Pro Tools to Logic

[nickle15]

I've just wrapped up an album (my first) and I used Pro Tools throughout. My primary reason for choosing that DAW was the strength of a recommendation from a friend using it, as well as the ability to collaborate via cloud with said friend. I'm glad I learned how to use it - though I'm nowhere close to an expert - and it served me well. The part that I'm bothered by is the monthly fee. I'm not making money at music and probably never will so I don't like the outlay every 30 days. Understand if it was not for the ongoing financial commitment I would be more than happy to stay with PT.

I'm going to look at some other DAWs but will likely head to Logic as I have a Mac and I've used GarageBand quite a bit in the past.

That being said, no matter which route I take, what considerations do I need to keep in mind? I don't know if I can "transfer" projects from one DAW to another, outside of export and import of MIDI and the audio files. I realize I would be losing the PT cloud based collaboration but I can always just work with WAV files back and forth with my friend. So what else to consider? Thanks for your time!

[ManFromGlass]

I probably know less about ProTools than you but I deliver my final files in a ProTools session.
I export my Logic mixes as wav files so they are time stamped. ProTools will import the files to that exact position. I work with a collaborator too and we set up a shared Dropbox folder with the ProTools session and all audio files copied there. The only important thing to watch out for is that only one of you can have the ProTools session open at once to add files to it. Then when finished you save the session and then close it so the other person can then add their files.
This has been working well for us for years. It should work fine taking files from the ProTools audio folder into Logic but I’ve never needed to do that.

[muzines]

Project formats are proprietary and non-compatible. There are export formats like OMF/AAF/XML and so on, but the success of these varies wildly depending on many factors.

The best thing is to bounce out whatever media you need from the source project - consolidated audio files, with and without processing like plugins that are only available on one system, MIDI files, samples and so on, and recreate the project in the new system if you want to remix it etc.

If it's vital to recall the old project identically, then you'll need the original DAW, whether borrowed, subscribed etc.

[DC-Choppah]

Couple of things:

1 - I share projects with folks that use Logic (while I use Protools). I have never had any problem using the AAF format. One can export to AAF and import from AAF. This will bring in tracks between the two DAWs no problem. One has to have the basic understanding though that a project needs to first be reduced down to all audio tracks (no plugins). But this is standard when sharing bewteen DAWs since you can't count on what plugins they will have.

2- There are plenty of ways to have Protools without the monthly fee. I don't pay any monthly fee for Protools. You can buy a perpetual license if you want the latest version. Or you can just buy a perpetual license for any of the older versions. These are for sale on the used market (ebay). You are buying someone else's dongle with the licenses transferred to you. The monthly fee option is only for folks that want it for a short time (project) so that the license can be expensed to the project. The cost of the license is an expense and charged to the client. If you want Protools to use for everything it makes more sense to just buy the perpetual license once.

[nickle15]

Couple of things:

1 - I share projects with folks that use Logic (while I use Protools). I have never had any problem using the AAF format. One can export to AAF and import from AAF. This will bring in tracks between the two DAWs no problem. One has to have the basic understanding though that a project needs to first be reduced down to all audio tracks (no plugins). But this is standard when sharing bewteen DAWs since you can't count on what plugins they will have.

2- There are plenty of ways to have Protools without the monthly fee. I don't pay any monthly fee for Protools. You can buy a perpetual license if you want the latest version. Or you can just buy a perpetual license for any of the older versions. These are for sale on the used market (ebay). You are buying someone else's dongle with the licenses transferred to you. The monthly fee option is only for folks that want it for a short time (project) so that the license can be expensed to the project. The cost of the license is an expense and charged to the client. If you want Protools to use for everything it makes more sense to just buy the perpetual license once.

Thanks for these tips. It helps to know about the AAF format, which I didn't before you mentioned it. That sounds like a good option.

I checked last night on getting Logic installed. Turns out you have to be running the most current OS to get it and I'm on Mojave with no plans to move up. Sounds like a call to Apple Support might be appropriate, though I'm not sure they'll be up for offering me an "old" version of their software.

I really like the option of a perpetual license with Pro Tools and will continue to explore that route as well - though the price tags I've seen so far are discouraging. But I haven't turned over all the stones yet...

[muzines]

I checked last night on getting Logic installed. Turns out you have to be running the most current OS to get it and I'm on Mojave with no plans to move up. Sounds like a call to Apple Support might be appropriate, though I'm not sure they'll be up for offering me an "old" version of their software.

The AppStore will give you the last compatible version for your OS, in your case, 10.5.1.

[nickle15]

I checked last night on getting Logic installed. Turns out you have to be running the most current OS to get it and I'm on Mojave with no plans to move up. Sounds like a call to Apple Support might be appropriate, though I'm not sure they'll be up for offering me an "old" version of their software.

The AppStore will give you the last compatible version for your OS, in your case, 10.5.1.

Thanks for the tip - I'll give it a try this evening. I may have overlooked jumping into the App store because recently it wouldn't offer a copy of iMovie to me without upgrading my OS. What I actually did last night was to download the trial version of Logic, directly from Apple's website. After downloading I attempted to install and was informed I needed to upgrade my OS. But maybe the trial version is only put out for the latest OS?

[muzines]

Depends on the version. The last time I looked, the trial version was 10.5.1 (requires Mojave).

If they've updated the trial to the current version of 10.6.x, which is probably likely, then it requires Catalina.

[nickle15]

Depends on the version. The last time I looked, the trial version was 10.5.1 (requires Mojave).

If they've updated the trial to the current version of 10.6.x, which is probably likely, then it requires Catalina.

Could have been Catalina. I get a little confused by the 10.whatever version naming mechanism. It told me one of those versions but when it's just a number I don't know which it refers to specifically - I just know it wouldn't run on Mojave!

I should probably educate myself further on which number means what...

[Sam Spoons]

I checked last night on getting Logic installed. Turns out you have to be running the most current OS to get it and I'm on Mojave with no plans to move up. Sounds like a call to Apple Support might be appropriate, though I'm not sure they'll be up for offering me an "old" version of their software.

The AppStore will give you the last compatible version for your OS, in your case, 10.5.1.

Thanks for the tip - I'll give it a try this evening. I may have overlooked jumping into the App store because recently it wouldn't offer a copy of iMovie to me without upgrading my OS. What I actually did last night was to download the trial version of Logic, directly from Apple's website. After downloading I attempted to install and was informed I needed to upgrade my OS. But maybe the trial version is only put out for the latest OS?

You should be an expert at navigating the darker recesses of the App Store after the iMovie saga

WRT version numbers, I don't remember them either...

[nickle15]

I checked last night on getting Logic installed. Turns out you have to be running the most current OS to get it and I'm on Mojave with no plans to move up. Sounds like a call to Apple Support might be appropriate, though I'm not sure they'll be up for offering me an "old" version of their software.

The AppStore will give you the last compatible version for your OS, in your case, 10.5.1.

Thanks for the tip - I'll give it a try this evening. I may have overlooked jumping into the App store because recently it wouldn't offer a copy of iMovie to me without upgrading my OS. What I actually did last night was to download the trial version of Logic, directly from Apple's website. After downloading I attempted to install and was informed I needed to upgrade my OS. But maybe the trial version is only put out for the latest OS?

You should be an expert at navigating the darker recesses of the App Store after the iMovie saga

WRT version numbers, I don't remember them either...

That's no joke! Those dark recesses are scary...

[muzines]

"Google" means "never having to remember"...

[nickle15]

"Google" means "never having to remember"...

Nice. I hope you've sold that to a greeting card company!!

[muzines]

[nickle15]

Catalina or newer is required to purchase Logic from the App store - just so everyone knows. And Apple does not have a way to sell me a copy that is compatible with Mojave. So that's that.

[muzines]

Catalina or newer is required to purchase Logic from the App store - just so everyone knows. And Apple does not have a way to sell me a copy that is compatible with Mojave. So that's that.

So I was going to mention this earlier, but didn't for reasons of time and brevity - sorry.

What Apple appear to have done in the last year or so (because previously this used to work), is prevent people *buying* software when the software requires a newer OS than the customer is running.

I assume they've done this to avoid people buying stuff that then doesn't work and complaining/asking for refunds etc.

So if you log into the AppStore on a Catalina machine, *buy* Logic there, you'll be able to buy it and it will show up as purchased. Then you can go back to your Mojave machine, and install it, where the AppStore will say "The software is incompatible with your OS, do you want to download the most recent compatible version".

However, I can understand that this might be just too much of a faff to bother with. Just one of the (many) issues I have with the AppStore customer experience...

[nickle15]

Catalina or newer is required to purchase Logic from the App store - just so everyone knows. And Apple does not have a way to sell me a copy that is compatible with Mojave. So that's that.

So I was doing to mention this earlier, but didn't for reasons of time and brevity - sorry.

What Apple appear to have done in the last year or so (because previously this used to work), is prevent people *buying* software when the software requires a newer OS than the customer is running.

I assume they've done this to avoid people buying stuff that then doesn't work and complaining/asking for refunds etc.

So if you log into the AppStore on a Catalina machine, *buy* Logic there, you'll be able to buy it and it will show up as purchased. Then you can go back to your Mojave machine, and install it, where the AppStore will say "The software is incompatible with your OS, do you want to download the most recent compatible version".

However, I can understand that this might be just too much of a faff to bother with. Just one of the (many) issues I have with the AppStore customer experience...

Thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately I don’t have a Catalina machine but I just decided to maintain my Pro Tools subscription at this moment. It was the easiest thing to do as I can’t afford to buy it outright just now.

[DC-Choppah]

You can get Perpetual license with 1 year of upgrades for $450 on ebay.

If you pay $39 per month for a monthly license you will spend the same amount in one year’s time.

The monthly subscription is only for folks who want to expense the license and charge the client.

May I suggest that you use ProTools Free version for the next year. Dive in and learn ProTools. Just live with the track count limitation by bouncing. Save $39 per month in your piggy bank. The after a year buy it outright.

The only meaningful limitation of the free protools is that you can only use plugins bought on their app store.

It takes a year to learn how to use the stock protools plugins though. So just focus on those.

[nickle15]

You can get Perpetual license with 1 year of upgrades for $450 on ebay.

If you pay $39 per month for a monthly license you will spend the same amount in one year’s time.

The monthly subscription is only for folks who want to expense the license and charge the client.

May I suggest that you use ProTools Free version for the next year. Dive in and learn ProTools. Just live with the track count limitation by bouncing. Save $39 per month in your piggy bank. The after a year buy it outright.

The only meaningful limitation of the free protools is that you can only use plugins bought on their app store.

It takes a year to learn how to use the stock protools plugins though. So just focus on those.

Thanks. Those are some great thoughts and I’ll definitely ponder them. I can get around fairly well in PT and used the free version for a number of months before jumping into the full program. I have several 3rd party plugins that I use regularly so it would be tough to let those go. Also the track limitation would be, well, limiting. If I had the cash sitting around I’d definitely just grab the perpetual license - but I don’t at the moment. I plan to work towards it though. Thanks again for the tips and guidance!

[nickle15]

You can get Perpetual license with 1 year of upgrades for $450 on ebay.

If you pay $39 per month for a monthly license you will spend the same amount in one year’s time.

The monthly subscription is only for folks who want to expense the license and charge the client.

May I suggest that you use ProTools Free version for the next year. Dive in and learn ProTools. Just live with the track count limitation by bouncing. Save $39 per month in your piggy bank. The after a year buy it outright.

The only meaningful limitation of the free protools is that you can only use plugins bought on their app store.

It takes a year to learn how to use the stock protools plugins though. So just focus on those.

Thanks. Those are some great thoughts and I’ll definitely ponder them. I can get around fairly well in PT and used the free version for a number of months before jumping into the full program. I have several 3rd party plugins that I use regularly so it would be tough to let those go. Also the track limitation would be, well, limiting. If I had the cash sitting around I’d definitely just grab the perpetual license - but I don’t at the moment. I plan to work towards it though. Thanks again for the tips and guidance!

Heh. Just figured out I can buy through Sweetwater at 0% for 24 months, making it $25/month. So, less than the monthly rental fee. Paying a little more than the eBay price but I can afford the payment so I feel good. Thanks!

[Sam Spoons]

I was just going to jump in and ask why you wanted Logic specifically. but I read your OP and that last post so it looks like you are sorted. But for the benefit of others who might come across this thread In future Reaper is a very cost effective DAW that runs on almost any operating system*. Versions are available from the original public release V0.40 from 2005 up to the current V6.23 (I realise the regulars are probably fed up of me banging on about Reaper and acoustic treatment but I preach as one of the converted ).

* as well as old versions that will run on pretty much any computer built this century there are current versions for Windows (back to XP), Mac from OS 10.5 (intel and Apple Silicon), Linux and Raspbian on the Raspberry Pi.

[muzines]

...and there's the obligatory Reaper mention.

Anyone want to jump in an extol the virtues of Acustica plugins? Then the thread will be complete...

[Drew Stephenson]

Well, since you mention it, i do rather like Taupe...

[Sam Spoons]

...and there's the obligatory Reaper mention.

Anyone want to jump in an extol the virtues of Acustica plugins? Then the thread will be complete...

[Drew Stephenson]

For what it's worth, I think Reaper and Logic are slightly different beasts. They both have the same capability but Logic comes with so much more included.
Horses for courses.