Pro Tools 8 to host new interface, effects
updated 09:30 am EDT, Tue October 7, 2008
Pro Tools 8 preview
The Avid-owned firm Digidesign has revealed some of the details of Pro Tools 8, the next version of its music production suite. The major focus of the software will be its interface, which is firstly being given a more cosmetically "modern" look, but also adjustments to windows and options. The Edit window toolbar can now be configured, for instance, and Editor windows are dockable, including new MIDI and Score Editor tools.
Feature enhancements include an Elastic Pitch option, said to let people transpose music in real-time through the Edit window, and support for 10 inserts per channel, as well 48 simultaneous audio tracks in Pro Tools LE 8 and M-Powered 8; this is expanded to 64 tracks through Music Production Toolkit 2 or DV Toolkit 2, and 128 tracks with 7.1-channel surround in the Complete Production Toolkit.
The software additionally includes 20 new AIR effects, amp simulation through Eleven Free and Bomb Factory's Tech21 SansAmp, and five new virtual instruments, including the Mini Grand piano and DB-33 tonewheel organ. Pro Tools|HD 8 can now control five different PT|HD systems simultaneously, and the Mac OS X version of the suite now supports QuickTime HD when working with video.
Alll versions of Pro Tools 8 are expected to ship by the end of the year, and require Mac OS X 10.5. Prices are currently unknown.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2004
Hello from Logic Land
This upgrade sounds great, for the money-making Digidesign studio. For others, I humbly suggest an alternative.
I switched from Pro Tools to Logic Pro, and I have to say, I do not miss Digi. Digi was just one endless upgrade of software, hardware, plug-ins, patches... all fraught with dongles and conflicts and tech support pointing fingers. I forgot about the music and chased the technology.
Leaving Digi was the best thing I ever did. It's an addiction cycle that was hard to break, but now that I'm clean, I can concentrate on the tunes.
Of course, I speak as a singer/songwriter, not a professional studio. For those producers and engineers out there, you should probably brave it out in Digi upgrade land.
Musicians & songwriters... get off the upgrade treadmill. Get a firewire interface (there are some excellent ones) and wave Digi goodbye. Forget pedaling Digi's expensive upgrade cycle, and remember what you're here for - the music.