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As expected, Digidesign has today showed Pro Tools 8. It turns out some of the rumours were true while others, as usual, were cock-ups. But who cares about rumours now? Pro Tools 8 looks like it will kick some serious hiney… And yes, even LE.

Die Nemesis! Die!

While the most striking change is the interface, I’ll first express my happiness over how Digidesign has decided to rework my nemesis - the piano roll. No more will I be target for it’s destructive ways, no more will my arms suffer over it’s crappiness, no more will I think twice about editing MIDI over fear for worse RSI! Thank you! And what took you so damn long?! I’m so happy I could kiss each and everyone of you Digidesign employee’s (uh-oh, gay-dar alerting, I’m meeting with one today!)

I’ve kind of expected that they would do changes to it eventually, but I’ll admit, I never thought they would actually add a MIDI editor window a la other sequencers. It’s OK, It was the right way to go. You can either open it in a separate window or see it integrated in the edit window like Logic. Both of which I think are fine sollutions. When I’ve worked in Logic I’ve actually alternated between the two ways.

Also like Logic (and some other sequencers), Pro Tools now features built-in notation. Surely this has been a feature requested for a long time by many users. Export to Sibeliues just wasn’t enough. At least it wasn’t for me since I don’t use Sibelius and have no real interest in getting it. Great addition.

Finally Digidesign has decided to take the bull by the horns and give us some new instruments to include. Mini Grand piano, Boom drum machine, DB-33 tonewheel organ, as well as Vacuum and Xpand!2 synths. I of course haven’t tried these, and no matter how much I think Xpand! (the original) is a great VI, I don’t expect the typical full-blown AIR instruments we’re used to. In other words, it’s not like they’re including Velvet. Still, I think this will make a world of a difference to many users.

I’ve been waiting, ever since the dawn of times

New VI’s are not the only new plug-ins, Eleven Free and SansAmp (it’s still good, I promise you) have been included for guitarists who fret the amp or just distorto freaks. An LE version of the DJ software Torq is also included. And, something I’ve been asking for: free AIR effects! It’s not clear if these are picked from Transfuser and the other bad boys, but as you might remember, I specifically wanted that when Transfuser was first released. Regardless if they are or not, I put great trust in that they’re cool sounding. Now hopefully we can have an RTAS flanger and chorus from start. I can’t believe it hasn’t been included in the stock plug-ins.

Oh and BTW, both the new FX and the included instruments might sound like a response to Logic, but I’m actually not so sure it is. It might have been on the desk for quite some time. Either way it will probably shut some broken-tape-machines-”but with Logic you get…”-repeaters up… At least for a few days or so.

Again the track count have been upped for LE, this time to 48 mono or stereo (no voice counting). With the added Music Production Toolkit 2 or DV Toolkit 2 you can get 64 of them. With the new Complete Production you get 128 and 7.1 surround mixing capabilities. (see previous post on the new Toolkits)

A new comp feature is available too, bearing some resemblance to Logics. I haven’t tried it so this is just a guess, but to me it seems like Logic is still one step away in this regard, at least when it comes to pure quickness in editing in from different takes. On the other hand, Logics comp feature gets messy ones you need to cut in it, and not to mention crashes when you record through it while open! This might have been fixed, I haven’t really tried the latest update. It will be interesting to try it and see if it works well. I have been unhappy with the comp feature in Pro Tools so I think it’s about time Digidesign did something about it.

And finally, how I’ve been waiting! The feature that will knock the socks and flip the wig of anyone who dare stand in the way is now complete (or maybe it isn’t?) - elastic audio in full glory. How I’ve been correcting people in the past. “No, we have elastic time now which is part of elastic audio which in the near future will include elastic pitch“. Elastic pitch is finally here! From the audio examples it sounds badass. On the other hand we need to be aware that Digidesign will use optimal material in their videos to show new stuff. Point being, it might not work as well on a slightly distorted slide guitar. We’ll see (and I can’t f’n wait!).

“Hey, I bought HD! Where’s my hoolahoop?”

Of course all these features are LE and HD both, but it seems like there aren’t much HD only features. There are a few, mainly the promise of “major enhancements” for ICON users.

The Satellite Link option is probably an interesting thing for major production plants (but not really for me. I do a whole lot of production, but that’s because of too much time, it doesn’t make me a major production plant, and in fact, it doesn’t make me a plant at all). Digidesign says it will allow you to control five HD systems at once. I’m always a little skeptical about how well things like these work, but hopefully they’ve come up with a sollution that’s not just pretty words.

Satellite is the hip word de jour, the new Video Satellite and Video Satellite LE options brings Avid and QuickTime HD/SD video playback to Pro Tools in high definition, without sacrificing audio track counts or processing power. That’s all I know about it.

Well?

Are you happy? I’m damn happy. It looks like a killer update. And I mean bloody Jack the Ripper killer. Man, I almost forgot to comment on the new interface. I didn’t know what to think about it at first. Especially the faders look too much like some other sequencer I know. Overall though, I think it looks rather nice. The customizable toolbar is welcomed, the multiple lanes have been requested and those requests were answered. But pan knobs? Ditching the dual fader? Man, not sure about that one…

… And no, still no ADC.

And hey! Don’t forget to watch the videos

Digidesign