« Without a doubt the best version of PT but it is urgent to wait! »

[my opinion concerns only the Mac version]

Ultra Easy Installation more installer, the application is placed in the application folder and that's it (Pro Tools then install the rest). AIR plug ins must be installed later with another installers.

The longest is to download apps on the Avid website but they are separated Pro tools / plugins (AIR instruments and FX) / Optional plugins fee (Smack, Pultec, BF, Revibe, etc.).

The downside is the new format AAX 64 bits (hence lower my score of 9 to 8). There is nothing to distinguish AAX1 (32bits) of AAX2 (64bits) and suddenly it's hard to know what is compatible PT10, PT11 or two.

In my case (see config below), so I had to keep (or rather install) some RTAS plug-ins (. Dpm) for PT10 (including AIR instruments and FX that are only in 64bit AAX while others liked -ins are Avid-compatible 32/64 bit, as the D-Verb is now AAX 32/64).

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I installed PT11 on Mac (ML OSX.8.3) cohabiting with PT10.3.6.
- "Clean" install (OS and then PT11 and PT10 Avid plug-ins and third-party plug-ins)
- OS on SSD / Banks samples (AIR and Co.) on SSD (not reinstalled since PT9) / Digital Audio on internal 7200rpm drive.

All this in a (old) macbook pro 2008 (C2D @ 2.4GHz) with 4GB of RAM with a RME UFX card (firewire cable).

For now, some plug-ins AAX2, I have installed the Arturia V Collection and Vienna Ensemble Pro 5 that work perfectly (for the moment).

My machine is getting old but the performance is good. In fact we find the performance under PT10 OSX.6 (SL), which are a bit better (although finer graphical interface and therefore more difficult to manage). I tested with the sessions with demos delivered PT10 and PT11, and I can get buffers H / W (Note: I always disable the option "ignore errors falling on playback") at the same level as in PT10 SL.

Example of demo session PT10 (Audrye - Turn Me Off)

- PT10.3.3 under SL (OSX.6.8) buffer @ 256 samples it is still rolling but it is limited. CPU <65%
- PT10.3.6 under SL (OSX.6.8) buffer @ 256 samples CPU <45%. @ 128 samples it rolls again but I can not touch (fader opening plugs) if the reading stops.
- PT10.3.6 in ML buffer @ 1024 samples mini if ​​it does not pass, and even with two screens it does not pass either (sic). CPU <35%
- PT11 in ML buffer @ 128 samples even if the display lague a little, I can continue to work normally (@ 64 samples is not possible). CPU <40%

By bcp against it consumes RAM (4GB is really a minimum order bosser).

So with current machine (Core i7 or Xeon MacPro) and more RAM, I think it should dépoter.

Overall, the software looks more stable (but sometimes I still have unplanned downtime but bcp rare) with a much better management of resources (CPU, RAM) and the ability to activate resource allocation dynamically. Also a simplification of the audio engine settings which is not so bad.

Please note:

- Sessions are backward PT10/PT11 (without conversion).

- The latest version of Vienna Ensemble Pro 5 (VEP 5.1.1.12337) is currently fully compatible and above can now directly convert old sessions with the plug in RTAS AAX (before we had to redo everything by hand because there had two versions: RTAS and AAX one side of the other).

- On the Bounce offline: it really works great. We can now easily bouncer main outputs but also any bus. This was the case before in real time, but now a simple right click on a bus in the mix and you can choose to directly bouncer.

In addition, the offline bounce works with virtual instruments whatever their type (softsynth or sampler). Even better, the virtual instrumentals "deported" to another machine via VEP5 also bouncent which was not a foregone conclusion and especially take into account the resources of the slave machine (when it is more powerful than the DAW c &#39; is significant).

(Be careful though with samplers that use streaming direct-to-disk. Here the bounce will work but if the hard drives are too slow, there may be artifacts (Case sounds) on the "tails / releases" sounds. I did the test with BFD2 and I randomly cuts on the release of cymables or snares. Where with Superior Drummer 2 (Toontrack) that puts the samples in RAM, no worries. By changing the engine settings (engine) BFD, and putting the samples into RAM and no artifacts bonus bounce became 14x (2x against streaming). A test so with other sample banks. With virtual synth, RAS at the moment.)

To see with all plug-ins installed third when available in 64 bit AAX.

OVERALL OPINION

I&#39;ve had qq days, then test. I&#39;m still working on version 10.3 in SL. Version 10.3.6 the same as ML is difficult to use on my machine.

I used PT since version 4 (and 3) and follows the evolution of the software for years (at least natively). I rant since version 7 of the chronic instability of PT LE and native (since they changed the RTAS) and I&#39;m glad we finally get rid of this format in favor of a more stable format and more designed. From this point of view for the moment I&#39;m not disappointed, but it is to do once there will be more plug-ins AAX2 format.

The offline bounce and the new engine is real progress but overall it is not a revolution in the sense that Pro Tools only catch up on bcp functions than its challengers. and the rest is very similar to that Pro Tools 10 should have been (and they still lag behind Nuendo because despite their new VU Meters, they were not included, even in the HD version, measures the current broadcast standards film and tv).

We would have liked Avid goes further by offering more new (the bin that has not changed, even more flexibility in routing (eg send the filled place, insert and faders or you want in the string treatment as in the Harrison Mixbus) have a polarity switch per a best management solo tracks instruments / midi, etc) and fewer limitations (petty as always) on the "normal" version compared to the HD versions (there is even the option CPTK - overpriced - or HD software only version).

The news are a great addition but it all depends on the needs and the version that already has: for those who PT10 (especially in SL 10.3.6), which did not have the 11 blackjack and are clad in plugs is URGENT TO WAIT. Because, again, little plugs are ready.

But this version of Pro Tools may still be one of the best long (as PT5/PT6 which were examples of stability). However, the version 10.3.6 PT provides a large performance gain with the channel strip (including in SL) so ...

For those like me who have made the choice for virtual VEP5 instrumentals bcp is easier but I expect qd porting all plugs "FX" to really work with.