| Upgrading a pro-level application can be difficult for | | | | just recorded. Highlighting a section and then clicking |
| both the company that makes it and for those who | | | | on the promote button will move that part of the |
| use it. Don't add enough new features and people will | | | | take to the main track. |
| say the upgrade isn't worth it, but if you change too | | | | Once you go through each section of the solo and |
| much, you run the risk of alienating your core users. | | | | promote the pieces you like, you have a finished |
| This is the dilemma that Digidesign faced when | | | | piece of music. Now you can go back and listen to it, |
| updating its market-leading digital audio workstation, | | | | making sure there are no pops or other noises where |
| Pro Tools. Digidesign was very careful when it | | | | the takes join and that the comp fits your needs. If |
| released Pro Tools 8, giving users a good balance of | | | | not, you can always go back and replace sections |
| features and familiarity. | | | | that you don't like. |
| One of the features I was looking forward to the | | | | Being a guitar player, Digidesign's Eleven Free plug-in |
| most is comping. Pro Tools now lets you loop record | | | | was a big draw for me. I use a variety of guitar amp |
| to playlists and then piece together—or | | | | modeling plug-ins when I record, but I must say that |
| comp—the best bits from each take. It's a great | | | | Eleven is very realistic. |
| way to put together the best parts of a guitar solo | | | | Unlike some plug-ins that include a variety of amps |
| or even fix a specific phrasing or missed note. | | | | and effects, Eleven focuses exclusively on the amp |
| To begin comping a track you need to put Pro Tools | | | | and cab models. The great thing is that Digidesign |
| in Loop Record mode and make sure the preference | | | | focused on the right part of the gear—if the amp |
| setting is checked to create a new playlist in loop | | | | doesn't sound realistic, it's not going to sound good |
| record mode. Click on record and start playing, doing | | | | no matter what effects you put on it. |
| as many takes as you like. You'll notice that each | | | | Eleven Free gives you all the options you need to |
| take is recorded onto a new playlist track, giving you | | | | make guitar tones from vintage and crunch to |
| the option to use that take or part of the take later | | | | modern and clean. Overall, a very well done plug-in. |
| on. | | | | Guitar players weren't the only ones to get plug-ins in |
| I find the easiest way to go through a comp is to do | | | | Pro Tools 8. Digidesign also included the Mini Grand |
| it in sections, listening to each take to make sure you | | | | piano, Boom drum machine, DB-33 tonewheel organ, |
| have the best version possible. If you expand the | | | | Vacuum tube-modeled synthesizer, and Xpand!2 |
| track you'll see all the different versions of what you | | | | sample player. |