I'm just wondering what's the cheapest way to get Pro Tools? I'm looking to have it to use solely for the final mastering phase of tracks, so would only most be dealing with a small number of stereo audio tracks, such as reference, original, and mastered version of tracks. They would also likely only have 2 to 10 plugins max per track. I don't install AAX versions either, so would likely just use Blue Cat Audio's Patchwork to run my VST3 plugins within Pro Tools.

Is the AudioUtopia 12 5 still useful? Are there more recent versions? Is there a free/cheap legit version that can achieve these goals? Are there issues with legit version, as I've always tried to avoid Pace and iLok type of love sing as I hate the idea of them.

 

Ok, so in ProTools Intro which is free, you get 8 Audiotracks, 8 Instrument-Tracks and 8 Midi-Tracks. The downside is, you will have to use iLok to activate and use it, and (please correct me if I am wrong) you can not use most cracked AAX plugins with it unless untouched.

I'm not sure about 12.5 but I think if you don't wanna use iLok, it's the way to go, then.

 

With legit version you cannot use cracked AAX, usually written as AAX (mod). That's why many R2R releases that are "incl. Keygen" are AAX legit compatible because the files have not been tampered with ! Luckily Bluecat is a keygen release by R2R (just FIY) Because ! Sometimes an AAX version will perfom much better than in Blue Cat, YMMV.

That said, there is Pro Tools Intro, which is free i believe and is limited to 8 audio tracks and is not limited by Avid AAX's only... would need someone else to confirm this.

 

Seriously? You must know the answers you're going to get by now regarding our beloved Sister? No?

 

It literally makes no sense to do that. Any daw can successfully do a mastering job.

I noticed alot of "Samsone-vibes" from your latest posts (basically before I click a title on the sister site feed I think "yeah, that sounds like bunford" : that guy managed to "prepare" and ask questions for 7+ years straight without finishing a single song. Don't go there. Your issue is not the tools but rather the mindset.

I'd suggest you to read "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. And maybe Mark Manson's "The subtle art
of not giving a f**k". Then quit this board for a couple of years, and aim at making a hundred of (at the beginning) crappy songs, learn in the process, then come back and ask questions again: they'll be actually useful questions, based on your experience, based on your need to grow and the answers will actually help you. And then you'll actually grow. The more time you spend here now, the more your dream of making music gets away.

For the mods (because I was warned unjustly in the past): this post is not ment to insult the person, rather to offer a viable solution for anyone inexperienced that doesn't know how to approach the huge mohntain called "music production"

 

I have plenty of finished songs, just not very good ones in the main....I call it learning my craft

And no insult taken! I find it funny more than offensive

Anyway, the reason behind my questions recently have been about what you say actually. I'd gathered a lot of bits n bobs, hardware and software, and struggled to master any of it due to spreading myself too thinly. This was my not giving a f**k process, creating crap and messing around to figure things out. I've recently realised minimalism is key to myself, hence recent posts about streamlining my system, plugins, and trying to integrate hardware over software synths and drum machine to self-impose limitations....as a result of my learning and self-awareness.

This question about Pro Tools specifically is a part of that. I've recently been helping a few people with their sound, both live at gigs and in terms of mixing and mastering, and found that I really enjoy it, especially the mastering element to bring a song to life. Therefore, this is what's behind this specific question, as I've already noticed many people work in Pro Tools at a professional level, though the studio I've been visiting to lend a hand in and learn a few things in recent years actually uses Cubase. Many are convinced Pro Tools has a certain sound algorithm that differs to others, so I mainly wanted to test the theory, and if true begin to output mastered tracks using the algorithm that's familiar, being the industry standard.

Personally, I think all DAWs sound virtually identical (with the exception of Mixbus 32C that I absolutely adore the sound of over any other DAW), so this isn't me saying I want to use Pro Tools, but rather doing so to facilitate others, hence wanting the cheapest version possible, if that makes sense.

 

Cheapest possible way: Become a student = free licence or a massive discount

 

You want to run Protools just to handle this, after you have committed to your mix? No, thank you. On PC, I would most likely pick Wavelab instead, especially because you are already running Cubase. And (more like, because) the price can vary greatly ;)

 

Last edited: May 15, 2023

You seen the student fees in the UK right?

 

Some Unis have licences ready to give to students. Might just be music Unis tho not sure. I got 60% off Ableton Live Suite and free Pro Tools with the use of some social engineering

 

If you want Pro Tools, then you must love ilok.
USB iLok works even when PACE blocked and destroyed your account, your wife left you and cut off the Internet to you, and when you with a bare rear torso (ass) and without money sailed to the uninhabited island to write hits. ))

 

fuck ProTools

on a more serious note... ...fuck ProTools

anyway, you can get free version called ProTools Intro, which can't do anything, but that's enough for what you need,
if I remember correct, iLok Cloud is enough to activate that, no need for overpriced dongle,
just make sure to delete all (cracked) AAX plugins and use (legit) BlueCat Patchwork for VST3 stuff

ps: fuck ProTools

 

On each - Pro Tools Ultimate Perpetual

 

personally I detest iLOK's and anything like them. my current media production machine was built without ANY of those stupid things plugged into it. If you want complete protools, and you want it solidly running, and you do not have legit or Pro tools one lic , then find the 12.5HD AU version and live happily ever after (or until a proper WORKING current version is crackled and avavilable)... 12.5 HD wont run the newest version of AAX plugins, but for anything around worth using it will suffice many times over...

 

I actually did this but on trying to install to Windows 11 machine I got a ton of files not available during the install process. May need to locate a different version to try, unless this is a known common issue that there's a fix for?!

I don't even install AAX on my machine, only VST3, so would be using Blue Cats Patchwork with VST3 inside anyway or TransVST!

 

I do not know your exact situation there, but off hand I would first ask if the WINDOWS 11 machine being used is;
- connected to internet
- running with a standard "out-of-box" OS install
- not optimized in any way
- running win update
- running A/V of any sort
... you see where I'm going with this? It is totally possible you have some corrupt files going on, but if the answer was yes to any of the asking points above, my guess would be your problem stems from a hostile installation environment, not file corruption.

I have a TON of AAX plugins which work excellent with 12.5HD - just there is that "new" AAX incarnation (conveniently incompatible with 12.5HD) that was most likely conjured up to keep a newer crop of plugins un-available to 12.5HD because AVID wanted it that way. A fair portion of the AAX stuff released in the scene works fine with AU PT.

 

Last edited: May 16, 2023

Yes Please!

 

barely a "perpetual" year of ProTools in fact,
and there's no guarantee ancient unopened box code will activate

 

I'm not gonna touch the rest of @lxfsn's remark as... well, I don't really care about the back 'n forth, but I *do agree with him one hundred on his initial remark. The act of going through the effort to grab a DAW that isn't going to make your master sound any better than nearly any other DAW is ridiculous. In short, diving into Pro Tools is counterintuitive to your goal of minimalism.