Comparison Chart.

[nucelar]

In all seriousness, could you please post a comprehensive comparison chart between Essential, M-powered and LE?
A specific question in the meantime:
When it comes to EDITING, does it have all the features of M-powered or LE?
i.e. all editing shortcuts work, preferences are available...

[bilco]

No smart tool
No groups
No pencil tool
Grid and Shuffle Mode only
No elastic properties
Proprietary plugins it comes with only
3 inserts per channel
10 levels of undo
No solo or mute latching
Can only record 1 track at a time I think

That's what I remember seeing off the top of my head

It opens my PT LE 8 sessions fine
No installation problems, even on Win in Boot Camp
Seems really stable

I like it for a songwriting tool, all of the "essential" features I know and love from PT LE with none of the features that take me down the rabbit hole of would be engineering and keep me distracted from my first priority of writing the song.

[mindnoise]

Hey bilco
maybe you should add how many Busses and Sends ther are in PT
since this in not mentioned anywhere.

best

[bilco]

I will look at it later when I get home

If I could figure out how to do a screen print on a Mac Keyboard when running Windows XP in Bootcamp on an iMac, I would put up some screenshots (if that would be okay with Digi Administrators) but I will list the differences as I notice them

[RussUK]

All here and in the public domain http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=1&navid=54&itemid=39831

[audiogeekzine]

No smart tool - Dealbreaker
No groups - Dealbreaker
No pencil tool
Grid and Shuffle Mode only - Dealbreaker
No elastic properties
Proprietary plugins it comes with only - Dealbreaker
3 inserts per channel - Dealbreaker
10 levels of undo - WTF why on earth??!!
No solo or mute latching
Can only record 1 track at a time I think


I can't use this.
Not worthy of the Pro Tools name.

I will not stock this at my store. I will recommend Cubase AI bundled with a Yamaha Audiogram instead.

[KingFish]

Not worthy of the Pro Tools name.

Toy-Tools

[Gothboy]

I can't use this.
Not worthy of the Pro Tools name.


I would rather agree. :rolleyes:

[RussUK]

Sorry guys I know at least two of you quite well, and I have to say I'm really disappointed with your attitude. It's childish at best and negative band-wagon riding at worst. I suggest you wise/grow up and start being the people I hoped you were. SERIOUSLY.

[audiogeekzine]

That's all I'll say on this product. It won't effect my life negatively, so I'll just leave it at that.

[Shan]

Toy-Tools

Preskool Tools :D :D

It's also full of nag screens which no one has mentioned. :eek:

Shane

[RussUK]

It's also full of nag screens which no one has mentioned. :eek:

Shane

Just like having you in the DUC then? :rolleyes:

[Snarf]

I think this is great.
I`m the only one in the band who actually works with audio enginering, but now I can get essential for the rest of the guys and they can record ideas and bring them over for rehersals at my studio.

It`s a K.I.S.S versjon of PT :)

[nucelar]

All here and in the public domain http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=1&navid=54&itemid=39831

Thanks, but a feature list is not a comparison chart. Anyway, I just opened the "Menus Guide" http://akmedia.digidesign.com/support/docs/Essential_Menus_Guide_v802_62383.pdf
and I still cannot believe what I'm seeing. Next to every other menu item there's a small icon that indicates that that particular feature is only available after the purchase of M-powered. For heavens sake people at avid, call this what it really is: A DEMO version. It should be a free download.

Here's a list of things NOT available in Essential:

Save Copy In
Save As Template
Send via digidelivery
Send to sibelius
Import session Data
Import video
Export MIDI
Export Sibelius
Mute/Unmute Region
Strip Silence
Make Track inactive
Group Tracks
Lock Regions
Group Regions
Elastic
Midi Real time Properties
Beat Detective
Quickpunch
Transport Online
Peripherals
Preferences (WTF?)
MIDI Studio Config
Window Configurations
Score Editor

[danander11]

I think this is great.
I`m the only one in the band who actually works with audio enginering, but now I can get essential for the rest of the guys and they can record ideas and bring them over for rehersals at my studio.

It`s a K.I.S.S versjon of PT :)

We'll remind you of that when you are up to your armpits in bad ideas and everyone wants to know why THEIR little nugget isn't being promoted to the top.. :D

[Litemup]

32 tracks 16 mono 8 this 8 that was cripple enough

then u guys took away more lil features why
i really wanted this for my laptop. but i cant justify get PTE over Record
and if i had a mac laptop why would anyone even think to get this over GB

and all i want to do with this is hip hop
pte should be the audio part of media composer then it would be nice

[TOM@METRO]

Not worthy of the Pro Tools name.

.
He is right.

[rainsong]

Sounds like a missed opportunity, unfortunately. A little less crippled and it could have competed with Garage Band.

It still isn't be something I'd use, but it would be slightly beneficial to have clients bringing in their crappy demo tracks made on PTE instead of their crappy demo tracks made on GB.

[airon]

Unfortunately, with the marketing they're capable of, they might steal customers away from more viable alternatives(yeah, Reaper!).

Then again, podcasters are content recording their $20 headsets in to Audacity.

[Shan]

...For heavens sake people at avid, call this what it really is: A DEMO version...

+1.

Shane

[x9blade]

Just like having you in the DUC then? :rolleyes:


such disrespect :rolleyes: for our pioneers

[RussUK]

such disrespect :rolleyes: for our pioneers

He can take it and I'm sure he's too young to have laid any railroad track! :eek:

[x9blade]

does the quadzilla post ring a bell ??? to name one of the many :p

[mcoyle]

A great disappointment and I feel like a fool.

Last week, I recommended this to the students in my Audio for Visual Media class as an inexpensive way to get Pro Tools.

Last night I had to listen to those who took my advice and purchased the package outline all the deficiencies.

No video? Is there a reason for this limitation?

Only 4 AUX tracks? Seriously? Why?

...and of course the long list of other shortcomings mentioned by others.

Everyone of the students who took my advice now has to return the product to Best Buy. Hey Digi, how do you think Best Buy is going to feel about that in its future dealings with you?

All this crippling of Essentials was totally unnecessary and as an audio post engineer and a college instructor, it has left a very bad taste in my mouth.

Michael Coyle

[stonehenge]

why is it digi's fault that neither you or your recommendees did some basic research first? don't mean to be harsh but it sounds like you're blame shifting.

[RussUK]

why is it digi's fault that neither you or your recommendees did some basic research first? don't mean to be harsh but it sounds like you're blame shifting.

+1

[Murt]

why is it digi's fault that neither you or your recommendees did some basic research first? don't mean to be harsh but it sounds like you're blame shifting.

You can't argue with that. Empowerment.

[airon]

Doesn't mean it's a great product. Relying on the Protools brand is now no longer enough :) .

Ah well, at least Digidesign pulled a good one on the new Eleven Rack. All IMHO naturally.

[airon]

A great disappointment and I feel like a fool.

Last week, I recommended this to the students in my Audio for Visual Media class as an inexpensive way to get Pro Tools.

Last night I had to listen to those who took my advice and purchased the package outline all the deficiencies.

No video? Is there a reason for this limitation?

Only 4 AUX tracks? Seriously? Why?

...and of course the long list of other shortcomings mentioned by others.

Everyone of the students who took my advice now has to return the product to Best Buy. Hey Digi, how do you think Best Buy is going to feel about that in its future dealings with you?

All this crippling of Essentials was totally unnecessary and as an audio post engineer and a college instructor, it has left a very bad taste in my mouth.

Michael Coyle

It's a toy-level entry product Michael. In essence it's a 'see what you think and have a little fun' type of thing. Some people like to point out that this kind of thing is a lot of power to have as an artist, as people recorded grat stuff with less resources.

Problem is, there are solutions that are more flexible, and this is below par for anyone half-way serious about his/her music, but we can't tell all people what to like. I don't like these products. They're petty, tiny little sub-shareware-level hunk'o'junks, but that's me. Some folks might see it as an easy solution if they don't spot something better first, and Avid wants to nab'em at the entry level, so this is what we get.

It's not the best entry-level product I've seen, but it's far from a terrible deal. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, because the upgrade path is expensive, as is the plugin choice, and the plugins as well as the software are not very stable(RTAS, let's wait for part 2 of that in a year or two, shall we). But it doesn't break the bank and might let some folks have fun.

But who are they kidding with that mic? USB mics are available all over the place and every monkey and his uncle can find Audacity to record his/her podcast. Forget the Garageband crowd as well, which has more clever stuff anyway.

This is an easier package, not the best, but not the worst either IMHO.

[Murt]

But it doesn't break the bank and might let some folks have fun.

Exactly. And that's all that needed to be said. Anything else and it's just the same old moaners looking for another excuse to moan about Digi and their masterplan. Seriously guys, if this is the biggest problem in your day, then what a great day your having.:rolleyes:

[TOM@METRO]

Well, just the name Pro Tools is going to get hopes up at first. It will probably take a little time to get folks to stop having so much faith in the name and just read the specs.

[kbruff]

Sorry guys I know at least two of you quite well, and I have to say I'm really disappointed with your attitude. It's childish at best and negative band-wagon riding at worst. I suggest you wise/grow up and start being the people I hoped you were. SERIOUSLY.

The sub-pro-sumer market clearly has an earning potential.

[putney]

Wow, haven't seen specs like these since PT Free! Was this intended for the I-Phone?

[chrisdee]

Essential looks like a nice package for people starting out with PT. What about making a package for us who have been with PT for a while. Maby a PT Professional version ?

[spicemix]

Essential looks like a nice package for people starting out with PT. What about making a package for us who have been with PT for a while. Maby a PT Professional version ?

You can't fault Avid for making it crystal clear to newcomers what they can expect under the Avid brand.

[chrisdee]

It's not my intention to fault anybody. I think Essential is a good idea. Starting out I would probably choose Essential to se if recording/producing was something for me or not. I was just thinking it would also be a good idea to maby make a PT package with extended features for those of us who are willing to pay for that. Something between HD and LE.

[TOM@METRO]

We've been screaming for a mid line Native system for years now. Nobody seems to be listening.

[RussUK]

We've been screaming for a mid line Native system for years now. Nobody seems to be listening.

Tom, I told you the score on the phone. Your endless posting makes me think you really DIDN'T listen, when you say Nobody is listening then it must also include you. :eek:

[1ace1]

Reminds me a bit of sentriliums cooledit 2000 (good mid line system). Free, getting on for 10 years old, packed with fetures and years ahead of its time.

Shame it only ran on the PC.

Don't really have a use for stripped down versions of Pro-tools, but can imagine some people fresh to world of audio apps may like it (there is also music 2000 on the PS2 for the budding composser!!!)

A:)

[cwhite771]

maby make a PT package with extended features for those of us who are willing to pay for that. Something between HD and LE.

I think that's called the Complete Production Toolkit.
---
c

[soundeziner]

Sorry guys I know at least two of you quite well, and I have to say I'm really disappointed with your attitude. It's childish at best and negative band-wagon riding at worst. I suggest you wise/grow up and start being the people I hoped you were. SERIOUSLY.

Tom, I told you the score on the phone. Your endless posting makes me think you really DIDN'T listen, when you say Nobody is listening then it must also include you. :eek:RussUK- I've seen you help a lot of people on the DUC. What is it about this thread that compels you to take the personal approach over the technical? Not interested in starting a war with you but the wise/grow up post is one of the most disgusting things I've ever read on the DUC. Were you assaulted by people holding comparison charts in your youth?

[TOM@METRO]

RussUK- I've seen you help a lot of people on the DUC. What is it about this thread that compels you to take the personal approach over the technical? Not interested in starting a war with you but the wise/grow up post is one of the most disgusting things I've ever read on the DUC. Were you assaulted by people holding comparison charts in your youth?:D:D:D

Tom, I told you the score on the phone. Your endless posting makes me think you really DIDN'T listen, when you say Nobody is listening then it must also include you. :eek:
C'mon Russ, it has been many years. If I have missed something please enlighten me. You know that in our conversations, you wisely (as you should) avoided any divulgence of information that might offer a clue about anything that would fill the gap in the product line or make PT feature competitive with the competition. How can you say I'm not listening when there is nothing to hear? If you or anybody else has a single piece of information that I have missed then I will stand corrected. I will await a link or a Skype call from you with the information I missed so that I may (without posting details) publicly apologize for not listening.

Endless posting is a symptom of endless waiting. And I'm still waiting for the date and time of the meeting we discussed.

You are a real asset to Avid and I respect your position with them, but put yourself in the shoes of the uninformed masses for just a minute. I'd be happy to sign an NDA to know what you say you know. That would be the best way to shut me up if that's your goal. When others see that I have stopped asking questions perhaps they will become more comfortable just knowing that I have become so thrilled.:D:D:D

[babya]

Pencil tool is available in Essential-I used it to edit volume levels.