GrooveCell is the new rhythm based virtual instrument introduced in Pro Tools 2022.4.

GrooveCell features a familiar layout, loosely based on drums machines from the 1980s like the AKAI MPC60, with 16 pads that can each play up to three layers of samples per pad. GrooveCell also includes a step based rhythm creator, again reminiscent of the Roland TR drum machines from the ‘80s.

Finally there’s some effects to help add space, EQ, compression and some vintage grunge to the sound.

GrooveCell is a useful tool for those wanting to make step based drum tracks and a welcome addition to the Pro Tools arsenal of tools.

However, there’s some minor pain points that need to be improved. Here’s 5 things we’d like to see improved in GrooveCell.

1 - Sequencer Lanes Need Names

Our first head scratch was that the names given to pads on the first screen of GooveCell don’t then translate over to the sequencer page. So even if you name your pad ‘Kick’ or ‘Hat’ you won’t be able to identify that when creating a sequence. This is a basic workflow killer and needs fixing.

2 - MIDI Data Doesn’t Export As Expected

One of the great features in GrooveCell is the ability to add pitch, velocity and other data in the patterns. This effectively means you can create things like 808 bass lines, snares that increase in pitch as they run up to a break, all those cool tricks we use in modern music production.

In the marketing on Avid’s website it says;

“And with the ability to save presets and export MIDI, sequencer lanes, audio, and samples, you’ll always be able to re-create the magic you made.”

However, there’s a problem, if you export the tracks as MIDI data, either as a single MIDI part or lanes, then the information is lost in the MIDI parts. So in fact you can’t ‘re-create the magic you made.” using the current MIDI export options.

3 - Sample Management Is Basic

Each pad can include up to three samples, these can be added via the file browser or drag and drop. There is a method to how they stack on the pads. However, once the samples are loaded into the pads then you are unable to make any real changes to the sample stack. If you decide you want to change the second sample in the stack, then you are going to have to drag them all in again. There’s no way to edit or change one sample at a time.

4 - Effects Need To Be Improved

We find it a little odd that SynthCell features a well featured reverb and delay section whereas GrooveCell doesn’t use the same effects. For example, the setting of delay times in GrooveCell is based on a ratio and not time based by musical divisions, somewhat odd for a rhythm based plugin we think.

Furthermore, the reverb effect is a single reverb without any ability to be able to switch between rooms, halls plates and non-linear (gated), an important sound in the world of drums.

We think it would have been better to simply port the reverb and delay over from SynthCell, this would make the effects far more useful in a rhythm plugin.

5. Exported Audio Needs Sensible Names

There’s a couple of audio export options in GrooveCell. The first is the ability to export a stereo sample and use that as a loop. The second is the ability to export the samples on the pads as one-hit samples. Both are useful, but not as useful as being able to export the full length stem of each part.

Secondly the sample exports get given weird names, see the image below. It would be more useful for those samples to be given a more meaningful name such as the pad name and then perhaps a unique identifier. Right now it’s slightly less worse than AUDIO1, AUDIO2, AUDIO3.

Summary

GrooveCell is a welcome addition to the Pro Tools plugin family, however we can’t help think it needs a little more work to make it really useful.

All the above may seem picky and indeed minor gripes, they don’t stop GrooveCell working and doing a good job, but they do make the workflow more painful than it has to be. It has often been the case that when Avid do implement a feature it’s always done with a lot of careful thought, GrooveCell feels a little rushed and needs some work to live up to that reputation.