Pro Tools 8 Announced: New UI, More MIDI, Elastic Pitch, Bundled Instruments and Effects, Integrated Sibelius Notation
Pro Tools 8 is up on Digidesign’s website. Rather than copy and paste their features, I’ll let you read. This may not shake you from your music making tool of choice, but it looks like it could be, at long last, the substantial refresh for Pro Tools users of that platform have been waiting for. I can quickly sum up the strategy (“strategies” and “tactics” being on the American political mind lately):
- Get all the instruments and effects in the box: Apple’s Logic Studio set the bar for this by first bundling lots of soundmakers,then cutting the price. Digidesign has been busy with their talented AIR group designing some very nice stuff, so this is a no-brainer. Updated: as readers note, you still don’t get a sampler as with EXS24 in Logic and now Dimension Pro in SONAR. Then again, you could add on your on own; is that really a deal breaker for folks?
- Fix the UI (conservatively): Without rocking the boat, obviously Pro Tools was long overdue for a fresh coat of paint and some enhancement.
- Beef up MIDI: This was long Pro Tools’ weak spot, perhaps because of its lineage as an originally audio-only product (the opposite of most of its rivals); MIDI seems to be better integrated with existing paradigms for editing
- Edit pitch more fluidly: AutoTune and the magical note-editing Melodyne are probably safe, but more fluid editing of audio pitches is making its way into audio software in general
- Integrate scoring: The fruits of Digi’s Sibelius acquisition, real, modern music notation is finally in a major DAW (not the dated, clunky implementations elsewhere). My only concern: I hope Sibelius continues to make progress as a dedicated notation tool, because having myself spent long hours over scores, a lot of composition happens outside software like Pro Tools for other reasons.
The notation feature, to me, is probably the biggest story. As a long-time Sibelius user and with some interesting composer contacts, I expect to look at how this works in some depth. Congratulations to Sibelius and Digidesign for pulling this off; I’ll be in touch.
Actually, let’s do better. I’m through really reviewing DAWs. You know why? If I used every DAW, I’d never get any music made. And, oddly, the process of even trying to review something as broad as a tool like Pro Tools just about short circuits any music logic anyway. So I’d rather build a network of gurus in each, and talk about actual music production rather than feature lists – the latter is the developer’s job, anyway. If you’re game and consider yourself an advanced user, get in touch. I’ll have more on organizing this soon.
In the meantime, Digi has posted some videos; free registration on their site required.
Pro Tools 8 Announcement + Demo Videos
Update: keep the comments coming. To me, the challenge all these tools face is that people are (naturally) entrenched in what they’re using. So, yes, it’s possible to say Pro Tools is playing “catch up,” but to play devil’s advocate, you could easily say the same about its competition. My preference remains for “native” hosts with their more flexible hardware and software support, and because personally I’m more creative in an Ableton Live or SONAR (or tracker!); that’s me. Digidesign sent out an open letter about promising interoperability. I’ll be interested to see what they mean, as I don’t immediately see that addressed in any way here. But certainly, I respect the utility of each of these tools to someone. The loyalty of those user bases is part of why progress tends to be incremental, not revolutionary. You have to serve their needs first.
39 Comments
Leave a CommentMr. Tunes
“I’m through really reviewing DAWs. You know why? If I used every DAW, I’d never get any music made.”
with all do respect peter, for the amount of quality blogging you do, i’m surprised you have time to work on any music ;-)
October 3, 2008 @ 1:05 am
ProTools 8 : Total overhaul...will it sway me? | Key Of Grey
[...] ProTools 8 preview via CreateDigitalMusic [...]
October 3, 2008 @ 2:32 am
spinner
After watching the Digi videos and reading the info I can’t help feeling it’s too little too late.
The GUI looks awesome and the ability to customize the toolbars is brilliant (Apple keep up). This could’ve been a must buy/ most coveted thing of the year if they’ve just added delay compensation and unlimited tracks and configurable key commands.
Avid is clearly trying to make a deeper cut into the entry level market what with the addition of loops and bundled fx’s and instruments but this is still a very complicated app if you’re a beginner - and they’ve (by the looks of it anyway) crammed in even more stuff in the preference window. No adc or pdc will obviously piss of current users and will confuse new users to no end.
I think it’ll come down to price and how buggy PT8 is. Apple killed it with the low price tag but sadly most of the improvments in LP8 was just cosmetic. The amount of old and new bugs in that app is ridiculous.
I’m no programmer but all of the issues in PT and LP must have something to do with the code in these app being at least 20years old……..
Where is the professional software DAW that is coded for the comps we have to today?
October 3, 2008 @ 5:02 am
mr ecklie
“Please log in to your My Digi profile to watch DigidesignTV”
Why should i register with site just to watch their marketing videos? I hate them already…
October 3, 2008 @ 7:30 am
kcb
I really think Digi are starting to get their act together, but its no secret they are just behind the rest of the world (if you are using PT for song creation.. I wouldnt touch LP for audo editing, and vice versa for programming music .. LP is the bomb)
Have to say I will rush out and buy PT8, however your ideas are a little dated and lets say very yesterday… you’re bringing out features that have exsisted for son long in LP… had you released PT8 around the same time as LP8, yeah sure there would have been a buzz in the air, but my personal opinion is, all your wizz bang new additions reflect Apples moves to the future, and to remind you, over a year ago.
Id like to see PT8 with its own sampler, more midi control ..seriously if you could match LP8 in the midi department .. Id never click Logic on my Doc again, as Logics Audio editing is as crap as PT midi has been since day 1.
To sum up my boring and over written stubborn opinion…. While Digi are introducing awesome improvements to PT, the let down is, they are merely catching up to where Logic and Cubase were a few years ago (for song writters)….. Thanks digi for catching up, but you left out any wow factor and have failed to push the envelope….. its safe to say APPLE will always have programmers in bliss, thats where the bar is always raised!!!
Thanks, and sorry if ive pissed any one off!!
October 3, 2008 @ 8:10 am
Mateo
I’d be a lot more excited about this if they’d announced a hardware free version…
October 3, 2008 @ 9:17 am
Art Gillespie
Interesting to note that the maximum number of voices in the stock LE 8 has been bumped up to 96 from (effectively) 32 in previous versions.
October 3, 2008 @ 10:21 am
Adrian Anders
Meh.
October 3, 2008 @ 10:39 am
vanceg
Well, this does follow Digidesign’s long standing M.O: Make the effort to include new features ONLY when other products on the market have established those features as being desirable to the public and ONLY when excluding those features would clearly have a negative impact on the decision to purchase Protools; Do not worry about being the first, being
the best, or challenging any existing norms.
Protools has never, ever been at the cutting edge. It has never, ever been the fastest, best sounding, or most feature rich DAW on the market. I wouldn’t mind this fact, if they didn’t spend so much effort convincing the DAW purchasing public that Protools was truly innovative.
But - they do somehow manage to come out “on top” in terms of the industry accepting their product as ‘necessary’.
Digidesing never has, and I suspect never will, really push the envelope. But they will surely sell the idea that they do.
Long live the moderately mediocre. Hey - It works.
October 3, 2008 @ 11:11 am
vanceg
Gee I wish I could edit that post for spelling ;-) Long live my moderate spelling and typing abilities!
October 3, 2008 @ 11:12 am
eisnein
first time im actually excited about a ProTools update!
October 3, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
tigan
what about plug-in delay compensation in LE version?
October 3, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
jordan314
Guess I’ll be returning my mbox2 mini I just bought and waiting for them to rebundle it with pro tools 8. Anyone know when this is coming out?
I prefer Logic for composing and most things, but I keep finding myself needing to have pro tools for exporting projects for filmmakers, for editing, and for engineering at pro studios.
October 3, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
tim
Its fantastic to finally see surround support for LE!
For film post & sound design ProTools rules (sorry Logic/Nuendo but there just isnt supprot for you on 90% of film dub stages) so great to see HD is no longer a pre-requisite…
now if only ableton LIVE will introduce support for surround!
October 3, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
Peter Kirn
Some of this is definitely not groundbreaking, I agree. But it is important to me that they’ve integrated Sibelius. I’m curious to see how they have done that, and I think — even if you’re not looking to switch to Pro Tools — it’ll be interesting over the coming weeks to judge what the payoff is there. It’s an interesting idea, and ought to make for some interesting discussion.
October 3, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
kcb
I just wish I had one SW that suits all my needs as an audio producer and as a music programmer. I love programming in Logic, and love audio editing in PT. Tonight I’ll beg God to give me a dream about Apple & Digi having a love child….. ‘LOGI-TOOLS’.
October 3, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
Chris Shaw
Seeing how they completely overhauled PT it’s easy to understand why it took them so long to get Leopard compatibility for PT7. I’ve been bitching about the looks of PT since PT4 - really hard on the eyes after 12 hrs of vocal and drum comping.
The new feature set looks great but I guarantee that there still isn’t automatic zero crossing editing.. another big complaint.
October 3, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
walrex
DIGI PLEASE WE NEED A FREEZE FUNCTION BUTTON IN THE MIXER VERY BADLY !!!!!!! TO SAVE CPU POWER AND STAY GREEN:) YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO THINK FOR HAVING NOW A NONE REAL-TIME PLAYBACK ENGINE(BOUNCE TIME SAVING & FREEZE OPTION). IT WILL REALLY HELP MATERS. FOR THE MEAN TIME JUST PROGRAM THE FREEZE FUNCTION AS APPLY AUDIOSUITE PROCESS FOR TRACK(s)ON MIXER WINDOW.
SORRY I HAD USE ALL CAPS.
October 4, 2008 @ 12:34 am
Cynic
Peter,
They haven’t integrated Sibelius into Pro Tools. This is a new score editor that uses the Sibelius fonts and probably some of the ideas (since they do have access to the source code). But PT8’s score editor is not actually Sibelius. Still quite welcome, though.
October 4, 2008 @ 2:08 am
Felix
Ts ts, requiring me to login to watch their ad videos. No thanks.
October 4, 2008 @ 5:28 am
mark
If you don’t want to create a digi account to watch vids on the digi website, you should check out protoolsblog.com. there’s currently one PT8 video there and looks like they’ll be more to come.
-m
October 4, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Steven
Wow, I thought this was a joke when I saw the screenshot at first–looks a lot like Logic 8!
Glad to see Pro Tools get a facelift. Will they fix the latency issues with plugins finally?
October 4, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
Ted Young
Having seen PT8 in person, I can tell you that the MIDI editor is not just tacked on, but is extremely well integrated and is very easy to use. The ability to edit the MIDI from multiple tracks in a single “piano roll” is something that’s not available elsewhere.
As for the scoring, no, the entire Sibelius is not integrated, but it’s much more than just fonts and ideas, you have complete note-level edit control in the score view, something that even Sibelius doesn’t have (and will soon). Also the exporting to Sibelius is now in Sibelius format instead of MIDI.
Finally, something that wasn’t mentioned is the _awesome_ comp editing capabilities. You can now show all of the playlists for a track underneath the main playlist and edit them all using the standard editing tools.
October 4, 2008 @ 6:45 pm
mar
@vanceg
Recently I tried to cut and mix Audio for a Final Cut project in
Soundtrack Pro. Soundtrack Pro crashed several times.
I had to power down and restart.
When I was ready there was no option to output the movie with sound.
Then I used Protools (never used for movie sound before) and
was done within a few minutes.
“Cutting edge” is good but more often I need “reliable”.
I think Protools does a few things really really good and that
might be the whole point of this particular software.
October 5, 2008 @ 7:49 am
Hungry Antelope
It seems like on the intertubes, everyone hates Pro Tools and no-one uses it. Yet with all the professionals I know (people who record platinum records, do soundtracks for movies, TV, commercials, etc.), they seem to invariably use Pro Tools as their DAW. From what I have seen, for professionals (people making good money at it, not prosumers) Pro Tools is pretty much the standard DAW for the recording industry.
Why is there that disconnect? Why is it that something that seems truly ubiquitous among the professionals I know seems more obscure than FruityLoops in places like this?
October 5, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
MonksDream
@Ted Young - In Logic 8 Express and Studio you can edit MIDI from multiple tracks in a single “piano roll”. In fact, you can edit MIDI from as many regions as you like by selecting them and choosing the Piano Roll button at the bottom of the screen.
@ Hungry Antelope - Because doing Pro Tools right is an expensive proposition that is only justified if you’re paid well for your efforts or work with those who are.
October 5, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
Dave AA
Hungry Antelope, I used to use a Pro Tools HD system in the multi-track studio of a radio station and I can understand why it’s an industry standard. Most of the complaints about PT are irrelevant in that sort of situation. You’re not using it to compose with MIDI. You don’t have all the limited track counts and other restrictions that the LE system has. Someone else is paying for it, and for the extra plug-ins you need to buy. It’s stable etc etc. And even on the internets many agree that it’s the best software for audio editing.
October 5, 2008 @ 11:21 pm
Lifelong Cakewalk User
@Ted Young -
The ability to edit the MIDI from multiple tracks in a single “piano roll” is something that’s not available elsewhere.
Cakewalk’s Pro Audio series and subsequent Sonar series has done this–very successfully–since at least the mid-’90s. And they probably got it from Dr T’s T.I.G.E.R. Midi editor for the Atari 1040 ST computers back in about 1992. The minute one publisher debuts a feature, nearly every other publisher releases their “version” of the same feature by their next update, so I’m sure Cubase, Logic and everyone has been doing this for many, many years also. It’s really unimpressive if Pro Tools is only getting to this capability in 2008. And if they don’t have plugin delay compensation yet, either, I’m wondering what the big PT thing is about. How do they get to be way behind everyone else and still be the “industry standard”? I bought PT7 on a lark some months ago; reading these posts I think I’m sorry I spent the money. It’s not perfect, by a long shot, but I’m a Sonar guy.
October 6, 2008 @ 5:22 am
Jamie
Digidesign might be playing ‘catch up’ in terms of features, but in terms of simplicity and usability they’ve always been way ahead IMO.
October 6, 2008 @ 6:24 am
mar
@Lifelong Cakewalk User
“Industry Standard” doesn’t necessarily mean
“cutting edge” or even “the best”.
It usually means getting your work done and not
experimenting with midi controller data etc.
Leave that to other tools.
Digidesigns Session 8 was already rock solid on a 486 in 1992. Cakewalk Pro Audio was frustrating to use. I liked Sonar but when did that come out?
(plugin delay compensation should be in it but is rarely needed.
Nobody was obsessed with “sample accuracy” on tape recorders.)
October 6, 2008 @ 7:19 am
nerf
as a digidesign user since sound designer,i know how ubiquitous pt is in pro settings here in Hollywood. i have a 128 hd system which is great, but i still have to use other hardware/software to finish and prep projects.
the biggest problem with digidesign is their un willingness to let us use third party hardware.
i could use a better io that would be a lot cheaper and better than any digi io box.
October 7, 2008 @ 10:22 am
meatshake
Everybody hates on the ‘ol Pro Tools, but if you look at it as a multitrack recorder and mixer + some other stuff (midi sequencing) it rocks. No, Pro Tools it’s not as cool as say, Ableton Live for making electronic music. How cool is Ableton Live for editing dialog?
All I’m saying is there are different tools for different tasks, there is no one-size fits all, it’s just really easy to bash PT for trying to do so.
How does PT HD compare to RADAR or Fairlight offerings? probably lots of +’s for each system.
How does Sonar, Logic and Live compare to RADAR or Fairlight? -They are so different you’d need to qualify that comparison with “…for post” or “…for music”, and the answers would be so lop-sided it’d be like apples and cheesesteaks.
October 7, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
Peter Kirn
@meatshake: I’ve talked to post people who do like things like MOTU’s DP. So, while I agree, I don’t know that the differentiation is this clear cut. I’m sure there’s someone out there editing dialog with Ableton Live. Compatibility, of course, becomes a big factor, but it’s also worth saying that some people *do* choose Pro Tools for workflow and not simply because they need it for file exchange. I hope that does drive Digidesign to look more at interoperability, as they recently promised in an open letter.
October 7, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
kcb
Jamie - Sorry I have to disagree - while PT is simple and usable it still lacks features that make my life hard…actually maybe you are right? I could make myself look very stupid here as I have never read a manual in my 8 years of PT..but is there a quick key to SOLO a channel? (waiting nervously but hoping there is).
I just feel as a 9-5 user of PT (actually 9-midnight)… I feel Digi owe me more as the consumer and user… Right now they are playing catch up which is def a step forward, and they are slowly matching other SWs, but i think the Bashing of PT is like a lovers tiff , “i expect more from you because I care about you and our relationship”.
Okay, that was weird.
Digi its simple, steal all of Apples midi advancements, (i mean more of)… as soon as you match Logics Midi capabilties, we will have the perfect sw. The world may even forgive you for digging yourself so far deep in to your real time bounce ‘hole’ that gets deepr every year.
Ableton, Sonar …bahhhhh!!!
October 10, 2008 @ 10:21 am
John
So it doesnt support yet automatic plugin delay compensation?
WHAT SHIT IS THIS? is this pro?
Is time to do it..im 7.4.2 PT owner but not user due to this no automatic plug delay compens.
I use LP…im happy…
October 12, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Apple Logic Studio vs Protools 8 : Royal rumbbbblllle!!1! | Key Of Grey
[...] Enter Protools 8. As I’ve posted before, it is going head to head with Logic with a plethora of included content and (fracking finally) proper MIDI support. One of the features that had me pleasantly surprised was the score editing; Digidesign’s aquisition of Sibelius sure paid off big time. New plug-ins including a decent sampler and an impressive looking (if minimal) sample library, are a pretty big carrot. Supposedly their hardware (which I have never been a big fan of), has been updated as well. I’m still not too crazy about using their proprietary hardware but I could certainly work around it if the software is as promising as it sounds. [...]
October 21, 2008 @ 4:41 am
Marc
I have NO PLANS TO UPGRADE to Pro Tools 8. They can change the GUI from here to eternity, but I’ve been owning Pro Tools and I NEVER USE it!
If it wasn’t for a proprietary third party plugin that I needed ONE TIME, I still wouldn’t own it. Having heard the Pro Tools is God mantra for years, I was shocked by its annoying idiosyncrasies, like the inability to creat your OWN track height, only recently added as a grand “improvement”. Even freeware DAWS have had this EXPECTED ability for years!
My biggest gripe with PT is that I find it to be a GIANT PAIN IN THE ASS, having to have hardware plugged in to use a program. What’s even more maddening is that I have to own some crappy, second rate Digi hardware ONLY.
Furthermore, as an obviously unappreciated customer, I’ve had the unfortunate duty of having to contact Digi with a question before. It’s like trying to speak to the Great And Powerful Oz!… I’ve waited literally WEEKS to get e-mail responses from them, if I EVER get a response at all! I’d like to tell Digi that I MAY consider their product a relevant DAW when they open it up and stop their massively inconvenient, annoying and extortionary policy of having to have Digi hardware connected in order to merely open up a program.
When I’m playing around with a mix or brainstorming some musical ideas on my couch or bed or in an airport, I don’t need inputs/outputs etc. and therefore I don’t want to need to carry a box or dongle (no matter how small) and have a box or dongle plugged in, dangling inconveniently, that I’m not even using.
As a result, my go to DAWS have been Tracktion, Live and FL Studio. Since Tracktion refuses to upgrade on a timely basis, and it’s functionality is falling way behind competitors, I plan on switching to Sonar 8 after Christmas as my main DAW.
I’d rather spend $500.00 on Sonar than $250.00 on Pro Tools, as I HATE, HATE, HATE, the closed system with hardware as a dongle scheme. I can’t express how much I resent this! It’s nutty and I don’t know why anyone puts up with this!…
Where do they get off continuing to make such odd hardware demands and then treating their customers like crap? Their program doesn’t natively do some fantastic thing that a dozen others haven’t BEEN doing.
Digi seems to have this arrogant attitude that people will put up with their big bag of bull shit just because it’s “Pro Tools”? They aren’t the only horse on the farm any more, they aren’t even the fastest or best looking and it’s time they started acting like they were even slightly aware of this.
In light of the current economic downturn, I hope they go out of business if they continue to act like this. It would put a smile on my face!
November 20, 2008 @ 6:49 pm
Shaun
Apple should buy them out :) If Apple improves editing functionality comparable to PT for LP9, then it’s game over!
November 26, 2008 @ 3:44 am
Russ
@ Marc
Your ranting is so boring and also filled with grammatical rubbish; usually a sign of someone who types without thought and then presses the send button before considering their actions.
‘I’ve been owning Pro Tools’ Do you mean ‘I own Pro Tools’?
‘annoying and extortionary policy’ Do you mean extortionate?
I’ve dealt with Digi support on numerous occasions and got replies in a matter of hours. If you write to them in the tone you wrote your meaningless ramble, I don’t blame them for not replying.
They don’t ‘treat customers like crap’
I don’t think they are perfect, I don’t work for them - I just think rambles like this from angry illiterates are boring!
November 27, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
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