Pro Tools Questions

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 15:38 (GMT) Post subject: Pro Tools Questions

What is the difference between Pro Tools LE amd M-powered? If you bought LE now with an MBox, could you later upgrade to an M-Audio interface and still use LE or would you need to re-purchase the M-Powered version of the software? I ask because I see that BSW has a deal on an M-Box with LE for only $295. What I really want is a Projectmix from M-Audio, but that is too expensive for now.

Keith D. Milby · **Voice Talent** Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 570

Colin,

I might be able to answer parts of this question.

The LE usually stands for Lite Edition. With Audio Software you might be limited in how many tracks you can use or how many plug-ins or effects you can do. Typically you should be able to use it with any hardware.

Software companies bundle their SW with hardware in hopes that you will upgrade. But I say if the SW works for you as is, why do it.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 15:53 (GMT) Post subject:

Keith.... with Pro Tools, you HAVE to use aproved hardware or it simply will not run.

Keith D. Milby · **Voice Talent** Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 570

Well that just does not seem very Professional as the name Pro Tools would imply.

I am currently trying to work with Audacity (Open Source). I am also reading up on and trying to work with this Euro-Software, Live 6 point something that came with the M Audio Firewire Solo I just purchased.

Victor Harris · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 17:17 (GMT) Post subject:

Colin,

I use ProTools LE 7.3 and I love it. It has 16 tracks. Dude, thats plenty for voiceover. Of course if you run out of tracks you have to start combining but so far I have not had any problems, and I have at least a couple times recorded 24 tracks! I use the MBox2 (2 input and out channels). If you want to expand later? yes, you can. ProTools is fully expandable. The down side of ProTools is all plug-ins cost a shitload! I have bought a few.
ProTools eats memory, so make sure you have at least 1.5 gigs of RAM. Otherwords, it will lock up. ProTools is not for the fant of heart. It is alittle more techie to use. You even have to pay for access code just to bounce your projects down toan MP3 file.

I also have Adobe Audition 2, Cakewalk Sonar, Sony Sound Forge 8d, and all the Acid stuff. Once I got ProTools, I basiclly stopped using everything else. Oh by the way, I can use my MBox2 interface with all the other programs too. Wink

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 17:24 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Victor but I still wonder if the LE version can later be used with the M-Audio stuff. Guess it's kind of mute though since my PC won't go out to 1.5 Gig of RAM. I'd need a new one. Guess I'll stick with Audition 1.5 for now. Gets the job done. I have Audition 2.0 as well but I keep going back to 1.5. 2.0 just gets ugly.

Victor Harris · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 17:33 (GMT) Post subject:

Sorry, I forgot to answer that part of your question. I got this from their website:

There are actually three flavors of Pro Tools, all of which basically share the same user interface and file format. The primary distinction is what hardware they’re keyed to. Pro Tools HD 7 runs on elite Pro Tools|HD hardware. Pro Tools LE 7 works with Digidesign’s Mbox, Mbox 2, Digi 002 and Digi 002 Rack. And Pro Tools M-Powered delivers even more options via compatibility with nearly 20 M-Audio interfaces.

You can upgrade your software to M at anytime...for some more $$$.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 17:41 (GMT) Post subject:

Oh well. Thanks Victor. What I really want is the M-Audio Projectmix I/O and M-powered but now it sounds like I would need a new PC and more money for the ability to do .mp3's. This is getting way too expensive. Maybe I could ouput .wav out of Pro Tools and use Audition to enconde though? I thought I read that M-powered's minimum RAM requirement was 512? Which is the max my stupid Dell will do and what I have.

Victor Harris · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 17:47 (GMT) Post subject:

Well, yes you could use your Audition for that. They may say officially that 512 is all you need, but I know from experience that 512 RAM is not enough...I have had it lock up and freeze many times losing everything, before I expanded my RAM.

I hear alot of people say they dont like Audition 2...why not? Whats the difference with the earlier one? (I dont have the earlier one nor ever used it)

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 18:26 (GMT) Post subject:

OK, Audition 1.5 vs. 2. The only thing about v2 that is really cool is that it can "write automation" meaning if you have a control surface you can use real faders with it and it will remember what you "did in the mix." On the downside of v2, the effect presets are not nearly as good or as many and not compatible with 1.5 presets if you have any saved. Also, I've noticed v2 to be clunky with spits and burps. One other thing... for some reason the audio level going in is lower... all things being equal... than 1.5. Havn't investigated that too much yet. I can tell you though that when I go back to 1.5 after using 2 for a while, it seems so much faster, so much more stable.

Thomas C. Gass · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 179

Colin,

There is no difference in functionality between the LE and the M-powered version. The only difference is, that the M-powered version only runs with M-Audio hardware.

Thomas

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007, 20:26 (GMT) Post subject:

But does the LE version run with the M-audio hardware?

Thomas C. Gass · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 179

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007, 23:28 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks for all the info!

Maya Kuper · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 97

LE and M-Powered are essentially the same software. M-Powered has more choices for the hardware you can use, and LE can do a few things with video that M-Powered can't.

Also, M-Powered DOESN'T have the ability to do low latency monitoring built into the software. This means that unless you have your settings just so, you'll get a delay in your headphones while you record that will distract you from your read. With LE, all you have to do is select "Low Latency Monitoring" and you're set to go.

So I'd recommend LE, with the Mbox 2 Mini.

LE's been around a lot longer and although the name may be misleading, it's more professional than the M-Powered stuff.