Pro Tools 2022.9: free Pro Tools Intro, ARA 2, AUX I/O window & more
2,7 / 5,0 | 
Update (September 29, 2022): Today, AVID released Pro Tools 2022.9 which adds a free Pro Tools Intro variant, ARA 2 support, the new AUX I/O window, and other enhancements. The update is available to all current customers on an active subscription or perpetual Software Updates + Support Plan.
What’s New in 2022.9
The new software update delivers several new features and enhancements:
- Pro Tools Intro is a new, free version that provides the essential audio and MIDI tools needed to create music with 36 core effects and instrument plugins. More information is available here.
- ARA 2 support integrates Melodyne with the Edit window. Click here to learn more.
- Aux I/O (macOS only) lets users stream audio between the DAW and other audio applications, as well as additional audio hardware beyond your primary Playback Engine. Check here for more details.
- SoundFlow Cloud Avid Edition is now included with all Pro Tools Studio annual subscriptions and perpetual licenses with an active support plan.
The complete changelog is available here on AVID’s Documentation website.
Pro Tools goes Subscription-only
Pro Tools is getting significant feature enhancements and a new sales strategy. AVID’s flagship production software is now subscription-only, with 3 tiers available from USD 10 per month. The free Start version is now replaced by the affordable (and more functional) Pro Tools | Artist. The 2022.9 update from September 29, 2022 offered Pro Tools Intro as a free alternative.
Current Pro Tools and Pro Tools | Ultimate subscribers will receive the new enhancements and transition to the new plans. Ultimate perpetual license owners with active update and support plans will receive the latest software version and enhancements. Off-plan owners can get the latest software for a one-time payment.
Pro Tools new pricing plans
Pro Tools | Artist (USD 99 annual or USD 9.99 monthly) offers 16-channel multitrack recording, up to 32 audio tracks, up to 32 aux tracks, up to 64 MIDI tracks, 32 virtual instruments, and AAX plug-in support. Over 100 AAX instruments and plug-ins come bundled, including the new GrooveCell and SynthCell.
Pro Tools | Studio (USD 299 annual or USD 39.99 monthly) offers numerous enhancements such as expanded track counts (up to 512 audio, up to 128 aux, up to 512 instrument, up to 1024 MIDI), full Dolby Atmos mixing capabilities, up to 64 channels of simultaneous native I/O, one video track, and the complete collection of AVID AAX plug-ins. Current subscribers will be transitioned to this plan.
Pro Tools | Flex (USD 999 annual or USD 99.99 monthly) is the industrial-grade tier. The track count is increased to 2000+ and active I/O is capped at 256 tracks when using a native audio interface. The subscription includes AVID’s ExpertPlus support plan and a DigiLink licence which is required to use AVID’s current HDX and HD Native interfaces (such as Carbon and MTRX Studio).
Current Ultimate subscribers will be transitioned to this plan and perpetual license owners with active update + support plans will receive the updates.
I’d link to think AVID’s subscription-only model is modern, helps simplify its somewhat complicated product offering, and lets content creators of all kinds access the industry-standard DAW. Hopefully, this is more than just my surface-level understanding and the deeper nitty-gritty involving hardware, licensing, and maintenance plans is reasonable.
As usual, 30-day trial periods are also available.
New AAX anstruments and SoundFlow integration
AVID also introduced two new AAX instruments – GrooveCell and SynthCell. GrooveCell is a virtual drum machine and sequencer while SynthCell is a similar concept applied to synthesis. Watching the videos below will tell you the rest of the story.
Additionally, SoundFlow is now integrated as a workflow automation platform for annual Flex subscriptions. It provides access to over 1600 predefined macros and commands to be assigned and triggered by keyboard shortcuts, MIDI controllers, and HID devices.
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5 responses to “Pro Tools 2022.9: free Pro Tools Intro, ARA 2, AUX I/O window & more”
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I seriously regret staying with Pro Tools as long as I did. Don’t do it!
Just updated my Logic Pro. About Pro Tools, what a joke. Pay the rent mofo!
Hmmmm…. Let me see – Logic ProX $199 one time (with occasional paid major updates every few years), ProTools $1000+ a year.
Such a deal!
I bought Logic Pro X when it came out in 2013 for $199 and haven’t paid for an update since.
Praise God I been using FL Studio for the last 20 years. Enjoying the Free Lifetime Updates! Come check out FL!