Remarkable 2022 New Pro Tools Versions
We all await the new Pro Tools surprises with great anticipation. Each time they know how to delight us with new creations that, it is worth saying, make our life a little easier. Why is this important to industry insiders? Simple: Pro Tools is often referred to as the sound industry standard, and any new changes mean, in one way or another, an impact on the professional and home studio musicians. Pro Tools has redefined the music, film, and television industry by providing everything you need to compose, record, edit, and mix music and audio, both in the studio and in the cloud, from anywhere. With capabilities ranging from new MIDI editing enhancements and retrospective MIDI recording to track presets that let you save your favorite effects chains and instrumental sounds. In this way, Pro Tools lets your creativity flow. That’s why it’s the tool of choice for top artists, musicians, and sound professionals in all their work. When you need to get the best possible sound, nothing can compare.
So, after the not-so-recent (but not so distant in time) disappearance of Pro Tools First, which was free and quite limited, Pro Tools and Pro Tools Ultimate were the only options available to enter the most used Digital Audio Workstations environment in all studios around the world. Nevertheless, it is more than likely that things will change even more with the arrival of the new Pro Tools products. Several new features and enhancements have been added, and it has been announced that new licenses will only work on a subscription basis; existing perpetual licenses will not be able to be upgraded.
As a matter of fact, Pro Tools Artist is, from now on, the entry version to the platform, but, unlike the previous version, this one is not free. However, its specifications are considerably better than those of the defunct version. For instance, if in Pro Tools First there was only the possibility of working with sixteen audio tracks, sixteen instrument tracks, and sixteen MIDI tracks, with Pro Tools Artist it will go up to thirty-two in the case of audio and instrument tracks, and up to sixty-four in MIDI.
Now, Pro Tools Artist not only grows in tracks but also in plugins, since, for starters, the entry-level version of Pro Tools will accept third-party plug-ins, in addition to including more than a hundred plug-ins from the Avid Plugin Bundle. This version is intended to attract new producers who do not require the more professional versions but still have all the tools they need to compose their tracks in their home studios.
One of the most innovative aspects is, undoubtedly, the new keyboard shortcut editor created both to allow editing existing keyboard shortcuts in the application and to search for them without the intention of editing them, thus saving a lot of time to the program manual. It seems a seemingly minor improvement, but one that is sure to save precious time for tons of users.
There is also a new search function to locate almost anything, such as tracks, clips, locates, and more, as well as a new function to improve the color of video tracks, which may seem superfluous in an audio editing and processing program, but it is there for post-production professionals, who often have to deal with directors who are more concerned about how the video looks than what it actually sounds like (!).
Pro Tools has brought new and innovative proposals for the professional sectors. These are Studio and Flex. The first is focused on recording studios and music mixing, and the second is related to large audio and post-production projects. Pro Tools Flex will, of course, be the prevailing trend, and has also had a number of improvements, such as the increase in available auxiliary channels, as well as the native inputs and outputs that can now be managed in the application.
Finally, it is worth mentioning the addition of the two new virtual instruments. The first of these is GrooveCell: a sixteen-track drum machine and thirty-two-step sequencer with a recognizable 4X4 pad matrix format. Each of the pads allows you to load up to three audio samples, and, in addition, different modes are included to emulate classic drum machines. It also offers the possibility to easily export MIDI and samples. Likewise, it includes editing parameters for surround, filter and send effects, and mastering. In fact, this instrument is designed to allow you to create wonderful kits and program rhythms in a faster and more intuitive way, and, of course, with much greater precision.
The second virtual instrument is Synthcell: a simple and straightforward subtractive synthesizer that displays all its editing parameters, except for the effects, in the main window. It features two oscillators, several filter types, two envelopes, and an arpeggiator.
Let’s learn to use them and to expect new surprises for the coming year.
If you want professional help for your audio or video productions, do not hesitate to contact Enhanced Media.
