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DAW Lecture 5 & 6
Pro Tools 9: Recording/MIDI 1 (Lectures 5 & 6)
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Voices in Pro Tools | • Voice – an audio event ‐ Playing audio ‐ Recording audio • A pathway to or from storage ‐ Playing audio ‐ Recording audio |
Voices in Pro Tools | Voice-able Track Limits: • 48 maximum simultaneous tracks available for recording OR playback. -Can not exceed 48 mono or stereo with combined record and playback. (Inactive audio tracks do not use voices) Pro Tools LE supports 128 inactive audio tra |
Voices in Pro Tools | Music Production Toolkit 2 & DV Toolkit 2 • 64 tracks of recording OR playback • Can either be mono or stereo |
The Recording Process: Steps 1-3 | 1. Do you have enough disk space? Window – Disk space 2. Name Audio Track: Recorded files take their names from tracks 3. Assign Inputs: To set the input on an audio track, click the track’s Input Selector and choose the correct Input Source. |
The Recording Process: Steps 4 -5 | 4. Verify System Input Routing: Make sure that the physical connections. Match the inputs that you assigned. 5. Record-enable an audio track: Once engaged, the fader will turn red, indicating that Pro Tools is ready to receive audio. |
The Recording Process: Steps 6-7 | 6. Set level: • Source signal (instrument or mic pre-amps) determines level of signal recorded. •Faders in Pro Tools do not change level going to hard drive! 7. Shortcuts for Record • CMD + Spacebar • NUM 3 or • F12 (may be assigned to OS command |
Recording Process: Metering | • Maximum digital level is called Full Scale; dBFS (or dB FS) means • • 0 dBFS = full scale • All numbers are negative, since there is nothing above full scale • Digital meters read down from “Full Scale” |
Recording Process: Levels | • Good practices and metering rules for recording ‐ Peak @ -6dBFS ‐ RMS - 20dBFS |
Recording Process: Pre-fader Metering | • Options > Pre-Fader Metering • Faders do not allow metering changes on input • Very useful for knowing exactly what levels are going to hard drive. |
Monitoring Options: Input Only Monitoring | (OPT + K) ‐ Track>Input Only Monitoring ‐ Monitors source input on record-enabled tracks ‐ Regions on record-enabled tracks are not heard, even during playback ‐ The green light by the record button is lit when this mode is enabled. |
Monitoring Options: Auto Input Monitoring | ‐ Monitors playback of record-enabled track until you are recording ‐ Monitors live input Link Record and Playback Faders ‐ Independent fader levels between recording and playback. ‐ Record fader controls monitoring level ‐ Setup>Preferences>Options |
OPT + K | Toggles between Input Only & Auto Input |
Dealing with Monitoring Latency | The delay between an input and the output through which it’s monitored. • Caused by buffering of audio at CPU • Creates an unwanted chorusing or echo sensation |
Hardware Buffer | Use lowest practical buffer size to lower monitoring latency. • Setup > Playback Engine |
Low Latency Monitoring | • 002/003 only: Minimizes monitoring latency ‐ Use when Hardware Buffer can’t be set low enough • Bypasses Inserts & Sends on record-enabled tracks and all Aux tracks ‐ Aux Inputs won’t bounce • Options>Low Latency Monitoring |
Zero Latency Monitoring | Mbox only: Loops input signal directly back to output Analog input only! (bypasses A/D/A conversion) Use when Hardware Buffer can’t be set low enough Mix knob controls ratio of input to Pro Tools playback Mute record-armed track to prevent echo |
Zero Latency Monitoring | A. K. A. “Direct Monitoring” |
Auto-Punch Recording | Default mode of punch-in/out • Selection-based recording ‐ Punch in/out at start/end of selection ‐ Timeline arrows turn red on record-enable • Use Pre-Roll and Post-Roll ‐ Set on Transport OR ‐ Option-click in track ‐ Drag orange flags in timebase |
Non-Destructive Record | Auto-Punch • Default Mode • All takes are kept • Punch In/Punch Out at cursor or selection (blue/red arrows) • Pre-/Post-Roll (orange flags) • Auto Input Monitor vs. Input Only Monitor |
Destructive Record | • Directly overwrites audio file - Just like tape! ‐ Replaces original data on disk ‐ Alters any regions that refer to that portion of the whole file region ‐ NO UNDO ‐ CAN CANCEL (Command-period) ‐ NO Revert to Saved ‐ Has no shortcut key |
QuickPunch | • Enables multiple punches in a single pass ‐ Up to 200 running punches ‐ Auto Punch only allows one punch 1. Record-arm track(s) 2. Start playback 3. Press Record to punch in 4. Press Record to punch out |
QuickPunch | Each record-armed track requires one extra voice-able track. Armed mono/st track uses two voice-able tracks in QP Optional crossfade at punches Setup>Preferences>Editing>QuickPunch X-fade length • Pedals can be used to punch in/out on 002/003 |
QuickPunch | Editing: CMD + Trim moves punch point. Instant monitor switching. |
Loop Recording | ‐ Creates new region on each pass ‐ One whole file contains all passes end-to-end ‐ Pre-roll is used only on first pass ‐ Selection must be at least one second long |
Matching Takes List | ‐ Pop-up list of alternative takes/loops ‐ CMD + Click w/Selector on region ‐ Cursor at beginning of loop region, or ‐ Region selected |
Matching Takes List | ‐ Can swap takes while playing ‐ Every Loop Record pass shares the same start time ‐ Start Time = User Time Stamp: time of recording saved within file! |
Matching Criteria | (CMD + Click on region in playlist) • A filter for alternate matches • Region Start and End ‐ Only regions that match region length ‐ Used mostly with “separate region on all related takes” |
Matching Start time Takes List Preferences | Setup>Preferences>Editing>Regions • Separate Region operates on all related takes ‐ Splitting displayed region (CMD+E or “B” Key) affects all loops |
Regions List Menu: Clear | Removes currently selected regions from Regions List to reduce clutter ‐ Remove: removes region(s) from session ‐ Delete: removes region(s)s from session and DELETES any selected whole files from disk; cannot Undo |
Deleting a Whole File Used by different regions in a track | Pro Tools can remove regions from the session playlist and the regions list, but will not delete the parent audio file. This acts like Removing a Source File, but without being completely destructive. |
Compact | – Deletes unused portions of an audio file to reclaim wasted disk space. ‐ Padding = “handles” for trimming or fades |
Export Region Definitions | ‐ Region definitions are written to the parent audio file. ‐ Export region definitions when you want to use specific regions in other sessions or programs. |
Export Regions As Files | ‐ Allows you to export selected audio regions as new audio files ‐ Can choose different resolutions and/or file formats. |
Time Stamp Selected | ‐ Re-defines start time of audio region. ‐ Often used in posting situations |
Up to how many MIDI tracks? Number of fixed ppqn? Display Resolution? | • Up to 256 MIDI tracks • 960,000 ppqn (fixed) ‐ Display resolution is 960 ppqn |
MIDI in ProTools (Basics) | • All MIDI messages are supported ‐ Can’t view or edit SysEx details ‐ Limited editing of Poly Pressure • MIDI is played during Bounce ‐ Can bounce MIDI tracks with audio in real time without recording them to audio tracks first |
MIDI Input | Choose the MIDI device from which Pro Tools will accept information ‐ All – any enabled MIDI input device Merges inputs, e.g. keyboard + fader bank ‐ Device/Channel – specific device to each track |
MIDI Output | Assign MIDI device and channel for playback of MIDI data on track |
Program Button | Opens Program Select dialog ‐ A.k.a Patch Select button/dialog |
Patch Select Dialog | Allows user to specify the bank and patch the assigned MIDI device will use |
MIDI Track Meter | -Shows MIDI velocity and other messages. -Shows presence of other messages, not values |
Track View | Choose which MIDI data to view |
Regions View | Move MIDI information in chunks ‐ Default view for new MIDI track ‐ Cannot move individual notes in this view ‐ Editing MIDI regions is a lot like editing audio Trim, Capture, Separate, Duplicate, Repeat... ‐ Automatically scales to show all notes |
Notes View | -Edit individual notes -Some DAWs call this the “Piano Roll” view |
Velocity View: Edit Note-on velocities | Edit Note-on velocities ‐ Drag Velocity “stalks” ‐ Can also edit Notes ‐ Cannot view or edit Note-off velocities here |
Controller View | ‐ Only common controllers are listed; others must be added Add/Remove Controller ‐ For editing only: Pro Tools can record and play back controllers even if they are hidden. |
Mute | property of track, not a MIDI message. All other data is contained within MIDI Regions. |
Cannot be viewed in track | - Poly Pressure - Note-off Velocity - SysEx data (blob only |
Track Height | • Single note display ‐ One note high, doesn’t scroll up/down ‐ Useful for drum parts |
MIDI Configuration: Setup | Setup MIDI MIDI Studio… • Mac: AMS (Audio MIDI Setup) ‐ Function of OS X • PC: MSS (MIDI Studio Setup) ‐ Function of Pro Tools |
MIDI Configuration: Patch Names | • MIDI Track Patch Select dialog Change ‐ .midnam extension • Mac Patch Name File location ‐ Library/Audio/MIDI/Patch Names/Digidesign • PC Patch Name File location ‐ Program Files\Common Files\Digidesign\Patch Names\Digidesign |
MIDI Editing: Regions List: | • Contains MIDI regions • Unlike audio regions, MIDI data is stored in session file |
MIDI Editing: Step Entry | Enter notes from MIDI controller Non-real time |
Is MIDI Editing usually Destructive? Y/N | Yes: Changes region without creating a new region • You can use Undo w/ Exceptions: |
Exceptions in Undoing Destructive MIDI Editing | ‐ More than one copy of the region is in use ‐ Middle of region is deleted in Regions view ‐ Middle of region is deleted in Notes view in Shuffle mode • If selected with Selector (see exceptions under Grabber) |
MIDI Editing: Selector’s behavior is __________. | Unchanged: Selections and edits are normally based on Note-on, not Note-off ‐ See exceptions under Grabber |
MIDI Editing: Grabber | • On regions – like audio regions • On notes: ‐ Move, transpose ‐ OPT-drag to copy ‐ Shift-click to add to selection ‐ Drag (“lasso”) ‐ Double Click to delete note |
MIDI Editing: Grabber | • Exceptional behaviors: ‐ Lasso grabs any note it touches, even Note-off ‐ Grabber selections don’t include time selection, only notes This will cause Shuffle mode to act like Slip |
Trim Tool | • Trims Note On/Off in Notes view • Trims controllers & velocity track views ‐ On controllers views its based on region boundary or selection where as, ‐ Velocity view is based on selection |
Can you trim a MIDI region longer than its original length? | • Unlike audio, you can trim a MIDI region longer than its original length ‐ Useful for maintaining “looping” edits (Duplicate, Repeat) |
Pencil Tool: On Note | ‐ In Middle of Note - Pencil defaults to Grabber ‐ Double Click to delete note ‐ Start and end of note – Trim Tool ‐ OPT click to erase |
Pencil Tool: Off Note | Defaults to drawing in new Notes ‐ OPT – Momentary Selector Tool ‐ CNTRL – Drag to Lasso |
Line Pencil | Series of notes based on Grid ‐ Custom Note Duration: Duration is separate from Grid resolution • Insert program change • Draw Velocity • Draw Controllers |
Pencil Tool Resolution | ‐ Spacing of drawn controllers ‐ Setup > Preferences > MIDI ‐ Small value requires more MIDI bandwidth Especially important: ‐ When working with external MIDI using standard MIDI cables with… ‐ High density MIDI information |
Zoomer | • Marquee Zoom – CMD-drag Zoomer to zoom selected notes horizontally and vertically • Independent MIDI and Audio Zoom o CNTRL - drag vertically to zoom notes/audio vertically on one track Horizontal - to zoom notes/audio horizontal on one track |
Merge Paste | ‐ Adds copied notes to existing data |
Grid/Groove Quantize | ‐ Conforms timing of MIDI/Audio/Elastic events to a defined grid for improved timing or for a particular rhythmic feel ‐ Quantize acts on selection |
What can we quantize in Groove/Grid? | Timing Duration Velocity |
Input Quantize | ‐ Same as Grid/Groove Quantize except… ‐ Don’t forget to Enable Input Quantize |
Groove: grid derived from a “live” performance? | Less Mechanical Template can be extracted by Beat Detective Presets User-defined |
Restore Performance | ‐ Reverts all selected MIDI notes to their original state ‐ Attributes to restore Timing (Quantization) Duration Velocity Pitch ‐ Can be used to remove Input Quantize ‐ Not affected by saving your session |
Flatten Performance | ‐ Locks the current state of selected notes ‐ Creates a new “restore to” state for specified note attributes |
Select/Split Notes | ‐ Filters notes from selection ‐ Chord notes must be within 5 ticks ‐ Addition of specific criteria based on note length, place in time and velocity value ‐ Example using Pitch Criteria |
Select/Split Notes | ‐ Option to “Split” anything in the selection criteria ‐ Split = Select + Cut/Copy + new track (opt.) |
REX | Recycle Export |
X-Form | Time Stretching; like elastic audio |