Avid Expands AAX Offering with Launch of New Pro Series Plug-ins for Pro Tools

The company continues to grow its collection of AAX plug-ins with the introduction of Pro Limiter, Pro Compressor and Pro Expander.

Avid has announced the launch of AAX Native and AAX DSP Pro Series plug-ins, which include three new advanced processors to allow users to achieve their best sound. Pro Compressor and Pro Expander (available now), along with Pro Limiter (soon to be released), are the first plug-ins in the series, joining a growing collection for the AAX platform.

Pro Series plug-ins work with AAX DSP and AAX Native systems, such as Pro Tools HDX, Pro Tools HD Native, and any system using Pro Tools 10 software and higher. All three plug-ins offer impressive sound quality, exceptional metering, very low latency and efficient use of DSP.

They also include these sophisticated features:

• Pro Limiter is a transparent sound limiter that allows you to maximize the loudness of any mix, without distortion or harshness. It offers a wide variety of features that allow you to control your reaction precisely:

– clean, transparent sound that fits into the mix, while maintaining precise control over output levels.

– Unique knob that adds smooth overdrive to signals, allowing for increased volume and greater amounts of gain reduction.

– EBU R128 loudness measurement allows audio to be quickly normalized for broadcast according to EBU specifications.

• Pro Compressor is a high-quality compressor based on Avid's System 5 console and Channel Strip plug-in (included in Pro Tools 10 software); It allows you to shape sounds, enhance tracks and bring mixes to life. It also offers a wide range of features and improvements beyond Channel Strip, including:

– Four advanced detectors and a SMART mode change the way the compressor sounds and reacts.

– The “Solo” function isolates only the gain reduction portion of the audio material, allowing for faster and easier setup adjustments.

– Parallel compression feature allows users to mix the compressor signal path with raw input material.

• Pro Expander is also based on Avid's Channel Strip plug-in; With it, you can give the mixes more energy, reduce noise and duck the signal. It also offers several user-friendly features and improvements; for example, some unique elements that are not present in Pro Compressor, such as:

-Look ahead mode with up to 15 milliseconds of predictive analysis to achieve perfect results when setting a “hard” noise gate, even on low frequency signals.

– “Upward” mode increases the dynamics of the material, for greater creativity, especially when used with a strong Q side channel filter configuration.

– “Ducker” mode with its own optimized algorithm and detector, emulates the natural sound and feel of fader movements.

Dana Ruzicka, vice president of segment and product marketing at Avid, said that the company “continues to set the standard for professional audio production systems; we are pleased to add a new crop of professional-grade plug-ins to round out the rich selection of processors currently offered by other AAX developers,” said Dana Ruzicka, vice president of segment and product marketing at Avid. "The Pro Series plug-ins are the answer to our pro audio customers' demands for low-latency dynamic processors that can be used in Pro Tools 10 systems and DSP-based Pro Tools HDX systems. Additionally, the Pro Series plug-ins raise the bar in sound quality, features and ease of use, making Pro Tools an even more powerful tool. These plug-ins are just the first in a broader release of the line, which will allow our customers to achieve great results in quality. of its sound.”

The new Pro Compressor and Pro Expander AAX plug-ins are available in the Avid Online Store and through Avid dealers worldwide. Pro Limiter will be on sale soon.