Opening projects in both PT-2020.9 and PT-2022.4

[Rooxii]

I'm currently running Pro Tools 2020.9


Just bought the 2022.4 upgrade, but before installing:


If I install 2022.4 – open up 2020.9 projects in it – and then decide I want to roll back to 2020.9 (for whatever reason), will I have borked my 2020.9 projects?


Naturally, I will have backups, so this is merely a hypothetical question. I'm simply looking for clarification before investing the downtime. I've searched the site, but to no avail.


Thanks in advance.

[BScout]

They will open fine.
Avid build in backwards compatibility (so if a new feature is used, opening on an older system, that feature will get flattened out -- for instance, routing folder tracks become auxes so the same automation is preserved.)

In the Pro Tools Reference Guide, there's a whole section of what happens when you open sessions in older versions (what changes exactly.) So RTFM (it's in Chapter 22 "Sharing Sessions Created on Different Pro Tools Software Versions" section)

[Rooxii]

Thanks for the fast reply BScout. I did in fact RTF*M. Hence my question.



With the change to Studio (and a doubling of tracks), there's seems to be a little more to consider than flattened folder tracks.


Unfortunately, the manual only discusses switching between closely related versions. Eg., page 490: Sharing Sessions Between Pro Tools 2022.4 and Pro Tools 2021.10 to 2021.12 Instrument tracks beyond 512 are lost, Audio tracks beyond the first 256 are lost, etc).


It doesn't say jack about sharing between larger version jumps (although logically it's not going to be all good news). Or maybe I'm missing something. No worries, though. I'll just hold off for now until I have a clear deck.


Thanks again! :)

[BScout]

It does in the section before that about changing versions (tiers.) Same as before.
You don't get them in earlier versions (those extra tracks or surround tracks) so they are discarded. An earlier version only knows its limitations (I know there's a lot of wishful thinking on this but it is also common sense)

[Rooxii]

Fair do's. Thanks for clarifying. ,-)