Avid announces details of update to recording industry standard software, but is it really relevant to dance music producers?
Avid has announced details of the latest update to its Pro Tools DAW. Pro Tools 11 will introduce a new 64-bit audio engine, offline bouncing and new video and metering options.
The timing of the announcement is interesting; Avid is currently experiencing financial difficulties, leading the company to delay the announcements of its earnings release for the fourth quarter of 2012. The company owns some of the strongest brands in AV, but struggles to make a profit, leading to speculation that the entire business may be sold or that individual brands could be split off and sold in order to improve the parent company’s finances.
At this stage we could happily bore you to tears by picking apart the details of the update and explaining what the improvements mean in terms of performance and workflow but, to be quite honest, we don’t really think many dance music producers actually care about Pro Tools any more.
There’s no denying the fact that Pro Tools has revolutionised the world of recorded music over the last 20-odd years, but it’s no longer the dominant force it was a decade ago. Its audio recording features remain top quality and the DSP-based TDM platform offers some of the best effects you’ll find anywhere, but for dance music producers alternatives like Logic and Cubase embarrass Pro Tools when it comes to MIDI functionality, while Ableton Live’s handling of loops and samples offers a much more dance-focussed approach than anything you’ll find in Tools.
There’s no denying that Pro Tools remains the industry standard for recording live instruments. Virtually every studio in the world has a Pro Tools rig for precisely that reason: producers and engineers expect it (although it’s debatable whether it’s still actually the best option – we’ve met a lot of recording engineers over the last few years who prefer to work in alternatives like Logic and Nuendo whenever possible).
But when it comes to dance music – which is, after all the reason we’re here – Pro Tools simply isn’t very relevant any more. We’re certainly not saying there aren’t any dance producers who use Pro Tools, but, in comparison to the likes of Logic, Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio and Reason, the size of Pro Tools’ dance music user-base is negligible. Version 11 doesn’t look like turning that situation around.
What do you think? Is Pro Tools relevant to dance music? Let us know your thoughts below.
11.35 AM
Depends if you’re working outside or inside the box.
If you’re using hardware synths with hardware effects, Pro Tools might be the best option.
12.42 PM
As far as I know many people who swear by Pro Tools for its Vocal/Audio-Recording strenghts are just not familiary with Logic’s way of recording audio. Logic’s Multitrack/-take Recording is extremly useful for Hardware guys. For someone into Electronic Music I highly recommend Future Music’s “In The Studio” Series with Boys Noize.
But personal I believe we are at the point of just personal preferences and not serious technical benefits.
By the way. Great work with this site.
01.06 PM
I prefer pro tools. Better for editing and mixing. Logic is better for composing and arranging if you are ITB.
01.34 PM
Still addicted to Reason… since the 6.5 version, things become more professional…. midi out in the 7.0, indeed.
02.49 PM
I use a lot of hardware gear which works perfect in Ableton Live and Studio One. Eventually you can record and produce tracks in any DAW as long you’re used to it. But yes, I guess Pro Tools is a very ‘oldschool’ application with less creative options than others offer.
Btw: grear article! Not because Pro Tools is more or less offended, but for the truly spoken words. Thumbs up!
09.15 AM
Protools was and is a DAW for studio OAPs. That, and the fact that Avid’s marketing is akin to a snakeskin oil salesman makes me keep them at arm’s length…
09.19 AM
I know Simian Mobile Disco use Pro Tools, and they make some astonishing unique music.
I’m still an Ableton man though
08.54 AM
I still do care, even if it has it flaws.
I’m on PT for ages and I won’t switch as I would feel handicapped for a while learning to work with a new DAW.
Tried Ableton live but couldn’t get passed the hipster GUI.
02.30 PM
I have Protools but I mainly stick to Ableton for it’s intuitiveness. However I recently watched Four Tet in the studio and he highlighted that he wouldn’t have been able to make “Love Cry” without Protools.
Try to imagine a world without that song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEUGilncRJs
In other words, it may not be a staple for newcomers, but for long time producers it still has plenty to offer.
01.56 PM
Logic pro is a killer.wether live recording or midi programming it comes best. It gives u chance 2 shape your music. If alone in a control room, there somebody helping in decision making. Pro tools is lazy 2 think. I am looking forward 2 see the mighty logic pro 10 on the 7th of MAY 2013
04.13 PM
Well dance music is not what Pro Tools was designed and evolved to handle, especially if you are doing heavy looping and on-the-fly editing. For rock and pop, Pro Tools all the way. For electronic dance and dub step, Abelton Live all the way. You wouldn’t turn a bolt with a screwdriver – select the correct tool for the job.
09.07 AM
It’s just a preferences thing. PT is totally fine for electronic music, it’s just preference.
PT architecture seems more confusing in places, but to be honest, figuring out each time why that is, has made me understand the mechanics of a mixing console and routing techniques much better, and thus has improved my knowledge of mixing, gain-staging etc.
It’s just preference! I use Pro Tools for orchestral work, recording, and electronic music production etc. Can’t wait for 11. It’s going to blow Logic out of the water in terms of processing power.
01.11 AM
Short answer. NO. I don’t care at all.
07.24 AM
Here is our review of PT11- will it make you care less about PT11 or more? 😉
http://en.audiofanzine.com/general-sequencer/avid/pro-tools-11/editorial/reviews/the-best-eleven-on-the-pitch.html
03.34 AM
More is less.the more things a daw sometimes means less work
being produce while u try to figure out that most of it is not useful
at all.no matter what u rock
06.09 AM
ableton Rocks!! all others are obsolete! I speak truthfully and without bias.
02.50 AM
I just got pro tools 11 because I have a Yamaha dm2000 mixer. The mixer and pro tools connected easily and work perfectly. I couldn’t make that happen with ableton live. Ive been using software since cakewalk first came out. I don’t know why anybody would use logic. I have waisted more time with logic than ableton, reason, vegas, and pro tools put together trying to figure the stupid thing out. I basically threw $500 in the garbage when I bought logic. I don’t use it any more at all, it makes me sick, its sole purpose is to hide and keep a secret everything I want to do. The Logic help files suck too. I found ableton live to be very easy to learn and set up with a friendly GUI. Same thing with reason, and pro tools. Logic you need to be a private investigator to make things happen. I watched logic ninja turtle explaining video after video, but logic was just too illogical! For mastering I would go with pro tools easily. Live still has a few bugs that are irritating. Like the time alignment for some reason keeps screwing up my tracks and I have to delete all of them and import them back in one at a time for the problem to disappear. In the past I had reason demand a dvd while I was on stage or exit. I went to the forums and released a slow motion forum atomic bomb. They have since changed that stupidity.