I'm still kind of stewing over which version to jump into.  I had originally settled on the Artist version because it had everything I needed.  I already own Melodyne, I already have BFD3 and Slate drums, and I don't see having much need for the Pro Channel stuff.  Then I noticed that Artist doesn't include AudioSnap.  To get that, I would need to jump up to the next level, which is $100 more.  I like the idea of being able to correct small timing issues with AudioSnap and also being able to change tempos of songs (which may actually be some other function, I can't remember).
 
Anyway...is AudioSnap worth the extra bucks or is there some other tool that could accomplish what it does, just with a little bit more work (but still not manual)?

You could do small timing corrections mostly with Melodyne, depending on the source material. That said, I do use AudioSnap and it is useful for that purpose. Very handy to CTRL+drag a clip edge or transient marker to fit and then bounce to clip.

Depends on how badly you need audiosnap I guess. I use it a lot to extract a tempo map from audio played freely. I haven't checked the version features but there must be more to the next version than audiosnap which might make your decision a little easier.

FastBikerBoyDepends on how badly you need audiosnap I guess. I use it a lot to extract a tempo map from audio played freely. I haven't checked the version features but there must be more to the next version than audiosnap which might make your decision a little easier.

As far as I can tell, the differences are some effects, the ProChannel, sampled drums, AudioSnap, and Melodyne.  That's all worth more than the extra $100, but just not to me.  I have too many plug-in's as it is.  I'd like to reduce the amount of plug-in's that mostly do the same thing.  However, I'm all for tools that make my recording/editing life easier.  I'm just not sure if AudioSnap is worth it for me to justify the cost.  I know that's kind of for me to determine, but if there's something about it I can't live without or a way I can do the same thing with just a little bit more effort, that'll make things easier to decide.
 

Maybe monthly with the Artist series and if you feel you'd like more, you can upgrade, with minimum spent towards the Artist level.  I wouldn't discount the ProChannel, but like I said, you can always switch down the road.

Myriad_Rocker
  I know that's kind of for me to determine, but if there's something about it I can't live without or a way I can do the same thing with just a little bit more effort, that'll make things easier to decide.
 

That much depends on what you think you might use it for or how often. Why do you think you want it? Is it just to change tempos occasionally and the odd timing change. If it is maybe not but changes are going to be much harder if not impossible without it.
 
I also wouldn't write off the prochannel as just another load of fx. If you've never used it not only do most, if not all of the modules sound great but there is a convenience there that you don't get with regular FX in the FX rack, although plugin recycling has improved that greatly with fx, with the prochannel they are already there to use without having to bother inserting them.

FastBikerBoy
Depends on how badly you need audiosnap I guess. I use it a lot to extract a tempo map from audio played freely. I haven't checked the version features but there must be more to the next version than audiosnap which might make your decision a little easier.

Have you included a "how to" in any of your video's?

Hi John.
 
Yes I used tempo extraction in the new video to demo some of the changes to audiosnap. I also covered it in this X2 one but of course the newer enhancements aren't shown there.

I have really only ever used Audio Snap (more than experimentally) to extract timing and intensity of drum hits to midi so I could do drum augmentation.
 
For example, I record a drum kit, but I only have one bass drum mic. It either goes on the beater side on the other side. So, to get the sound I want, I might extract the midi hits using Audio Snap and then send them to a drum synth and mix the new kick in with the original. This works really well and is very easy. It's better in Platinum even.
 
Apparently they are working on enhancing drum augmentation further as part of the subscription stuff, and I'm guessing it might be platinum only because of the Audio Snap requirement.
 
Regarding audio stretching and fixing timing and stuff, I have NEVER done this for a real recording I cared about. I've experimented on practice tracks. I don't normally record with a metronome. I record a group of people playing freely and then set the tempo approximately to the song played. The tempo invariably changes at the start and end of the tune.
 
I get so much bleed between mics that audio snap and melodyne are practically useless to me.
 
I primarily use Melodyne just to see what someone has played. Maybe pick out the key changes.

You can do the same kind of drum augmentation with Melodyne. Just drag your kick drum clip onto a midi track.