While most all of the software instruments that are included with Pro Tools are accessible, one big notable exception is Structure. Structure is Avid's software sampler, similar to Cakewalk's Dimension Pro. Unlike all other stock software instruments, Structure does not allow patch/program selection via the plug in preset selection system. This is mostly because Structure presets/patches are stored as individual files on disk, and Avid decided to let people select those through a type of file browser. I think that it would have been better if, like Dimension Pro, Structure would scan files below a specific directory/folder level, and would populate a browser that way. The current way offers more flexibility, I guess.
Of course, the native portion of a plug in's properties window can't be seen by VoiceOver. Still, I was hopeful that, if the mouse could be positioned and clicked at the right location, then an open file window, or some other accessible interface might appear. After lots of experimentation with a sighted helper, though, this doesn't seem to be the case. So, at least for now, Structure is out. Actually, the version that comes with Pro Tools is Structure Free. Avid also has Structure LE and the full version of Structure. The interfaces for each are different, though I suspect that accessibility will be blocked with them all. I plan to get the Music Production Toolkit 2, and Structure LE is included with it, so I'll have a chance to try it. I don't expect much difference, though. This isn't good. The synths that we can access, like the tone wheel organ sim, the electric and acoustic pianos sims, and the electronic drum machine, are very specialized sounds. XPand 2 is our only source of general purpose sounds. XPand 2 sounds like a late 90's synth module/rompler, perhaps a Roland XV. Modern synth type features, including instruments with many sample layers, round-robin sampling, and massively layered sounds, will require a sampler system like Structure. Any expansion possibilities will depend on a instrument like Structure, also, since XPand can't be expanded, regardless of what its name might suggest. For example, you can purchase several of the East-West libraries for Structure. Not sure what alternatives might improve this situation. Actually, I'm not sure that the situation can be improved until we can get access to native plug in UIs. At the moment, that just isn't possible. No matter what is done inside the actual plug in, because of work still to be performed in Pro Tools, the plug in's UI won't be visible to VoiceOver. Bryan
