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Avid® today announced a trio of new Pro Tools® Essential bundles, hardware/software solutions that enable enthusiasts to easily create music with the same tools used by today’s most popular musicians. The three affordable bundles, Pro Tools Vocal Studio, Pro Tools Recording Studio and Pro Tools KeyStudio™, aim at creative hobbyists with an interest in musical composition, editing, and production as well as consumers who are looking to create and share music, podcasts, narrations and other forms of audio with their peers.

Pro Tools M-Powered™ Essential software is based on Pro Tools software, the industry standard used by professionals to create, edit and produce much of the world’s most popular music. Pro Tools M-Powered Essential enables users to progress from casual playing or singing to full-fledged music production – with styles ranging from hip-hop and funk to pop, jazz, rock and blues. The software also includes a library of virtual instrument sounds– the perfect starting point for anyone to begin making their own music, even for someone with little to no musical experience.

Rob Ruccia, chief engineer of Uptown Recording Chicago, a beta tester of the new software, said: "Pro Tools Essential is the best way for entry-level Pro Tools users to begin their path to larger and more feature-packed versions of the software."

Munish Bhatnagar, after a positive experience testing the software beta, added: "The simplicity of Pro Tools Essential makes it perfect for beginners, and a great introduction to the world of Pro Tools. I was amazed by how much I could do with only the basic necessities."

Pro Tools M-Powered Essential music software is bundled with top-quality, yet simple-to-use M-Audio® interfaces, in the following three configurations:

Pro Tools Vocal Studio turns the computer into a complete vocal recording studio. This bundle includes the Producer USB microphone, a studio-quality mic that lets people capture vocals, as well as record acoustically played instruments. The Producer USB mic lets people record with stunning clarity, whether they’re singing a future hit song or narrating a family biography. And with Pro Tools M-Powered Essential, it’s easy to remix vocals to produce professional-quality soundtracks and podcasts with ease.

Pro Tools Recording Studio enables people to craft professional-sounding songs and remixes — no experience needed. With the included Fast Track® USB audio interface plugged right into the computer, music enthusiasts can capture pristine digital sound for any recording project, whether from a guitar or a standard microphone. With Pro Tools M-Powered Essential software, consumers can dub, mix, remix, edit, blend, restore, hone and more to create audio projects that will sound like they came from a pro — even if someone’s never recorded a note before.

Pro Tools KeyStudio features the M-Audio KeyStudio USB keyboard, a simple, yet high-quality 49-note velocity-sensitive keyboard that also functions as a MIDI interface. With Pro Tools KeyStudio, users can record a single keyboard track or create a complete orchestral recording using the KeyStudio to input any of the 60+ virtual instruments that come loaded with Pro Tools M-Powered Essential.

Pricing & Availability
Compatible with both Mac and PC, the Pro Tools Vocal Studio, Pro Tools Recording Studio and Pro Tools KeyStudio bundles will be available beginning in mid-September at major e-tailers and retailers. Pro Tools Vocal Studio and Pro Tools Recording Studio each have an MSRP of $99, while Pro Tools KeyStudio is available at an MSRP of $129. For more information visit www.pinnaclesys.com

About Avid
Avid creates the digital audio and video technology used to make the most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world – from the most prestigious and award-winning feature films, music recordings, television shows, live concert tours and news broadcasts, to music and movies made at home. Some of Avid’s most influential and pioneering solutions include Media Composer, Pro Tools, Avid Unity, Interplay, Oxygen 8, Sibelius® and Pinnacle Studio™. For more information about Avid solutions and services, visit www.avid.com, del.icio.us, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube; connect with Avid on Facebook; or subscribe to Avid Industry Buzz.

© 2009 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements and availability are subject to change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, the Avid Logo, , Avid Unity, Interplay, Fas Track, KeyStudio, M-Audio, Media Composer, Pro Tools, Pro Tools M-Powered, and Sibelius are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. The Interplay name is used with the permission of Interplay Entertainment Corp., which bears no responsibility for Avid products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.