Optional Digidesign Software — Pro Tools|HD Systems for Windows XP

For Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools|HD Accel and Pro Tools|HD Systems for Windows XP

Pro Tools 7 Plug-In Information

While most Digidesign and Development partner plug-in versions for Pro Tools 6.9.x are also compatible with Pro Tools 7, all RTAS plug-ins will need to be updated to take advantage of the improvements to RTAS plug-in performance introduced in Pro Tools 7.

Please note: Plug-in versions updated for Pro Tools 7 are NOT compatible with Pro Tools 6. For all Digidesign and Digi-distributed plug-ins, both versions will be available, and use the same authorization on both Pro Tools 7 and Pro Tools 6. Check the link above, and with individual third-party developers for compatibility, update, and upgrade information. For additional information about plug-in changes in Pro Tools 7, see the Pro Tools 7 Plug-In Q & A at the bottom of the page you are on now.

Optional Digidesign and Digi-distributed Software Compatible with Pro Tools HD 7 Systems

Digidesign Software

Digidesign Plug-Ins

*HD Accel card required

Digidesign/Bomb Factory Plug-Ins

Digidesign/Trillium Lane Labs Plug-Ins

News about Digidesign & Trillium Lane Labs

3rd Party Plug-Ins Distributed by Digidesign

MassivePack 4 Plug-In Updates for Pro Tools 7

Updates & New Purchases of Plug-Ins and Software Options

See the Plug-In Info section in the Developers section of the website or the individual links above for product information and demo/update downloads.

New boxed purchases of all plug-ins and software above include an iLok License Card for authorization.

Download-only authorizations (listed as Full License or Rental License) sold on the DigiStore for some plug-ins and software require an iLok USB Hardware Key and an iLok.com user account.

All Pro Tools|HD core systems include an iLok USB hardware key. The iLok USB Hardware Key is also sold separately, available from your Authorized Digidesign Dealer or the DigiStore. For more information on using the iLok and iLok.com, please see the following Digidesign document:

Note: The Pro Tools|HDpack iLok included with new Pro Tools|HD Core systems is pre-authorized with the HDpack 1, HDpack 2, or HDpack 3 authorizations, depending on HD core system purchased.

Demo Mode with 7 Plug-Ins and Software Options

Digidesign 7 plug-ins and Pro Tools 7 software options no longer include time-limited demos. Instead, plug-in and option demos require an iLok USB Key and an iLok license for evaluation. If you would like to obtain a demo license, please visit the individual product pages located on the Digidesign Web site and click the Demo button:

iLok & iLok.com User Account Required for Pro Tools HD 7 Application

An iLok USB Hardware Key (included with all new Pro Tools|HD core systems) and an iLok.com User Account is required to authorize Pro Tools HD 7, and may be required for installation of some plug-ins and optional software applications.

MP3 Option

Additional Pro Tools HD 7 Options

Pro Tools HD 7 software includes support for the following features and options:

Third-Party Plug-Ins & Software

For a list of plug-ins from Digidesign & Digidesign Development Partners, see the Pro Tools HD Plug-In Finder in the Developers/Plug-In Info section of the website. Check with individual plug-in manufacturers for compatibility information with their plug-ins and your system.

Pro Tools|HD Systems Overview

Bundled Software Included with Purchases of New Pro Tools|HD Core Hardware Systems

  • Bundled with all new Pro Tools|HD hardware systems
  • Pro Tools Ignition Pack included with current new Pro Tools|HD core hardware system purchases only. Not included with Pro Tools software upgrades.
  • Pro Tools Ignition Pack is compatible with both Pro Tools 6.9.x and Pro Tools 7.x
  • iLok not required for Ignition Pack authorization
  • The Pro Tools|HDpack iLok included with new Pro Tools|HD Core systems is pre-authorized with the HDpack 1, HDpack 2, or HDpack 3 authorizations, depending on HD core system purchased.

Included Digidesign Software — Pro Tools HD 7

Free Bomb Factory Plug-ins

The Free Bomb Factory Plug-Ins are now included with all Pro Tools 7 web installers and CDs, and are installed by default during Pro Tools 7 installation:

  • Bomb Factory BF76 Compressor
  • BF Essential Clip Remover
  • BF Essential Correlation Meter
  • BF Essential Meter Bridge
  • BF Essential Noise Meter
  • BF Essential Tuner
  • Funk Logic Mastererizer
  • Product Information

DigiRack Plug-Ins

The following DigiRack Plug-Ins are included with Pro Tools HD 7 software for Mac OS X & Windows XP:

  • Chorus
  • Click
  • D-Verb
  • D-Verb-AS
  • DigiReWire
  • Dither
  • Dynamics II (Compressor, Limiter, Gate, Expander/Gate and DeEsser)
  • EQ II
  • EQ III
  • Flanger
  • Invert-Duplicate
  • Mod Delay II
  • Multi-Tap Delay
  • Normalize-Gain Change
  • Ping-Pong Delay
  • Pitch
  • Reverse-DC Removal
  • Signal Generator
  • Stereo Mixer
  • Surround Mixer
  • Time Comp-Exp-Pitch Shift
  • TimeAdjuster
  • Trim

DigiRack Plug-ins are automatically installed during the Pro Tools installation and require no authorization. For more information on DigiRack Plug-Ins, see the DigiRack Plug-Ins Guide in the Technical Document Library and installed in your Documentation folder during Pro Tools installation. For information on how to use the DigiReWire plug-in, see the DigiRack Plug-Ins Guide.

ReWire

For information on how to use the DigiReWire plug-in, see the DigiRack Plug-Ins Guide: Using Digi ReWire.

Plug-In Formats

Pro Tools HD 7 software supports the following Plug-In formats:

TDM

Digidesign's Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) technology is the foundation of the Pro Tools professional mixing environment, providing 24-bit mixing and real-time digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities. TDM Plug-Ins use the dedicated hardware of TDM systems, which offer easy expandability — you can add TDM plug-ins up to the DSP capacity of your system, no matter how many edits or how much automation you have in a session. If you need more DSP, simply add another DSP Farm or MIX Farm card. TDM Plug-Ins will only work with TDM systems, they cannot be used on LE systems.

Real-Time AudioSuite (RTAS)

Real-Time AudioSuite Plug-Ins are host-based processors, using the computer's processing power to do their job. Functionally, RTAS Plug-Ins offer many of the real-time benefits of TDM Plug-Ins. They are fully automatable, their parameters can change in real time, and their effects are not permanently written to the audio file. Since they are host-based, RTAS Plug-Ins require trade-offs between track and plug-in count, edit density and amount of mix automation in a session. RTAS plug-ins can be used on either TDM or LE systems.

AudioSuite

AudioSuite Plug-Ins provide file-based processing, meaning they process or alter the sound file and create a new file with the processed sound. The resulting effect is applied to the entire file. AudioSuite Plug-Ins are great for conserving DSP power and certain types of processing where there is no real-time benefit or application, such as normalization and noise reduction. RTAS plug-ins can be used on either TDM or LE systems.

FXpansion VST to RTAS Adapter

The use of VST plug-ins and VST Instruments requires the optional purchase of the FXpansion VST to RTAS Adapter. The adapter enables VST effects plug-ins and VST Instruments to be used as RTAS plug-ins in Pro Tools sessions. Optimized for Pro Tools 7, version 2 is now available:

Pro Tools 7 Plug-In Q & A

Q: Are all plug-ins for Pro Tools 6.9.x 100% compatible with Pro Tools 7 software, or will I have to get updates from plug-in vendors?

A: Most plug-ins will work fine. An updated list of known compatibility issues is posted in the Developers/Plug-In Info section of the Digidesign website.

Q: Do all RTAS plug-ins automatically benefit from Pro Tools 7 software performance improvements?

A: The answer depends on the system configuration. On multi-processor systems (with a dual processor or dual-core processor), most plug-ins will benefit greatly. On single-processor systems, most plug-ins will have to be updated before delivering enhanced performance. Customers should contact third-party vendors for more information about updates.

Q: Will TDM plug-in performance increase as well?

A: No. TDM plug-in performance has not changed with Pro Tools 7 software. Customers will get the same instance counts as in previous versions of Pro Tools software.

Q: Is it true that HTDM plug-ins are no longer supported with Pro Tools 7 software?

A: Yes, that is correct. RTAS processing plug-ins are now fully supported on Pro Tools HD software Aux Input and Master Faders, eliminating the need for HTDM. RTAS support provides better system stability, improved Pro Tools LE/Pro Tools MPowered/Pro Tools|HD system session interoperability, and more easily adjustable latencies.

Q: What happens when customers open a session containing one or more HTDM plug-ins?

A: Most HTDM plug-ins are also available as RTAS plug-ins. When customers open an older session that contains HTDM plug-ins in Pro Tools 7 software, those plug-ins will be converted to RTAS if there is an RTAS counterpart. HTDM plug-ins that do not have an RTAS equivalent open as inactive but retain their settings so they can be restored when moving sessions between systems with different Pro Tools software versions.

Digidesign Compatibility Documents Index