Alongside Pro Tools 12.8, Avid has released an update of their free version - Pro Tools First. With Pro Tools First you now get Track Freeze, the ability to collaborate with any Pro Tools user, and there is a new expanded plan, which includes local storage of sessions with Pro Tools First for $4.99 per month.

Pro Tools First Feature Summary

• Track Collaboration features available in Pro Tools First - with low-cost extra cloud plans or collaborate for free on projects started by Pro Tools Software or HD owners
• More Sends and Inserts - maximum of 10
• Track Freeze
• Layered Editing
• Soundbase replaces Workspace
• Restored the Tracks List, removed the Clips List
• Quick Buttons toolbar pop over for easy access to common windows and features
• 500MB Loopmasters sample pack included free

Avid Set Free Pro Tools First Users To Play With The Big Boys

With this new release of Pro Tools First, Avid has released several corks that were severely limiting what Pro Tools First users could do. Before this update, Pro Tools First users could not share or collaborate with Pro Tools Vanilla and Pro Tools HD users. With this update, Pro Tools users will be able to collaborate with any Pro Tools user. With the old version of Pro Tools First, users were limited to 3 projects which had to be stored in and accessed from the cloud. In conjunction with this update to Pro Tools First, Avid has also released a paid-for plan which enables Pro Tools First users to save sessions locally on their own computer, rather than the cloud.

Collaborate With Any Pro Tools User

With this new version of Pro Tools First, Avid has extended their Cloud Collaboration to Pro Tools First users so that they can collaborate with Pro Tools and Pro Tools HD users online. This feature is free as long as the Pro Tools or Pro Tools HD user owns the project. This means any Pro Tools or Pro Tools HD user can collaborate with anyone, whether that person owns Pro Tools or not and it won't cost anything, as Pro Tools First is free to download and use, and inviting a Pro Tools First user to collaborate with a Pro Tools user is free as well.

If as a Pro Tools First user, you want to start your own collaboration project, you can upgrade to an Avid Cloud plan for $4.99 per month and then you will be able to invite other Pro Tools First, Pro Tools, or Pro Tools HD users to collaborate with you. 

Save Sessions Locally To Your Computer

Pro Tools First users can still save and sync up to three projects at a time using Avid’s free 1 GB introductory cloud storage. The difference is now for $4.99 per month you can break out of the cloud only limit and get expanded cloud storage, unlimited projects, local session saving, and the ability to invite others to collaborate with our premium cloud plans.

Pro Tools First Now Comes With a 500MB Loop Library

Soundbase, introduced to Pro Tools with version 12.7 lets you search for sounds and instantly hear how they fit into your tracks. Now Pro Tools First gets Soundbase and a 500 MB loop library selected by Avid from the larger 2GB library that comes with Pro Tools and Pro Tools HD.

You can learn more about Soundbase in our story announcing the Pro Tools 12.7 release.

Track Freeze Now In Pro Tools First

As all Pro Tools users know processor-hungry virtual instruments can have an impact on computer and system performance. Since Pro Tools 12.4 with Track Freeze, users can quickly freeze all plug-ins and effects on a track to free up processing power. This now is available to Pro Tools First users which also means that when you share your session, your collaborators will hear exactly what you intended them to hear, even if they don’t have the same plug-ins.

If you want to learn more about Track Freeze then you can read our tutorial on Pro Tools 12 - Everything You Want To Know About Track Freeze In Pro Tools 12.4