Can I link my product if I frame it as helpful?
No. The rules say all promotion, including your site, product, app, or article, belongs only in the pinned Content Creator promo post.
Subreddit guides
r/protools rules, stats, and what to post
A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/protools: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 53,695
- Verified
- October 8, 2026
- Category
- Hobby and enthusiast communities
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- Reddiquette+ is required: [**reddiquette+**](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) is required Flame wars, trolling, insults, brigading, or antagonism towards the subreddit participants, the moderators, or even the community itself are all quick ways to get banned. Meta conversation goes in modmail Avoid vote complaining. Avoid post titles which are sensationalized, especially resorting to all caps, excessive punctuation, or expressions of urgency.
- No SPAM and/or self-promotion posts: NO promotion outside of the pinned 'Content Creator' promo post. It is the ONLY place allowed for ANY discussion or links to anything by you, for you, or about you, including your site, article, video, channel, blog, app, product, podcast, book, store, school project, survey, market research, etc. **NO exceptions. Violations WILL result in a ban** It applies to * all promotion and especially YouTubers * all work/job seekers * all evaluation requests Use /r/Gear4Sale to sell or buy equipment
- No piracy / fraud: **Piracy / Cracks / Hacks and authentication evasion discussion of any kind is not allowed. Violations WILL result in an irrevocable ban.** DO NOT BRING IT UP OR RESPOND TO IT. There is no allowable context, scenario, exception or appealable circumstance. Do not hint at it, relate to it, or respond for any reason. If you go there, you will be permanently banned and no appeal will be granted.
- New and low karma accounts are restricted: Most problem posts come from those who tend to skip/skim rules and notices, new accounts OR spammers. Therefore, posting is restricted in this subreddit To post: Accounts must be older than a few days and have some positive comment and combined karma * New accounts - may not post, may participate in comments * Low/no karma accounts - may not post, may participate in comments * Negative karma accounts - may not post. Those more than a few negative points may not participate in comments
- No non-productive trolling, griefing, or bitching engagement: Expressing frustration is fine but only if it includes effort to solve / help. Engagement amounting to trolling WILL be removed and can result in a ban, including; * Solely non-helpful non-productive hate, bitching, grief, or bashing towards Pro tools, AVID, or iLok * "stupid AVID" or similar * Directing to other DAWs instead of helping with PT * Gripe posts without specifications, what was tried, or solutions sought SOLVE FIRST, BASH LAST. Be useful in a sub for the DAW you like
Works well
- A detailed troubleshooting post about a specific Pro Tools problem, naming your setup, what you already tried, and what outcome you need.
- A plain question about mixing, editing, automation, or virtual instruments that invites veterans and bedroom engineers to share their approach.
- A comment-thread contribution where you answer someone else's plugin or workflow question with real detail and no link to your own work.
- A single post in the pinned Content Creator promo thread sharing your plugin, tutorial, or channel, which is the one allowed home for it.
- A plain-language question about a workflow choice, like routing or session templates, asked to learn rather than to pitch.
Avoid
- Posting any link, article, video, channel, product, or survey about your own work anywhere in the subreddit outside the pinned Content Creator promo post, because “No SPAM and/or self-promotion posts” says violations WILL result in a ban.
- Bringing up cracks, piracy, or bypassing iLok in any context, even to joke about it or respond to someone else, because “No piracy / fraud” promises an irrevocable ban with no appeal.
- Posting from a brand new account or one with no karma, because “New and low karma accounts are restricted” blocks posting until the account is a few days old with positive comment and combined karma.
- Writing a rant about Pro Tools, AVID, or iLok without saying what you tried or what fix you want, because “No non-productive trolling, griefing, or bitching engagement” removes posts that bash without helping.
- Answering someone's Pro Tools problem by telling them to switch to another DAW, since that counts as directing away instead of helping.
- Using a sensationalized title with all caps, excessive punctuation, or urgency words, which the reddiquette rule calls out directly.
What r/protools Is For
This community is a home for everything Pro Tools, the digital audio workstation, and the description says everyone is welcome, from industry veterans to bedroom engineers. People here talk about plugins, tracks, automation, editing, mixing, music, and virtual instruments, and the moderators point newcomers to wiki pages full of links, shortcuts, FAQs, guides, tutorials, and plugin information. The rules make it clear this is a help-first room for people working in this one DAW, not a place to sell things or push your own content.
Rules That Matter Before Posting
The rule that decides everything for a marketer is “No SPAM and/or self-promotion posts”, which says all promotion, including your site, article, video, channel, blog, app, product, podcast, book, store, school project, survey, or market research, belongs only in the pinned Content Creator promo post, with no exceptions and a ban for violations. “New and low karma accounts are restricted” means you cannot post at all until your account is older than a few days and has some positive comment and combined karma, though you can join comments sooner. “Reddiquette+ is required” bans flame wars, trolling, insults, brigading, sensationalized titles, all caps, excessive punctuation, and urgency language. “No non-productive trolling, griefing, or bitching engagement” removes posts that bash Pro Tools, AVID, or iLok without including what was tried and what solution is sought. “No piracy / fraud” is absolute, and any mention of cracks, hacks, or authentication evasion gets an irrevocable ban.
What To Post
A good post here is a genuine Pro Tools question or a helpful answer, written by an account that is a few days old and has some positive comment and combined karma. If you post about a problem, include the specifics, what you have already tried, and what solution you are looking for, because the rules demand solve first, bash last. If you want to share something you made, like a plugin, a tutorial video, or a blog post, put it in the pinned Content Creator promo post and nowhere else. Keep every title plain and factual, with no caps, no urgency words, and no extra punctuation. If you are a founder, the honest path is to participate in comments, answer mixing and editing questions with real detail, and save anything about your own work for the pinned thread.
What To Avoid
Do not post any link to your own site, article, video, channel, blog, app, product, podcast, book, store, school project, survey, or market research anywhere outside the pinned Content Creator promo post, because the rule says there are no exceptions and violations will result in a ban. Do not mention, hint at, or respond to piracy, cracks, hacks, or authentication evasion in any way, because that earns an irrevocable ban with no appeal. Do not post from a new account or an account with low or no karma, and if your karma is negative by more than a few points you cannot even comment. Do not post gripes about Pro Tools, AVID, or iLok without specifics, what you tried, or a solution you are seeking, and do not answer people by pointing them to other DAWs instead of helping with Pro Tools. Do not use sensationalized titles, all caps, excessive punctuation, or urgency language, and avoid vote complaining or meta arguments outside modmail.
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Common questions about r/protools
Can I run a survey or ask for feedback on my audio tool?
No. The rule covers anything by you, for you, or about you, including surveys and market research, so the pinned promo post is the only place for it.
Can I ask a question that touches my product area without linking it?
Yes, as long as the post is about the problem and not about you, it includes what you tried, and it does not link to your own stuff.
How old does my account need to be?
The rule says accounts must be older than a few days and have some positive comment and combined karma before you can post.
What if someone asks me about cracks in the comments?
No. The piracy rule says do not bring it up or respond to it in any context, and violations get an irrevocable ban.
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