Music Lab Software Deployment - Avid Pro Tools

[Rogueleeder]

Happy Friday Friends.

 

Our Music Department has been looking at new software, from an IT standpoint we're agreed to find something easily maintainable and deployable for IT

 

They've suggested Pro Tools from Avid, has anyone ever deployed it? Does it have an MSI? Central Deployment Server?

 

We'd ideally be deploying through either GPO, SCCM or InTune at various points.

 

I'm also open to other suggestions on Music Lab Software that is IT friendly. Not a fan of silly .exes with no MSI Installers personally

[ShellfishClive]

It does come with an MSI but I'm sure the licensing side of things is a bit funny, it requires a different piece of software to license called "Ilok".

 

I'm sure if you email them before you buy the product they'd be happy to send over the relevant information.

[Guest Guest]

There is a "new" thing called iLok Cloud which allows the licenses to run via the Internet. However, if the session looses internet connectivity, it force-shuts down the session & requires Internet to be re-connected. It lets you save etc; but doesn't let you continue working. If you're using a physical iLok, if you loose it or it get's stolen - the licenses are tied to the USB & it's hell in terms of getting them replaced/re-issued etc. There is "Zero Downtime" available from PACE (the manufacturers) which costs (circa) £30 per year, per stick. This covers license recovery however I believe you have to send them the iLok & they ship you a new one if it's a hardware fault. You do have to keep in mind about securing the iLok USB as the risk of theft (admittedly like anything or eLicensers) does remain a threat. However, as always - that's a classroom management issue rather than an IT one.

 

I only use Pro Tools on single-user systems w/ local deployment. However, back when I used to briefly manage Avid stuff on a network (w/ Sibelius), you could setup a Licensing Server. Not sure if this is the case w/ PT.

[Guest Guest]

...also worth adding that the version of PT you need depends on the hardware you're planning to use and your existing setup. If you're just using built-in headphones/basic audio interfaces, the standard version will do fine. However, if you're using certain bits of Avid kit (it doesn't sound like this in your case tho), you need to buy the "Ultimate" version which covers larger track counts, voices & allows for DSP recording etc. Just worth keeping in mind as the licensing costs do differ quite considerably when comparing the two versions. Edited March 18, 2022 by Guest