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Pro Tools is a highly regarded Digital Audio Workstation, widely used in the film and television industry for audio production, mixing, …
Starting at $29.99 Per User / Per Month
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What is Pro Tools?
Avid offers Pro Tools, the company's flagship music and audio editing and recording suite.
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Pricing
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
Product Details
- About
- Tech Details
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What is Pro Tools?
Pro Tools Technical Details
| Deployment Types | On-premise |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac |
| Mobile Application | No |
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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(38)
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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!
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Reviews
(1-6 of 6)Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
April 26, 2022
AVID Pro Tools: Casting A Long Shadow Many Stand In
Originally a PC user, my first music program was "Personal Composer" in 1988. I moved to Cakewalk in the late 90s, which became Sonar. Sonar was a very good DAW and I was happy with its performance and functionality. It was, essentially, as close to Pro Tools for PC as you could get. However I had long planned to make the move to Apple, and the standard for Apple and audio production is Avid Pro Tools.
October 21, 2021
Steep learning curve, but top-tier performance
As discussed above, these other products are likely better suited for home audio production, especially based on their integration of software instruments and their surface-level interface and tools. Pro Tools excels as a tool for professionals, who need to move audio along efficiently towards a polished form, especially in the context of vocal production.
May 09, 2021
Pro Tools is the Professional Solution
Pro Tools, while great for audio recording, has always been behind the curve when it comes to MIDI production. Cubase is much better at it, and being able to jump into it quickly and efficiently is vital to my time-management, because I'm often on tight deadlines. Also, Cubase is a bit more streamlined when it comes to workflow - it's a lot easier to jump in and out of.
Pro Tools has the most prestige and branding of any Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) that I know of. It is the industry standard for professional recording studios, and you'd be hard pressed to find an audio engineer who hasn't used it at one point or another. Most audio engineers I know exclusively use Pro Tools. That being said, I also know a number of electronic music producers who won't touch it, preferring Ableton Live, or Logic Pro.
I choose the right tool for the job, so I use Pro Tools when I am in a music studio working with another engineer who uses it, or working with bands who are familiar with it. When I am working on loop- and sample-based music on my own, I use Ableton Live.
I formerly used ACID Pro more often but I have not returned to it very frequently since making the switch to Ableton Live many years ago. I have also used Logic Pro X when in a Mac-exclusive environment, or when producing music on the go on my MacBook Pro.
I choose the right tool for the job, so I use Pro Tools when I am in a music studio working with another engineer who uses it, or working with bands who are familiar with it. When I am working on loop- and sample-based music on my own, I use Ableton Live.
I formerly used ACID Pro more often but I have not returned to it very frequently since making the switch to Ableton Live many years ago. I have also used Logic Pro X when in a Mac-exclusive environment, or when producing music on the go on my MacBook Pro.
September 16, 2019
Pros and Cons of Pro Tools
I used this at another company, and I found it difficult to use in comparison to Pro Tools. Granted, I wasn't using it for audio-only the way I do Pro Tools. The learning curve was too high for my basic needs. The visual element was confusing, and I had a hard time understanding how it worked, whereas ProTools feels intuitive. I strongly prefer Pro Tools.
July 23, 2019
ProTools- Edit Audio like a Pro!
- Adobe Audition, Adobe Premiere Pro, Audacity, Final Cut Pro X, GarageBand, Trello, Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, Zoho Projects and Skype for Business (formerly Lync)
In my opinion, ProTools is the best audio editing tool currently on the market. It's very user-friendly, incredibly intuitive and has so many different functionalities that would take weeks to learn how to use them all and well if you needed them. It is far better suited than Audition, Garageband or Audacity for single-track editing as well as multiple track music recording/ editing, and provides you with far more features and benefits. The only real downside to ProTools is its price- it's fantastic for what you get but may not be worth the cost if all you are doing is small audio edits along with side video projects made or edited in the Adobe Suite. For sound effect layering, creating music tracks (where the midi controls are far superior to its competition), or multiple track recording, ProTools is without a doubt the best software on the market.