Upgrading from Pro Tools Express

[zac_618]

What's the situation with upgrading Pro Tools Express to the new ProTools?

I saw about the subscription and having to pay $199 a month but is that only if you want the updates? Will you be able to buy it and use it as is for the $199 or will you have to go ahead and pay every year?

I'm making music for fun so I'm not on a professional level with this and I won't claim to be. I'm not wanting to spend the professional level money to record for fun.

Just looking to have a discussion with people who can give information on this new Pro Tools.

[zac_618]

I have Pro Tools Express and it doesn't work with my version of OS X. So I'm needing to find my best options.

[winkelement]

You can upgrade from Pro Tools Express to Pro Tools 12 (12/11/10 combo license) for about $200 (214 €) from the Avid web store. You get a perpetual license, meaning your license will never expire, and 1 year of upgrades, meaning if in that year a new PT version comes out, you'll get it for free. You can renew your upgrade plan for $199 after that year but you don't have to to use Pro Tools after that.

Pro Tools Upgrade with Annual Upgrade Plan
Select this option to upgrade or crossgrade your copy of Pro Tools 9–11, Pro Tools Express (bundled with Pro Tools | Mbox, Fast Track Solo, or Fast Track Duo interfaces only), or Pro Tools M-Powered/MP 6–9 to Pro Tools 12.

Your upgrade includes a renewable Avid upgrade plan, which provides all future Pro Tools upgrades for one year from the time of activation, plus expert help, renewable annually for $199/year.

Pro Tools 12 requires an iLok 2 USB Key—if you have an older “blue” key, you can purchase a new iLok 2 key here.

Please note that InMusic versions of Pro Tools Express are not eligible for this crossgrade.

[zac_618]

Thank you so much!
Seems like the more I look into it, the more negatives I hear about the new Pro Tools so I'm skeptical anyway....

[maltastudio]

I did that my friend with just 214 euros now i have PT12.1 ,with the new update i have most of the features of PT HD.
Believe me its worthed.
Pro Tools for audio is awesome,go ahead its stable and Professional.
Peace

[winkelement]

By starting with PT 12 i can't see anything specific negative, for me it runs without problems even with my outdated hardware (except video, for which i use PT 10, one benefit of the combo license). I think most negatives are from people which are on PT for some time now and they are disappointed by the lack of new features and improvements from v11 to v12 (which i can understand) and from PT | HD users which are somewhat left in the dark regarding the upgrade policy for HD so they may be worried about the future of their (sometimes massive) investment.
If you are just starting with PT12 this crossgrade/upgrade is by far cheapest way to get the regular version of Pro Tools to work with (some people call it "vanilla", no clue why that). If you are concerned about PT running on your machine/equipment you may try the subscription for 1 month (about $30?) and decide after that.

Originally Posted by zac_618

Thank you so much!
Seems like the more I look into it, the more negatives I hear about the new Pro Tools so I'm skeptical anyway....

[winkelement]

If it is still too expensive for you you might check out Reaper ($60, 60 days free evaluation) which i personally really like or Ardour ($1 or more, like you want) which his really worth a look since the major upgrade to v4.

[GeoffLee]

Originally Posted by winkelement

for me it runs without problems even with my outdated hardware (except video, for which i use PT 10, one benefit of the combo license).

You're using PT10 on Yosemite?

[winkelement]

Originally Posted by GeoffLee

You're using PT10 on Yosemite?

No i have an extra partition to boot with mavericks for that.

[GeoffLee]

Originally Posted by winkelement

No i have an extra partition to boot with mavericks for that.

I thought the most recent OS that 10 could be installed on was Mountain Lion?