• Sep 09, 2016 First Look: Avid Pro Tools 12.6. Avid has unveiled the latest version of Pro Tools, v12.6, which will be released later this month. I had an opportunity to sit down for a hands-on “sneak peek” at some of the new features in the new version. There are a number of very useful new features that provide improvements, particularly to workflow.
• With Pro Tools 12.6 realeasing soon, we take a look at new features and functionality that will improve your editing workflow, audio processing, and mixing capabilities. Avid is set to release the latest incarnation of Pro Tools, and with it comes a host of new features that will benefit everyone working in the studio.

1. Pro Tools 12.6
2. Pro Tools 12.6 System Requirements
3. See Full List On Pro-tools-pc.com

Sep 09, 2016 Pro Tools 12.6 HD Software Only Pricing. Pro Tools HD Software Standalone will be available later in September 2016 in two formats, either as a perpetual license or on a rental subscription plan. Pro Tools HD Software Standalone Software - Perpetual. The Perpetual version will be $2499 and will include one year’s annual upgrade plan If you. Nov 30, 2016 Owners of Pro Tools 12 on a current Upgrade Plan can download the 12.6 installer from their Avid account or from the Apps tab in Avid Application Manager. Review the Read Me and other docs before installing or updating Pro Tools for known issues that could impact your workflow. Sign In to my.avid.com. First Look: Avid Pro Tools 12.6. Avid has unveiled the latest version of Pro Tools, v12.6, which will be released later this month. I had an opportunity to sit down for a hands-on “sneak peek” at some of the new features in the new version. There are a number of very useful new features that provide improvements, particularly to workflow.

In this third article on the release of Pro Tools 12.6 we are looking at the changes to the pricing as a result of Avid unbundling the HD Software and Hardware. In the first article we presented an overview of the new features and changes and in the second article we covered the new features added in Pro Tools 12.6.

New Pro Tools HD Pricing And Packaging

The big news with the release of Pro Tools 12.6 is that Avid are unbundling the HD hardware, interfaces and software so you can buy just the bits you want. So yes you will be able to buy the Pro Tools HD Software on its own, without having to buy a card or an interface.

Alternatively you will be able to buy an HD Native or HDX card and the Pro Tools HD software without having to buy an Avid interface. So if you would prefer to own and use one of the 3rd party HD interfaces then you can without having to buy an Avid interface and then go through the trouble of selling it.

Pro Tools HD DigiLink I/O License

However as part of the process to decouple the interface from the bundles, Avid are introducing a new one-off DigiLink I/O license, which all users will need whether they are using an Avid interface or a 3rd party interface. This is a one time license that will be $299 but note this is NOT per interface. If you have one interface then it will be $299, if you have 10 interfaces it will still be $299 and NOT $2990.

DON'T worry as there are a number of scenarios that will mean most people will automatically receive the DigiLink I/O license at NO extra cost. If you fit into any one of these categories you will not have to pay for the DigiLink I/O license.

• All existing customers on an active upgrade/support plan when Pro Tools 12.6 is released irrespective as to whether you own an Avid interface or a 3rd party interface.
• Any customer purchasing an upgrade/support plan reinstatement
• Any customer who purchases an Avid HD Series I/O
• Any Customer who purchases a Legacy hardware Exchange (Old TDM Systems)

New Customers

Pro Tools 12.6

If you are buying a new system from now on and you choose to buy an HDX Core or HD Native Core System, so that you are able to buy a 3rd Party interface, then you will be able to go to the Avid Store and buy the DigiLink I/O license for a one off charge of $299 and you will be good to go. Remember this is a single fee, and not per interface.

What the license effectively does is to turn on the DigiLink ports on an HD Native or HDX card. If you don’t have a valid DigiLink I/O License then your HD interfaces, irrespective of what brand they are, including Avid, will not work once you are running Pro Tools 12.6.

But remember this is only for new HD customers buying into hardware. Pro Tools Vanilla and Pro Tools HD standalone software users do not need a DigiLink I/O license and so you will NOT be affected and will NOT need to buy the DigiLink I/O license.

Resellers will also be provided with activation cards to include with their existing stock. So moving forward Avid interfaces will have the DigiLink I/O license included in the box, again at no extra charge, in fact Avid have taken $500 off the prices of all their HD I/O Series interfaces.

Pro Tools 12.6 HD Software Only Pricing

Pro Tools HD Software Standalone will be available later in September 2016 in two formats, either as a perpetual license or on a rental subscription plan.

Pro Tools HD Software Standalone Software - Perpetual

The Perpetual version will be $2499 and will include one year’s annual upgrade plan If you want to keep up to date you will need to have an HD upgrade and support plan which will cost $399 as it did before.

Pro Tools HD Software Standalone Software - Rental (subscription)

Pro Tools HD Software with be available to rent for $999 per year on a subscription rental plan. If you wanted to buy the HD Software outright, it is equivalent to 2.5 years of rental subscriptions. Unlike other rental options, Avid will not be offering Pro Tools HD Software Standalone Software on a monthly rental scheme, only annual.

Upgrade Path For Pro Tools Vanilla Users

Pro Tools Vanilla users can also upgrade to Pro Tools HD standalone for the price difference between Pro Tools vanilla and the HD software and so this upgrade will cost $1899

Pro Tools HD Software Not Transferable

We understand that the HD Software Standalone will not be transferable so just as at the moment it is not possible to transfer a Pro Tools HD ilok license from one iLok account to another, Avid will not allow the new standalone license to be transferable so as before you won’t be able to sell it.

Pro Tools HD Software - Is It Worth It?

You may be thinking that $2499 is expensive but consider the entry point for Pro Tools. Before Pro Tools 12.6, if a professional working from home, for example, needed the HD only features like surround tracks, they had to buy the minimum of an HD Native card, an HD Omni interface and the HD software, which was around $5000. Now with the unbundling options, for half of that you can get the HD software and access to all the HD only features, including the new Clip Effects feature introduced in Pro Tools 12.6. Over 12 months that is just over $200 per month.

Consider The Rental Option

Pro Tools 12.6 System Requirements

If you prefer to rent the Pro Tools HD Software, then you can rent it for $999 per year, remember that there is no monthly rental option for the standalone HD software but this works out at around $84 per month. A further advantage of the rental plan is that you don’t need to buy into the upgrade/support plans.

Ongoing Perpetual Costs

If you go for the perpetual option, the first year is going to cost you around $209 per month and then subsequent years are going to cost you around $33 per month for the ongoing upgrade/support plan.

For Professionals This Is Not Expensive

Either way, whether you choose perpetual with a continuing upgrade/support plan or go for the rental option, for professionals earning their living from working with Pro Tools this is not a lot of money for the features and power that comes with Pro Tools HD.

Consider Cap-Ex or Op-Ex

For those bigger facilities managing budgets you will know exactly where you stand. You can choose whether to fund it from capital expenditure with the perpetual route or operational expenditure with the rental subscription route.

For smaller, one person operations, going down the rental option means it is an operational expense and can be recharged to the client.

New Pro Tools HD Hardware Pricing

To help you through the changes that Avid have made, we have prepared a table to show the new pricing structures. Please read this table in conjunction with the notes below.

HDX Core Price Reduced By 29%

Avid have reduced the HDX Core price by around 29% when you look at the old price bundled with an HD I/O. Once you take the price off for the HD I/O the new price is 29% lower than the old price.

Avid Interface Prices Drop By $500

They have also reduced the prices on all the HD I/O Series interfaces by $500 per interface and so they are taking steps to make the pricing of the HD systems more competitive, to try and retain as many customers as possible.

Upgrade Paths For HD Software Only Users

You might be wondering why Avid is offering the HD Native card without the HD Software? One example would be that an owner of the Pro Tools HD Standalone software now wants to take advantage of a Sync I/O. The Sync I/O needs an HD card to work so they have thought this through and so it is possible now for an HD Software owner to buy into HD hardware at a later date.

New Legacy Exchange Pricing

Avid have changed the Legacy hardware upgrade offering, so now the price for an HDX Core is the same as the Legacy upgrade price but the difference is that with the Legacy upgrade you get 3 years of upgrade/support plans included rather than the normal one year.

Pre-Ordering Available Now

Although Avid don’t expect to start shipping Pro Tools 12.6 and the new hardware options until much later in September they will be offering the option to pre-order from today.

What Do you Think?

So there you have it, Avid have finally decoupled the Pro tools Software and Hardware, they have added Clip Based Effects as well as several neat new editing features, but still no support for higher surround channel formats and no folders in the clip list. What is your view on Pro Tools 12.6? Like it or not? Do share your thoughts in the comments below...

With Pro Tools 12.6 realeasing soon, we take a look at new features and functionality that will improve your editing workflow, audio processing, and mixing capabilities.

Avid is set to release the latest incarnation of Pro Tools, and with it comes a host of new features that will benefit everyone working in the studio. From Clip Gain to Playlist Editing enhancements, Avid addresses several issues professionals have been asking for. Let's take a look at these new features to help you better understand how they will help you in your studio.

Clip Effects

Several years ago Avid introduced Clip Gain which gave us the ability to adjust the 'recorded' level of audio files by using similar controls to automation. The end result of Clip Gain is that it gives you the ability to fine-tune the audio level allowing for a consistent balance in loudness without relying on processors. All of this happens before the audio signal goes through the Plug-In Insert point, allowing the plug-in processors to work more effectively.

Taking this mentality deeper, Avid has introduced the ability to add EQ and Dynamics changes directly to the audio file. Based on the Avid ChannelStrip plug-in, and accessible at the top of the Edit Window in Pro Tools, this feature allows you to apply changes to the audio files without having to rely on plug-ins.

The Clip Effects Window is located at the top of the Pro Tools Edit window. It can be shown or hidden by using the keyboard shortcut: Option + 6 (on numeric keypad), or clicking the icon in the Universe Window.

You can apply Clip Effects to individual clips, or a group of selected clips. You can even apply a change to a single clip, they apply another layer to it as a group of clips. While the ability to access these functions is an HD software feature, all Pro Tools users can Playback, Render, & Bypass the effects. You also have the ability to save 5 preset setting to quickly apply common changes to clips. These presets will appear in every session as they are part of the Pro Tools software, not individual plug-ins. There is also the ability to save and recall setting with the actual ChannelStrip plug-in.

Even if the Clip Effects window is closed, you can see whether or not each clip has any process applied via the Effects Indicator at the top left of each clip. They DYN and EQ indicators will light up depending on which process is applied.
Personally, I see this feature as being extremely useful when collaborating with other on a project. I can apply the changes necessary to get the balance I'm looking for without having to rely on the other studio to have the same 'plug-ins' I do. Also, when working with a Mix Engineer, I can be sure the sound of the 'recorded' audio file is exactly the same as it is in my studio. Since both Clip Gain and Clip Effects are applied to the audio file on the hard drive, it's as if they were recorded that way.

Layered Editing

For years, editing in Pro Tools stayed very static, without a lot of new changes. It has always been an combination of tape editing along with software copy and paste. Certain movements would create unnecessary, or undesired edits. There are tools such as Trim that allowed us to effectively 'undo' the edits, although it required extra steps and time. With the addition of Layered Editing, Pro Tools brings its functionality up to 21st century standards. Layered Editing can be enabled from the toolbar button.

No longer will you have to worry about leaving a 'gap' in an audio clip due to arranging 2 clips on top of one another. Without Layered Editing, if you move a clip on top of another clip, then either move it again or delete it, this would leave a blank gap of time in the original clip. With this new feature active, the original clip will retain its full length.

These improvement are certainly useful, however, it alone doen't address what happens if a clip is longer than the clip it replaces. Due to this limitation, the software engineers have addressed the issue by vastly improving how Playlists work in Pro Tools.

See Full List On Pro-tools-pc.com

Playlist Editing

One of the longest running features in Pro Tools is the ability to have an unlimited amount of Playlists per Audio Track. In the 90's these were known as 'Virtual Tracks', it was a magical time :/ The ability to have an enless variety of edits has proved indispensible for both Music and Post Production. It allows you to keep the track signal flow intact, while having a different version of the audio edit for playback. Think of it like this: An album cut of a song can have curse words in it, the radio version cannot. By duplicating the original playlist, you can remove just the curse words and not affect the mix or signal flow at all. Same concept applies to Post Production: The dialogue track for the Film release can have curse words, however they have to be replaced for the TV version. The same dialogue track can be switched between the 2 version of the edit. One of the only complaints about Playlist is their lack of shortcuts and ease of use. Avid aims to recitfy these issues by improving how you interact with Playlists.

There are new Preferences for Playlist editing that allow you to make sure you don't lose any edits, as well as new keyboard shortcuts to help select between Playlists. These preferences allow Pro Tools to send a clip that is being overlapped by another clip to it's own playlist. Whether you're editing and moving clips around on screen, or you're recording new takes on top of previous takes, whenever a clip completely overlaps another clip, that previous clip will automatically be sent to it's own Playlist. Furthermore, there is finally an indicator showing you whether or not a track has any background Playlists present.

This improvement is very welcome as it finally alleviates having to click on individual tracks to see whether or not anything is there. As someone who's day to day life revolves around working with Playlists, this has always been a sore point with me as well as many other. You can waste a lot of time clicking with your mouse.

Speaking of making things faster, there are new shortcuts to make working with Playlist more convenient. To cycle between the available Playlists, use Shift + ↑ or ↓
This alone makes working easier as you no longer have to open the entire Playlist view which takes up screen area, and can add to confusion regarding routing.

Another useful feature is the ability to manually send a clip to a new Playlist by right-clicking on the clip itself. You can choose to Cut/Copy the clip, and send it to any existing Playlist as well or new Playlist. This is awesome if you do a lot with comping of alternate takes. Simply right-click on any clip and you will see the new menu feature.

Lastly, but just as important is the ability to apply Freeze on a global session scale as well as track by track. While the addition of Track Freeze has been very welcome, it was individually turned on & off track by track. This proved to be quite cumbersome in large session. Now there is a quick way to apply Freeze to all track in the session at one. Simply click the Freeze icon in the Toolbar.

These are just a few of the enhancement you can expect in the next few days as Avid releases Pro Tools 12.6. In the next article I'll discuss the changes to HDX hardware and pricing structures as well as the availability of HD software as a standalone product no longer tied to the hardware purchase.