Table Of Content

Version 12.8 Pro Tools 110 ® Pro Tools Fundamentals II — Version 12.8 Avid Learning Series Frank D. Cook User Certification PT110_12.8_Cover_0175-31308-01.indd 1 9/18/17 8:20 AM PRO TOOLS 110 Pro Tools Fundamentals II For Pro Tools 12.8 Software Frank D. Cook Avid Learning Partner Program PRO TOOLS 12 Copyright and Disclaimer Copyright © 2017 NextPoint Training, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photographing, photocopying, or recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of NextPoint Training, Inc. The media provided with this book, and any accompanying course material, is to be used only to complete the exercises contained herein. No rights are granted to use the footage/sound materials in any commercial or non-commercial production or video. All product features and specifications are subject to change without notice. Trademarks Avid, Digidesign, Pro Tools, VENUE, Media Composer, Sibelius, and all related product names and logos are registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Acknowledgements Avid Worldwide Training would like to thank all Avid Certified Instructors for their ongoing suggestions and comments, based on their experience in the classroom and their professional expertise, which have resulted in the continued improvement of Avid courseware. PT110, Version 12.8 PN: 9320-65299-01 ISBN-13: 978-1-943446-49-0 pd 9/15/2017 110v12.8-Book.doc The sale of this book without its cover is unauthorized. If you purchase this book without a cover, you should be aware that it was reported to the publisher as “unsold and destroyed.” Neither the author nor the publisher has received payment for the sale of this “stripped” book. About the Author This book and the associated coursework was developed by Frank D. Cook, as the second in a series of courses designed to prepare students fro Pro Tools Certification under the Avid Learning Partner program. Frank is a musician, educator, and longtime Pro Tools user. The owner of Insource Writing Solutions and NextPoint Training, Inc., Frank has worked in the technical publications and education industries for more than 20 years. As a writer, editor, technical publications manager, and business owner, Frank has authored and contributed to hundreds of guides, manuals, reports, textbooks, and other publications for clients in a wide variety of industries. Frank has been a consultant for Digidesign/Avid for over twelve years. During this time, he has helped define Avid’s training strategy and has developed extensive curriculum for Avid’s official training and certification programs. Frank also teaches Pro Tools courses as an adjunct professor at Sacramento City College and American River College in Sacramento, California, and is an Avid Master Instructor. Other course books by Frank D. Cook include: n Audio Production Basics with Pro Tools | First, with co-author Eric Kuehnl n Pro Tools 101: Pro Tools Fundamentals I n Pro Tools 201: Pro Tools Production I n Pro Tools 210M: Pro Tools Production II (Music Production) n Pro Tools 310M: Advanced Music Production Techniques About NextPoint Training NextPoint Training, Inc. provides advanced training, software tools, and learning resources for educators and students studying Pro Tools and other media applications. Our products include audio textbooks (such as Audio Production Basics with Pro Tools | First) and the Elements|ED learning platform (ElementsED.com). On the Elements|ED site, students and educators can find material to supplement this and other textbooks. Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................ xi About this Book ................................................................................................................................................. xi Online Resources for this Course ................................................................................................................ xi Course Videos ............................................................................................................................................ xii Practice Quizzes ........................................................................................................................................ xii Course Prerequisites ....................................................................................................................................... xii Avid Audio Training Paths ........................................................................................................................... xiii Conventions and Symbols Used in this Book ....................................................................................... xiii Cross-Platform Issues ..................................................................................................................................... xv Lesson 1. Getting Started ....................................................................................................... 1 About This Course ............................................................................................................................................. 2 Requirements for Exercises .................................................................................................................... 2 Software and Hardware ............................................................................................................................ 2 Starting Work in Pro Tools ............................................................................................................................. 2 Accessing Existing Sessions and Projects ......................................................................................... 2 Configuring the Playback Engine ......................................................................................................... 4 Configuring Pro Tools Hardware Settings ........................................................................................ 6 Configuring I/O Settings .......................................................................................................................... 8 Opening a Session or Project and Adding Tracks ............................................................................... 14 Opening a Recently Used Pro Tools Document ........................................................................... 14 Adding Tracks as You Work ................................................................................................................. 14 Configuring Track Routing ..................................................................................................................... 15 Edit and Mix Window Display Options .................................................................................................... 16 Changing the Display of the Mix and Edit Windows ................................................................... 16 Using the I/O View ................................................................................................................................... 18 Using the Comments View .................................................................................................................... 18 Using Collaboration Tools (Project Documents Only) ............................................................... 19 Track List Display Options ........................................................................................................................... 20 Showing and Hiding Tracks ................................................................................................................. 20 Using the Track List Pop-Up Menu ..................................................................................................... 21 Review/Discussion Questions ..................................................................................................................... 22 Exercise 1. Setting Up a Session ........................................................................................ 24 Lesson 2. Managing Session Data and Media Files .......................................................... 31 Pro Tools Software Capabilities ................................................................................................................. 32 Basic Specifications ................................................................................................................................. 32 Pro Tools HD Software ........................................................................................................................... 32 Working with Digital Video .......................................................................................................................... 32 Setting Up Video Tracks ....................................................................................................................... 33 Video Playback on a Secondary Monitor ........................................................................................ 33 vi PT110: Pro Tools Fundamentals II Using Workspace Browsers ......................................................................................................................... 34 Browser Features ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Workspace Browser Overview ........................................................................................................... 34 Workspace Browser Functionality .................................................................................................... 35 Waveform Display .................................................................................................................................... 35 Auditioning Audio Files ......................................................................................................................... 36 Using Soundbase ............................................................................................................................................. 38 Searching for Files with Soundbase .................................................................................................. 38 Searching Using Tags ............................................................................................................................. 39 Importing Files and Session Data .............................................................................................................. 40 Considerations for Importing Files .................................................................................................... 40 Importing Files Using a Workspace Browser ................................................................................. 41 Importing Files Using the Import Commands ............................................................................... 45 Importing Tracks and Other Session Data ..................................................................................... 47 Batch Importing Files ............................................................................................................................. 49 Working with Clip Groups ............................................................................................................................ 49 Creating Clip Groups ............................................................................................................................... 50 Clip Group Icons ....................................................................................................................................... 52 Ungrouping Clips ...................................................................................................................................... 52 Regrouping Clips ...................................................................................................................................... 53 Clip Groups in the Clip List ................................................................................................................... 53 Review/Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 54 Exercise 2. Working with Media Files ............................................................................... 56 Lesson 3. Recording MIDI and Audio ................................................................................ 63 Setting Up the Session .................................................................................................................................. 64 Displaying Conductor Rulers ............................................................................................................... 64 Adding Meter and Tempo Events ...................................................................................................... 64 Creating a Linear Tempo Change ...................................................................................................... 67 Recording with a Click ........................................................................................................................... 68 Recording Selections ..................................................................................................................................... 70 Creating a Selection ................................................................................................................................ 70 Using Pre- and Post-Roll ....................................................................................................................... 75 Loop Recording Audio and MIDI ............................................................................................................... 77 Loop Recording Differences: Audio Versus MIDI ........................................................................ 78 Capturing Loop Record Takes ............................................................................................................ 78 Auditioning Loop Record Takes ................................................................................................................ 79 Setting the Match Criteria ..................................................................................................................... 79 Selecting Alternate Takes ..................................................................................................................... 80 Recording MIDI Using Loop Playback with MIDI Merge .................................................................... 81 Review/Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 82 Exercise 3. MIDI Recording ................................................................................................... 83 Contents vii Lesson 4. Working with MIDI & Virtual Instruments ....................................................... 89 Understanding Track Timebases ............................................................................................................... 90 Sample-Based Operation Versus Tick-Based Operation ......................................................... 90 Track Timebases ........................................................................................................................................ 91 Tick-Based Timing and Note Values ................................................................................................ 92 Virtual Instruments ......................................................................................................................................... 92 Using Plug-In Virtual Instruments ...................................................................................................... 93 Rendering Virtual Instruments ............................................................................................................ 93 MIDI-Compatible Tracks and Track Views ............................................................................................. 95 Viewing MIDI Data in the Edit Window ........................................................................................... 95 MIDI-Compatible Tracks in the Pro Tools Mix Window ............................................................ 97 Auditioning and Playing Back MIDI .......................................................................................................... 98 MIDI Thru Option ...................................................................................................................................... 98 Default Thru Instrument Option ......................................................................................................... 99 MIDI Thru Setting versus Default Thru Instrument Setting ................................................... 100 Editing MIDI Data ........................................................................................................................................... 100 Editing MIDI Clips ................................................................................................................................... 100 Editing MIDI Notes with the Pencil Tool ......................................................................................... 101 Editing Existing MIDI Notes ............................................................................................................... 104 Deleting MIDI Notes ............................................................................................................................... 107 Review/Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 108 Exercise 4. Using Virtual Instruments .................................................................................. 110 Lesson 5. Working with Elastic Audio ............................................................................. 115 Elastic Audio Basics ....................................................................................................................................... 116 Enabling Elastic Audio on a Track ..................................................................................................... 116 Auto-Enabling Elastic Audio for New Tracks ................................................................................ 118 Understanding Elastic Audio Analysis ............................................................................................. 119 Conforming Clips to the Session Tempo Map ................................................................................ 119 Warp Indicators ....................................................................................................................................... 120 Removing Clip Warping ....................................................................................................................... 120 Elastic Audio Track Views ............................................................................................................................ 121 Elastic Audio Markers ............................................................................................................................. 121 Warping Sound with Elastic Audio ........................................................................................................... 123 Using Warp View ..................................................................................................................................... 123 Types of Manual Warping .................................................................................................................... 124 Using Elastic Audio to Tighten a Rhythmic Performance .............................................................. 127 How Quantizing Affects Elastic Audio Events ............................................................................ 127 Improving the Quantization Results ................................................................................................ 128 Using Elastic Audio to Experiment with Tempo ................................................................................ 128 Applying Tick-Based Timing to Elastic Audio-Enabled Tracks ............................................ 128 Applying Tempo Changes ................................................................................................................... 129 viii PT110: Pro Tools Fundamentals II Improving the Quality of Warped Audio ............................................................................................... 129 Editing Event Markers in Analysis View ........................................................................................ 130 Adjusting Event Sensitivity .................................................................................................................. 131 Using X-Form ............................................................................................................................................ 133 Using Elastic Audio for Pitch Changes ................................................................................................... 133 Pitch Shifting with the Elastic Properties Window .................................................................... 133 Pitch Shifting with the Transpose Window ................................................................................... 134 Changing and Undoing Pitch Transposition ................................................................................. 135 Review/Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 136 Exercise 5. Using Elastic Audio for Dialog .......................................................................... 138 Lesson 6. Editing and Fine-Tuning a Performance ....................................................... 143 Using the Smart Tool ................................................................................................................................... 144 Activating the Primary Smart Tool Functions ............................................................................ 144 Creating Fades Using the Smart Tool ............................................................................................. 145 Smart Tool Fade Settings .................................................................................................................... 145 Working with Fades ..................................................................................................................................... 146 Using the Fades Dialog Boxes .......................................................................................................... 146 Editing Existing Fades ............................................................................................................................ 151 Creating Rhythmic Changes for Audio and MIDI Data .................................................................... 154 Using Input Quantize ............................................................................................................................. 154 Quantizing Existing Material ............................................................................................................... 155 Adjusting the Groove and Feel .......................................................................................................... 157 MIDI Real-Time Properties .......................................................................................................................... 159 Using the Real-Time Properties View .............................................................................................. 159 Using the Real-Time Properties Floating Window ..................................................................... 159 Enabling Real-Time Properties ......................................................................................................... 160 Quantizing with Real-Time Properties ............................................................................................. 161 Review/Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 163 Exercise 6. MIDI Real-Time Properties ................................................................................ 164 Lesson 7. Additional Editing and Media Management ................................................. 169 Clip Looping .................................................................................................................................................... 170 Working with Clip Loops ..................................................................................................................... 170 Creating Clip Loops ................................................................................................................................. 171 Modifying Clip Loop Settings ............................................................................................................. 172 Editing Clip Loops ................................................................................................................................... 172 Considerations for Working with Clip Loops ............................................................................... 174 Unlooping Clips ........................................................................................................................................ 175 Editing Techniques ........................................................................................................................................ 175 Working with the Grid ........................................................................................................................... 175 Using Layered Editing ........................................................................................................................... 177 AudioSuite Overview .................................................................................................................................... 178 AudioSuite versus Insert Processing ............................................................................................... 178 AudioSuite Features ............................................................................................................................... 178 Using AudioSuite Plug-Ins ................................................................................................................... 179 Contents ix Working with the Clip List .......................................................................................................................... 185 Finding a Clip in the Clip List .............................................................................................................. 186 Cleaning Up the Clip List ...................................................................................................................... 188 Exporting Selections .............................................................................................................................. 192 Review/Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 195 Exercise 7. Working with Clip Loops and Editing on the Grid .................................... 197 Lesson 8. Basic Mixing and Signal Flow ......................................................................... 203 Track Colors, Icons, and Status Indicators ......................................................................................... 204 Track Color Coding .............................................................................................................................. 204 Track Type Icons .................................................................................................................................... 205 Track Status Indicators ....................................................................................................................... 206 Using Inserts for Effects Processing ...................................................................................................... 207 Inserts on Audio Tracks and Aux Inputs ....................................................................................... 207 Inserts on Master Faders ..................................................................................................................... 207 Plug-In Inserts .......................................................................................................................................... 207 Hardware Inserts .................................................................................................................................... 208 Using Sends and Returns for Effects Processing ............................................................................. 209 Creating a Send ..................................................................................................................................... 209 Setting the Send Level .......................................................................................................................... 210 Changing the Default Send Level Preference .............................................................................. 210 Send Display Options ............................................................................................................................. 211 Creating a Return .................................................................................................................................... 212 Working with Sends ...................................................................................................................................... 215 Using the Send Window ....................................................................................................................... 215 Moving and Copying Sends ................................................................................................................ 218 Changing and Removing Sends ........................................................................................................ 219 Using Native Plug-Ins .................................................................................................................................... 219 Using Gain-Based Processors ............................................................................................................ 219 Using Time-Based Processors ............................................................................................................ 219 Using the Plug-In Window .................................................................................................................. 220 Master Fader Tracks ...................................................................................................................................... 221 Uses of Master Faders .......................................................................................................................... 222 Creating Master Faders ....................................................................................................................... 222 Review/Discussion ........................................................................................................................................ 223 Exercise 8. Adding Music and Effects Processing ........................................................ 225 Lesson 9. Writing and Editing Automation .................................................................... 231 Understanding Automation ....................................................................................................................... 232 Groups and Automation ...................................................................................................................... 232 Automation Playlists ............................................................................................................................. 232 Working with Automation ......................................................................................................................... 233 Automation Modes ................................................................................................................................ 233 Enabling and Suspending Automation .......................................................................................... 234 Writing Automation Selectively ....................................................................................................... 235