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    Avid Pro Tools Comparison Chart

    Avid Pro Tools Comparison Chart

    Compare the features of the 3 versions of Pro Tools! Use the table below to see which product best suits your needs and to learn more about the capabilities offered.

     

    Pro Tools | First

    Pro Tools

    Pro Tools | Ultimate

     

     

    Ideal for... Singers, songwriters, and musicians who are new to audio recording or Pro Tools Pros who need an advanced set of tools to create music or sound for picture Audio and post pros who need maximum track counts, performance, and surround sound
    Maximum simultaneous audio tracks @ 48/96/192 kHz 16/16/–

    (mono or stereo)

    128/64/32
    (mono or stereo)

    256/128/64¹
    (up to 768/384/192)²

    Maximum inputs (hardware dependent) 4 32 192³
    Audio recording (maximum simultaneous tracks) 4 32 256
    Instrument 16 512 512
    MIDI 16 512 512
    Auxiliary 16 128 512
    Busses Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
    Video n/a 1 64
    1. Per Pro Tools | HDX or Pro Tools | HD Native card
    2. With Pro Tools | HDX systems only
    3. Pro Tools | Ultimate software supports up to 64 channels of I/O with HD Native hardware through DigiLink, and up to 32 channels of I/O through Core Audio and ASIO
     
     

    Pro Tools | First

    Pro Tools

    Pro Tools | Ultimate

    Maximum supported projects/sessions

    Three projects stored in the included 1 GB cloud; additional cloud plans available for purchase, providing unlimited projects and the ability to save projects locally

    Unlimited sessions stored on local or networked drives; unlimited projects stored in the included 1 GB cloud; additional cloud plans with more storage space available for purchase 

     

    Maximum sample rate supported (hardware dependent) 32-bit, 96 kHz 32-bit, 192 kHz 32-bit, 192 kHz
    Maximum I/O (hardware dependent) 4

    32

    256

    ASIO, Core Audio, and EUCON support (for third-party interface and control surface integration) Yes Yes Yes
    Supported plug-in formats (virtual instruments, effects, and sound processors) AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite AAX DSP (Pro Tools | HDX only), AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite
    Bundled software Xpand!2 multitimbral music workstation (hundreds of sounds), plus over 20 effects, sound processing, and utility plug-ins Over 60 included virtual instruments (thousands of sounds), effects, sound processing, and utility plug-ins, with optional access to 17 bonus plug-ins Over 60 included virtual instruments (thousands of sounds), effects, sound processing, and utility plug-ins, with optional access to 25 bonus plug-ins
    Bundled loops 500 MB loop library curated from leading producers 2 GB loop library curated from leading producers 2 GB loop library curated from leading producers
    Network Site License (coming soon)—additional software included n/a All plug-ins in the Avid Complete Plug-in Bundle All plug-ins in the Avid Complete Plug-in Bundle, plus HEAT, Pro Tools | MachineControl, and Pro Tools | DigiLink I/O License
     

    Pro Tools | First

    Pro Tools

    Pro Tools | Ultimate

    Composing, recording, sequencing, editing, and mixing tools

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Loop record track comping Yes Yes Yes
    MIDI Editor Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Sibelius Score Editor   Yes Yes
    Elastic Time and Elastic Pitch Yes Yes Yes
    Avid Cloud Collaboration Includes 1 GB of free cloud storage space for collaboration; additional cloud storage plans available for purchase, providing more space, unlimited projects, and the ability to invite others to collaborate and save projects locally Includes 1 GB of free cloud storage space for collaboration; additional cloud storage plans available for purchase 
    Selective Project Sync Requires any paid cloud plan Yes Yes
    Soundbase Yes Yes Yes
    Revision History   Yes Yes
    Track Freeze, Commit, and Bounce Track Freeze only Yes Yes
    Automatic Delay Compensation 16k 16k 16k
    Beat Detective n/a Multitrack
    Clip FX n/a Playback only Apply, edit, and play
    QuickPunch Yes Yes Yes
    Retrospective MIDI recording Yes Yes Yes
    Track Presets Yes Yes Yes
    AAF/OMF/MXF file interchange   Yes Yes
    Workspace Yes Yes Yes
    Batch renaming   Yes Yes
    Clip Gain   Yes Yes
    Export to iTunes   Yes Yes
    Offline bounce Yes Yes Yes
    Timecode Ruler   Yes Yes
    Full Import Session Data   Yes Yes
    Variable stereo pan depths   Yes Yes
    In-the-box dubbing     Yes
    (Requires Pro Tools | HDX)
    Field recorder workflows     Yes
    Avid Video Engine   Yes Yes
    Surround mixing     Yes
    Dolby Atmos mixing workflows     Yes
    Ambisonics VR workflows     Yes
    Advanced metering with gain reduction   Yes Yes
    Satellite Link     Yes
    Extended RAM/Disk Cache   Yes Yes
    TrackPunch / DestructivePunch     Yes
    Input monitoring   Yes Yes
    VCA mixing   Yes Yes
    Solo bus AFL/PFL   Yes Yes
    Advanced audio editing—Scrub Trim, Replace Region, Fit to Marks, Matching Channels, Back and Play, Auto Fades, and more     Yes
    Advanced automation—Punch, Capture, Write on stop, Write to all enabled, Automatch, Preview, and more     Yes
    Advanced video editing—multiple video tracks, multiple video playlists, and video editing tools     Yes
     

    Pro Tools | First

    Pro Tools

    Pro Tools | Ultimate

    HARDWARE INTERFACE SUPPORT
    PRO TOOLS | HD SERIES INTERFACES

    Pro Tools | MTRX     Yes
    Pro Tools | HD I/O  

     

    Yes

    Pro Tools | HD OMNI     Yes
    Pro Tools | HD MADI     Yes
    Pro Tools | PRE     Yes
    Pro Tools | SYNC HD     Yes

    AUDIO INTERFACES

    Pro Tools | Duet Yes Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | Quartet Yes Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | Eleven Rack Yes Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | Mbox (3rd gen) Yes Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | Mbox Mini (3rd gen) Yes Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | Mbox Pro (3rd gen) Yes Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | Fast Track interfaces Yes Yes Yes
    Third-Party Interface   Any Core Audio- or ASIO-compatible interface
     

    Pro Tools | First

    Pro Tools

    Pro Tools | Ultimate

    CONSOLE & CONTROL SURFACE SUPPORT

    C|24   Yes Yes
    Artist Control  

    Yes

    Yes

    Artist Mix   Yes Yes
    Artist Transport   Yes Yes
    MC Pro   Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | Control   Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | Dock   Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | S3   Yes Yes
    Pro Tools | S6   Yes Yes
    S5 Fusion   Yes Yes
    System 5   Yes Yes
    ICON
    D-Command ES     Yes
    D-Control ES     Yes

    THIRD-PARTY CONTROL SURFACE

    n/a Any analog or digital surface that supports the HUI protocol

    A/V INTERFACES AND STORAGE

    Avid Artist | DNxIQ   Yes Yes
    Avid NEXIS     Yes
    Avid NEXIS | PRO   Yes Yes
     

    Pro Tools | First

    Pro Tools

    Pro Tools | Ultimate

    How to Buy:

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