Demo FX Session template

As requested by Marco on a previous post this is a fairly generic FX template session with 10 5.1 predubs and associated routing. Each predub contains 8 mono tracks and 4 stereo tracks feeding a 5.1 auxillary channel with (in the case of the PTX file) as ChannelStrip instantiated on it (in the PTF this is replaced by a Dyn3 Limiter). I have steered clear of non-built in plugins.

The session contains a routing test section at 00:58:00:00 which runs through the outputs across all predubs in about 30 seconds.

The tracks are labelled using no more than 4 characters which makes them compatible with EuCon displays. 

Any errors or questions please feel free to post in the comments or via email.

 Small zip file download contains PTF, PTX and associated WAV files

Pro Audio Trials abound

2011 is the year of firsts it seems. Earlier this year (August) Steinberg offered a Nuendo 400-hour trial version for the first time ever and now Avid are following their lead and offering 30-day trial of Pro Tools both standard and HD.

A good way to use the upcoming bounty of bank Holidays in the UK?

Both trials require a USB authoriser, the eLicenser ($28) and ilok ($50) respectively. Of course the ilok is much more widely used than elicenser so you may have a spare one kicking around. 

Nuendo Highlights

Multiple layer FX rendering - Like Audiosuite that can be removed out of order; don’t like that EQ you processed? Remove it without starting over on the other processing you have performed.

Clip Gain - Yes Pro Tools now has it too but Nuendo has had this for some time and its a deep implementation.

Network Collaboration - Work on one session across mutliple machines, drop a few tracks offline for updating and then pop them back onlne once done all without stopping the flow of work.

64 bit - Native 64 bit enabled on both Mac and Windows

and if you want to know more about Pro Tools then take a look at these articles

Avid Pro Tools 10 - Purchasing and Support

A lot has been said about the pricing of the upgrades and how Avid have lost touch with their customers etc. Not alot seems to have been said about the extra purchases that may be relevant. 

Support Plans

Along with the announcement of Pro Tools 10, Avid tweaked their support offerings to add value to what was widely seen as an extravagent purchase. 

First up the new Avid Vantage programme, this provides for unlimited online support from Avid technicians in addition to the forums (although if you’ve spent any time on the DUC lately then you’ll know they are not much help right now). You also get a 50% discount on telephone support. As the value added portion of this package you get a $99 coupon for the avid store for upgrades etc but also a package of 4 Avid Audio plugins to use for the length of your subscription. - Cost? - $149 

Next up is the plan mentioned by Max Gutnik (Senior Director of Audio Product Management), The Standard Support plan. This retails for $599 for the remainder of the year. The biggest benefit of this plan right now comes to HD users. Who can save $400 on the upgrade to HD10 and get phone support, next business day response to issues etc. This does not come with the plugin bundle like the Avid Vantage programme does but is undeniable value for money. 

For more info on larger plans please visit : Avid Support Plans

Value for money

Are the upgrade prices of 9-10 and 9HD-10HD worth it? 

I believe that they are in all honesty. Are they high? Yes, but they do provide incredible value. The audio engine has been completely redesigned to support interleaved files, 32-bit float files; the disk cache feature of 10HD is without a doubt the largest performance enhancement that we’ve seen from Pro Tools in a long time. 
The long awaited 24 hour timeline is great particularly for post. Finally supersessions containing more than 6 reels can be reconformed quickly without shifting of materials to compensate for the 12 hour limitation.

The masses were hoping for 64-bit across the board, this hasn’t happened but Avid have taken steps toward making this possible soon. AAX (64 bit ready), new audio engine (less legacy code), disk cache (64 bit).

As always, if you don’t need the upgrade, nobody is making you upgrade. The only reason that would be the case is if you were buying a new mac which comes with Lion. Then someone is encouraging you 10 is better on Lion than the 9.0.5 beta was.