Total confusion?!?!? = Need a solution!

[cannollyj4]

Hey -

I am a newbie (on this forum and pro tools) so sorry if I posting in the wrong place or asking a stupid question that's answered elsewhere. I have tried to sort this myself but got nowhere.

I've been recording at home a few years now - on an 8 track (who!) - time to get with it.

I've got Pro tools express and an Akai audio interface. Not had much joy with it - so decided to upgrade to pro tools 11.

I paid £155 for the cross grade from GAK in Brighton. When it arrived its says -
'Avid annual upgrade and support plan' on the box. Is this going to turn my pro tools express to full pro tools or should I send it back? I'd like some help before I take the plastic off the box and make in none returnable!

Thanks
J

[albee1952]

I would be on the phone with the dealer you purchased from. Its near impossible for anyone to know exactly what you have in your hand

[cannollyj4]

Lol

I have emailed them - but they aren't sure either!!!

I looked on the AVID website and left utterly confused!!!

[VRW]

If you haven´t found any answer yet, make a few pictures of what you have got, with some details on it even just by your mobile phone and attach it here to a posting.
If some of the pro/Avid guys here can see what you have got, maybe they will be able to help you along.

All the best!




Mac Mini i7Quad, 16GB Ram, MBP Mid 2012 2,5GHz i5, 16GB Ram, Mac OSX 10.10.2 Yosemite, Apogee Quartet+Duet 2
Genelec Active, Yamaha NS10, Pro Tools 11.3.1, Logic 10.1.1, Waves, MCDSP, Duende Native, HOFA, IK Multimedia, NI etc.

[cannollyj4]

Good idea - thanks. Here's what I've got. Will this upgrade my PTE to PT11? Any help greatly appreciated......

http://duc.avid.com/attachment.php?a...14284010430921

[cannollyj4]

Well I've just found out that the version of Pro tools express I have (the one that comes with the Akai EIE) cant be upgraded at all : (

This is the latest setback of many. I am on the verge of abandoning pro-tools.

[Park Seward]

As a suggestion, ask here at the DUC any questions you have before purchase. Also, your dealer should have know which products are available for upgrades... and which ones are not.

The dealer should refund your purchase.

[VRW]

Originally Posted by Park Seward

your dealer should have know which products are available for upgrades... and which ones are not. The dealer should refund your purchase.

Definitely +1

Another suggestion. I´ve looked around on the web regarding your Akai interface and there are tons of issue reports as to it´s drivers etc.
Try to talk to the Brighton guys and try to get a Focusrite Saffire 14 audio interface for the money you have paid for the Pro Tools upgrade
(of course after having given back the useless PT upgrade ). Should be about the same amount of money following their website.
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/focusrite-saffire-pro-14/40135
http://us.focusrite.com/firewire-aud...saffire-pro-14

These Focusrites are working very well with most of the systems out there and they sound exceptionally well for the price range.
I´m aware of that the Saffire 14 only has 2 micpres whereas the Akai has 4 but the Focusrite offers SPDIF In/Out so you could connect external
micpres later to it if you will need it in the future. The Saffire also has Midi In/Out, 4 Ouputs, 4 Line Inputs all together.

If you instantly would need 4 micpres this one would be the next bigger Saffire model which I definitely would recommend as it offers a lot for the price.
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/focusrite-sa...nterface/98154
http://us.focusrite.com/firewire-aud...saffire-pro-26

Next would be to sell your Akai+PT Express on Ebay and for the money you could get Pro Tools 12 on a monthly basis (about £20.- per month...but be aware of
that it will be only kinda rented, you will never own the product, means if you ever stop paying the rate you will not be able to use Pro Tools anymore)
https://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductD...00&&store=shop

or if you would not like such kind of a deal just use the free Garageband DAW on a Mac
https://www.apple.com/uk/mac/garageband/
or get Logic Pro X for £150.- (full purchase, you will own the product) which is a serious piece of music software...including tons of great stuff like
plugins, VIs, drummer software etc. even VCA faders/groups since version 10.1) with free updates and perfect compatibility with every new Mac OS,
works great on Yosemite
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/logi...34148309?mt=12
or if you are on Windows just get Reaper DAW which is another very powerful, professional DAW for only $60.- (including tons of upgrades in the future)
http://www.reaper.fm (just download and install it, fully functional unlimited demo version for Windows and Mac)

Just because

Originally Posted by cannollyj4

I've got Pro tools express and an Akai audio interface. Not had much joy with it

I personally think such a solution would be the best way out of "the road of trouble" because Pro Tools Express might be one problem,
the Akai for sure will become another sooner or later (as Akai isn´t great on support and updating drivers obviously).

Just as a suggestion of course.

Anyway the very best to you,

cheers, VRW



Mac Mini i7Quad, 16GB Ram, MBP Mid 2012 2,5GHz i5, 16GB Ram, Mac OSX 10.10.2 Yosemite, Apogee Quartet+Duet 2
Genelec Active, Yamaha NS10, Pro Tools 11.3.1, Logic 10.1.1, Waves, MCDSP, Duende Native, HOFA, IK Multimedia, NI etc.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by cannollyj4

I've got Pro tools express and an Akai audio interface. Not had much joy with it - so decided to upgrade to pro tools 11.

Originally Posted by VRW

Next would be to sell your Akai+PT Express on Ebay and for the money you could get Pro Tools 12 on a monthly basis (about £20.- per month...but be aware of
that it will be only kinda rented, you will never own the product, means if you ever stop paying the rate you will not be able to use Pro Tools anymore)
https://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductD...00&&store=shop


I personally think such a solution would be the best way out of "the road of trouble" because Pro Tools Express might be one problem,
the Akai for sure will become another sooner or later (as Akai isn´t great on support and updating drivers obviously).

Just as a suggestion of course.

Anyway the very best to you,

cheers, VRW



Mac Mini i7Quad, 16GB Ram, MBP Mid 2012 2,5GHz i5, 16GB Ram, Mac OSX 10.10.2 Yosemite, Apogee Quartet+Duet 2
Genelec Active, Yamaha NS10, Pro Tools 11.3.1, Logic 10.1.1, Waves, MCDSP, Duende Native, HOFA, IK Multimedia, NI etc.

I thought ProTools Express was limited to just using an Mbox?

[VRW]

Originally Posted by musicman691

I thought ProTools Express was limited to just using an Mbox?

Seemed to be some kind of a special edition/deal with some Akai and M-Audio products...?
http://www.akaipro.com/kb/article/14...fying_products