Pro Tools has
all you need to
create pro-quality
audio tracksAvid’s Pro Tools works on a subscription
basis. There are two versions available, Pro
Tools and Pro Tools Ultimate. The regular
version is $300 upfront or $30 a month
for a one-year subscription, and $35 per
month for a rolling monthly subscription.
The Ultimate Edition comes with 192 (with
HDX) channels of I/O compared to the
regular 64. You also get 2048 audio tracks
instead of 256, and the addition of surround
and immersive multi-channel mixing,
instead of just mono and stereo.
The Ultimate edition costs $800 per
year, $80 monthly on a yearly subscription,
or $90 on a rolling monthly basis. That
works out pretty expensive, but both
versions boast over $1,600 worth of free
plugins, sound libraries, and training
content though, which is a great addition.
In our view, FL Studio wins this battle
based on its value for money—but it also
has a neat trick up its sleeve. Purchase
FL Studio and you get free updates for life,
so you’ll always have the latest version. In
some respects, you get what you pay for,
Pro Tools is a more well-rounded product
that sets the bar for others, including FL
Studio. Industry-standard doesn’t have to
be the best priced or best designed, there
is a reason why it is being used by many
recording studios. FL Studio’s popularity
comes down to its design and quality
features in a fun package. It’s not just for
beginners, there are plenty of producers
using it, hence the multiple versions.Although these DAWs can both create
the same outcome, the main difference
is the target market. Pro Tools is focused
on a more commercial high-end studio
production market, whereas FL Studio’s
ease of use appeals to a younger audience
who are getting into the audio production
world. That’s not to undermine FL, as
it’s an amazing piece of software that
in most cases will be all you’ll need,
but with its intuitive, colorful, and bold
aesthetic, beginners can get to grips with
the foundations of audio production in a
seamless manner.
If you want to try and practice audio
production, but are unsure of how it will© WWW.AVID.COM
Pro Tools
PRO TOOL Industry-leading
standard; plenty of features.
POOR TOOL Wallet-burning subscription
costs; no upfront purchase option; design
looks rather outdated.
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10,
(Windows 11 not yet supported). CPU
for Pro Tools—Intel Core i5 processor.
CPU for Pro Tools Ultimate—Intel Core
i9 or Intel Xeon processor. RAM, 16GB
(32GB recommended). Disk Space, 15GB
(installation)
Pro Tools one-year subscription $399
Pro Tools Ultimate one-year subscription $800
http://www.avid.comFL Studio 20
FRUITY Free lifetime updates;
user-friendly; great piano roll.
LOOPY Most powerful plugins only
available in ‘All Plugins Bundle’; tricky
recording process.
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8.1, 10,
11 or later. CPU, Intel and AMD (ARM not
supported), the more powerful the CPU the
more instruments you can run. RAM, 4GB.
Disk Space, 4GB.
FL Studio Fruity Edition $99
FL Studio Producer Edition $199
FL Studio Signature Bundle $299
FL Studio All Plugins Edition $499
http://www.image-line.com9 9
VERDICT VERDICTprogress, FL Studio is a great place to
start. For a slightly more professional and
commercial route, practice with Pro Tools.
For overall performance with a higher level
of control and quality, Pro Tools is the DAW
for you and will provide you with everything
you’ll ever need.
But for its great UI with lots of features,
an intuitive style, FL Studio is a great place
to start. In this battle of the DAWs, it has
to be a tie—both offer great features at
different price levels and are exceptionally
good DAWs. It just depends on what level of
production you are after. Both offer trials,
so it’s worth giving both a try-out to see
which suits your needs. –SAM LEWISFEB 2022 MAXIMU MPC 93