New Top Features of Pro Tools 10

So about a year ago Avid dropped Pro Tools 9 on the world. Lots of anticipation was built up around the launch and it was a huge success with lots of major improvements. This time around with the release of Pro Tools 10, there was clearly not as much energy. I was personally caught off guard by the release. In fact, I learned of the release while browsing through my RSS feeds via Flipboard on my iPad. My first impressions was utterly void of that wow factor, especially compared to all the awesomeness that 9 brought. But with more research and actually getting to play with it for a while, I have seen (some of) the light.

Here are my favorite new features found only in Pro Tools 10

32-bit float

Being able to work in 32-bit float is a great because it gives the user so much headroom. The resolution of the audio you can start with, work with, and finish with is going to be a lot higher. Also, this 32-bit float extends to plug-ins, which is awesome because that means you no longer have to dither, going into and out of plug-ins.

Support for different file types within a session

In Pro Tools 10 you can now import audio files that vary in bit depth and format, into the same session without converting them. So, if you have a 24-bit session up, with .WAV tracks, you can easily import a 16-bit, AIFF file and not have to slow down to do any conversion. Pretty handy.

Real-time fades

This should have been a feature in Pro Tools 9, but better late than never I suppose. No longer will Pro Tools prompt you at the beginning of your session asking if you want it to find all 78 fade files that it lost. Why? Because they are not going to be individual files anymore! all the fades will be done in real time! which is cool if you are like me, and want to loop a section of a song to be able to fine tune where that fade exits in real time. Now its possible!

New AAX plug-in format

Pro Tools 10 has a new plug-in format called AAX. Its not super relevant right now, but as plug-ins go 64-bit and we move away from RTAS, AAX (which supports 64-bit) will move into the spotlight more. Its good to see Avid on top of that one.

Downmix plug-in

Downmix plug in does just what it says (and what Logic has been able to for for years) and that is take mixes, and mix them down. You can take your 7.1 and 5.1 mixes down to stereo, and your stereo mixes down to mono. Good, useful stock plug-in.

Export to iTunes

This is a nice feature, nothing more nothing less. You can now export directly into your iTunes library and easily burn a disc if you like. Most of the things I bounce will wind up in iTunes anyway so it does save a couple steps (which is always a good thing).

Channel Strip plug-in

The new Avid Channel Strip plug in that now comes stock with Pro Tools 10 is a very nice plug-in both visually in terms of UI and sound quality. You have access to Filters, EQ, Dynamics, and Volume and can easily change the order in which they occur within the signal flow of the plug-in. I have been a fan of the Renaissance Channel Strip by Waves, and this seems to be of similar quality with a few extra features, such as the ability to put this on a full 7.1 surround channel.

Global solo and mute indicators

Working on sessions with over 40 tracks is a regular occurrence. Another regular occurrence is me spending time trying to figure out what track I muted, or what track is soloed. At the top of the edit window now will be a mute and solo button that will light up if either are engaged. Clicking the buttons will unmute and unsolo those tracks that were affected.

Clip Gain

Clip Gain sounds like something to avoid right? why would I want to add gain to a clipping signal? well, just know that Avid is referring to “regions” as “clips” now. “Oh.. that doesn’t sound so bad now” No, it doesn’t! Clip Gain is a really simple way to even out the levels of individual audio regions (again, now called clips). I wasn’t too sure this was something I (someone who primarily mixes music within Pro Tools) would get much use out of but after playing with it I had plenty of use cases for it, the most immediate of which would be evening out different takes of the same vocal lines comped together.

All in all a very solid upgrade. I know many people were disappointed by the release, I think they thought (as did I initially) that a release worthy of the title Pro Tools 10 should have had a little more sexy inside. But after playing with it I’m sure those feelings will fade and PT10 will be viewed as a good upgrade to an already great product. And besides, Avid basically told everyone not to get too excited with the only visible change to the packaging from the 9 to the 10 box being the actual “10″