Just voice over and podcast only

[MGadAllah]

Hi,
I am new to recording and goggled for which software to use and found that many recommended pro tools as #1 software.
So for one person only doing only voice over and podcast do I need to buy the professional version or just the free one is enough?
I will nt have any music but just my voice only.

[joachim]

http://www.avid.com/en/pro-tools/compare

Surround mixing, advanced automation features , advanced video editing : if you do not need that, go for non-HD. Or Logic or Cubase or ... .

PT HD : either you need to buy the Avid hardware with it (bundled HD software and hardware for around 5000$) or buy a software only Version on ebay for around 1600$ on your own risk.

[Benoni]

You could probably get by with Pro Tools First. Just depends on exactly what you are doing and what plugins you need, and how many projects you will have going on at once.

[MGadAllah]

Originally Posted by Benoni

You could probably get by with Pro Tools First. Just depends on exactly what you are doing and what plugins you need, and how many projects you will have going on at once.

I am recording in my bed room at home. I am just recording one track for me whether it was a podcast or a voice over. It is always one project in a time, meaning that I am working in a one project till it is finished (podcast or voice over) then I produce it as a .mp3 but I've realized that there are some terms I am not aware about like mastering and normalization... etc, honestly all I used to do was just to capture the background noise ad remove it then I am done with the file.
Sorry but which plugins?

Originally Posted by joachim

http://www.avid.com/en/pro-tools/compare

Surround mixing, advanced automation features , advanced video editing : if you do not need that, go for non-HD. Or Logic or Cubase or ... .

PT HD : either you need to buy the Avid hardware with it (bundled HD software and hardware for around 5000$) or buy a software only Version on ebay for around 1600$ on your own risk.

When I am doing a short podcast video I record my audio separately and not using the recorded audio in the video file.
Right now I've the following hardware: (I've bought it according to a recommendation on the internet, but honestly I am still not able to configure or adjust them all to the best settings )
shure sm7b, ev re-20, heil pr-40. dbx 286s, dbx 166s, dbx 1231 eq, roland tri capture interface. So do I need to get any other hardware?

[VRW]

Originally Posted by MGadAllah

Hi,
I am new to recording and goggled for which software to use and found that many recommended pro tools as #1 software.
So for one person only doing only voice over and podcast do I need to buy the professional version or just the free one is enough?
I will nt have any music but just my voice only.

Basically Pro Tools will be the most professional tool and if you can afford it, just get it.

However if money may be an issue why not simply use Garageband (given you have a Mac)?
Garageband comes with the OSX and has developed to be a really useable, pretty powerful little DAW.
It´s more powerful, less limited than Pro Tools First and you are not bound to store your projects to a
cloud only, you can store it the "classical way" on any of your drives. Not to forget that you are limited
to store only 3 projects with Pro Tools First.

Garageband now offers professional tools and great sound quality and according to your description on
what you intend to do it may be worth a try.

If you still want to invest in Pro Tools you can go for a subscription (monthly or annual) which means to
kinda rent a full version of PT for a certain time only
http://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductDe...00&&store=shop
or you can buy a perpetual license incl. a 1 year lasting upgrade/update and support plan.
http://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductDe...00&&store=shop
If you go for the perpetual license you may check out this site as these guys offer it for $379.99 only (it´s
absolutely legal and legit -they are just crazy -and many many people from the DUC buy from these guys).
http://audiodeluxe.com/products/avid...-101112-bundle

Again, if you can afford it, get Pro Tools 12! If however you are on a budget and you are using a Mac, simply
use Garageband.

There you may find tutorials for Garageband.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...eband+tutorial

https://www.groove3.com/GarageBand-t...ideo-tutorials


Cheers, VRW

[MGadAllah]

Originally Posted by VRW

Basically Pro Tools will be the most professional tool and if you can afford it, just get it.
However if money may be an issue why not simply use Garageband (given you have a Mac)?
Garageband comes with the OSX and has developed to be a really useable, pretty powerful little DAW.
It´s more powerful, less limited than Pro Tools First and you are not bound to store your projects to a
cloud only, you can store it the "classical way" on any of your drives. Not to forget that you are limited
to store only 3 projects with Pro Tools First.
Garageband now offers professional tools and great sound quality and according to your description on
what you intend to do it may be worth a try.
If you still want to invest in Pro Tools you can go for a subscription (monthly or annual) which means to
kinda rent a full version of PT for a certain time only
http://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductDe...00&&store=shop
or you can buy a perpetual license incl. a 1 year lasting upgrade/update and support plan.
http://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductDe...00&&store=shop
If you go for the perpetual license you may check out this site as these guys offer it for $379.99 only (it´s
absolutely legal and legit -they are just crazy -and many many people from the DUC buy from these guys).
http://audiodeluxe.com/products/avid...-101112-bundle
Again, if you can afford it, get Pro Tools 12! If however you are on a budget and you are using a Mac, simply
use Garageband.
There you may find tutorials for Garageband.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...eband+tutorial
https://www.groove3.com/GarageBand-t...ideo-tutorials
Cheers, VRW

Thanks a lot for detailed reply.
I am afraid that I am using Windows based computer.
I do not mind to store everything locally as I do not have access to internet all the time.
a perpetual license will be better for me but if the first version can fit for one track and some effects and edits then no need to buy and I will always save my projects locally or at a flash drive in case I am moving from place to another.

[MGadAllah]

Hello
It is me once again.
I do like the Pro Tools a lot.
Does being a student may help to get any discount when ordering the Pro Tools HD ?
I read some where but I do not remember the exact url that I can get a full version for $300 usd, so is it correct?
Also will I be able to use my version after graduation if I did not upgraded to any later versions?
For example, right now I guess Pro Tools HD 12 is the current version, so if I use it and I do not want to upgrade later on, will it be OK or my license will be expeired as soon as graduation which will be in 2 years.
Also shall I order using my university email address? or my personal email is enough?
Thanks

- later edit -
This is the link:
https://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductD...ED&&store=shop

[VRW]

Originally Posted by MGadAllah

Does being a student may help to get any discount when ordering the Pro Tools HD ?

Hi, it´s important for you to know that there are 2 different versions of the full version of Pro Tools 12 available
which are:

1) Pro Tools 12 Native...this is the "standard" version of Pro Tools which since version 12.4 now includes most of
the sweet stuff only the high end pro version of Pro Tools (HD) had offered previously. Check it out there.
http://www.avidblogs.com/pro-tools-12-4-track-freeze/

2) Pro Tools 12 HD...this is the high end pro version of Pro Tools which additionally offers surround sound options,
even more tracks and voices, expanded automation and editing options etc. Check it out there (scroll down to see
the complete list).
http://www.avid.com/pro-tools/compare

The 3rd version of Pro Tools will be the very limited kinda "test" version called Pro Tools 1st you probably know already.
It´s a good starting point to get to know Pro Tools software in general however it rather will be not enough to do decent
work at the end of the day. Nevertheless you may give it a try if you want to check out Pro Tools before spending money.
http://www.avid.com/pro-tools-first

So you have to know there is no Educational Version of Pro Tools 12 HD but only for the "standard" version of Pro Tools,
Pro Tools 12 Native. This is the version you have posted the link from.
https://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductD...ED&&store=shop

To be eligible to buy the Educational Version of Pro Tools 12 you will have to show evidence of current enrollment at an
accredited, government-recognized public or private secondary school. Please, check out this site and read everything
carefully before going to purchase your discounted copy of Pro Tools software (scroll down to see all the stuff related
to students). Your university´s email address will not suffice to be eligible to receive the discounted price for Pro Tools.
http://www.avid.com/academic-eligibility

General information about the Educational Version of Pro Tools.
http://www.avid.com/avid-for-education/students

As for your question if it will work after your graduation, yes, of course it will. It´s just that if you want to receive further
updates and upgrades for your Pro tools software you will get no further discount but you will have to pay the normal price
for the annual upgrade and support plan.
If you will decide to not renew your upgrade and support plan, you still will be able to use your Pro Tools software without
any limitations but you may face 2 problems in the future:

1) for a certain time your non-updated Pro Tools software will work well even with new and future versions of OS X but there
will come the day when your version of Pro Tools will not be compatible with the current version of OS X anymore which leads
to point 2.
2) if you have let expired/not even renewed your upgrade and support plan and you do want to receive updates for your Pro
Tools DAW again one day, you will have to pay $299.- at least instead of only $99.- for the annual renewal. That´s the price for
reinstating your update/upgrade plan.

Therefor if someone really wants to stay with Pro Tools software it probably will be the better idea to invest $99.- per year which
is not the world to be honest, if paid once a year, and stay current as for sub-updates as well as for main upgrades from version
12 to 13 for example. We had to pay a few hundreds for main upgrades from one main version (10) to another (11) in the past,
so this ain´t that bad deal actually now.

To sum it up.

1) You will need to show evidence of current enrollment at an accredited, government-recognized public or private secondary school
to be eligible to receive your copy of Pro Tools software for the discounted price (the Educational Version of Pro Tools).
Your university´s email address will not be enough proof to get the Educational Version of Pro Tools actually.
2) Yes, you will be able to use your Pro Tools DAW without any limitations even after graduation.
However you may consider investing $99.- once a year to renew your Upgrade Plan anyway to stay compatible with any OS X updates
which may be released in the future.
3) Finally you want Pro Tools 12 Native ("standard") version, not Pro Tools 12 HD.

Hope this will help you further.


The best of success to you.

[Darryl Ramm]

Podcasts and voiceover work is done using a lot of software besides Pro Tools. An awful lot of voice oriented, radio and podcast work uses Adobe Audition for example.

The first starting point should be to find out what folks you know or can get help from in future are using. Start simple. Do not assume you need high-end software toys like Pro Tools HD or even Pro Tools. The limitation will likely be you, not any software. And you likely won't know enough to make decisions on what hardware and software to purchase until you get started. On the other hand some of the podcast style starter kits with a combo USB mic/interface are so crippling they are a waste of time. Things like microphones, stands/booms, cables, headphones, headphone amps, booth/room treatment, speakers/monitors, preamps, interfaces.... can add up to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. Avoid spending too much money on say DAW software until you have a picture of all the things you need.

Stop talking about Pro Tools HD, you do not need HD. A minimal HD system costs over $5,000 and you cannot buy the software alone.

[mudgel]

I'd actually just use Audacity. It's free and very flexible and will do all you want and more.

Pro Tools is overkill and over priced with a very expensive subscription model.

For the professional making a living these costs are part of doing business but for your purposes Audacity is more than enough. Download it and try it for a while and see if it works for you. You've lost nothing by trying.

Educational versions of Pro Tools are little cheaper but are not upgrade able. When the next version comes out if you want it you will have to buy the next version with no upgrade reduction in price.

Also you cannot do work for money with the educational version. It's exactly the same software just the price and license are different.

Also Pro Tools HD is only available with Pro Tools hardware.