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AAX - Creation Guide

1. What is AAX?

AAX (Avid Audio eXtension) is a plug-in format by Avid, which is required for your product to run in the Pro Tools DAW. This article will guide Gorilla Engine SDK users through the process of creating a functional AAX version of their product.

2. Becoming a Pro Tools Developer

  1. Create an Avid account, if you don’t have one.
  2. Log into your Avid Account.
  3. While logged in, visit http://developer.avid.com/aax/ and click “Download Evaluation Toolkit”, to access the click-through license agreement.
  4. Complete the click-through agreement.
  5. Visit https://my.avid.com/products/cppsdk to view the AAX SDK Toolkit.
  6. Scroll down to “Pro Tools Developer” and download the version that works with your system.

Now you are a registered Pro Tools Developer with access to the AAX SDK Toolkit.

3. License - Pro Tools Developer build

You will not be able to work with the developer build of Pro Tools unless have a valid license. Here is what you need to do:

  • Send an email to devauth@avid.com, and send a request for a “Developer Bundle NFR”. You will then be provided with an activation code and instructions.

You now have access to the developer build of Pro Tools. This version allows you to run the unsigned AAX plugins that Gorilla Compiler creates, when selecting AAX as a plugin format in the Plugin Settings Tab, but not providing the signing information in the PACE tab.

4. Launching Pro Tools Developer build

Once you have the developer version of Pro Tools installed, and the corresponding license in your iLok account just need to:

  1. Launch the iLok License Manager and sign into your account.
  2. In the menu bar go to “File” and select “Open your cloud session”. This will allow you to use the “Pro Tools Developer Build” license without a physical iLok dongle.
  3. Before you launch “Pro Tools Developer”, make sure that you run a the regular version of Pro Tools first. This ensures that the correct “Helper Tools” are installed.
  4. Now you can launch “Pro Tools Developer” from your macOS applications folder.
    • Note: On Windows you might need to run the application as an administrator.

5. Creating a signed AAX

To create a signed AAX that can run in the commercial version of Pro Tools you need to:

  1. Get a physical iLok dongle, if you don’t have one.
  2. Visit https://my.avid.com/products/cppsdk.
  3. Download the latest version of “AAX SDK”.
  4. Go to “Documentation” and open the HTML or PDF version of the documentation.
  5. Read the “Digital Signature” section and follow the provided instructions.

Once you have the PACE Eden tools, sign into Gorilla Compiler and click the PACE tab on the left side. Under “Command” make sure to select “Sign”, and follow the remaining instructions. After providing all required information, just click “Create Product” at the top and our system will build you an installer with a signed AAX, that you can run in the commercial version of Pro Tools.