Avid has quietly revised the timetable for some of the features announced back in April 2017 compared with Results Announcements published on the ACA site this month using the data that came from a survey of ACA members that we covered in February 2017. This came to light when we were researching a story about what Avid still had to release in 2017 from the announced outcomes back in April.
Pro Tools Features
In the first part of the survey, back in February, Avid asked about Pro Tools Features and we were asked to drag and drop the topics below to rank them on the level of importance. In April, at the Avid Connect event just before NAB 2017 in Las Vegas, Avid announced their plans for each of the features as shown in this table, but in the document posted this month on the ACA website, they have revised their plans somewhat.
To show the changes, we have added a 4th column to the results table we published back in April 2017 and highlighted in red the items that have been pushed back and highlighted in green the items Avid have completed or moved forward...
Feature | Feature Details | Announced Outcome In April 2017 | Announced Outcome In September 2017 |
---|---|---|---|
New Post workflows | Folder tracks, multiple sessions open at one time. | Planned 2017 Release | In the queue for 2018 as a planned release |
Enhanced MIDI Functionality | New MIDI tools to further music creation workflow. | Planned 2017 Release | Planned 2017 Release |
Enhanced AVE (Avid Video Engine) Workflows | Support of new codecs, enhancements to existing video interop inside Pro Tools. | Planned 2017 Release | In the queue for 2018 as a planned release |
Virtual Instrument Upgrades | New VI tools inside Pro Tools and better integration with 3rd party VIs. | Under investigation | In the queue for 2018 - under investigation |
Enhanced Voice Capability for Pro Tools Native HD Systems | Larger voice count for Pro Tools HD Native. | In the queue for 2018 | In the queue for 2018 |
iOS App for Pro Tools | iOS version of Pro Tools for mobile recording, editing & sharing of ideas for collaboration. | Under investigation | Under investigation |
Immersive / 3D Audio Integration | Further integration of Dolby ATMOS and other 3D formats into Pro Tools mixer. | Announced April 2017 | Already Released in Pro Tools 12.8HD |
New low cost hardware audio interface with network capabilities and sync | Adding a new hardware interface for Pro Tools that would retail under $1K US and include DANTE and up to 16 I/O. | Under investigation | Under investigation |
On Premises Collaboration | Bringing current cloud collaboration to work on premises with local storage. | Under investigation | Under investigation |
Enhanced Integration: Pro Tools & Sibelius | Improved workflows to allow better integration between Sibelius and Pro Tools app. | In the queue for 2018 | In the queue for 2018 |
New Post Workflows Pushed Back
Avid has quietly pushed back the new Post workflows like Folder tracks, and multiple sessions open at one time. However, they have somewhat confusingly repeated the Multiple sessions open at once feature by adding it as a separate item, whilst leaving it in the New Post Workflows and listed it as simply "Under Investigation".
Enhanced AVE Workflows Pushed Back
The second item to be pushed back is the Enhanced AVE (Avid Video Engine) Workflows with the support of new codecs and enhancements to existing video interoperability inside Pro Tools, which is a real shame.
Dolby Atmos Delivered And VI Upgrades Have A Timeframe
On the positive side, they have achieved the successful implementation of the integration of Dolby ATMOS and other 3D formats into Pro Tools mixer and they have now put a time-frame on the virtual instrument upgrades with new VI tools inside Pro Tools and better integration with 3rd party VIs from "Under Investigation" to In The Queue for 2018 albeit still under investigation.
New MIDI Tools - Only Thing Left For 2017
All of this leaves just the new MIDI tools to further music creation workflow in the Enhanced MIDI Functionality category, which is especially interesting in the light of our recent stories, the first from Dan Studio Build - Why Pro Tools Will Remain At The Centre Of My New Studio ad the article from Russ Why No One Should Choose Pro Tools As The Single Solution For Their Music Studio where the Pro Tools MIDI functionality came under fire especially in the comments from the community.
What Do You Think?
What do you think this new MIDI Tools would look like? What do you think they need to be and what do you think Avid might give us.
Post users, are you disappointed that the Folder Tracks has been pushed back? What about the confusion over the More Than One Session Open At The Same Time feature? Is that something you are screaming for?