DigiDesign Pro Tools 4.0

January 16, 1997 -- Digidesign's new Pro Tools 4.0 software offers a myriad of new features designed specifically for music production and post production work. In this most important evolutionary step in Pro Tools development, Pro Tools 4.0 brings together in one software application quite simply the fastest, and most flexible system for music production available today.

The most striking new features in Pro Tools 4.0 are its greatly expanded mixing capabilities. Musicians accustomed to working on high end, large format mixing consoles have enjoyed features like dynamic automation for some time. While previous versions of Pro Tools also offered volume and pan automation, Pro Tools v4.0 sets new standards in mixing capabilities for DAWs (see Mix Window Screen Shot). The Mixer window has a new graphic look that includes Plasma-style metering. Automation modes such as Write, Touch and Latch enable Pro Tools 4.0 to provide professional quality mixer automation features rivaling, and in many cases surpassing, the dynamic automation capabilities of the most expensive mixing consoles without their high cost. For example, in addition to standard automation adjustments using the on-screen mixer controls or external hardware controller, Pro Tools mix automation can be graphically edited in the Playlist. The ability to edit automation data using actual audio waveforms as a reference is a feature not available with mixing consoles at any price. Perhaps the most exciting of all these new automation capabilities is the ability to dynamically automate virtually all parameters of TDM Plug-lns. Imagine the power and creativity offered by an audio mixing and processing environment that is fully automated and completely digital-Pro Tools 4.0 turns that imagination into reality.

Other Mixer improvements include the ability to group faders while maintaining true relative positions, instantaneous mute/solo response, independent muting on the solo bus, and solo and record safe modes. With the new "Narrow Mix View" mode, fader strips can be scaled to allow up to 36 faders to be viewed on-screen at once (using a 21" monitor).

New MIDI "Personality Files" included in v4.0 allow the user to choose one of several cost effective hardware controllers control Pro Tools using a familiar tactile surface physical faders, buttons and pots. initially, available from Penny & Giles, J.L. Cooper Peavey will be supported. Future releases include support for additional including upcoming HUI (Human interface) Controller Mackie Designs(TM)

Pro Tools 4.0 also introduces many new features designed to provide greater editing control and speed the work process (see Edit Window Screen Shot). Multiple Edit Playlists are one of the most powerful new features. They provide an easy method to quickly create alternate arrangements of performances or create perfect composite tracks. Enhancements such as a new crossfade dialog for auditioning and creating custom crossfades, including S-shaped fades, enable musicians to achieve a higher degree of precision and creative control than ever before. Fades now include noise-shaped dithering to maintain the highest audio quality. Loop recording and edit during playback are new features that have been added to augment Pro Tools' editing power and also allow musicians to track directly to disk, eliminating the need for tape-to-disk transfers. This yields all the advantages of random access recording and editing while retaining the familiar feel of working with tape.

For improved speed of operation, Pro Tools 4.0 is written in PPC native code providing dramatically faster screen redraws. Tracks can also be grouped for mixing, editing or both and shortcuts have been added that globally assign track 1/0 and Plug-lns to all tracks or selected groups. 200 Memory Locations allow users to store custom views of their work as well as zoom factors, location points, group enables, etc. New searching and sorting features in the Regions List provide a quick and easy method of locating the desired audio clip to add to the Playlist.

To augment Pro Tools award winning TDM Plug-In architecture, AudioSuite is a new Plug-In architecture that has been included in 4.0 to provide Sound Designer Il-like file-based processing functions within the Pro Tools environment. Files can now be batch processed from the Region List or, when in the Playlist, regions (or even portions of regions) can be selected, batch processed and automatically placed back in the Playlist in their exact locations. In addition to the AudioSuite Plug-lns that are bundled as part of Pro Tools 4.0 (Normalize, Invert, Gain Change, Duplicate, Time Compression/Expansion, and Dither) there are an ever growing number of AudioSuite Plug-ins available from Digidesign's Development Partners.

For more information, visit their web site at www.digidesign.com.