Avid accelerates music creation and audio post production with new Pro Tools Extensions and AI-powered capabilities

• New Pro Tools Extensions bring third-party sound libraries, automation tools, and advanced workflows directly into Pro Tools
• AI-enabled Stem Separator allows creators to extract and remix individual audio elements without leaving Pro Tools
• MIDI Polyphonic Expression unlocks more expressive music performances, while enhanced Windows support improves the user experience

BURLINGTON, Mass., November 5, 2026 – Avid® today announced the release of Pro Tools® 2026.11, introducing powerful new features and enhancements that accelerate music creation and audio post production, expand creative possibilities, and deliver a more seamless user experience.

At the heart of the release is Pro Tools Extensions, a new plugin format that enables session-wide experiences, allowing creators to access advanced workflows from Avid and third parties directly within Pro Tools. The update also introduces Pro Tools Stem Separator, a new AI-powered Extension for separating audio into individual elements, alongside support for MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) and focused improvements to the Pro Tools experience on Windows.

“The way music and audio professionals work is constantly evolving, and we want Pro Tools to evolve with them,” said Sam Butler, Vice President, Product Management, Avid. “Extensions represent an important step forward, bringing new technologies and innovative capabilities directly into Pro Tools to support a wider range of creative experiences. It's about giving creators greater choice and flexibility while allowing them to stay focused on their work – reflecting our commitment to making Pro Tools more powerful, open and accessible for users at every level.”

Accelerating professional work with Pro Tools Extensions

Unlike traditional AAX plugins that operate on individual tracks, Pro Tools Extensions can support processes spanning multiple tracks or entire sessions, opening up new possibilities for integrated sound libraries, workflow automation, and collaboration. Accessible directly from the Pro Tools Edit window, extensions enable creators to work with a wider range of specialised tools without interrupting their creative flow.

The new format supports Extensions from leading audio technology partners, including:

• Pro Sound Effects and Soundly – Providing integrated access to sound effects libraries for faster sound discovery and audio post production workflows.
• Forte – Streamlining track importing, organisation, and delivery.
• Pibox – Supporting collaboration and feedback throughout the audio production process.

Existing Splice and SoundFlow integrations, introduced in 2025, will also be available as Extensions, providing a simpler, more consistent way for users to access these integrated tools and their AI-enabled capabilities.

Unlocking new creative possibilities with AI-powered stem separation

The new Pro Tools Stem Separator Extension enables music producers, remixers, and audio post production professionals to isolate individual elements from existing recordings without exporting files to external applications or uploading audio to cloud services.

Using AI, it separates recordings into up to six stems – vocals, drums, bass, guitar, keys and other – opening up new possibilities for remixing, editing, sound design, and repurposing existing audio. Users simply drag audio into the Extension, preview the separated elements and bring the resulting stems back into their Pro Tools session as individual tracks.

Pro Tools Stem Separator is included at no additional cost with all versions of Pro Tools, including the free Pro Tools Intro.

Bringing greater expression to music creation

Pro Tools 2026.11 also introduces MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE), giving musicians, composers, and producers more detailed control over virtual instruments and MIDI performances.

Unlike conventional MIDI, where changes such as pitch bend typically affect multiple notes simultaneously, MPE enables individual notes to respond independently to expressive gestures, including pressure, pitch movement, and other performance controls. This allows creators using compatible controllers and virtual instruments to produce more expressive and nuanced performances – from realistic articulations of acoustic instruments such as violins and guitars to dynamic electronic sounds.

MPE also expands possibilities for real-time sound design, enabling musicians to manipulate timbre, filters, and effects as they perform.

Delivering an enhanced Pro Tools experience on Windows

The latest release also focuses on Windows users, introducing High DPI support to deliver sharper, more readable visuals on modern high-resolution displays, including 2K, 4K, and 8K monitors.

Intelligent per-monitor scaling improves the experience of working across displays with different resolutions, while enhanced compatibility scaling helps deliver a more consistent interface. The update additionally introduces improved dark theme support for Windows title bars, menus and common dialogs, creating a more cohesive interface.

Pro Tools 2026.11 also includes Playlist Clip Color Coding, providing more consistent colours across tracks for different takes to simplify session organization.

Pro Tools 2026.11 is available now to Pro Tools Artist, Studio, and Ultimate subscribers and perpetual licence holders with an active upgrade plan, as well as Pro Tools Intro users. All major new enhancements are supported across Pro Tools versions, including the 30-day trial.

For more information or to download Pro Tools 2026.11, visit www.avid.com/pro-tools.

About Avid

Avid is the power behind the content that touches virtually every person on the planet. Every word, every note, every frame, every day. Powering greater creators and trusted newsmakers, Avid enables everyone with a story to tell – from Emmy®, Grammy®, and Oscar® winners to rising talent. Built on a dynamic media intelligence surface, Avid tools support the full production lifecycle, from story assignment and editorial editing through archive and distribution. Avid understands professional media from the inside, combining human creativity with AI-driven orchestration so production moves faster, costs less, and allows organizations to see what their content is worth.

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