Question | Answer |
Manual Tempo Mode | Show MIDI Control and Expanded Transport views, Manual Tempo mode allows only one tempo throughout the session. Tempo ruler must be inactive, at times referred as the Conductor Icon. |
Manual Tempo Mode | Allows you to change tempo by:
Typing values in the tempo display. (Drag mouse up or down on
BPM tempo display.
Tap Tempo - click in Tempo field, then Tap “T” key, or Tap on MIDI keyboard (Preference) |
Tempo Map Mode | Can use multiple tempos (tempo map).
• Conductor = Tempo Ruler Enable.
-No Manual Tempo controls; still displays tempo at cursor.
Inserting tempos:
• Control-click Tempo ruler, or Click the “+” button next to “Tempo” in the ruler view |
Tempo Map Mode: Tempo Operations | Event > Tempo Operations
• Allows gradual changes in tempo over time
• Constant, Linear, Parabolic, S‐Curve, Scale, and Stretch
• Insert and Cut Time |
Tempo Tap Mode: Tempo Editor | o Tools and Modes apply
o Cut, Copy and Paste
o Can Choose Tempo Marker Density |
Tempo Tap Mode: Meter | o A.k.a. Time Signature
o Double-click Meter icon, or
o Control-click in Meter ruler
o Click the “+” button next to “Meter” in the Time base view |
Tempo Tap Mode: Meter | Meter map is not affected by Conductor on/off
o Can use multiple meters
No complex meters
No compound click
o Change Meter: Event > Time Operations >Change Meter
• Allows for selection-based meter changes |
Identify Beat | Establishes a tempo/meter map for audio whose tempo is not known
Find the tempo of audio recorded
without click
Find the tempo of imported audio
Enable grid-based editing. |
Identify Beat: Procedure 1 | Highlight Conductor icon
Select audio phrase by ear
• Ignore initial Grid lines and Grid Mode
• Make sure selection accurately represents the length in bars and beats.
o Possibly loop the
selection to double check timing. |
Identify Beat: Procedure 2 | Event > Identify Beat
• CMD + I
Specify musical length in dialog
• Type in Start and End Locations
Inserts Bar|Beat Markers at ends of selection
• Pro Tools calculates tempo changes from the phrase. |
Audio is recorded and played back with what sample rate accuracy? | At 48 kHz, that’s a resolution of .02 ms. Timing resolution depends on sample rate. |
MIDI is recorded and played back with what tick accuracy? | At 960,000 ppqn and a tempo of 120 BPM, that’s a resolution of .0005 ms. Timing resolution depends on tempo |
Understanding Track Timebases: Tick-based | Data is locked to a specific Bar|Beat|Tick location
Always follows session tempo
When the tempo changes, data moves to a different sample location
Default mode for MIDI |
Understanding Track Timebases: Sample-based | All data is locked to a specific sample location
Unaffected by session tempo
Default mode for audio
Sample-based vs. Tick-based Operation |
Tick-based Audio | Region start times lock to Bar|Beat. Region duration does not change. |
Memory Locations Time Properties | Markers and Selections can use (Bar|Beat) or Sample-based reference |
TCE Trim Tool | TCE - (Time Compression Expansion):
Adjusts speed/tempo without adjusting pitch.
o Can trim to match audio to current tempo/meter map
o Preference > Processing
Create settings through AudioSuites |
Acid Files / Loops (.acd extension) | o Embedded tempo and key information.
o Software for creation:
Soundforge
Sony’s Acid Pro
Acid Xpress
o Pro Tools does not recognize key information |
Rex Files / Loops 1 | Audio Files embedded with rhythmic points:
Sliced at zero crossings.
Native to Recycle from Propellerheads
Extension named after Recycle EXport
• .rex supports mono
• .rx2 supports mono/stereo
Data Compressed format: no loss in quality |
Rex Files/ Loops 2 | Preferences for Importing Acid / Rex:
Preferences > Processing
• Import REX Files as Region Groups
Automatically Create Fades
• Drag and Drop from Desktop Conforms to Session
Tempo:
o No Files
o REX and ACID Files
o All Files |
Elastic Audio Basics | Provides track-based Real-Time and Rendered Time Compression and Expansion (TCE). |
Enabling Elastic Audio | o On Track
Real Time or
Rendered processing: Creates Rendered Files Folder |
Elastic Audio Basics: Plug-ins | Types:
Polyphonic
Rhythmic
Monophonic
Varispeed
X-Form
Preferences
Default Plug-in
Enable Elastic on New Audio Tracks |
DigiBase Browsers | o Audio Files Conform to Session Tempo Button
o Preferences
Drag and drop prefs
o Analysis
o Adjusting Event Sensitivity
Region > Elastic Properties |
Elastic Track Views: Analysis vs. Warp | • Analysis View:
o Lets you edit detected Event Markers.
• Warp View:
o Manually “warp” audio to adjust the timing of audio events. |
Elastic Audio Markers: Event Markers | Analysis View
Indicates detected audio events.
Use Pencil Tool to create and move
• OPT to delete
Grabber
• Move
• CNTRL to create.
• OPT to delete
Always Tabs, regardless of whether Tab to transient is off. |
Elastic Audio Markers: Warp | Anchor audio to specific points in timeline
Stretch or compress areas of audio relative to those fixed points.
To Create:
• Click with Pencil Tool OR,
• CNTRL click with Grabber Tool |
Elastic Audio Markers: Tempo Event-Generated | Are not editable in track, only in Tempo Editor
Indicates only where tempo adjustments have been applied.
If change track time-base from ticks to samples, these markers will convert to regular, editable Warp markers. |