Avid Pro Tools is dropping its perpetual license to go subscription only. Here’s what you should know.
The Avid website no longer has an option to buy a perpetual license for Pro Tools. A lifetime license granted customers unlimited access to a particular version of the digital audio workstation (DAW). Instead, new users of the DAW are asked to choose between three plans that are all subscription-only. There are now three plans to choose from, including Pro Tools Artist, Pro Tools Studio, and Pro Tools Flex.
All current Pro Tools and Pro Tools Ultimate customers with active subscriptions or perpetual software updates will be moved to their respective subscription plans. Pro Tools users will have Pro Tools Studio. Pro Tools Ultimate subscribers will get access to Pro Tools Flex subscription. “If you have a Pro Tools Ultimate perpetual license with an active support plan, you’ll get all the new enhancements of the latest software,” says Avid’s support article.
Avid is taking its cues from Adobe and moving its popular DAW Pro Tools to a subscription-only model. Here’s what the future looks like.
- Pro Tools Artist is the base offering and costs $99 annually or $9.99/monthly. Avid says it is aimed at music beginners who want everything they need to make beats, write, record, and mix studio-quality music. Make music easily with up to 32 audio tracks and 32 instrument tracks. Pro Tools Artist subscribers can record up to 16 audio sources simultaneously.
- Pro Tools Studio starts at $299 annually or $39.99 monthly. It offers increased track counts, support for surround sound and Dolby Atmos mixing, and advanced automation features.
- Pro Tools Flex is available for $999 annually or $99.99/monthly. It is Avid’s solution for high-end music professionals and audio production managers. Avid says this new subscription offers access to additional third-party licenses.
Existing perpetual customers are not impacted by the change, but any new customers will have to sign up using this subscription-only payment method. “Note that any perpetual licenses sold by Avid resellers automatically covert to the new equivalent offering. This means that Avid resellers will be able to sell their existing stock of perpetual licenses, and customers will be able to redeem and convert these licenses to the new, equivalent product offerings,” Avid’s support site says.