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 |
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| 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 |
256/128/64¹ |
| 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 |
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 |
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| 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
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| 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 |
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| 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) |
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| 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 |
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HARDWARE INTERFACE SUPPORT |
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| Pro Tools | MTRX | Yes | ||
| Pro Tools | HD I/O |
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Yes |
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| Pro Tools | HD OMNI | Yes | ||
| Pro Tools | HD MADI | Yes | ||
| Pro Tools | PRE | Yes | ||
| Pro Tools | SYNC HD | Yes | ||
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AUDIO INTERFACES |
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| 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 |
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CONSOLE & CONTROL SURFACE SUPPORT |
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| C|24 | Yes | Yes | |
| Artist Control |
Yes |
Yes |
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| 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 | ||
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THIRD-PARTY CONTROL SURFACE |
n/a | Any analog or digital surface that supports the HUI protocol | |
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A/V INTERFACES AND STORAGE |
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| Avid Artist | DNxIQ | Yes | Yes | |
| Avid NEXIS | Yes | ||
| Avid NEXIS | PRO | Yes | Yes | |
Pro Tools | First |
Pro Tools |
Pro Tools | Ultimate |
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| How to Buy: |
Visit Avid\'s website to |
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