BURLINGTON, MA - Avid has introduced Pro Tools Sketch (Avid.com/pro-tools-sketch), a new nonlinear, clip-based creation tool in Pro Tools software that is also available as a free iPad app. Pro Tools Sketch enables musicians to quickly capture new ideas and freely experiment with concepts and songs. They can also find inspiration via a large library of free loops, virtual instruments and effects.
The new addition to the Pro Tools workflow places a creation space directly alongside the software’s Edit and Mix windows. While the Pro Tools Sketch iPad app is available for free to anyone via the Apple App Store, the Pro Tools 2023.9 update is now available to all Pro Tools customers on an active subscription or perpetual license with a current Software Updates + Support Plan, as well as all users of the free Pro Tools Intro application.
Pro Tools Sketch is an expansion of the Pro Tools music creation workflow, adding a nonlinear creation environment to Pro Tools’ proven toolset. Users can now start with clip-based sketches in which loops, MIDI and recordings can be freely organized and played, and then exported to be shared with friends. Sketches can also be moved to the Pro Tools timeline for further production using its editing and mixing tools. And since sketches can be moved between computer and iPad at will, users can capture and play with ideas anywhere inspiration strikes.
Pro Tools Sketch features 16 tracks and virtually unlimited scenes, and includes over 1GBs of loops and a variety of onboard effects. Users can quickly audition audio and MIDI loops in the browser and drag them into the launcher, where they can be played, moved and tweaked. Audio and MIDI can be recorded and edited alongside loops and then quickly organized into linear song arrangements. Whether users are experienced or new to Pro Tools, Sketch gives them new ways to experiment.
“Every music creator wants to capture inspiration when it arises and act on it precisely at that magical moment, and it should be simple and easy,” notes David Toomey, senior VP/GM of audio & music solutions, Avid. “We made Sketch to go far with ideation, letting any user start experimenting with their notions right away and then simply hop into Pro Tools when they’re ready to take them further forward. We’re incredibly excited for beginners and pros alike to work out nonlinear ideas with total convenience, then mix and edit in Pro Tools. Creators never stop generating new ideas and Sketch lets their output keep pace with their individual creative sparks. Not a single moment wasted, not a single idea lost.”
The Pro Tools 2023.9 software update introduces Export Selected Range, which enables Pro Tools Studio and Ultimate customers to export selected portions of the timeline as a new session. This feature is designed for breaking up large post sessions, separating a live recording into a session per song and saving important elements of the session as bite-size pieces. The release also delivers drag-and-drop plug-in slot reordering to give users greater flexibility in experimenting with and changing processing order, and more.
The Pro Tools Sketch iPad app is now available free to download via the Apple App Store.