically aimed at loop-based music production, such as those commonly used in electronic music and hip-hop genres. This limitation restricts their ability to create music in these styles efficiently.

Reviewers of Pro Tools have provided several recommendations based on their experiences with the software. The three most common recommendations are as follows:

  1. Try before you buy: Users suggest evaluating the free version of Pro Tools, known as Pro Tools First, before making a purchase. They recommend visiting the AVID website to access this version and also advise trying out other digital audio workstations (DAWs) to compare features and functionality. This allows potential buyers to assess whether Pro Tools meets their specific needs and preferences.

  2. Invest in learning resources: While acknowledging that Pro Tools can be challenging to learn, reviewers emphasize that it is worth the effort. They recommend having a guide or book to help navigate through the software's extensive features and options. Additionally, users highlight the importance of gaining hands-on experience with Pro Tools to become proficient in its usage.

  3. Consider cost and long-term investment: Reviewers acknowledge that Pro Tools is widely recognized as an industry standard for audio production. However, they advise potential buyers to consider the cost of purchasing and maintaining Pro Tools, particularly due to its annual subscription and new pricing structure. Nevertheless, users believe that Pro Tools offers exceptional functionality and editing capabilities, resulting in high-quality recordings. They believe that the investment is worthwhile, especially for individuals looking to learn proper mixing and recording techniques.

In summary, reviewers recommend trying out Pro Tools First before committing to a purchase, investing in learning resources, and carefully considering the cost and long-term value of Pro Tools. These recommendations emphasize the software's industry recognition, challenging learning curve, and its suitability for various audio production tasks.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-7 of 7)
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Jim Lopardo | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Avid Pro Tools is the only DAW I use. I use it daily for audio recording, mixing, and mastering at The Production Studios of Sandbox Music Group. I also use it to produce programming for WDNF-Philly.com, an internet radio station focused on local, regional, national, and global indie artists in that order. Whether archiving vinyl LPs for posterity or broadcast on VINYLLY!!!, or producing a post-punk band, Avid Pro Tools is the only choice. While it may not be as suited for beat production as say, Reaper, Avid Pro Tools is the industry standard for audio production, and rightly so. Proficiency with Pro Tools almost assures you can step up to any analog console and in short order know where to begin. Stability is crucial. Much of the criticism of Pro Tools encountered online centers on perceived instability, but in most cases, any instability originates in inadequate system hardware, or OS-triggered issues when users upgrade their OS before AVID certified compatibility.
  • Highly-customizable, application and UI (performance, function and appearance).
  • Wide audio format compatibility; Ease of integrating audio of different formats, sample rates; equal ease of exporting.
  • Broadest hardware compatibility. The ability to tweak performance parameters extends hardware's useful life.
  • Virtual instrument interfaces are clunky and non-intuitive.
  • Rename/Move session functions should programmatically update subfolder labels.
  • Better, more targeted in-app access/help to the myriad of shortcuts, and scripts already present in PT.
COMMON, EFFECTIVE USE: I produce three weekly shows for WDNF-Philly, two I host. I have a "WDNF BROADCAST" session with a track each containing one show's theme (repeated so it is always "playing"; one track for the voiceover; and track(s) for the content. I draw from a variety of sources and formats, import the tracks, place them in that show's content track; then record the voiceover for each show. I mute the show I am not working on, then drop the volume on the theme track when the content is playing. I then have the option of exporting two complete shows in any format I need.

LESS EFFECTIVE: As a producer I often work with songwriters and performers with little audio technical skill. In the early stages, when exchanging song ideas, most often I get Garageband or LMMS projects. Integration "downstream" is difficult. The same with working with beats. That said - that is not Pro Tools primary task, so to me it is minor.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We primarily use this for podcast production, as well as other occasional or supplemental audio production needs for work with local arts organizations or marketing projects. This is a relatively narrow use case; it primarily serves folks involved with marketing, although it of course serves to benefit to organization as a whole. The software is highly effective at streamlining the audio production workflow.
  • Exceptionally deep shortcuts and workflow tools
  • Best-in-show control over individual audio clips
  • Excellent UI (especially for DAW veterans)
  • Very steep learning curve
  • Cloud projects are inconsistent
  • Stock plugins lag behind the competition
Pro Tools is undoubtedly the best option for folks who have extensive experience with digital audio production and need to manage a steady pipeline of projects with vocal recordings and significant control over the final product. It can handle software instruments, but it has less of a comparative advantage there as opposed to certain competitors. It's less well-suited to folks who are unfamiliar with digital audio production workflow; they'll still be able to use it, but they won't be able to enjoy the benefits of the software.
Rob Gokee | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
As a film & television composer, the first DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) I ever used was Pro Tools. It's the industry standard when it comes to audio production, mixing, recording and mastering. Being able to transfer files to other people within the system is vital to keeping the workflow moving, and Pro Tools is cutting edge software in terms of production.
  • Recording
  • Mixing
  • Transfer between other users
  • MIDI production
  • Pricey Add-ons
If you're recording live musicians, or vocalists, Pro Tools is the best solution in the industry. It's in almost every professional recording studio in the country for that reason. The quality alone is worth the purchase price. Pro Tools is also adept at mixing sound, and recording ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording).
Jonah Dempcy | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Pro Tools for audio recording and music production, specifically for music beds, interstitials, introduction music and music cues, or incidental music. The music might be for product demos and presentations, or instructional videos. We also include music in rich media EPUB3 ebooks as a way of demonstrating audio capabilities of the format.

Additionally, I have used Pro Tools extensively at various music studios over the years, when acting in my role as producer or as assistant engineer on various projects. Pro Tools is an industry standard for recording and arranging music, and it is rare to find a professional music studio that does is not using Pro Tools.
  • Integration with UAD - I have used Pro Tools with a number of UAD devices over the years and it always integrates perfectly, and saves CPU resources by offloading effects processing to dedicated Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chips on external hardware. Plus, UAD effects sound great!
  • Multitrack Recording and Arrangement of Music - This is really the big one for Pro Tools. It's for recording and arranging, and that's really its focus.
  • Import and Export - Pro Tools is great for its ability to import and export multitrack files in a way that mimics traditional analog multitrack recording.
  • Loop-Based Production - Pro Tools is still in the old world of audio recording where you're expected to record a track from live sources. It has less features aimed at production of loop-based music like electronic music and hiphop.
  • Sample-Based Production - While you can sequence samples, you are expected to use MIDI to trigger the samples, for the most part. Of course, you can sequence them out without using MIDI to trigger a sampler plugin, but that's not the use case Pro Tools was designed for.
  • Creative Ideation - Pro Tools expects you to figure out what you want to record first, and does not have tools for helping you produce or create the music.
Pro Tools is the industry standard for professional audio recording of music, and is thus well-suited for professional music studios. If I were starting a music studio and going to have a number of different engineers rent out the studio to use, I would choose Pro Tools simply because I am guaranteed they will all be familiar with it.

Pro Tools is not necessary for home studios, or for studios where you will be the only studio engineer, as you can then choose something that caters to your genre of music. For instance, if you make electronic music, hiphop, or other sample- or loop-based music, you might consider something other than Pro Tools.
September 16, 2019

Pros and Cons of Pro Tools

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We create tutorial videos that often need vocal overdubs. I have used Pro Tools for my audio projects even before it became useful to our company, and I find it is easier and faster to use it for audio than to work inside IMovie. It is easy to show others how to use it, and has all the functionality lacking in many of the video programs available.
  • It is an easy to use program that makes overdubs faster.
  • The quality of the recording turns out better using this program than when I try to do the same thing in my video program.
  • I have templates set up so that setup for each session is fast and easy.
  • It does not like to cooperate with third-party interfaces.
  • Plug-ins can get quite expensive.
  • They are proprietary about their product, so it does not lend itself well to open-source features that you can use with other programs.
It is great for stand-alone audio, but requires some workarounds when syncing it to video. The functionality for video work is limited compared to other audio programs. That said, recording audio is a breeze. The sound quality is great. There is a never-ending list of new plug-ins to vary your sound and keep you inspired.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Avid Pro Tools to make music for tutorial videos. Our customers like that we make our own music. We are unable to use popular music because this sometimes results in the videos being taken down - so using our own music solves this problem.
  • Avid does it all. No other program has more options!
  • The whole setup process can be very tedious. I'm not sure how it could be improved but can be a real barrier to entry.
Avid Pro Tools is well suited for professional music production - likely the very best. It is less appropriate, in my opinion for live music production. Also, it is so complex that it may not be appropriate for those without experience and can also be overkill for many who would do better with a simpler program.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Avid Pro Tools is being used by our organization as a primary tool to record and edit multiple audio tracks underneath the video, as well as edit and record podcasts and audio webinars. It allows us to be able to isolate different voices or sounds and clean them up using the appropriate sends/inserts to present a higher quality product to our clients.
  • Variety of plug-ins and the ability to buy 3rd party plug ins and use them well.
  • Recording to multiple tracks, live monitoring while recording, live inserts/sends while recording audio.
  • Pro Tools always creates a backup of your audio file that you can restore at any point in time.
  • Built in metronome, timeline indicators for beat/time.
  • Midi controls/ virtual instruments are fantastic.
  • Video tool is buggy- constantly crashes or lags when importing a video.
  • No integration with Adobe products- also has to be purchased separately from other Avid products.
  • Expensive to buy outright.
  • Does not work as well with PC as it does with Mac OS.
Pro Tools is great for recording multiple different tracks of audio at the same time with live inserts that you can later remove/edit if they do not suit the track. It always makes a backup of any file you copy in which is essential when working with original copies of files for clients, and you can rest easy knowing that any changes made can be reverted without having to start over or having any work be lost. You can compile many different tracks for larger-scale projects and group or bus them together with ease. The software is very user-friendly for beginners and is a great tool overall for anyone looking to edit audio. The only instance it is less suited it would be if you're only making small audio edits with any adobe video software. Also if your business is not heavy on audio editing or recording it may be a costly investment.
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