Ok so I am in a coffee shop trying out Pro-Tools 9.  That statement was impossible a week ago, which says a lot about the new direction of Avid.  The new version not only breaks free of using Avid proprietary hardware, it does not tie you to any hardware.

This means that Avid must now compete directly with other DAW software programs.  Previous versions were bundled with their hardware, so if you choose the Pro tools route, you were all in.  Now Pro Tools will work with most soundcards and digital I/O boxes.  They will have to be more compelling, and will be forced to compete feature to feature with other programs (VST anyone!).  Competition is good and it will produce a better product over time.

I started using PT many years ago when the Digi001 first came out.  When it was time to upgrade I went with Digi003 for two reasons 1) I know the program and could not fit in the time to learn a new program( I had just got Ableton Live and was learning that program). 2) Digidesign gave me an amazing trade in on the Digi001 and it was much less than if I bought and new Program and D/I box.

My current workflow is to use Ableton and Reason to write and then record into PT.  Now I can add doing editing and recording outside the studio as well.

This article will review the installation process and first impressions.  I will do a detailed program review once I have more time with the program.

So I woke up Friday morning to learn of the Avid announcement at AES and was intrigued.  I spent the day watching the press conference, monitoring the Avid forums for people who had already did the upgrade, looking for reasons to wait.  I did not see any and since I learned you can keep version 8 installed alongside version 9 I decided to go for it.

Note that I am using a 15” Macbook Pro 2.4 duo core possessor from 2008.  I am running the latest version of Snow Leopard, and am using a hybrid SSD Seagate 500GB hard drive.

I backed up everything on my computer 3 times ( 3 2 1 backup baby!) and took the leap.

I purchased version 9 on-line instead of ordering the box since I didn’t want to wait, it was a $261 upgrade and a 4.7 GB file( for the full version, there was a upgrade file but I always like to install full versions).  Before the download it asked for my Ilok and Digi003 serial numbers.  Found the Ilok number on the Ilok website, authorized right away and began downloading, so far so good.

I read on the forum that you need to download new drivers for Version 9 to work so I downloaded those as well.

I installed the new drivers and tried launching PT 8.  It did not work.  The forum said you need to rerun the installation of version 8.0.4 after installing the new drivers.  Did that and PT 8 launched no problem.  Now if PT 9 has a problem I still have PT 8.

Then I checked Reason and Ableton to make sure they still worked, no problems there.

I took the final leap and installed PT 9.  It asked to authorize my Ilok device first.  So I had to go back to the Ilok site to do that.  Seemed to work and the installation completed with no other problems.

I launched PT 9 , it did not work at first, I had to turn my Digi003 off and back on at first, then it launched.

I was pleased to find that all my plug-ins were there and I didn’t have to reinstall them, that would have been a pain.

Finally the big test was to unplug the digi003 and plug in my Presonus Firebox, the soundcard I use on the road.  Note that you need to have your Ilok devise plugged into your computer at all times.  Not a problem it you use a desktop or like me when in the studio I plug it into a USB hub.  However outside the studio, it sticks out of the side of the Laptop and that makes me nervous.  It’s a little big and I’m afraid it may get knocked out when recording, and makes it awkward plugging in a second USB devise into the MacBook.  Avid’s demo shows a new small Ilok device, that I want to get, but it’s not available as of yet.

In order to switch hardware you need to go to hardware setup, change the source and then you must close the session your in and restart it.  Not the best but not a big problem.  Once I restarted, the Presonus worked fine. Yah! I now have a truly portable recording studio….nice.

Now I have to find the time to explore the new features, and get use to working with only one screen when I’m not in the studio…fun fun!

There goes my week-end! Pro-tools 9, no hardware needed to run.  This will change my whole workflow.

Review to come...