NEWS  Music Production  December 14, 2023  Reading time: 3 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

Avid has released Pro Tools 2023.12, a major update to its renowned digital audio workstation (DAW). This latest version introduces several groundbreaking features, with a primary focus on Dolby Atmos integration, along with notable enhancements to marker and memory location capabilities, I/O setup, and routing color-coding options.

Dolby Atmos Integration

The standout feature of Pro Tools 2023.12 is the integrated Dolby Atmos renderer, available for both Pro Tools Studio and Ultimate. This advancement eliminates the need for external applications, allowing users to seamlessly mix and monitor Atmos content directly within the DAW. The update supports various channel formats, including Binaural, 2.0, 5.1, 7.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.4, and 7.1.4, with Ultimate users benefitting from additional support for 9.1.6.

Users can opt for binaural monitoring from the session’s main output or as an independent headphone mix, providing flexibility in monitoring formats. The integration also offers an independent re-render, useful for loudness metering or as an additional 5.1 or 2.0 send or print of the mix. While Pro Tools can still be used with the Dolby Atmos Renderer application, Avid provides a comprehensive list of features that require a connection to Dolby’s application for functionalities like Dolby Atmos Music Panner support, larger post-production workflows, recording into a .atmos file, and more.

Markers, Memory Locations & Colour-Coding

Building upon the introduction of track markers in a previous update, Pro Tools 2023.12 expands marker functionality with an increased number of marker rulers and a new filtering system in the Edit window. Five independent marker rulers can now be shown, reordered, and renamed. The Import Session Data window has new mapping options for flexible handling of markers when importing data between sessions. Memory location functionality is also enhanced with a faster filtering system and a mode to unlink selected memory locations from recalled ones, streamlining the search and organization process.

In addition, the update introduces color-coding options for routing paths in the I/O Setup window, providing a visual aid to understand the relationships between different paths. This feature enhances the overall user experience and makes navigation within the DAW more intuitive.

Other Improvements

Pro Tools 2023.12 includes several other notable improvements, such as a Same as Source bounce option for exporting H.264 video files, enhanced QuickTime timecode track support, extended compatibility with Native Instruments’ latest Komplete Kontrol keyboards, AAX plug-in cache improvements, and more. A comprehensive changelog is available on the Avid website for users seeking detailed information.

Pro Tools Sketch Enhancements

The update enhances the interoperability between Pro Tools and Sketches, the recently introduced clip-based creation tool. Users can now seamlessly drag MIDI clips from the Sketch window to the timeline, choosing to keep them as MIDI data or render them as audio files. When dragging audio clips into the Sketch window, options for rendering the full signal chain are provided, maintaining the processed sound. The desktop Media Browser has also been improved for easier access to loops and samples, and Sketches can now be embedded directly into Pro Tools sessions.

Compatibility, Pricing & Availability

Pro Tools 2023.12 is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or 11 and Macs running macOS 12.7 to 13.6. Notably, macOS 14 (Sonoma) is currently not supported due to known issues. This update is available as a free upgrade to all Pro Tools users with an active subscription or perpetual license with a current Upgrade Plan. Users can download the latest version of Pro Tools Sketch from the Apple App Store.

For more detailed information on Pro Tools 2023.12 and its features, you can visit Avid's official resource center

 IMAGES CREDITS: AVID 

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