Pro Tools 10 Essential Training

Illuminates the process of recording, editing, mixing, and mastering in Pro Tools, the industry-standard software for music and postproduction.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Exploring the different versions of Pro Tools
• Optimizing your computer before installing Pro Tools
• Troubleshooting
• Using the exercise files

1. Getting Started

• Installing and authorizing Pro Tools
• Connecting your Pro Tools system
• Powering up and powering down
• Choosing the Playback Engine and Hardware settings
• Optimizing Pro Tools' performance
• Utilizing Automatic Delay Compensation (ADC)
• Setting essential preferences
• Creating a Pro Tools session
• Identifying elements in a session folder
• Creating new tracks

2. Learning the Interface

• Exploring the Edit window
• Exploring the Mix window
• Exploring the Transport and Big Counter windows
• Using the Color palette and window arrangements
• Investigating the menus
• Understanding samples and ticks
• Viewing and manipulating tracks
• Selecting inputs, outputs, and busses
• Selecting an I/O settings file
• Understanding signal paths and gain stages
• Utilizing keyboard shortcuts and Keyboard Focus

3. Importing

• Using DigiBase and the Workspace browser
• Importing audio
• Importing MIDI
• Importing session data
• Importing tracks from a CD
• Importing video

4. Recording Audio

• Recording audio
• Playing back audio and Edit window scrolling
• Creating a click track
• Overdubbing and using the record modes
• Recording with playlists and Loop Record
• Punch recording and using the monitoring modes
• Dealing with latency and ADC
• Creating a group
• Adding effects while recording
• Creating a headphone (cue) mix
• Assigning disk allocation

5. Editing Audio

• Understanding nondestructive editing and region types
• Using the Selector and Grabber tools
• Using the Trim and Scrubber tools
• Using the Zoomer tool and zoom presets
• Using the Pencil tool
• Using the Smart tool
• Understanding the Edit modes
• Arranging clips
• Undoing an edit
• Utilizing fades and crossfades
• Building a comp track using playlists
• Locking and muting clips
• Special Edit window buttons
• Creating an audio loop
• Editing a voiceover
• Using Elastic Time and Elastic Pitch

6. Arranging a Session

• Working with clip groups
• Using time, tempo, meter, key, and chord
• Creating memory locations

7. Recording MIDI Data

• Setting up MIDI on a Mac
• Setting up MIDI on a PC
• Setting up MIDI in Pro Tools
• Recording MIDI data
• Recording multiple MIDI tracks with one virtual instrument
• Recording options for MIDI
• Using Step Input
• Making a drum loop with MIDI Merge
• Composing with virtual instruments

8. Editing MIDI

• Using the edit tools for editing MIDI data
• Editing MIDI data in the MIDI Editor
• Working with the MIDI Event List
• Editing MIDI data with Event Operations
• Quantizing MIDI tracks
• Creating and using Groove Templates
• Utilizing real-time properties
• Using MIDI Learn

9. Scoring

• Exploring the Score Editor
• Using the Score Editor
• Setting up a score
• Printing and exporting a score

10. Automation

• Writing and editing automation
• Drawing automation with the Pencil tool
• Editing automation with the Trim and Grabber tools
• Cutting, copying, pasting, and clearing automation
• Turning automation on and off
• Automating plug-ins and virtual instruments

11. Mixing and Mastering

• Setting up a session for mixing
• Setting up an effects loop
• Working with plug-ins
• Utilizing ADC while mixing
• Applying EQ
• Adding compression and limiting
• Using delay effects
• Applying AudioSuite plug-ins
• Adding reverb to your mix
• Bouncing down a mix
• Making an MP3 for iTunes and SoundCloud
• Setting up a session for mastering
• Mastering a session
• Bouncing down master recordings with Dither and Noise Shaping

12. Working with Video

• Importing and displaying video files
• Adding music, foley, ADR, and FX
• Bouncing down video and audio together

13. Archiving

• Archiving an entire session

Conclusion

• Further recommendations