PT 7.4.2 for Leopard Released
By Steve | June 23, 2008
In case you missed it, Digidesign last week released fully-approved Leopard versions of Pro Tools in all three flavors: TDM, LE, and M-Powered. This is not the pre-release version mentioned a few weeks ago, but a full-on, no-excuses update.
Please note that this update requires that the recent Mac OS 10.5.3 (or 10.5.4) update be installed before installing PT 7.4.2. Also note that this is a free upgrade — you don’t have to pay for it.
There are no new features in this update. In fact, it’s likely that some of your plug-ins won’t work under Leopard just now. This update will only be important to those who must run Leopard, either because they like to live dangerously, or (more likely) because they bought a new Mac that only came with Leopard and refused be downgraded to Tiger (10.4). Those folks were well and truly stuck.
In any case, here’s the official announcement: Pro Tools 7.4.2 Download for Mac OS X 10.5.3 Leopard.
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Pro Tools Pre-release Available for Leopard
By Steve | May 30, 2008
Well now, that was quick. No sooner had I posted about Digidesign’s progress with OS X 10.5 (Leopard) than the company released Leopard-compatible versions of all three flavors of Pro Tools version 7.4.2pr for download. The pr stands for pre-release, and that tells me it’s not a good idea to put this software on a “money machine” that needs to be completely reliable, all of the time. Of course the same could be said for Leopard, but now that it’s in its fourth iteration I might be ready to install it. Maybe.
But if you’re running Leopard then there’s no longer any reason not to try out Pro Tools in a non-mission critical environment. Just don’t load it on a machine and try to record an audition that has to reach your agent today. You’ll probably be sorry, and I don’t want to hear about it. Here’s the link:
Pro Tools Pre-release Available for Mac OS X Leopard Users
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Pro Tools is okay for OSX 10.5.3 — well, almost
By Steve | May 28, 2008
[Updated 8-30-08] There are now pre-release versions of HD, LE, and M-Powered for Leopard on Digi’s website.
In what has to be one of the more cryptic technical documents to ever emerge from a tech company, Digidesign today stated that Pro Tools is in its final testing stages running on Mac OSX 10.5.3. The missive goes on to say that so-called pre-release versions of Pro Tools 7.4 are right around the corner. “As a convenience for our customers who may wish to begin their transition to Apple’s latest Leopard release as soon as possible, pre-release versions of Pro Tools 7.4.2 will be made available in the next few days.”
What Digi doesn’t say is whether all three versions of Pro Tools — HD, LE, and M-Powered — will actually work on 10.5.3. Given the fact that only the HD version has worked on Leopard (aka 10.5.x) over the past few months, one might be forgiven some skepticism. Guess we’ll see.
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The Option key in iTunes
By Steve | May 27, 2008
Many of you already know how to convert audio files from one format to another using Apple’s free iTunes software. What you may not know is how the Option key can free you from the tyranny of the iTunes Library folder.
For example, to convert a .WAV audition file for email, you have to copy the file to your iTunes Library, select it, then hit the Advanced menu to select “Convert Selection to xx,” where xx is the compressed format you chose in Preferences. iTunes stores the converted file in your iTunes Music folder, where you then have to go to fetch it. That’s a drag.
The Option key can eliminate that copying and fetching. You can pick any audio file on your hard drive, and choose any location to store the converted file. The process will still leave the file listed in your iTunes Library, but that’s simple enough to delete, and your iTunes Music folder will remain uncluttered. Read the rest of this entry »
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Half a Leopard for Pro Tools
By Steve | April 26, 2008
Those who cut audio in Pro Tools and are waiting for Digidesign to qualify Mac OSX 10.5 so they can upgrade their computers got half a green light today. Digidesign announced that Pro Tools HD version 7.4.1 runs okey-dokey under 10.5.1 (but not 10.5.2).
However, their LE and M-Powered products are still not kosher for 10.5, and there’s no estimate on when they will be parve. For those of us who manage multiple systems, that means we’ll wait… one OS version I can manage across several machines, but two is more trouble than it’s worth.
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From the DUC: Access violation. What is it and why do i get it?
By Steve | December 13, 2007
More than once since I upgraded to Pro Tools LE version 7.4, I find I am unable to save and quit due to something called an Access Violation. The only remedy is to perform a Save As, saving the session file with a different name. Occasionally even that doesn’t work, and I have to quit without saving. Distressing, to be sure.
I don’t understand why this happens, and Digidesign isn’t certain either. The most likely cause is an out-of-date plug-in or part of the PT application trying to access some memory location that is not available or just flat doesn’t exist.
The good news is that Digidesign feels our pain. Seems that instead of just quitting when this happens (as pre-7.4 versions did), PT now logs the error state, and you’re supposed to send the finished log to Digi. Meanwhile, look for outdated plugs, corrupted fonts, and other system errors.
The entire post can be found on the DUC here.
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No Leopard either, please.
By Steve | November 3, 2007
Do I need to remind you that upgrading to Mac OSX 10.5, aka Leopard, is a Bad Idea right now. It has not been certified by Digidesign, Waves, MOTU, or anyone else really. So unless you’re using plain-vanillla Logic Studio 8, just wait awhile. Okay?
Having said that, reports from the Digidesign User Conference claim that Pro Tools LE does work with a USB interface (original Mbox, Mbox2, Mbox Mini). However it seems not to work with a Firewire interface (Mbox Pro, 002 and 003).
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OSX 10.4.9 Approved by Waves, Digidesign
By Steve | June 9, 2007
The aforementioned troubles with Mac OSX version 10.4.9 appear to be solved for the most part.
Plug-in vendors including Waves and Ohm Force have released updated versions of their plugs (in the case of Waves, updated Waveshells) that allow them to be validated properly by the auval application in 10.4.9.
I’m still experiencing some minor speed bumps (more on those later), but for the moment it seems to be all good.
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Controlling Input Levels Using Auxes in Pro Tools
By Steve | May 17, 2007
Did you know that when recording a track in Pro Tools LE, the only volume control available between your mic’s signal and the hard disk is the Input level knob on your interface?
That’s right… the only control you have to avoid clipping during record is the level knob on your Mbox or 002 (or 003). The fader attached to the audio track has no effect on the input signal — only on the playback signal. This fact becomes even more important if you own one of the new Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini interfaces, since there aren’t even clip lights on the front of that little sucker. You have to use the metering in the software to make sure your signal is clean.
There’s a workaround, of course. I’ve been using it for several years now, just as a safety feature. It’s called an Aux track. Here’s what you do: Read the rest of this entry »
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Keeping a PC simple
By Steve | April 16, 2007
I found a screamin’ deal on a little IBM desktop with a Pentium 4 at 2.56 GHz — too cheap to pass up. I’ve installed Win XP Service Pack 2 on it, and I’m gonna use it as a standalone effects processor. It needs to be as fast as it can given the pokey processor, so here’s a quick look at how to squeeze the most out of a Windows machine.
1. Don’t install Vista, not yet anyway. It’s still a bit early to know how Vista will perform in an audio environment, but one thing we do know — it expends a lot of CPU cycles looking for DRM content (meaning copy-protected audio, video, etc.). We also know that the extreme eye-candy in Vista takes a serious toll. If you’re trying to squeeze performance out of a non-dual-core system, it’s better to stick with XPSP2.
2. Turn off all the eye candy. It’s pretty to look at, but all those fades, slides, and shadows on menus and buttons take extra CPU cycles and create more traffic on the bus going to and from your video card. Hit the System control panel, choose the Advanced tab, and set Performance to “Adjust for Best Performance.” While you’re at it, kill the Desktop pattern or backdrop as well as the screen saver. You’ll notice a significant increase in performance, even if it ain’t as much fun to look at. Read the rest of this entry »
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