Availability: Download
Comparable: Audacity, Audition, GarageBand
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation for Microsoft Windows and OS X developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is a de facto standard for recording and mixing music and is used in most professional recording studios. It can run as standalone software, or operate using a range of external A/D converters and internal PCI or PCIe audio cards with onboard DSP. Pro Tools records and edits non-destructively and has the ability to process multiple live effects on each channel without altering the original recorded waveform permanently. This makes editing and tweaking effects and sounds very easy, fast, and intuitive. Older versions of Pro Tools can also interface with VST’s (Virtual Studio Technology), that can add in virtual effects, instruments, visualizations, sound banks, editing tools, samplers, and more.
Here is a detailed comparison matrix of several DAW software pieces.