New Features in Pro Tools 12: New Subscription Options
Avid has recently announced the availability of Pro Tools 12 which starts the latest chapter of developments with an eye toward the future of the audio industry. Far more than the obvious subscription licensing option, Pro Tools 12 is the first step needed to build upon enhancements such as Cloud Collaboration, Marketplace, and other Music & Post Production enhancements lurking in the background. Pro Tools 12 provides everything to compose, record, edit, and mix music and audio, and now it’s more accessible than ever through a low-cost subscription, ownership, or a free version
Licensing: Ways To Purchase Pro Tools
The most obvious difference with Pro Tools 12 is how purchasing & licensing is being addressed. Avid now offers a monthly subscription plan along with the traditional "purchase" of a license. You can now subscribe to Pro Tools for as little as $25 a month. A quick trip to the Avid Store will reveal a lot more about the various options including HD and Educational pricing.
3 ways to obtain Pro Tools 12 software:
1. Purchase an Avid Pro Tools Perpetual License: $899 - This is the "box-copy" purchase of the Pro Tools software which includes 1 Year of Avid Support including upgrades.
2. Purchase any Annual Subscription plan (including HD) starting at $30 per month
3. Purchase bundled Audio Interface products (or HD) that include the Pro Tools software for free. Several Audio Interface products come pre-bundled with Pro Tools software, including the Apogee Duet & Quartet, as well as the Avid Eleven Rack.
The best "bang-for-the-buck" is the pre-bundled option, which comes out cheaper than purchasing the software and audio interface separately. For instance, you can purchase the Eleven Rack for as little as $639. This includes the "box copy" of Pro Tools software along with the year of built in Support. The same software that sells for $899 on it's own is not over $250 cheaper. The Apogee Duet & Quartet also present a significant saving when purchased as a bundle rather than separate.
The "cheapest" option is the monthly subscription. If you plan on using Pro Tools for the next year, you can sign up for the Annual Plan which bills at $24.92 per-month (or $29.99 month-to-month).