Avid Pro Tools is now a subscription-based DAW only
Image Credit: Avid
Avid Technology are offering three plans for Pro Tools which range from $10 to $99 per year.
The success of Adobe’s subscription plans for its cutting edge software like Photoshop begs the question: should expensive design software all be subscription-based? After all, far fewer people have $600 to spend compared to the many people who can afford to lose $10 a month.
Avid Pro Tools subscription models
With this in mind, Avid is following the likes of Bitwig who now offer their DAW as a subscription on Splice. Avid’s Pro Tools is now only available as a monthly subscription payment model, making the DAW far more accessible to many people. As a result, we can no longer purchase a one-time perpetual license. This means we can no longer gain lifetime access to a specific version of Pro Tools.
Now, if you want to be using Pro Tools you’ll have to choose between three plans as part of the new subscription models. However, existing perpetual customers will not be affected by this change and can continue using the DAW as they do. But perpetual licenses sold by Avid resellers will automatically convert to the equivalent subscription offering.
These subscription tiers include:
- Pro Tools Artist – for music creators just starting out
- Pro Tools Studio – for serious music creators and producers
- Pro Tools Flex – for audio post and high-end music professionals and facilities
These products build on and replace the current Pro Tools product lineup with significant new software capabilities, as well new virtual instruments and other content.
Avid
For those who have already purchased a perpetual license of Pro Tools or Pro Tools Ultimate active subscriptions, you’ll get the brand new software capabilities and content for free. For example, if you have Pro Tools you’ll transition to Pro Tools Studio. And if you’re a Pro Tools Ultimate subscriber then you’ll transition to Pro Tools Flex subscription plan. Finally, if you have a Pro Tools Ultimate perpetual license with an active support plan, you’ll get “all the new enhancements of the latest software”.
And if you own a perpetual Pro Tools license but your support contract has expired, you can get back on a current Software Updates + Support Plan for $349 for Pro Tools standard or $749 for Pro Tools Ultimate. By upgrading your perpetual license and “getting current”, you’ll get every new software enhancement, the new virtual instruments, and one year of software updates.
Pro Tools Artist
Avid is offering Pro Tools Artist as a $99 annual or $9.99 monthly subscription. It’s a new offering which they’ve specifically designed “for the millions of next-gen music creators”, meaning those who are just finding their feet in music production. Pro Tools Artists features hundreds of new instrument sounds and loops in addition to over 100 plugins. With easy-to-use MIDI tools, industry-standard editing and mixing workflows, Pro Tools Artists does pack a lot for $9.99 a month.
32 audio tracks and 32 instrument tracks present a total of 64 channels which should really be plenty. Additionally, we can record 16 audio sources at once with any Core Audio, ASIO, or WASAPI-compatible audio interface.
Don’t forget to check out the full list of included plugins here.
Pro Tools Studio
Pro Tools Studio is available as a $299 annual or $39.99 monthly subscription. Studio is for those that are more serious about making and recording music. Both producers and engineers can work on bigger projects and aren’t limited to 64 tracks. Overall, Pro Tools Studio builds on the current Pro Tools offering with a range of software enhancements. In addition to a bigger track count (a total of 512 tracks), Pro Tools Studio also provides surround and Dolby Atmos mixing, advanced automation features, and more. Surround mixing, advanced automation and Clip Effects editing were previously only available in Pro Tools Ultimate. Finally, new GrooveCell and SynthCell virtual instruments are available too.
Don’t forget to check out the full list of included plugins here.
Pro Tools Flex
The biggest of the subscription tiers is Pro Tools Flex. Available as a $999 annual or $99.99 monthly subscription, Pro Tools Flex is for music professionals and facilities that need the full power and workflows of Pro Tools.
Active Pro Tools Ultimate subscribers will receive the full Pro Tools Flex subscription bundle, including the latest version of Pro Tools Ultimate, while Pro Tools Ultimate perpetual license customers with active plans will get the Pro Tools Ultimate software enhancements.
Avid
Pro Tools Flex includes a newly enhanced version of the Pro Tools Ultimate software. New and additional content such as third-party licenses provides an “unprecedented level of performance”. Just as before, the Pro Tools Ultimate software is required while running Pro Tools, HDX, or HD Native systems
Don’t forget to check out the full list of included plugins here.
The Pro Tools subscription models are now available on the Avid store and resellers. If you’re new to Pro Tools, you can try out the latest version with a free 30-day trial.