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 |