Why Would Anyone USE PRO TOOLS?!

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[nowheretoshower]

Pro Tools is the "industry standard" because of the corporate capture of the music education industry since 1997. Pro Tools systems were "donated" to schools so that it was the only DAW taught in schools. Just like Microsoft has done.

[derekbehrens]

I used to work on Pro Tools for many years and I wholly agree about the editing. I use Reaper now for all of my professional projects and I even mapped all of the editing macros to be the same as Pro Tools. I also love how I can have more than one session open at a time in Reaper, so handy for instances where I want to just copy SFX or a music cue from another session. I hated how Pro Tools was so rigid with having to import audio.

[joeydego]

When I want 2010 features at 2030 pricing.

[kadiummusic]

I switched from Pro Tools (after 20 years) to Studio One two years ago after trialling everything. I have Presonus Sphere which means for about £4 a week you get Studio One Pro, Fat Channel, all the software including Notation, all the instruments, sounds & sample packs, a superb built-in Console emulation and of course free updates. It has to be one of the biggest no-brainers in music production. 😎

[apologia]

I moved from Pro Tools to Reaper as my main DAW a few months ago. It's been a fun ride since then.
I just realized Reaper is like that humble, low-profile guy who makes 6 figures monthly.

[josebordasmusic]

I'm a full time songwriter/producer working mainly in the Latin tropical/Reggaeton scenes, and also some Latin pop and rock. I'm also starting to work on music for film and documentaries.

It is SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE to work without Pro Tools on any of those scenes. Film audio mixers down here will simply not accept stems: they demand a PT session. Most tropical producers don't know there are other DAWs out there. I work remotely with a lot of American clients and you'd be surprised how many commercial recording facilities in the US are unable to export their PT sessions as stems, or import stems into PT.

So I'm not a fan of Pro Tools, I do all my songwriting and producing/programming on Logic Pro X, but... I pay my monthly subscription because I need to work with other people. PT may be unnecessarily clunky and crashy but it's a fact of life.

[bosrongphar]

I want to own Pro Tools badly but the subscription things turn me down...now I'm a happy Studio One user👍🏻

[blakelystudio]

Very thoughtfully put. A lot of people don’t take the time to understand and just blindly follow, denying any other options without knowing why. Thanks for the concise content. Now I can just send this link to anyone who’s got questions.

[leonardocaminati]

Huge fan of your channel! I'd like to see a "Why Pro Tools (the leading DAW in modern recording studios) is good for hardware but still sucks at anything else! Like 20 years ago" video...Cause I really can't explain all the bad stuff about AVID (as a company) and the fact that other DAWs that cost a freaking fraction of PT's price, are delivering crazy updates, so fast that PT would never catch them up even in 20 years. Those features really speed up our workflow a lot (either production, MIDI, recording, mixing, or whatever else), I'm not talking about silly stuff. I think that at this point, it's more convenient switching DAW (from commercial studio to our personal studio) than keeping Pro Tools for compatibility with commercial studios. Mixing in something like Studio One is so faster and easier that you will still save time, also if you have to bounce the multitrack from PT and import it into Studio One. I know you're a smart guy, just try other DAWs out if you haven't done it yet. I used PT like you for 10 years before switching to Studio One, you're right the editing might be a bit better in PT but everything else is on a totally different level.

[calebneff]

I used Reason for years and LOVE it. the workflow is lightning fast, the transport controls are so easy to navigate, the the console means you can do 80% of your mixing with no plugins, and the stock plugins are top shelf, much better than what you'd expect for stock ones, and there's even a lot of of really nice instruments. But on the last update, PT stopped recognizing AAF files to import so I was forced to go to PT, kicking and screaming. The first couple of weeks were hellish, but then I started to see its advantages, and I'm digging it now. The transport still sucks major butt, but mixing on it is so nice.

[heinrichsmit]

Anyone that you work with should be happy to bounce their stems or raw tracks to work with them. If the process goes songwriting, production, editing, mixing then mastering, I'm sure either person doesn't mind just bouncing whatever they left the track as. If they want to change something they can just work with the producer to change it.

[Ndumixo]

I learnt how to mix on Pro Tools. Went through hell trying to find a DAW to replicate the workflow since I couldn't afford to buy my own license. I eventually landed on Cubase. Cubase has a lot of midi features which softened the blow of me missing Pro Tools.

[audios]

The ONLY reason I have Protools in my room, is because I conform to PT, when needed. When it goes off to mix or edit. I use Cubase Pro, Digital Performer. And sometimes Studio One for incoming sessions. If I get a PT session to mix, add tracks or to edit, I always dump an AAF of the session into Cubase Pro. Then Back again when finished. Cubase is way more user friendly and it sounds better, in my room, than PT.

[prodbyogchiboi]

If you ever use Steinberg Cubase Pro, it's REALLY hard to switch to anything else and the editing you talk about is fastest on Cubase IMO. Studio One is the 2nd best thing to me.

[jacobwing]

Kinda nice to hear some positive push back for Pro Tools. I'm not a moron and am aware the faults of avid...the many, many, MANY, faults. But I know it inside and out and it really does get the job done for me, and every artist and studio I work with. All DAW's have their place. But its just nice to hear someone else in that same boat! Thanks Colt.

[michaelrichard]

I had pro tools for 5 years and it was so difficult learning that DAW and making beats in it was even more difficult... not to mention that I payed $700.00 for the program at guitar center and for 5 years I payed $100.00 a year thinking that I was paying for new updates so that my software can stay fancy... the first year I decided that I don't need anymore updates I couldn't even open the software anymore! I contacted avid about the situation and the representative literally mocked me as if someone would pay $700.00 for something and not own it... especially a studio program! when I expressed me displeasure with his ignorance they tried to pacify me with a (one time license) like that was going to make me forget that I just payed $1100.00 on a polished turd that I couldn't even step on because I didn't own it!!! I still have that license and I have yet to activate because I am so discussed with that situation and I wouldn't use that program if it was free! good thing I bought Studio one about the same time and realized that it was much easier to use and you can do everything that you can do in pro tools but easier and I'm tempted to say its better... Matter of fact... I am going to say it...(IT's BETTER!) and you can quote me on that!!! Pro Tools is a rip off even if every big studio has it... And at this point... all the big studios are wasting their money too...

[kwameeyiah]

Hi Colt if those big studios install Logic, Reaper, Studio One or Cubase on their computers it will be game over for Pro Tools. These studios have invested too much money into the Apple-like Avid ecosystem its hard to let go. Industry standard?? I'll pass. Its Studio One for me.

[EdMcCraeMusic]

I can definitely understand why big commercial studios stay with ProTools. They’ve already invested thousands into the hardware and it would be an expensive switch. If you’re not one of the big commercial spots though I think it’s a matter of preference and need (as you said) at this point. I was a faithful ProTools user for years. Switched over to Luna during the pandemic and haven’t missed it at all.

[side]

Working in Music then transitioning into Film has enabled me to try so many different DAW’s. I dont hate pro-tools, but there are so many DAW’s that surpassed Avid with convenient features. The only thing that is honestly keeping Pro-tools in front is their large market share.

But I’ve found my home on Reaper. Yes it is like buying car parts and building you’re own vehicle, but when its done, you become sorta jaded against other programs.

I just finished a film with 253 tracks. Just for giggles, I wanted to see how far I could take its performance. In the end, I was able to mix the vocals, foley, music, and include ADR, with 5.1 surround. Not one track was bounced or frozen. I even had other sessions open just to copy and paste tracks. And in the end, I can multi render stems for film distribution requirements.

All of my undo’s are unlimited, and saves on a separate file. Sometimes I used the undo history just see how many hours I spent on a session lol.

Rendering alone was the number 1 reason I stopped missing PT. I havent had a single failed render, nor have I ever seen Reaper crash.

[ynirecordingacademy]

I totally agree with you! Pro Tools has the best workflow for recording an editing but maybe not for producing with midi and loops. Personally I primarily use Pro Tools for recording and editing and Logic Pro X for producing. Great video!!