it depends on which version of pro tools, but they all need certain hardware...

Pro tools LE

Is there any specific reason why you wish to use Pro Tools LE? In my non-expert opinion (what I've read) is Pro Tools LE is just as good if not (in some cases) inferior to other programs.

thats what my music production department at my school uses and i know is pretty much the standard in the recording industry. My school has pro tools HD, and i just wanted to get LE on a laptop so i could get use to the interface and all of the controls and everything on protools. Right now i use ableton and love it, but it will do me good to know pro tools for future jobs

Cool. Not flamin', jus askin'. I can't actually answer your question, but was wondering. I don't see why the software wouldn't work, but who Nose...

I don't know of any way to get a software only version of PT that is both legal and permanent. I know of software only demo versions that are used for classes on mixing, etc., so it's certainly possible to configure the system the way you want. But I don't know of any package that Digi sells without hardware. I'd just ask digi.

Regardless of Digi's reply, if you are in school surrounded by people who know PT, I'd learn how to use it (and I'd say the same thing about any other major platform). If it doesn't make sense to invest in it yourself, doesn't the school have a lab with machines you can use? Invest in an outboard drive so you can transport your project to their machines and you are good to go.

Ironically, Digidesign doesnt sell Protools software, they sell hardware, and Protools is included. Yes the upgrades do cost, and you cant use their hardware with other software!!!!

M-Audio, which is also owned by Avid, does sell the software seperatly, but you need an M-Audio box to use it!!! BUT you can use other software with M-Audio hardware.

Funny huh????

Yeah my school has a mac lab all with mboxes and pro tools LE. I just thought it would be a good idea to get it myself so i could learn it and use it on my own time wherever i want. I've used pro tools LE and there are some things i dont like too much about it, but its the industry standard, so im sure its something i should at least have some good all around knowledge in.

The main thing for me is the hardware. I have an Alesis Mulitmix firewire which i love, but cant use it with protools. I got that with 12 inputs for $350 and the Mbox2 Pro($599) with has like 6 inputs which only two of them are XLR, so you wouldnt be recording a band with drums on that, and the next thing up is the digi 002 or the 003 which is like $1500....ridiculous. Either i hope to make a lot of money so i can afford all this hardware:D, or maybe ill find another program that i like better.

Did the Multimix come with any recording software? If so, you could record into that when you track, and then import the audio files into Protools afterward. Then, any overdubs you do can be done in Protools as long as you don't need a lot of inputs at once. That way, you can use your setup to the utmost capability, while still using and learning Protools.

PT cannot be used without Digi hardware. "M-Powered" PT needs to have M-Audio interfaces.
I've heard a lot of people complain about this, but I think it's smart business - and it's the same thing Apple does:

"Here's our hardware, here's our software. Use them together and it will be stable out of the box."

In a nutshell, they cut out the issues of compatibility and can deliver a more stable system. That means they can spend more time on the features and less on the guts. And troubleshooting seems to be much simpler.

(Yeah, I know you PC guys are going to say you don't have any problems these days - but 5 years ago putting together an audio PC was a nightmare, which is why I went Mac...)

I have an m-box2 mini just to open pro tools at home and it works for me. I agree with you, there should be a pro tools interface with more inputs for less than 1500$.

If you buy the 002 or 003 you are still forced to use 4 of their mic pre's. I wish that I could buy converters and use the pre's i want because I like the Pro Tools software.

Because of this I have been wondering if I should get a different interface and software for recording and use pro tools to mix.

TVPostSound wrote: Yes the upgrades do cost, and you cant use their hardware with other software!!!!
Funny huh????

Well that is not true you can use their hardware with other software. I have used both the m-box and digi002 rack with Cubase.

i went with tha audiophile 2496 and tha MP PT, it works quite nicely...