Pro Tools All-in-one for Dummies

A complete Pro Tools reference - from recording to mixing to mastering

Pro Tools has long been the recording industry's leading solution for capturing, mixing, and outputting audio. While it was once a tool known and used exclusively by engineers in pro studios, it is now readily available to anyone wishing to create their own recording. 

This updated edition of Pro Tools All-in-One For Dummies covers the features you’ll encounter in both Pro Tools | First as well as the versions designed for next-level recording. It guides you through the very basics of recording, capturing both live and digital instruments, how to sweeten your sound in mixing, and how to tweak and output your final master. Now get ready to make some beautiful sounds!

• Get up to speed with recording basics
• Pick the Pro Tools version that works for you
• Record acoustic audio
• Get to know MIDI
• Discover how to set compression and EQ
• Sweeten your final product with mastering
• Create a final file you can stream online

Assuming no past experience with audio recording, this book shares the basics of recording and how to capture both live and digital instruments using Pro Tools.

Jeff Strong is a musician and recording engineer, as well as the founder of Brain Shift Radio (www.brainshiftradio.com) and president of the Strong Institute. He has owned or worked in a recording studio since 1985 and has released dozens of CDs.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Book 1: Getting Started with Pro Tools 5

Chapter 1: Discovering What You Need 7

Eyeing the Big Picture 7

Piping the Music into Pro Tools 8

Meeting the Mixer 12

Managing the MIDI Controller 14

Recognizing the Recorder 15

Signing On to Signal Processors 22

Making Sense of Monitors 27

Mastering Media 30

Chapter 2: Configuring Your Computer 33

Using Pro Tools on a Mac 33

Using Pro Tools on a PC 39

Keeping Bugs at Bay: Good Habits to Get Into 46

Chapter 3: Choosing and Setting Up Your Hardware 49

Examining Audio Interface Specifications 50

Exploring Some Popular Audio Interfaces 51

Exploring Avid’s Eleven Rack 53

Connecting Your Audio Interface 57

Chapter 4: Examining Software Basics 59

Keeping Software Straight 59

Getting Set Up 61

Dealing with Sessions 68

Getting to Know Audio and MIDI Files 76

Book 2: Understanding Recording Basics 79

Chapter 1: Getting Connected: Setting Up Your Studio 81

Understanding Analog Connections 82

Delving In to Digital Connections 86

Working Efficiently in Your Studio 91

Optimizing Your Studio 94

Chapter 2: Understanding Signal Flow 105

Meeting the Many Mixer Types 105

Understanding Mixer Basics 109

Routing/Busing Signals 116

Deciphering Output Jacks 119

Making Life Easier with a Patch Bay 121

Chapter 3: Understanding the Pro Tools Windows 123

Tackling the Transport Window 123

Examining the Edit Window 132

Taking a look at track controls 133

Examining edit modes 136

Managing the Mix Window 148

Working with Window Configurations 160

Chapter 4: Importing and Exporting Files 169

Importing into a Session 169

Exporting from a Session 183

Managing Files 189

Book 3: Recording Live Audio and Acoustic Instruments 195

Chapter 1: Taking Care of Tracks 197

Understanding Tracks in Pro Tools 197

Setting Up Tracks 198

Altering Your View of Tracks 202

Grouping Tracks 207

Soloing and Muting 212

Managing Track Voices 213

Chapter 2: Understanding Microphones 217

Meeting the Many Microphone Types 218

Assessing Your Microphone Needs 229

Deciding How Many Microphones and What Kind 230

Finding the Right Mic for the Situation 235

Partnering Mics with Preamps 237

Considering Compressors 239

Looking at Preamp, Compressor, and Equalizer Combos 240

Analyzing Some Microphone Accessories 240

Caring for Your Microphones 242

Chapter 3: Miking: Getting a Great Source Sound 245

Tracing Typical Microphone Techniques 246

Taming Transients 258

Setting Up Your Mics: Some Suggestions 261

Chapter 4: Preparing to Record 285

Recognizing Record Modes 285

Dealing with Disk Allocation 288

Enabling Recording 289

Setting Levels 292

Setting a Record Range 294

Monitoring Your Tracks 295

Creating a Click Track 299

Chapter 5: Recording Audio 307

Recording Tracks 307

Playing Back Your Tracks 312

Doing Additional Takes 316

Getting Rid of Unwanted Takes 328

Book 4: Recording Electronic Instruments with Midi 331

Chapter 1: Understanding Electronic Instruments and MIDI 333

Meeting MIDI 334

Getting Started with MIDI 340

Chapter 2: Preparing to Record MIDI 349

Setting Up Your MIDI Devices 349

Getting Ready to Record 359

Chapter 3: Recording Electronic Instruments with MIDI 367

Recording MIDI Performances 367

Playing Back Your Tracks 371

Getting Rid of Unwanted Takes 374

Overdubbing MIDI Performances 376

Recording System-Exclusive Data 382

Book 5: Editing Your Performances (Audio And Midi) 385

Chapter 1: Audio Editing Basics 387

Understanding Pro Tools Editing 388

Getting to Know Clip Types 389

Viewing Clips 390

Understanding Edit Modes 398

Working (Okay, Playing) with Playlists 401

Using the Audio Clips List 404

Managing Undos 407

Chapter 2: Selecting Material to Edit 411

Selecting Track Material 411

Making a selection with the Tab to Transients function 418

Making Changes to Your Selection 419

Managing Memory Locations 424

Playing Selected Material 437

Chapter 3: Getting into Editing 441

Editing Clips 441

Examining Edit Commands 463

Exploring Elastic Audio 467

Chapter 4: Adding to Your Audio Editing Palette 471

Signing On to the Smart Tool 471

Perusing the Pencil Tool 475

Silencing Selections 477

Performing Fades and Crossfades 481

Cleaning Up Your Session 490

Chapter 5: Editing MIDI Data 495

Working with MIDI and Instrument Tracks 495

Dealing with Note Chasing 501

Editing MIDI in the Edit Window 501

Exploring MIDI Events 516

Chapter 6: Performing MIDI Operations 525

Getting Used to the MIDI Operations Window 526

Performing MIDI Event Operations 527

Recognizing MIDI Real-Time Properties 544

Book 6: Mixing 549

Chapter 1: Mixing Basics 551

Understanding Mixing 552

Managing Levels as You Work 553

Getting Started Mixing Your Song 553

Mixing In Pro Tools 554

Using the Stereo Field 557

Adjusting Levels: Enhancing the Emotion of the Song 560

Tuning Your Ears 562

Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Mix 567

Revisiting the Mix Window 567

Getting to Know Signal Flow 568

Rounding Out Your Routing 571

Accessing Output Windows 578

Playing with Plug-ins 581

Processing with External Effects 589

Chapter 3: Using Equalization 593

Exploring Equalization 593

Dialing In EQ 595

Equalizing Your Tracks 600

Chapter 4: Digging into Dynamics Processors 609

Connecting Dynamics Processors 609

Introducing Compressors 610

Looking into Limiters 619

Introducing Gates and Expanders 622

Detailing the De-Esser 625

Setting Up Side Chains 627

Chapter 5: Singling Out Signal Processors 631

Routing Your Effects 632

Rolling Out the Reverb 634

Detailing Delay 637

Creating Chorus Effects 639

Chapter 6: Automating Your Mix 641

Understanding Automation 642

Accessing Automation Modes 643

Setting Automation Preferences 645

Enabling Automation 646

Writing Automation 648

Viewing Automation 652

Drawing Automation 652

Thinning Automation 654

Editing Automation Data 655

Chapter 7: Making Your Mix 659

Submixing by Recording to Tracks 659

Mixing in-the-Box 661

Using an External Master Deck 664

Book 7: Mastering 667

Chapter 1: Mastering Basics 669

Demystifying Mastering 670

Getting Ready to Master 671

Paying a Pro, or Doing It Yourself 672

Hiring a Professional Mastering Engineer 673

Chapter 2: Mastering Your Music 677

Considering General Guidelines 678

Setting Up a Mastering Session 678

Optimizing Dynamics 680

Perfecting Tonal Balance 683

Balancing Levels 684

Mastering Your Mix 686

Sequencing Your Songs 689

Book 8: Getting Your Music to the Masses 691

Chapter 1: Putting Your Music on CD and Vinyl 693

Getting into CD Burning 694

Purchasing CD-Rs 695

Recording Your Music to CD-R 695

Making Multiple Copies 699

Pressing Vinyl 703

Promoting Your Music 704

Chapter 2: Getting Your Music on the Internet 707

Understanding Downloadable Music Files 708

Creating MP3 Files 712

Setting Up Your Own Music Website 714

Putting Your Music on a Music Host Site 716

Engaging in Social Media Networking 718

Offering Free Downloads 719

Selling Your Music Digitally 720

Licensing Your Music 721

Podcasting 722

Selling Your CDs 723

Promoting Your Music 723

Connecting with an Email Newsletter 724

Index 727

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