Upgraded to Pro tools

[SoundofJoy]

Hello everyone, I'm getting back in to the music production mode and I just upgraded from Sonar to Protools. I realize I'm going to have a huge learning curve so if you have any tips and techniques you could share please let me know. I already know I need a better virtual instrument package and I'm looking at all of them online. Any suggestions?

[T_Keys]

a question: how is going from Sonar to ProTools an "upgrade"?

[SoundofJoy]

I was using Sonar 3, good for midi but I wanted to upgrade to the industry standard. I have musician friend who has a studio and he only uses ProTools. If I wanted to record vocals I could do the music at my studio and transfer the "sessions" to his and do the vocals there.

[JoashStilltheman]

I would ask the same question. How is using Pro Tools an upgrade. Is it the software or the producer that makes the music?

[3rd-Day]

Hello everyone, I'm getting back in to the music production mode and I just upgraded from Sonar to Protools. I realize I'm going to have a huge learning curve so if you have any tips and techniques you could share please let me know. I already know I need a better virtual instrument package and I'm looking at all of them online. Any suggestions?

Get your hands on a book/DVD combo package they got them at sweetwater and other online music stores. Also if you ever have the opportunity, go to a workshop. Guitar Center usually hosts them and from I understand they are free to the public. Pro Tools is pretty cool. Transitioning from Sonar is going to be challeging initially becuase the languages are diffrent.  Once you learn the languages, the function are the same. One thing I can say about pro-tools is that the editing capabilities are much easier and quicker. I dont like the GUI as much as I liked Sonars, and you have to watch your levels when you are recording to disk. It will come out too low. But overall I like Pro Tools, it is the industry standard, but I chose Digital Performer.

[3rd-Day]

I would ask the same question. How is using Pro Tools an upgrade. Is it the software or the producer that makes the music?

Its a combination of both. Who can listen to a song on a radio and tell whether it was tracked and mixed in Pro Tools or Cubase or Reason; No one! I  have heard songs tracked, mixed and edited on NTracks that sounded just as good as a Pro Tools session.  My prodution partner swears on Sonar and I cant blame him.  He has done some of the same things on Sonar that I have done in Pro Tools and Digital Performer. But Sonar is his preference. People are purchasing the LE Pro Tools packages because Pro Tools is the industry standard. For that reason, I would say that its an upgrade. It is also more expensive, more expandable and more sophisticated than most recording softwares. Its like going from a Toyota to a Lexus. They both serve the same purpose, one is just more sophisticated than the other, by industry standards. If your hoopty gets you from A to B, than roll your hoopty. Most mastering facilities use pro tools. So its good to have an upper hand if you are ever placed in a session at a commercial recording facicilty.

[T_Keys]

Its a combination of both. Who can listen to a song on a radio and tell whether it was tracked and mixed in Pro Tools or Cubase or Reason; No one! I  have heard songs tracked, mixed and edited on NTracks that sounded just as good as a Pro Tools session.  My prodution partner swears on Sonar and I cant blame him.  He has done some of the same things on Sonar that I have done in Pro Tools and Digital Performer. But Sonar is his preference. People are purchasing the LE Pro Tools packages because Pro Tools is the industry standard. For that reason, I would say that its an upgrade. It is also more expensive, more expandable and more sophisticated than most recording softwares. Its like going from a Toyota to a Lexus. They both serve the same purpose, one is just more sophisticated than the other, by industry standards. If your hoopty gets you from A to B, than roll your hoopty. Most mastering facilities use pro tools. So its good to have an upper hand if you are ever placed in a session at a commercial recording facicilty.

agreed, Pro-Tools is used the most, but does being used the most make it an industry standard?

people tend to lean on mac's becuse some professional has laid claims to it... and somehow it became a standard... just like the word "pro-tools"

What do you think about the above statement?

[3rd-Day]

agreed, Pro-Tools is used the most, but does being used the most make it an industry standard?

What do you think about the above statement?

It depends on who ( what industry ) is using it the most. I think we can all agree that a Hammomd organ and the Fans with the local funeral homes on the back are standards for most black churches. I have heard professionals and novices alike claim that there are certain products that are way overrated. Digi Design has an outstanding reputation as well as support from top people within the industry of media, recording, live audio you name it. Industry standard because only the large commercial facilities in the industry can afford it. We all want that "Large Commercial Studio Quality Sound" coming from the corner of our livingroom or bedroom, desk from walmart studio setups!! The numbers dont lie. It is a great DAW but I think the competition has stepped up and downplayed it by creating products that are alike but a lot less expensive. Walk with me real quick.

Pro Tools HD1 Core system hmm about $8,000
Audio Interface ofr Pro Tools, you might get just under $2,000 is you shop around!
Midi Interface $600 and some change
We have already spent over ten grand and we still haven brought a computer to run all this stuff.

Pre amp for Microphones is somewhere close to $3,000
The plug ins range anywhere form $400 to almost $15,000
The control surfaces cause who wants pro tools without the phat control surface that look like the cockpit of a AIR BUS; They start in the 30's and exceed the $100,000 range. If you really big time then you can spend a cool Mil on a SSL NEVE! (Another industry standard!)

Okay so we can now spend around 6 to 7 grand on a Apple Mac Pro with the $1,800 30 in Cinema display. (you might need two dispays for the WOW factor)

Speaking of Industry Standards, why not through in the Mackie HR 824s they only $600 a piece and you might need four of them plus the $1,100 subwoofer for that George Lucas THX certified sound!

Or if you really big time then get a pair of Genelecs.  *Side note* I wont post the price for a set of these. It may cause my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to speak in "other" tongues!

The Pro Tools LE systems were created to be a more affordable solution for the home studio musicians. Industry standard, Yes. Necessity to create great music, NO!!! Spend $400 to $600 on Reason, Digital Performer, Sonar or Cubase or whatever. Get you an audio interface and a PC big enough to handle the workload and compose your masterpiece!

[MrTea]

Yeah, I agree.  One shouldn't go and spend a lot of money on these programs because, they all work pretty much the same.  It should be which one you feel the most confitable with.  To go out and spend 8,000 dollars for ProTool just because your friend uses it is ludocris.  I started back in the 70's, back in the  days of 4 track tape.  When you had to really understand the recording process to get the most out of those four tracks.  So thats where you should start.  Get the cheapest system that allow you to learn the recording process, and the rest is a piece a cake. I can work on protools, sonar, reason.  Doesn't matter the process is the same.   

[Kevykev388]

This sounds a lot like the whole argument between the roland fanton and yamaha motif about one being better than the other. Everybody sees motif on tv and on stage (industry standard) so a lot of people swear by it claiming it to be the best when really its about personal prefrence. Now, back to the softwares. Ive got protools on order right now. Should be here next week sometime. Ive witnessed pro tools myself and I wont say its the best cause i havent had the chance to work with other softwares but i can say i love it and love everything it has to offer me.

[tkeys86]

I use both Sonar and Protools, as well as Logic, and everything has it's pluses and minuses... whatever gets the job done!!!

[seemunny]

It depends on who ( what industry ) is using it the most. I think we can all agree that a Hammomd organ and the Fans with the local funeral homes on the back are standards for most black churches. I have heard professionals and novices alike claim that there are certain products that are way overrated. Digi Design has an outstanding reputation as well as support from top people within the industry of media, recording, live audio you name it. Industry standard because only the large commercial facilities in the industry can afford it. We all want that "Large Commercial Studio Quality Sound" coming from the corner of our livingroom or bedroom, desk from walmart studio setups!! The numbers dont lie. It is a great DAW but I think the competition has stepped up and downplayed it by creating products that are alike but a lot less expensive. Walk with me real quick.

Pro Tools HD1 Core system hmm about $8,000
Audio Interface ofr Pro Tools, you might get just under $2,000 is you shop around!
Midi Interface $600 and some change
We have already spent over ten grand and we still haven brought a computer to run all this stuff.

Pre amp for Microphones is somewhere close to $3,000
The plug ins range anywhere form $400 to almost $15,000
The control surfaces cause who wants pro tools without the phat control surface that look like the cockpit of a AIR BUS; They start in the 30's and exceed the $100,000 range. If you really big time then you can spend a cool Mil on a SSL NEVE! (Another industry standard!)

Okay so we can now spend around 6 to 7 grand on a Apple Mac Pro with the $1,800 30 in Cinema display. (you might need two dispays for the WOW factor)

Speaking of Industry Standards, why not through in the Mackie HR 824s they only $600 a piece and you might need four of them plus the $1,100 subwoofer for that George Lucas THX certified sound!

Or if you really big time then get a pair of Genelecs.  *Side note* I wont post the price for a set of these. It may cause my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to speak in "other" tongues!

The Pro Tools LE systems were created to be a more affordable solution for the home studio musicians. Industry standard, Yes. Necessity to create great music, NO!!! Spend $400 to $600 on Reason, Digital Performer, Sonar or Cubase or whatever. Get you an audio interface and a PC big enough to handle the workload and compose your masterpiece!

Good stuff 3rd Day. But with whatever studio set-up you have, what are you looking for, besides price?

Meaning, isn't basically:

1) Ease of use
2) Ability to allow you to play whatever music you have in your head. Meaning, you don't wanna say find yourself saying: "I want the music to do (such & such), but dang, this thing won't allow me to lay it down like that". You don't want some weird limitation like that! lol
3) Clarity of sound (which actually comes from the "sound card" doesn't it?)

Whatever i left out, feel free to add to it.

[themidiroom]

I see someone woke up this old thread.
For me, going to Pro Tools HD was indeed an upgrade.  I did it mostly because my client base demanded it and the LE version wasn't cutting it.  Many of the projects I get hired to engineer involve over 48 tracks so I needed a system to get it done.  My Sonar PC was doing a decent job but I had so many issues with various sound cards, drivers, and Windows itself.  I got tired of having to make excuses to clients why things weren't working as they should so I made the switch.

[tkeys86]

I see someone woke up this old thread.
For me, going to Pro Tools HD was indeed an upgrade.  I did it mostly because my client base demanded it and the LE version wasn't cutting it.  Many of the projects I get hired to engineer involve over 48 tracks so I needed a system to get it done.  My Sonar PC was doing a decent job but I had so many issues with various sound cards, drivers, and Windows itself.  I got tired of having to make excuses to clients why things weren't working as they should so I made the switch.

Hmmm.... I've been considering HD for a while, mainly for the same reasons you switched from LE... Whenever I have more than 48 tracks I move to Sonar (which runs great on a Mac Pro)...

But I see HD in my future lol

[themidiroom]

Hmmm.... I've been considering HD for a while, mainly for the same reasons you switched from LE... Whenever I have more than 48 tracks I move to Sonar (which runs great on a Mac Pro)...

But I see HD in my future lol

At one point, I was getting projects that were tracked in Pro Tools and all the track's regions had to be consolidated and copied.  It was a nightmare.   Then I had to deal with things they did in their Pro Tools session that had to be duplicated in Sonar.   I said never again.
A couple albums with that client paid for HD so I was more than happy to switch. 

[diverse379]

nice stuff

I have heard that since pro tools is industry standard

if you are planning on taking your projects to other studios to remaster and re mix

then pro tools should be the way you should go


I have heard the logic and cubase are choices for people who want to use a wider variety of plug ins

as far as learning how to work them
they all have their quirks

I have only been working with pro tools for a short time
and I know I dont know all there is to know about it

but I can lay tracks pretty easily

as far as editing I havent explored that that intensely

I am more old school I just re do the take until it is perfect

then I move on

I dont do loops either I play the same bass line for forty measures if I have to

I even play my drum machine live over a steady bass and snare hit
so I can get a live feel

something about the slight rhythmic inconsistency that gives a track breath

[themidiroom]

nice stuff

I have heard that since pro tools is industry standard

if you are planning on taking your projects to other studios to remaster and re mix

then pro tools should be the way you should go


I have heard the logic and cubase are choices for people who want to use a wider variety of plug ins

as far as learning how to work them
they all have their quirks

Pro Tools became the standard mostly because they met the needs of large recording studios.  You can scale the systems up for large I/O and high track counts.  Also, Pro Tools was rock solid in the days when computers were questionable for recording and hard disks were relatively slow.  The software allowed you to do cool things like sync to video, analog tape, and use large control surfaces among other things.

[diverse379]

Pro Tools became the standard mostly because they met the needs of large recording studios.  You can scale the systems up for large I/O and high track counts.  Also, Pro Tools was rock solid in the days when computers were questionable for recording and hard disks were relatively slow.  The software allowed you to do cool things like sync to video, analog tape, and use large control surfaces among other things.

THANKS Midi room
.

you are wealth of information

[SoundofJoy]

I made the full leap yesterday....I now have a Mac Pro with Protools, Komplete 5 (11 virtual synts) and printmusic. Look for some great music to come.

[jfj007]

Hey, using protools is the best. I use protools m-powered and it gets the job done.