If I buy a copy of Pro Tools 10 to run alongside SONAR when I need to, besides SONARcentric plug-ins, what am I going to miss on a session with live musicians?
 
I use real time monitoring to create separate cue mixes for my talent.  If I understand correctly, Pro Tools doesn't do that in the native Windows version.  I also use 64 bit versions of VST software.  I'm sure I will have to install the 32 bit versions once again.
 
I've got a 64 bit machine but I understand that it will run in 32bit.  Correct? 
 
I have a UAD 2 Solo coming soon as a rebate for ordering a UA 710.  Will that software run in Pro Tools?

My understanding - and I may be wrong on this - is that while Pro Tools is a 32 bit application it will run your 64 bit plugins. I'm nearly certain that I didn't re-install any plugins so that they would run in 32 bit mode.
Personally I don't know why you'd bother getting Pro Tools when you have SONAR. While it's an ok program, I can't say that there is any real advantage to having it. I got an NFR of PT10 which I installed because "Hey, it's free", but also just in case I got a job that required me to use the 'industry standard', I could at least know what my way around it.

Honestly, I really don't get the big deal about it. It's not better that any other similar program. In fact I think it's worse. No fast bounce? Can't run VST's? Extended but limited tracks?
It's like state of art 2003.
They tout "new features" like delay compensation, and being able to use it on any soundcard as if all the other DAW's haven't been offering those features for the last 10 years.

Thank you for your insights, Michael.  It's not about replacing SONAR.  It's about evaluating whether or not the expense of having Pro Tools available for other people to use is worth the investment.

I have started using my private home studio for recording others with the intent of profit.  I had someone contact me and they assumed that I had Pro Tools and they wanted to come in and do some R&B tracks.  The fellow had his own audio guy so all I had to do is sit there while they worked in my studio for a couple of hours.  I'm trying to see if the juice is worth the squeeze, so to speak.  I have to ascertain whether or not my current gear will work or if I will have to spend a lot of money to make it work.

No problem. Sorry I'm can't help you more. My recordings are more MIDI based than audio based, so my situation might not apply to yours. 

Mod Bod


If I buy a copy of Pro Tools 10 to run alongside SONAR when I need to, besides SONARcentric plug-ins, what am I going to miss on a session with live musicians?
 
I use real time monitoring to create separate cue mixes for my talent.  If I understand correctly, Pro Tools doesn't do that in the native Windows version.  I also use 64 bit versions of VST software.  I'm sure I will have to install the 32 bit versions once again.
 
I've got a 64 bit machine but I understand that it will run in 32bit.  Correct? 
 
I have a UAD 2 Solo coming soon as a rebate for ordering a UA 710.  Will that software run in Pro Tools?

I think I must be misunderstanding your first question - Pro Tools allows real time monitoring and you can create headphone mixes. My only word of caution in that regard is that Pro Tools (software only, not the hardware-based one) may not be as efficient as Sonar in terms of latency/performance. On my Mac, I know it's nowhere near Logic.

You mention VST - probably as a generic reference to the type of software - but I thought I'd mention that PT doesn't support VST, but RTAS, TDM and AAX. But you probably know that.

Nevertheless, this also answers the 32 vs 64 bit question. If you have any RTAS plug-ins installed, you won't have an option of using 32 or 64, since they were developed for PT.

For the Windows 64 bit machine, I can't tell. But I know there are people out there running PT on such set ups. 

Same for UAD. I don't own one, but people do run UAD w/ Pro Tools.

Hi Dave,
 
For basic recording/editing/mixing, you're not going to be missing a whole lot.
That's PT's forte'.  (Straight up tracking/editing/mixing)
 
PT is 32Bit... so it's limted to addressing 4GB of RAM.
If you're making extensive use of virtual instruments, that limitation can be tough.
The way around it (for PT users) is to use VE Pro to host soft-synths... running alongside PT.
IMO, It's simpler to just use Sonar and forget about it.
There's nothing you're going to do in a typical session (using PT) that couldn't be done in Sonar.  In many cases, because of your experience with Sonar... it would be quicker/easier.
 
FWIW, I have many Pro level clients... and they use whatever tool/s they want to accomplish specific tasks.  These folks are hired for their ability/skills... not for the tools they use.  If a potential client is more concerned with your software than the end-result... I'd give that gig a second thought.
As for "compatibility", you can deliver Wav files... which can be loaded into any DAW application (including ProTools).  This works 100% of the time...

Dave, saw you over on the Avid forum asking this question. I am running a headphone mix (1) right now off my lynx two card and I can't see why, if you have the extra outputs, you couldn't set up additional headphone mixes out.

All the RTAS versions of your plugins (which will need to be installed again) are the most time consuming part of the transition. PT10 runs fine in a 64 bit environment and I have it in Win 7. There are ways to run VST with a RTAS wrapper but I have not gone down this road and probably won't. I am running all of the UAD2 plugins in that environment but had to reinstall the rtas versions. Set your processors in PT for one or two less than your total number of cores. This to leave room for internal processes. I know it sounds archaic. Here is another zinger, adjust your sound card settings in PT and you will have to exit the environment and start it up again. That's what happens when you let a bunch of Apple developers loose in a PC development world. That is a little bit frustrating which is why it will drive you to eventually buying the native or hdx cards if you have the money.

A lot of things we take for granted in Sonar X1 have to be hand assembled in PT10.

There was a recent magazine article in which an up an coming mixer commented that he liked the warmer sound of Sonar versus the cleaner sound of PT and I thought that was a bunch of hooey. It is in fact the case to my ears but I attribute it to the sound of VST versus RTAS. When I put the same UAD plug in on a track in both environments, the VST version sounds slightly more closed as if there is a low pass filter on it around 12k (this purely speculation, just how it sounds). I would be curious to understand the internal workings of VST versus RTAS to understand why this might be the case or why the two environments sound different. I know that they are using 32 bit float on the PT side of things but that should be just a headroom advantage. It sounds different, leave it at that.

On the plus side of PT...Dverb, you will love the tails.

Dave: I would get PT in case a potential client brings in a PT session....sure wave files are going to work, but since you have outside clients, the typical person will probably ask 'Do you have PT"? Fxpansion has the VST to RTAS wrapper, I believe.

I prefer Sonar, but I had to learn PT because of Nashville, where ironically they learned it for compatibility but they prefer to use a Radar 24 system, go figure.
Another monopoly/scam by Apple, imo....

I think my biggest concern is whether my old trusty Frontier Dakota card is going to tolerate PT.  I bought that guy from Jim Roseberry a gazillion years ago back when we were overclocking Celeron processors.

The Dakota will only do one cue mix out inside it's own control panel.  I have to use SONAR and the input monitoring to create my cue mixes.

I think I'm going to throw down for the iLok dongle and then DL the PT demo and see what I run up against.

Dave: Went to your FB site and asked you a few questions about your studio........the guy in the middle is Glen Campbell in the photo