Introduction... xiii About This Book... xiii Course Prerequisites... xiv Course Organization and Sequence... xiv Conventions and Symbols Used in This Book... xv The Avid Learning Partner Program... xv How Can I Learn More?... xviii SECTION I Lessons and Exercises... 1 Lesson 1. Getting to Know Pro Tools... 3 What Is Pro Tools?... 4 Audio... 4 MIDI... 4 Notation... 4 Mixing... 4 Post Production... 5 The Story of Pro Tools... 5 In the Beginning... 5 Evolving into Digidesign... 6 The Birth of Pro Tools... 7 Pro Tools Matures... 7 Expansion of Avid Audio... 9 ICON Integrated Console Environment... 9 VENUE Live Sound Environment... 9 Pro Tools in This Decade... 10 Where We Are Today... 11 Basics of Digital Audio... 12 Basic Parameters of Sound: Waveform, Frequency, and Amplitude... 13 Recording and Playing Back Analog Audio... 13 Analog to Digital Conversion... 14 Recording in Digital Format... 15 Pro Tools System Configurations... 15 Software Options... 16 Host Based Systems Versus DSP Accelerated Systems... 16 Audio Interface Options (Non HD)... 16 Pro Tools HD Series Audio Interfaces... 19 Pro Tools Software Features... 20 Included Plug Ins and Extras... 20 Cross Platform Issues... 21 Keyboard Commands... 21 File Naming Conventions... 21 Review/Discussion Questions... 23
vi Pro Tools 101 Exercise 1. Pro Tools Hardware... 24 Lesson 2. Getting Inside Pro Tools... 27 Target Systems... 28 Pro Tools File Structure... 28 File Organization... 28 Session Components... 29 Starting Pro Tools... 30 Powering Up Your Hardware... 30 Using the PACE ilok System... 31 Launching Pro Tools... 31 Accessing Connected Audio Devices... 32 Optimizing Host Based Pro Tools Performance... 32 The Pro Tools Software Interface... 34 The Menu Structure... 34 Main Pro Tools Windows... 35 Tool Tips... 44 Edit Tool Functions... 45 Zoomer Tool... 45 Trim Tool... 45 Selector Tool... 46 Grabber Tool... 47 Scrubber Tool... 47 Pencil Tool... 47 Smart Tool... 48 Edit Modes... 48 Shuffle Mode... 49 Slip Mode... 49 Spot Mode... 49 Grid Mode... 49 Time Scales and Rulers... 49 Main Time Scale... 49 Sub Time Scale... 51 Ruler Display Options... 51 MIDI Control Features... 53 Wait for Note... 53 Metronome... 53 Countoff Controls... 53 MIDI Merge Mode... 53 Tempo Ruler Enable... 54 Meter Display... 54 Tempo Field... 54 Review/Discussion Questions... 55 Exercise 2. The Software Interface... 57
Contents vii Lesson 3. Creating Your First Session... 61 The Dashboard... 62 Creating and Configuring a Pro Tools Session... 62 Choosing Session Parameter Settings... 63 File Size Considerations... 64 Creating the Session... 65 Working with Tracks... 65 Adding Tracks... 65 Naming Tracks... 68 Deleting Tracks... 69 Adding Audio to Tracks... 69 The Playback Cursor and the Edit Cursor... 70 Playback Cursor... 70 Edit Cursor... 70 Setting the Playback Point... 70 Locating the Playback Cursor... 71 Scrolling Options... 71 Saving, Locating, and Opening Existing Sessions... 72 Saving a Session... 72 Locating and Opening a Session... 72 Review/Discussion Questions... 76 Exercise 3. Creating a Session... 77 Lesson 4. Making Your First Audio Recording... 81 Before Recording... 82 Audio Storage Requirements... 82 Disk Usage Window... 83 Preparing to Record... 83 Creating a Click Track (Optional)... 83 Checking Hardware Connections... 85 Record Enabling Tracks... 86 Setting Input Path, Level, and Pan... 86 Recording and Managing Audio... 88 Organizing after Recording... 89 Return to Playback Mode... 89 Organize Audio Files and Clips... 89 Removing Audio Clips and Deleting Audio Files... 91 Review/Discussion Questions... 95 Exercise 4. Recording Audio... 97 Lesson 5. Importing and Working with Media in a Session... 101 Considerations Prior to Import... 102 Bit Depth, Sample Rate, and File Format... 102 Configuration of Stereo Files... 103
viii Pro Tools 101 Importing Audio... 103 Import Audio Dialog Box... 103 Importing Audio with the Import Command... 105 Importing Audio with Workspace Browsers... 106 Batch Importing Audio... 108 Importing Audio from an Audio CD... 108 Importing Video... 109 Video Track Display... 109 Working with Video Tracks... 109 Review/Discussion Questions... 111 Exercise 5. Importing Audio... 112 Lesson 6. Making Your First MIDI Recording... 115 MIDI Basics... 116 MIDI in Pro Tools... 116 Creating MIDI Compatible Tracks... 117 Sample Based Operation versus Tick Based Operation... 117 Time Scale and Rulers for Working with MIDI... 118 Setting the Session Meter, Tempo, and Key Signature... 120 Setting the Session Meter... 120 Setting the Session Tempo... 120 Setting the Session Key Signature... 122 Preparing to Record MIDI... 123 Connecting a MIDI Device... 123 Checking MIDI Inputs/Outputs... 124 Record Enabling MIDI Compatible Tracks... 126 Setting Record Options... 126 Using Virtual Instruments... 127 Placing a Virtual Instrument on an Instrument Track... 128 Using Xpand!2... 129 Using Boom... 130 Using Structure Free... 132 Recording MIDI... 133 Viewing MIDI Data on MIDI Compatible Tracks... 134 MIDI Clips View... 134 MIDI Notes View... 135 Velocity View... 136 MIDI Editor Window Views... 136 Review/Discussion Questions... 138 Exercise 6. Recording MIDI... 140 Lesson 7. Selecting and Navigating... 145 Using the Universe View... 146 Resizing the Universe... 146 The Current View Indicator... 147 Moving and Scrolling from the Universe View... 147
Contents ix Types of Selection... 147 Timeline Selections... 147 Edit Selections... 150 Working with Selections... 151 Creating Separate Timeline Selections and Edit Selections... 151 Making Selections on Multiple Tracks... 152 Using the Tab Key... 154 Tabbing to Transient Points... 155 Adjusting the Session View... 156 Adjusting Track Size... 156 Changing the Track Order... 157 Using the Zoomer Tool... 159 Using Zoom Toggle... 160 Changing the Horizontal and Vertical Zoom... 160 Storing and Recalling Zoom Presets... 161 Adding Markers to Your Session... 161 About Memory Locations... 161 Creating a Marker... 162 The Memory Locations Window... 164 Recalling a Marker Location... 164 Deleting a Marker Location... 164 Creating a Selection Using Markers... 165 Review/Discussion Questions... 166 Exercise 7. Configuring the Session and Adding Memory Locations... 168 Lesson 8. Basic Editing Techniques... 171 Selecting Playback Options... 172 Scrolling... 172 Loop Playback... 172 Using the Edit Modes... 173 Shuffle Mode... 174 Slip Mode... 174 Spot Mode... 174 Grid Mode... 175 Snap To Grid... 175 Configuring the Grid... 176 Editing Clips... 177 Common Editing Commands... 177 Pro Tools Specific Editing Commands... 180 Moving and Trimming Clips... 182 Using the Grabber Tool... 182 Using the Trim Functions... 184 Using the Nudge Function... 186 Creating Fade Effects... 188 Fade Ins and Fade Outs... 188 Crossfades... 189
x Pro Tools 101 Fade Settings... 191 Undoing Your Work... 191 Using Multi Level Undo... 191 Using Restore Last Selection... 194 Using Revert to Saved... 194 Restoring from Session Backups... 195 Review/Discussion Questions... 196 Exercise 8. Editing Audio... 198 Lesson 9. Basic Mixing Techniques... 203 Basic Mixer Terminology... 204 Inputs... 204 Outputs... 204 Inserts... 204 Sends and Returns... 204 The Pro Tools Mix Window... 205 Configuring the Mix Window... 205 Basic Automation... 209 Recording Automation (Write Mode)... 210 Playing Back Automation (Read Mode)... 211 Turning Automation Off... 211 Viewing Automation Playlists... 211 Editing Breakpoint Automation... 212 Real Time Plug Ins... 213 Real Time Plug In Features... 213 Real Time Plug In Formats... 213 Plug Ins Provided with Pro Tools... 214 Review/Discussion Questions... 217 Exercise 9. Arranging Audio and Creating Shared Effects... 218 Lesson 10. Finishing Your Work... 223 Backing Up Your Session... 224 Saving a Session Copy... 224 Sharing a Session between Systems... 227 Creating a Stereo Mixdown... 227 Considerations for Bouncing Audio... 227 Bouncing to Tracks... 228 Bouncing to Disk... 230 Adding a Bounce File to Your itunes Library... 233 Burning Songs to CD from itunes... 234 Review/Discussion Questions... 236 Exercise 10. Recording Automation and Creating a Stereo Bounce... 237
Contents xi SECTION II Hands-On Projects... 241 Getting to Know the Projects... 242 Project 1... 242 Project 2... 242 Pro Tools System Requirements... 242 Hands On Project Media Files... 242 Disk Space Requirements for Project Sessions... 242 Download Instructions... 243 Project 1. Music Hands-On Project... 245 Powering Up... 246 Opening the Music Project... 246 Locate and Open the Session Template... 246 Orient the Session Windows... 248 Set the Preferences... 249 Connect Monitoring Devices... 250 Creating New Tracks... 251 Create and Name Tracks... 251 Save Your Session... 252 Working with MIDI Data... 252 Add a Virtual Instrument... 252 Create a MIDI Clip... 253 Add another Virtual Instrument... 255 Drag in a MIDI Clip... 255 Edit MIDI Performance... 256 Save Work in Progress... 258 Working with Audio Data... 258 Import an Audio File to a Track... 258 Import a Clip Group to a Track... 259 Insert Time... 260 Edit the Tracks... 261 Save Work in Progress... 262 Mixing in Pro Tools... 262 Add EQ... 262 Add Effects to the RadioVox Track... 263 Add Reverb... 264 Save Work in Progress... 266 Mix the Project... 266 Save Work in Progress... 267 Finishing Your Work... 267 Print the Score... 267 Add Maxim... 270 Add Dither... 271 Bounce the Song... 271 Archive Your Work... 272
xii Pro Tools 101 Project 2. Post Hands-On Project... 275 Powering Up... 276 Opening the Post Project... 276 Locate and Open the Session... 276 Orient the Session Windows... 278 Set the Preferences... 279 Connect Monitoring Devices... 280 Creating New Tracks... 280 Create and Name a Track... 281 Save Your Session... 281 Importing Media... 282 Import a Movie... 282 Import Files to the Clip List... 283 Import Files from the Workspace Browser... 284 Save Work in Progress... 285 Editing in Pro Tools... 285 Review the Project... 285 Add Sound Effects... 286 Change the Music... 289 Save Work in Progress... 289 Mixing in Pro Tools... 290 Remove the Hum... 290 Add Reverb... 291 Enhance the Knock... 293 Save Work in Progress... 295 Listen to the Automated Mix... 295 Finishing Your Work... 296 Bounce the Movie... 296 Archive Your Work... 297 Appendix A. Course Completion Information... 301 Locating an Avid Learning Partner... 301 Course Completion Exam... 302 Pro Tools 110 and Beyond... 302 Appendix B. Avid Pro Tools Plug-Ins... 305 Appendix C. AIR Creative Collection Plug-Ins... 307