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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!
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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