Pro Tools has three types of systems; HD, LE, and M-powered. HD is the high-end package and is an integration of hardware and software. The hardware includes an external A/D converter and internal PCI or PCIe audio cards with onboard DSP.

Essentially, Pro Tools is similar to a multi-track tape recorder and mixer, with supplementary features that can only be performed in the digital medium. The high-end version supports sample rates of up to 192 kHz and bit depths of 16 and 24 bit, opens WAV, AIFF, mp3, SDII audio files and QuickTime video files. It features time code, tempo maps, automation and surround sound capabilities.

Most of Pro Tools’ essential functions can be controlled within Edit or Mix windows. The Edit window displays audio and MIDI tracks, and provides graphical illustration of the information that’s either recorded or imported. Audio can be edited in a non-linear and non-destructive method to the level of individual samples. MIDI information can also be manipulated. The Mix window displays each track’s fader channel and allows for the modification of a channel’s volume and pan, as well as being the usual place to insert plug-in effects and route audio to and from different outputs and inputs.

Pro Tools systems have for some time now, relied on dedicated DSP cards to handle nearly all audio processing. A HD Core PCI card or an Accel Core PCIe card is required in a HD 1 system; the inclusion of one or two additional Accel cards upgrades the system to HD 2 or 3 respectively, and increases the system’s overall processing power which then allows for higher track counts and more plug-ins. An ‘Expansion HD’ product increases capability up to a total of 7 cards using Digidesign’s PCI-X expansion chassis product, which is offered with both PCI-X and PCIe host cards for your computer system.

If you are interested in producing and editing your own music, then Pro Tools is definitely for you.