cheapest way to get protools

Five · Post by **Five** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:26 pm

i am wanting to get protools....the cheapest version...which i thought was the Mbox. my friend said you could just buy an upgrade and that would work because i already have an m-audio firewire solo interface. but i thought an upgrade only works if youve bought the real thing? i'm trying to find the cheapest route...any help would be appreciated
thanks!

donaldm · Post by **donaldm** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:30 pm

Since you have an approved audio interface you can buy a version of the software called "Protools M-Powered". It runs around 250 USD. Its more or less the same as ProTools LE.

pricklyrobot · Post by **pricklyrobot** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:50 pm

Or, if you can live with the slightly limited academic version (I've never had occasions to use the unsupported plug-ins that they mention; it's fully functional otherwise) you can get this: http://www.academicsuperstore.com/marke ... tNo=791020
for $150. All you need is a jpeg of a current student ID to send them.

Five · Post by **Five** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:37 pm

that sounds cool,
do you know what all is different between the regular m powered and the academic version? what all do you lose?

dj_stick · Post by **dj_stick** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:10 am

donaldm wrote:Since you have an approved audio interface you can buy a version of the software called "Protools M-Powered". It runs around 250 USD. Its more or less the same as ProTools LE.

i agree, the only difference i've come across is that you won't be able to use the DV Toolkit with M-Powered, other than that, all functions, plugins etc will work fine.
One other thing, I think the the M-Powered version requires an iLok (included in the kit i think) to run, in addition to the M-Audio hardware, but i'm not certain.