9780201795349

Pro Tools is the industry standard for recording and editing digital audio. Its elegant interface and powerful editing features make it the most widely used digital audio software by professional recording producers, musicians, home studio professionals, and quality-minded hobbyists worldwide.Using the easy-to-follow visual format of the Visual QuickStart Guide,Pro Tools 5 for Macintosh and Windowswill show readers how to make multitrack audio recordings using Digidesign's Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools Free software. The body of the book will offer concise, step-by-step instructions on how to use Pro Tools' main functions, including recording, editing, mixing, and effects processing. It will also introduce and explain the basics of automation, MIDI sequencing, and file management in Pro Tools. It will also show readers how to setup and use several Digidesign hardware systems, including the Digi 001, Mbox, and Audiomedia III.

Internationally acclaimed songwriter, musician, and producer Steven Roback has recorded more than a dozen albums since 1982 with his bands and as a solo artist. As co-founder of the influential Los Angeles band Rain Parade, Steven helped create an impressive catalog of neo-psychedelic songs that critics have called among the most important from any era. Later, his self-produced albums under the name Viva Saturn received accolades for hook-filled pop songwriting and hypnotically textured production. Today, Steven continues to record as a solo artist and soundtrack contributor. He also produces other artists and has received high praise for his work on several recent albums. Steven writes about audio recording and related topics for books and magazines. For more information, see www.rainparade.com.

Introduction

xi

Part I: Getting Started with Pro Tools LE

1

(50)

Setting Up Your Pro Tools LE System

3

(6)

Understanding Pro Tools LE Systems

4

(1)

System Requirements

5

(2)

Installing System Hardware

7

(1)

Installing Pro Tools LE Software

8

(1)

Software Basics

9

(14)

Understanding Sessions

10

(7)

Configuring Your System

17

(6)

The Mix and Edit Windows

23

(28)

The Mix Window

24

(15)

The Edit Window

39

(12)

Part II: Recording in Pro Tools

51

(94)

Starting a New Session

53

(20)

Creating a New Session

54

(7)

Creating an I/O Setup

61

(7)

Creating Custom Session Templates

68

(3)

Sharing Sessions Between Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools TDM

71

(2)

Working with Tracks

73

(16)

About Track Types

74

(1)

Creating New Tracks

75

(1)

Naming Tracks

76

(1)

Assigning Audio Track Inputs and Outputs

77

(3)

Viewing Tracks

80

(3)

Using Track Controls

83

(2)

Grouping Tracks

85

(4)

Getting Ready to Record

89

(18)

Setting Record Modes

90

(2)

Record-Enabling Tracks

92

(4)

Setting Audio Input Levels

96

(3)

Monitoring Audio

99

(2)

Minimizing Monitor Latency

101

(2)

Allocating Hard Drives

103

(1)

Allocating Hard Drive Space

104

(1)

Recording to a Click Track

105

(2)

Recording and Playing Back Audio

107

(20)

The Transport Window

108

(3)

Recording Audio Tracks

111

(3)

Punch-Recording Audio

114

(2)

Using QuickPunch

116

(2)

Loop-Recording Audio

118

(1)

Auditioning Takes

119

(2)

Recording to Playlists

121

(1)

Recording from a Digital Source

122

(1)

Playing Audio Tracks

123

(4)

Managing Audio Files

127

(18)

Locating Audio Files

128

(2)

Importing Audio

130

(4)

Setting Sample Rate Conversion Quality

134

(1)

Importing Tracks

135

(3)

Exporting Audio

138

(2)

Compacting and Deleting Audio Files

140

(3)

Transferring Audio from CD (Macintosh Only)

143

(1)

Backing Up Your Files

144

(1)

Part III: Editing Audio

145

(84)

Editing Basics

147

(30)

Editing Audio in Pro Tools

148

(1)

Understanding Regions

149

(2)

Viewing Regions

151

(6)

Working with Playlists

157

(2)

Using the Audio Regions List

159

(5)

Using Multiple Undo

164

(1)

Setting Edit Modes

165

(2)

Using Rulers

167

(2)

Using Memory Locations

169

(8)

Working with Regions

177

(36)

About Selections

178

(2)

Selecting Regions

180

(2)

Changing a Selection's Length

182

(1)

Nudging Selections

183

(1)

Extending a Selection

184

(2)

Using Selection Indicators

186

(1)

Tabbing to Transients

187

(1)

Making Timeline Selections

188

(1)

Creating New Regions

189

(3)

Placing Regions in Tracks

192

(2)

Aligning Regions

194

(2)

Identifying Sync Points

196

(2)

Trimming Regions

198

(3)

Nudging Regions

201

(2)

Using Edit Commands

203

(3)

Duplicating and Repeating Regions

206

(2)

Shifting Regions

208

(1)

Quantizing Regions

209

(1)

Locking Regions

210

(1)

Muting/Unmuting Regions

211

(2)

Advanced Editing

213

(16)

Creating Fades and Crossfades

214

(10)

Creating Fades and Crossfades in Batches

224

(1)

Repairing Waveforms with the Pencil Tool

225

(1)

Stripping Silence from Regions

226

(2)

Inserting Silence

228

(1)

Part IV: Mixing Audio

229

(80)

Mixing Basics

231

(22)

Creating Stereo Mixes

232

(7)

Understanding Audio Signal Flow

239

(3)

Assigning Inputs and Outputs

242

(1)

About Inserts

243

(2)

Assigning Sends

245

(2)

Using Output Windows

247

(3)

Creating Submixes

250

(3)

Adding Effects to a Mix

253

(32)

What Is a DSP Plug-in?

254

(1)

About Plug-ins as Inserts

255

(2)

Inserting Plug-ins on Tracks

257

(1)

Using Plug-in Windows

258

(4)

Bypassing Plug-ins

262

(1)

Adjusting Plug-in Parameters

263

(2)

What Is EQ?

265

(2)

Using EQ

267

(1)

Using Dynamic Effects

268

(3)

Using Key Inputs for Side-Chain Processing

271

(1)

Creating Effects Loops

272

(2)

Using Delay Effects

274

(3)

What Is Reverb?

277

(1)

Using Reverb

278

(2)

Using External Hardware Effects

280

(2)

Using AudioSuite Plug-ins

282

(2)

Improving RTAS Plug-in Performance

284

(1)

Automating a Mix

285

(14)

About Automation Modes

286

(1)

Enabling Automation

287

(2)

Writing Automation

289

(2)

Viewing Automation

291

(1)

Automating Sends

292

(1)

Automating Plug-ins

293

(1)

Editing Automation

294

(3)

Thinning Automation

297

(2)

Mixdown and Mastering

299

(10)

Bouncing to Disk

300

(3)

Setting Bounce Options

303

(3)

Mastering Basics

306

(3)

Part V: MIDI Sequencing

309

(46)

Recording MIDI

311

(24)

What Is MIDI?

312

(2)

The Difference Between MIDI and Audio

314

(1)

MIDI in Pro Tools

315

(2)

OMS and MIDI Setup

317

(1)

Selecting MIDI Inputs

318

(2)

Sending MIDI out of Pro Tools

320

(1)

Recording MIDI

321

(2)

Recording Multiple MIDI Tracks

323

(2)

Punch-Recording MIDI

325

(2)

Loop-Recording MIDI

327

(3)

Sysex Data and Pro Tools

330

(2)

Working with MIDI Files

332

(3)

Editing MIDI

335

(20)

MIDI Regions

336

(2)

Views for Editing MIDI

338

(2)

MIDI Playlists

340

(1)

Entering and Deleting MIDI Notes Manually

341

(2)

Editing MIDI Notes Manually

343

(1)

Editing MIDI Velocity

344

(3)

Editing MIDI Controller Data

347

(3)

Using Pro Tools MIDI Operations

350

(2)

The MIDI Event List

352

(3)

Part VI: Getting The Most From Pro Tools

355

(16)

Optimizing Performance

357

(14)

Managing CPU Power

358

(6)

Using Plug-ins Efficiently

364

(2)

Using Hard Drives Efficiently

366

(5)

Appendix A: Connecting Your Studio

371

(20)

Connecting Your Studio to the Digi 001, Mbox, or Audiomedia III

372

(3)

Connecting Audio Sources to Digi 001

375

(5)

Connecting Audio Sources to Mbox

380

(3)

Connecting Audio Sources to Audiomedia III

383

(1)

Connecting Audio Monitors

384

(3)

Connecting MIDI Devices

387

(1)

Connecting External Hardware Effects

388

(3)

Appendix B: Setting Preferences

391

(12)

The Preferences Dialog Box

391

(1)

Display Preferences

392

(2)

Operation Preferences

394

(2)

Editing Preferences

396

(2)

Automation Preferences

398

(2)

Processing Preferences

400

(1)

Compatibility Preferences

401

(1)

MIDI Preferences

402

(1)

Glossary

403

(8)

Index

411

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Pro Tools 5 for Macintosh and Windows Visual QuickStart Guide

Pro Tools 5 for Macintosh and Windows Visual QuickStart Guide

0201795345

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials