Originally posted by The Audacity Works "ProTools" (as in the ProTools mentioned by famous artists/producers in interviews) is a series of
hardware DSP cards installed *inside* a computer which does all mixing, routing, effects, dynamics, etc. The computer is basically left to redraw the screen and if necessary, run host-based plugins (which, since it's doing nothing else, can run way more and run them more efficiently). Because hardware is doing all the work (like a RADAR, Akai DR-series, Roland VS-series, Alesis HD24, etc.), latency and buffers are a non-issue. The right PT|HD rig can play back 192 tracks of audio and mix them along with 96 simultaneous inputs... with a ton of world-class effects... with
unnoticable latency. It acts, responds, and feels like hardware because it
is hardware. Conversely, host-based solutions such as Cubase, Nuendo, Sonar, Logic, and even PTLE feel like you're using a computer.
There is no comparison, power-wise, unless you want to compare it to something like Ensoniq's long-dead PARIS system (also DSP-based), which was fantastic.
Note that since ProTools is hardware, you don't
have to use ProTools software (tho' it's included). For example, I use Logic Pro as a front end. Same TDM plugins, same track and input count, same negligible latency, same stability, same routing flexibility... Only with Logic painted on top. Digital Performer also can act as a software front end for ProTools, as could BIAS Peak on OS9.
That said, the ProTools software is excellent, but it is
NOT what makes "ProTools" ProTools.
I'll have to copy this as a text file because this question seems to pop up every few days.
And a PT|HD setup like this will run you tens of thousands of dollars. Probably not an option for most hobbiests. There should be a sticky on the difference between PT|HD and PTLE. A big part of the reason Pro Tools is the "industry standard" is because everyone (even people who know nothing about recording) knows the name Pro Tools. One day my wife even asked me why I don't use Pro Tools. If your talking software based recording, the major players are all good. It's mostly personal preference and a lot of people just stick to whatever they happened to start out on.