Crate Kings » Digidesign

Pro Tools 8.0.3 Mac OS X Update: HD, LE, M-Powered

Semantik — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:28:54 +0000

Digidesign has announced its Pro Tools HD, LE, and M-Powered 8.0.3 update for Mac OS X users. The update is free for all Pro Tools 8 owners and features a number of fixes, including Snow Leopard support.

Specific Pro Tools 8.0.3 update details:

Visit Digidesign for release notes and additional upgrade information.

DJ Khalil x J-Thrill On Pro Tools, Sampling, Plug-Ins

Semantik — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:30:14 +0000

In a promo spot for Digidesign, producers DJ Khalil and J-Thrill discuss their starts in Hip-Hop, changes in technology, and the power of digital recording with Pro Tools.

DJ Khalil and J-Thrill reveal their first pieces of gear (Ensoniq ASR-10 and Roland MS-1 respectively) and discuss the benefits of using Pro Tools and how its versatility complements each of their individual styles.

DJ Khalil also specifically discusses his move away from sampling, slipping original beats past Dr. Dre, and the strengths of portable recording.

Digidesign Announces Pro Tools 7.4.2 Pre-Release for Mac Leopard Users

Semantik — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:42:19 +0000

What a day for home based producers! Almost immediately after today’s announcement by Apple of the Mac OS X 10.5.3 update, Digidesign announced that a pre-release of Pro Tools LE 7.4.2 will be available for Mac Leopard users in a few days. I know that many of you will be relieved to hear this. Unfortunately, I became so frustrated with the whole situation that I made the move to Logic Pro 8 and got rid of my Mbox. C’est la vie.

Note: Some plug-ins and VST’s will not be fully compatible and will require an update.

Check the Digidesign website for complete info.

ProRemote Pro Tools Control Surface For iPhone and iTouch

Semantik — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:32:42 +0000

There is now a solution for those of you that don’t want to drop the significant cash investment on a Pro Tools control surface such as the Command 8. Programmer Alex le Lievre of Far Out Labs has created a pretty amazing program that enables users to control Mac OS X enabled Pro Tools LE, HD, and M-Powered using an iPhone or iTouch. This combined with the availability of Beat phone software makes a pretty compelling case for Mac and iPhone owners (I’ve personally been drooling over the Blackberry 8830 tri-band world phone). ProRemote is currently available as a beta release directly from Far Out Labs and carries and expected price tag of $150, although that number will most likely change in the future.

Digidesign Finally Releases Pro Tools LE 7.4 Vista Update!

Semantik — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:29:16 +0000

Ok so I’m about a month late with this one, but who actually has time to keep checking the Digidesign website for updates? Remember the original posts Five Lesson Learned From Upgrading Digidesign’s Pro Tools and our shared frustrations about further deadline pushbacks? Well, after months of agony and mean spirited teasing, the audio bullies over at Digidesign finally let up and gave us something to work with. The good news is that if you purchased Pro Tools LE on or after October 1st, 2007, you’re eligible to receive the update for free. The bad news is that if, like me, you thought Digi would release the Vista update way back in the summer like originally stated, then you’ll have to pony up $49 (or $75 if using a version prior to 7.3) for the LE 7.4 upgrade. Big fun, right? Let’s all whip out our wallets and feed the massive three headed Pro Tools monster!

Digidesign Pushes Back Pro Tools Vista Support Date… Again!

Semantik — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 05:49:19 +0000

Digidesign is playing with my emotions! It looks like my tap dance and ball change between two laptops will not end anytime soon. Seeing that the company originally stated ProTools LE and M-Powered would be Vista compatible by the end of the summer, I figured Digidesign would actually stick to that statement. Instead, while checking the company website today I saw this:

“While Digidesign originally anticipated bringing the entire Pro Tools® product line to Microsoft’s new Windows Vista operating system during the summer of 2007, delays in software development have occurred. We now expect to release Vista-compatible versions of Pro Tools LE® and Pro Tools M-Powered™ in winter 2007/2008.”

It was like heartbreak all over again. Along with countless others that were forced to deal with Microsoft’s aggressive operating system bully tactics, I’m married to Vista with all of its unique little bugs and piles of software that still won’t function correctly, if at all. Luckily I’m still able to keep life support going on my previous Dell laptop running XP. I just can’t imagine what it’s like to be one of those unlucky schmucks who went to the store, plunked down a wad of cash, and brought home a computer which they had the audacity to think would function correctly the no backup. Maybe this will all be straightened out sometime next year or at least before it’s time for another upgrade… I won’t hold my breath though.

Five Lessons Learned From Upgrading Digidesign’s Pro Tools

Semantik — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:44:30 +0000

So I broke down, caved in, joined the bandwagon or whatever you want to call it. Although there are arguably better choices for home recording, at the end of the day I just couldn’t resist the call of Digidesign’s Pro Tools. I’ve had extremely great experience using Steinberg’s Cubase and Adobe Audition, so hopefully in a few months I’ll be able to say the same about Pro Tools. So far the experience hasn’t been all that great, but you’ll definitely get a little entertainment from my escapades and at the same time pick up a little knowledge about home recording.

No support for Windows Vista. As of August 1st, Digidesign’s website requests that users continue using XP until a Vista version of Pro Tools is released this summer. I’m waiting patiently, but the warm days are quickly becoming few. I just hope the execs over at Digi aren’t planning to use the official September 21st date as their end of summer deadline.
Pro Tools sessions cannot run on the same hard drive that an operating system is installed on. This especially applies to laptops since its hard drive will not spin fast enough to support recording and playback of audio. This means that you must first purchase a second hard drive if you plan on doing anything at all.
I had no intention of learning about hard drive chipsets, but once again, after purchasing a Western Digital 500 gig My Book firewire hard drive (USB is also not allowed with Pro Tools), I learned that the company no longer makes their external drives with the Oxford chipsets required by Digidesign. Yet another trip to the store. In the end I decided to just build my own custom external setup using a Hitachi internal drive and AMS enclosure.
Dell laptops have an unacknowledged design flaw with the electrical grounding of their laptops. For whatever reason, when used in conjunction with a pair of powered monitors, a ground loop is created from the computer’s wiring and therefore causing a loud hum. Finally, after hours of research and a pained experience with a useless Guitar Center employee with no clue about balanced TRS cables, I was back in business thanks to a .69 cent two pronged ground adaptor.
Pro Tools is extremely resource heavy. I was forced to order an external laptop fan (Dell also has a ventilation and airflow design flaw with their Inspiron series) to keep the computer from overheating and the motherboard from frying… again.

So what lessons have we learned? Always do your homework before investing valuable time and money in a new DAW. There are a number of high quality options available for digital recording including Cubase, Sonar, and even the free, open source Audacity. However, if you decide to make the plunge into Pro Tools please heed my advice. Make sure you have a quality desktop or non-Dell laptop. Your best bet would most likely be to invest in a Mac and forgo all the compatibly issues. Of course then you would must trade off PC compatibly issues to deal with lack of freedom and Apple’s ironfisted rule over proprietary hardware.