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Book Description

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.

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Foolish Assumptions
    3. Icons Used in This Book
    4. Beyond the Book
    5. Where to Go from Here
  3. Book 1: Getting Started with Pro Tools
    1. Chapter 1: Discovering What You Need
      1. Eyeing the Big Picture
      2. Piping the Music into Pro Tools
      3. Meeting the Mixer
      4. Managing the MIDI Controller
      5. Recognizing the Recorder
      6. Signing On to Signal Processors
      7. Making Sense of Monitors
      8. Mastering Media
    2. Chapter 2: Configuring Your Computer
      1. Using Pro Tools on a Mac
      2. Using Pro Tools on a PC
      3. Keeping Bugs at Bay: Good Habits to Get Into
    3. Chapter 3: Choosing and Setting Up Your Hardware
      1. Examining Audio Interface Specifications
      2. Exploring Some Popular Audio Interfaces
      3. Exploring Avid’s Eleven Rack
      4. Connecting Your Audio Interface
    4. Chapter 4: Examining Software Basics
      1. Keeping Software Straight
      2. Getting Set Up
      3. Dealing with Sessions
      4. Getting to Know Audio and MIDI Files
  4. Book 2: Understanding Recording Basics
    1. Chapter 1: Getting Connected: Setting Up Your Studio
      1. Understanding Analog Connections
      2. Delving In to Digital Connections
      3. Working Efficiently in Your Studio
      4. Optimizing Your Studio
    2. Chapter 2: Understanding Signal Flow
      1. Meeting the Many Mixer Types
      2. Understanding Mixer Basics
      3. Routing/Busing Signals
      4. Deciphering Output Jacks
      5. Making Life Easier with a Patch Bay
    3. Chapter 3: Understanding the Pro Tools Windows
      1. Tackling the Transport Window
      2. Examining the Edit Window
      3. Managing the Mix Window
      4. Working with Window Configurations
    4. Chapter 4: Importing and Exporting Files
      1. Importing into a Session
      2. Exporting from a Session
      3. Managing Files
  5. Book 3: Recording Live Audio and Acoustic Instruments
    1. Chapter 1: Taking Care of Tracks
      1. Understanding Tracks in Pro Tools
      2. Setting Up Tracks
      3. Altering Your View of Tracks
      4. Grouping Tracks
      5. Soloing and Muting
      6. Managing Track Voices
    2. Chapter 2: Understanding Microphones
      1. Meeting the Many Microphone Types
      2. Assessing Your Microphone Needs
      3. Deciding How Many Microphones and What Kind
      4. Finding the Right Mic for the Situation
      5. Partnering Mics with Preamps
      6. Considering Compressors
      7. Looking at Preamp, Compressor, and Equalizer Combos
      8. Analyzing Some Microphone Accessories
      9. Caring for Your Microphones
    3. Chapter 3: Miking: Getting a Great Source Sound
      1. Tracing Typical Microphone Techniques
      2. Taming Transients
      3. Setting Up Your Mics: Some Suggestions
    4. Chapter 4: Preparing to Record
      1. Recognizing Record Modes
      2. Dealing with Disk Allocation
      3. Enabling Recording
      4. Setting Levels
      5. Setting a Record Range
      6. Monitoring Your Tracks
      7. Creating a Click Track
    5. Chapter 5: Recording Audio
      1. Recording Tracks
      2. Playing Back Your Tracks
      3. Doing Additional Takes
      4. Getting Rid of Unwanted Takes
  6. Book 4: Recording Electronic Instruments with MIDI
    1. Chapter 1: Understanding Electronic Instruments and MIDI
      1. Meeting MIDI
      2. Getting Started with MIDI
    2. Chapter 2: Preparing to Record MIDI
      1. Setting Up Your MIDI Devices
      2. Getting Ready to Record
    3. Chapter 3: Recording Electronic Instruments with MIDI
      1. Recording MIDI Performances
      2. Playing Back Your Tracks
      3. Getting Rid of Unwanted Takes
      4. Overdubbing MIDI Performances
      5. Recording System-Exclusive Data
  7. Book 5: Editing Your Performances (Audio and MIDI)
    1. Chapter 1: Audio Editing Basics
      1. Understanding Pro Tools Editing
      2. Getting to Know Clip Types
      3. Viewing Clips
      4. Understanding Edit Modes
      5. Working (Okay, Playing) with Playlists
      6. Using the Audio Clips List
      7. Managing Undos
    2. Chapter 2: Selecting Material to Edit
      1. Selecting Track Material
      2. Making Changes to Your Selection
      3. Managing Memory Locations
      4. Playing Selected Material
    3. Chapter 3: Getting into Editing
      1. Editing Clips
      2. Examining Edit Commands
      3. Exploring Elastic Audio
    4. Chapter 4: Adding to Your Audio Editing Palette
      1. Signing On to the Smart Tool
      2. Perusing the Pencil Tool
      3. Silencing Selections
      4. Performing Fades and Crossfades
      5. Cleaning Up Your Session
    5. Chapter 5: Editing MIDI Data
      1. Working with MIDI and Instrument Tracks
      2. Dealing with Note Chasing
      3. Editing MIDI in the Edit Window
      4. Exploring MIDI Events
    6. Chapter 6: Performing MIDI Operations
      1. Getting Used to the MIDI Operations Window
      2. Performing MIDI Event Operations
      3. Recognizing MIDI Real-Time Properties
  8. Book 6: Mixing
    1. Chapter 1: Mixing Basics
      1. Understanding Mixing
      2. Managing Levels as You Work
      3. Getting Started Mixing Your Song
      4. Mixing In Pro Tools
      5. Using the Stereo Field
      6. Adjusting Levels: Enhancing the Emotion of the Song
      7. Tuning Your Ears
    2. Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Mix
      1. Revisiting the Mix Window
      2. Getting to Know Signal Flow
      3. Rounding Out Your Routing
      4. Accessing Output Windows
      5. Playing with Plug-ins
      6. Processing with External Effects
    3. Chapter 3: Using Equalization
      1. Exploring Equalization
      2. Dialing In EQ
      3. Equalizing Your Tracks
    4. Chapter 4: Digging into Dynamics Processors
      1. Connecting Dynamics Processors
      2. Introducing Compressors
      3. Looking into Limiters
      4. Introducing Gates and Expanders
      5. Detailing the De-Esser
      6. Setting Up Side Chains
    5. Chapter 5: Singling Out Signal Processors
      1. Routing Your Effects
      2. Rolling Out the Reverb
      3. Detailing Delay
      4. Creating Chorus Effects
    6. Chapter 6: Automating Your Mix
      1. Understanding Automation
      2. Accessing Automation Modes
      3. Setting Automation Preferences
      4. Enabling Automation
      5. Writing Automation
      6. Viewing Automation
      7. Drawing Automation
      8. Thinning Automation
      9. Editing Automation Data
    7. Chapter 7: Making Your Mix
      1. Submixing by Recording to Tracks
      2. Mixing in-the-Box
      3. Using an External Master Deck
  9. Book 7: Mastering
    1. Chapter 1: Mastering Basics
      1. Demystifying Mastering
      2. Getting Ready to Master
      3. Paying a Pro, or Doing It Yourself
      4. Hiring a Professional Mastering Engineer
    2. Chapter 2: Mastering Your Music
      1. Considering General Guidelines
      2. Setting Up a Mastering Session
      3. Optimizing Dynamics
      4. Perfecting Tonal Balance
      5. Balancing Levels
      6. Mastering Your Mix
      7. Sequencing Your Songs
  10. Book 8: Getting Your Music to the Masses
    1. Chapter 1: Putting Your Music on CD and Vinyl
      1. Getting into CD Burning
      2. Purchasing CD-Rs
      3. Recording Your Music to CD-R
      4. Making Multiple Copies
      5. Pressing Vinyl
      6. Promoting Your Music
    2. Chapter 2: Getting Your Music on the Internet
      1. Understanding Downloadable Music Files
      2. Creating MP3 Files
      3. Setting Up Your Own Music Website
      4. Putting Your Music on a Music Host Site
      5. Engaging in Social Media Networking
      6. Offering Free Downloads
      7. Selling Your Music Digitally
      8. Licensing Your Music
      9. Podcasting
      10. Selling Your CDs
      11. Promoting Your Music
      12. Connecting with an Email Newsletter
  11. About the Author
  12. Connect with Dummies
  13. Index
  14. End User License Agreement
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