Pro Tools 2021 Essential Training: 101 - The Basics

Get up and running with Pro Tools. Learn all of the fundamentals you need to get started, from creating your first session to bouncing down a final mix.

Introduction

• Audio production with Pro Tools
• What you need to know
• Using the exercise files

1. Background Information

• Pro Tools history and evolution
• Audio basics: The characteristics of sound
• Transducers: How sound is converted to an electrical signal
• Converting audio to digital format: Sample rate
• Converting audio to digital format: Bit depth
• Pro Tools software configurations
• Pro Tools hardware options

2. Getting Started with Pro Tools

• Software installation
• Starting up a Pro Tools system
• The Pro Tools file structure
• The Pro Tools menu structure
• The main Pro Tools windows

3. Pro Tools Basic Controls

• Edit tool functions
• Functions of the Smart Tool
• Modifiers and shortcuts
• Edit mode behaviors
• Timescales and rulers
• MIDI control features

4. Creating Your First Session

• Using the dashboard
• Creating and configuring a Pro Tools file
• Working with tracks
• Understanding Folder Tracks
• Controlling playback
• Saving and closing Pro Tools files
• Locating and opening Pro Tools files
• Challenge: Creating a session
• Solution: Creating a session

5. Making Your First Audio Recording

• Verifying available space for recording
• Setting the session tempo
• Creating a click track
• Preparing to record
• Conducting an audio record pass
• Organizing after recording
• Challenge: Recording audio
• Solution: Recording audio

6. Importing and Working with Media

• Considerations for importing audio
• Using the import audio dialog box
• Importing audio with Workspace browsers
• Importing video
• Challenge: Importing media
• Solution: Importing media

7. Making Your First MIDI Recording

• MIDI in Pro Tools
• Using virtual instruments
• Conducting a MIDI record pass
• Viewing and editing MIDI data
• Challenge: Using virtual instruments
• Solution: Using virtual instruments

8. Selecting and Navigating

• Timeline selections versus edit selections
• Working with Edit Selections
• Navigating and selecting with precision
• Changing your track display
• Adding markers to your session
• Using markers for quick navigation
• Working with markers
• Challenge: Adding markers
• Solution: Adding markers

9. Editing Your Media

• Editing with Shuffle mode
• Editing on the grid
• Editing clips
• Fine-tuning your edits
• Creating fade effects
• Challenge: Editing audio
• Solution: Editing audio
• Undoing a mistake
• Beyond the Undo command
• Challenge: Arranging media
• Solution: Arranging media

10. Mixing and Finishing Your Project

• Basic mixer terminology
• Routing signals in the mix window
• Challenge: Using effects
• Solution: Using effects
• Using basic automation
• Editing breakpoint automation
• Backing up your session
• Considerations for bouncing audio
• Creating a stereo mixdown
• Challenge: Creating an automated mix
• Solution: Creating an automated mix

Conclusion

• Next steps