My first Pro Tools rig

It wasn’t long ago that Avid brought together their extensive range of professional products, including the M-Audio and Digidesign pro-audio brands and the Avid range of video editing platforms, under one name. Avid have made something of a change in direction since the re-brand, opening up the world of Pro Tools to beginners by introducing a new version of the software, aimed at bedroom and project studios. Stripping back their M-Audio-based ‘Pro Tools M-Powered’ platform (already a trimmed-down version of Pro Tools LE), Avid have conjured up Pro Tools Essential, giving the user 32 tracks to play with. These are split into 16 audio, eight instrument, and eight MIDI tracks, and each track is limited to three inserts, two inputs and two outputs. The software includes a selection of Pro Tools plug-ins, and Avid claim more than 60 bundled virtual instrument sounds, giving new users a lot to play with.

There are three different packages available, each including a different piece of hardware targeting a specific musical interest. Pro Tools Recording Studio is the most traditional package, including a two-in, two-out M-Audio Fast Track USB interface for simple recording. Pro Tools Vocal Studio is aimed at budding singer-songwriters, and includes a large-diaphragm condenser terminated with a USB connector, called the producer USB, providing basic audio interfacing. Finally, Pro Tools Key Studio is supplied with, you guessed it, a USB keyboard. The KeyStudio USB is a 49-note velocity-sensitive controller, and should appeal to any wannabe Jean Michel Jarres. Pro Tools M-Powered Essential bundles will be out in mid-September, and all cost £79.

www.avid.com