Digidesign is now shipping the latest release of its industry-standard Pro Tools software. Previewed for the first time at the AES (Audio Engineering Society) convention in New York last month, Pro Tools 7.4 software offers numerous new music and post-production features and workflow enhancements for Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE, and Pro Tools M-Powered users.
Topping the list of new features is a powerful, multifaceted new music composition and production tool called Elastic Time. The software also provides improved networking compatibility with Avid Unity ISIS™ shared storage systems and new support for HD video workflows.
– Elastic Time
Elastic Time allows users to easily change the tempo and timing of loops, music, dialog, and other sound files in real time without cutting up audio tracks. Users can now easily audition or import loops and audio files that instantly sync with a session’s tempo. Users can also use the Elastic Time feature to quantize audio to the session grid or extracted grooves, and fine-tune regions with precise control over each individual beat.
– Avid Media Station|PT 2.7 Software with Video Satellite Option
Running on a separate computer, new Avid® Media Station|PT 2.7 software coupled with the new Video Satellite Option brings Pro Tools more deeply into the Avid workflow by enabling Pro Tools editors to quickly and easily play Avid video sequences in sync with Pro Tools|HD. The Video Satellite Option eliminates time-consuming video exports and removes all video-processing burdens from the Pro Tools|HD system by synchronizing playback with Media Station|PT on a separate, dedicated computer.
– Avid ISIS Streaming
Avid Unity ISIS offers the most scalable, shared storage option for large, integrated post environments. With Pro Tools HD 7.4 software on Windows XP systems, editors can record and play back audio and video directly from qualified Avid ISIS shared storage systems.
Pro Tools 7.4 software is available for Windows XP- and Mac OS X (Tiger)-based Pro Tools|HD systems as well as Windows XP-, Windows Vista- and Mac OS X (Tiger)-based Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered systems. Expanded Windows Vista and OS X (Leopard) support will be announced later.
Pro Tools HD: $199 standard upgrade; $79 upgrade from Pro Tools HD 7.3. Pro Tools LE/M-Powered: $75 standard upgrade; $49 upgrade from Pro Tools LE/M-Powered 7.3