Features
Get started quickly
Ready to make music? Choose from a variety of session templates—from rock and pop, to electronica, hip-hop, and jazz—that provide preloaded instrument tracks, so you can start creating right away. Or start from scratch and build your own session. You can even save your favorite track settings as presets to build new sessions on the fly.
Create at the speed of inspiration
Pro Tools | First comes with UVI Workstation 3, a powerful sample player and multitimbral instrument that makes it fun and easy to create truly unique sounds. It also comes with the Xpand!2 virtual instrument, which offers an incredible range of sounds to make music—from beats and loops, to orchestral instruments, power chords, and more cowbell.
Find the perfect loops and sounds fast
With Soundbase and over 3 GB of high-quality loops, samples, and sound content created by leading producers included, you can find and access fresh sounds and instantly hear how they fit into your tracks. Whether you need a rhythm section, a cool riff, or something to help get you started, you’ve got tons of mini musical works waiting to be discovered.
Record with ease
Ready to record? Just connect a mic or instrument and hit the red button. We recommend using an external audio interface for best results. You can capture individual performances or record up to four inputs at a time—perfect for tracking a vocal and guitar, multiple vocalists, or a live band session. You can even view chord names and notes as you play them to ensure input accuracy.
Capture that perfect take
Nobody’s perfect—that’s why loop recording is a great way to nail that perfect guitar solo or vocal run. Capture multiple takes of a performance—one after the other. Then pick the best take or edit together a flawless performance from multiple ones (what the pros call “comping”). You can also capture MIDI performances retroactively—even if you didn’t hit record.
Fix what's funky
Pro Tools | First offers world-class editing tools to help you fix mistakes and deliver stellar results. Edit MIDI notes to perfection with just a click and drag. Change the tempo, pitch and fix timing with ease. You can even alter the volume of each note to give your music more dynamics and emotion.
Polish your sound
Pro Tools | First comes with 23 effects and utility plugins to get you started. Shape sounds, warm up tones, and give tracks greater presence with EQ and Dynamics. Bring atmosphere to your mix with reverb. Want more? Shop the in-app Marketplace—or get every audio plugin we offer* with the Avid Complete Plugin Bundle.
Make music with anyone, anywhere
With Avid Cloud Collaboration, you can work on projects solo or with others from anywhere—as if you’re all working together in the same studio. Save, sync, and share up to three projects using Avid’s free introductory cloud storage. Or get expanded cloud storage, unlimited projects, local session saving, and the ability to invite others to collaborate with an Avid Premium Cloud Plan, starting at just $4.99/month.
Connect and share your work
With Avid Link integrated into Pro Tools | First, you can find and connect with a community of artists, producers, and media pros to expand your creative opportunities. Simply create your profile, upload your songs, promote yourself to the world, and be heard.
Go further with Pro Tools
Want more tracks, more plugins, and more capabilities? You’ll feel right at home when you step up to industry-standard Pro Tools. In fact, the software is now more accessible than ever. Buy and own the software or a system outright. Or access Pro Tools through a low-cost monthly or annual subscription. The choice is yours—your possibilities are endless.
Move up to Pro Tools
Here are some key advantages that Pro Tools offers over Pro Tools | First:
- Create big mixes with up to 128 audio tracks, 512 instrument tracks, and 1,024 MIDI tracks
- Get inspired with over 5 GB of loops, samples, and audio content
- Create and edit music using notation in the Score Editor
- Get 80 professional virtual instruments, effects, sound processing, and utility plugins to optimize your sound
- Work with more advanced features, including VCA Masters, Clip Gain, Beat Detective, and professional metering
- Explore alternative versions of a song or soundtrack with Project Revisions
- Work on video projects with the Avid Video Engine, video track, and Timecode Ruler
- Invite others to collaborate on projects in the cloud
- Save projects (sessions) locally
- Take hands-on control of your mixes with support for all EUCON-enabled control surfaces, including Avid S3, Avid Dock, Avid Control, and Artist Mix