Pro Tools Plugins Update In Version 10.2

Avid recently released Pro Tools 10.2, a free update to any Pro Tools version 10 user. More interesting than the normal bug fixes and feature tweaks is the inclusion of new and updated AAX plugins in the stock line up. If you didn’t pay attention you may have missed some of these great updates.

More Bundled AAX Plugins

Since Pro Tools version 10 was introduced Avid has made the move to a new plugin format, AAX. Version 10 still supports RTAS and TDM plugins but it’s clear that AAX is the future for Pro Tools. Version 10.2 now is updated with new AAX versions of most of the stock PT plugins, including: D-Verb, EQ III, Dyn 3 Compressor/Limiter, SansAmp PSA-1, BF-76, Recti-Fi, Sci-Fi, Lo-Fi, Vari-Fi, Trim, Mod Delay III, and Maxim

What AAX plugins mean for you and me is better CPU management and a more modern plugin architecture. It’s mostly under the hood stuff, but in the end it seems like we’ll be getting better performance when mixing in the box with the killer stock Pro Tools plugins.
 

A Fresh New Look

To go along with the internal tweaks, a lot of these new AAX plugins have been given a much needed facelift. It’s clear that from the new Channel Strip plugin Avid wants to standardized a new look for the bundled plugins and they are making the migration over starting with D-Verb, Maxim, Lo-Fi, Mod Delay, and a few others.

The look is clear, fresh, and much more professional. Why does this matter? We are visual people. We like turning knobs on pretty plugins. It’s just a fact. So many of the “fancy” plugins we buy just look cooler than our stock ones. Do they sound better? Maybe, maybe not. At least now the stock plugs in Pro Tools that always sounded good to me, look as legit as they sound.

Update Now

If you haven’t already, you can get your free Pro Tools 10.2 update here. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and it seems super stable and faster than ever. Thanks Avid! Oh, and if you haven’t already picked it up, get your free copy of Saturation Knob, an AAX analog saturation plugin form Softube, right here. It’s free and sound amazing on just about everything. No brainer.