Introduction

Pro Tools is a computer-based audio recording system that runs on Macintosh and Windows operating systems. Pro Tools HD systems are considered the de facto standard for hard-disk audio recording in professional studios worldwide. Digidesign now offers a range of increasingly popular Pro Tools LE systems, which are designed for use in home studios and project studios.

Pro Tools’ popularity is due, in part, to its successful migration of a traditional recording studio environment to the computer realm. Pro Tools is well regarded for its technical stability and the functional aesthetic of its user interface. It’s also famous for its powerful recording, editing, mixing, automation, and real-time DSP effects.

What is Pro Tools LE?

Pro Tools LE is the software that comes with several of Digidesign’s hard-disk audio recording systems, including Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox, Mbox 2, and Mbox 2 Pro. These systems are designed primarily for use in home recording studios and project studios. Pro Tools LE hardware systems are compact and portable, yet contain many outstanding hardware features, including built-in audio mic preamps and S/PDIF and Optical digital I/O. Pro Tools LE software is nearly identical to its higher-end Pro Tools HD software counterpart. The main difference is how each version of Pro Tools handles DSP (digital signal processing): Pro Tools HD systems include PCI cards with built-in DSP processing chips; Pro Tools LE systems rely entirely on the host computer’s CPU for all DSP-processing tasks. Because Pro Tools LE systems are host-based, the number of tracks and plug-ins you can use simultaneously depends on your computer’s CPU power. Generally speaking, faster computers perform better.

Sessions created with Pro Tools LE are compatible with Pro Tools HD systems. This means that you can record tracks using a modest Pro Tools LE system, and then, when you’re ready, take them to a studio and mix them on a Pro Tools HD system. Because Pro Tools LE software is so similar to the HD version, upgrading to the higher-end system has almost no learning curve.

Who should use this Book?

This book is for musicians, engineers, producers, composers, soundtrack creators, film and video producers, music supervisors, broadcasters, Webcasters, students, audiophiles, MP3 addicts, iTunes lovers, vicarious listeners, and anyone else who wants a simple, clear, and complete explanation of how to use Pro Tools digital audio software. While this book focuses on Pro Tools 7 LE, the majority of software features discussed herein apply to all Pro Tools systems, including legacy systems running Pro Tools 5 or 6 LE, Pro Tools HD, and Pro Tools M-Powered equipment. (For more information on Pro Tools HD and M-Powered systems, see www.digidesign.com.)

What’s in this book?

This book contains comprehensive, step-by-step instructions on most aspects of Pro Tools 7 LE, including hardware setup, recording and playback, editing, mixing, effects plug-ins, automation, file management, MIDI, and CPU performance. We’ve also included recording-related sidebars to inspire you and help you make better-sounding recordings.

Structured like a recording session, this book includes the following sections:

Part I: Getting Started with Pro Tools LE. This section covers setting up your Pro Tools LE system. You’ll also learn the basics of Pro Tools software and the layout of the Mix and Edit windows.

Part II: Recording in Pro Tools. This section teaches you how to record and play back audio in Pro Tools. You’ll learn how to create new sessions and how to work with tracks.

Part III: Audio File Management. This section introduces you to Pro Tools’ file management features. You’ll learn basic functions, such as locating, importing, exporting, and backing up your audio files. You’ll also learn how to use DigiBase, Pro Tools’ comprehensive file-management utility.

Part IV: Editing Audio. This section shows you how to edit audio in Pro Tools. You’ll learn how to select and move audio regions, and how to save time using edit playlists. You’ll also learn a few advanced features such as creating fades and crossfades, and repairing waveforms.

Part V: Mixing Audio. This section covers mixing audio in Pro Tools. You’ll learn about stereo imaging and audio signal flow, as well as how to add effects using real-time DSP plug-ins. You’ll also learn how to automate a mix and how to bounce a final mix down to disk.

Part VI: MIDI Sequencing. This section introduces Pro Tools’ MIDI sequencing features. You’ll learn how to record, edit, and play back MIDI in Pro Tools.

Part VII: Getting the Most from Pro Tools. This section provides an overview of using Pro Tools to work with sound in digital video. It also suggests ways to maximize Pro Tools LE’s performance. You’ll learn how to set memory buffers and memory-intensive functions to achieve the best results during recording, editing, and mixing, and you’ll see how making tracks and other items inactive can free up valuable CPU power. You’ll also learn how to use DSP plug-ins efficiently, and how to squeeze extra space out of your hard drive.

Appendixes and Glossary. Appendix A shows you how to connect Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox, Mbox 2, and Mbox 2 Pro hardware to your studio. Appendix B presents complete descriptions of all Pro Tools 7.3 preferences. A glossary provides a list of Pro Tools–specific and general recording terms.

About the sidebars

We’ve included a few sidebars to help you understand some important recording concepts. In creating these sidebars, we tried to present simple topics that we wish we had at our fingertips when we first started recording. Some of these topics include mic placement, gain staging, and monitoring a mix.

How to use this book

If you’re new to Pro Tools, use this book as a visually oriented instructional manual to step you through each phase of the recording process. If you’re already familiar with Pro Tools, use this book as a visual reference guide to quickly refresh your memory. Either way, there’s lots of Pro Tools information within.

What’s new in Pro Tools 7 LE?

Pro Tools 7 LE is a more efficient version of Pro Tools and includes simplified menus, time and CPU conserving editing, automation and MIDI features, support for multiprocessor computers, and better RTAS plug-in performance.

Pro Tools 7 LE software is compatible with the following Pro Tools hardware systems: Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox, Mbox 2, and Mbox 2 Pro. For more information on Pro Tools 7 compatibility issues, see Digidesign’s Web site at www.digidesign.com.

Pro Tools 7 LE software includes the following new features:

System configuration and capabilities:

• Up to 160 channels of hardware I/O

• Increased sends and busses

• 999 Markers/Memory Locations per session

Sessions and compatibility:

• New session file format (“.ptf”)

• Support for long file names

• Removal of +6 dB option for new sessions

• All sessions are Mac/PC compatible

• Recommended BWAV dialog

• Cross-platform and language session compatibility

• Traditional Chinese localization

General Performance Enhancements:

• Faster session opening on Windows XP

• Improved editing speed

• Improved window redraw on Windows XP

Pro Tools menus and windows:

• Improved and expanded menus

• Tooltips

• Consolidated Regions list with improved search tools

• Shortcuts and new tools for Mix and Edit window views

• Resizable I/O Setup and Disk Allocation windows

DigiBase changes and additions:

• Support for standard MIDI files

• Bar|Beat display of duration (length) for tick-based audio and MIDI files

• New Tempo column

• Support for Avid video files (OMF and MXF only)

• Improved window interaction for Windows XP

Track features:

• Instrument tracks

• Software and hardware instruments

• Unrestricted MIDI and audio routing

• Multichannel surround formats

• Increased sends per track to 10

• Ability to move and copy sends

• Increased busses on Pro Tools LE and M-Powered to 32

• New Duplicate Tracks dialog and options

• Color coding improvements

Audio and MIDI composition:

• Region groups

• Region looping:

• Audio and MIDI regions

• Groups across multiple tracks

• Nested groups

• Fades and crossfades across grouped regions

• Support for audio and MIDI regions

• Support for region groups

• Drag and drop import of audio, REX, ACID, and MIDI

• Drag and drop audio files to plug-ins

DigiBase:

• DigiBase Support for drag and drop of REX, ACID, region groups, and standard MIDI

File management:

• Ability to preview files from Windows Explorer or the Finder

• Link Track and Edit Selection

Zooming enhancements:

• Improved Zoom Toggle for streamlined MIDI and audio editing

• Continuous zoom with Zoom tool

• Marquee Zoom both vertical and horizontal zoom on MIDI tracks

• Independent vertical track zoom

• Automatic “Show All Notes” scaling for vertical zoom of MIDI regions

Additions to Strip Silence:

• New Extract function (extract silence)

• New Separate function

Additions to Separate Regions:

• New Separate on Grid command

• New Separate at Transients command

• Improvements to Replace Regions

New MIDI features:

• Real-Time MIDI Properties

• Sample-based (tempo-independent) MIDI

• MIDI region previewing in the Regions list

• Selection of note ranges from onscreen mini-keyboard

• New preference for “Default Thru Follows Track Selection”

• New Select/Split Notes window

• New Grid/Groove Quantize window

• Groove Quantize support for Input Quantize

• New Remove Duplicate Notes command

• Legato and Overlap additions

• Transpose Window enhancements

• New Import MIDI to Timeline options

DSP plug-in enhancements:

• Multiple RTAS processors

RTAS performance enhancements:

• Increased RTAS buffer size

• Increased flexibility with RTAS and TDM plug-ins

• RTAS processing plug-ins on auxiliary inputs and master faders

• Voice usage for RTAS plug-ins on auxiliary inputs and master faders

• HTDM conversion to RTAS

• RTAS plug-ins support for changes to track width (mono/stereo)

• Side-chain processing support for RTAS plug-ins

• Addition of easy page tables

• Significantly decreased load times

• Improved TDM plug-in load priorities to minimize DSP shuffling

• RMS and Peak calibration modes for SignalGenerator, Gain, and Normalize plug-ins

• Time Adjuster RTAS version

• Trim plug-in +12 dB Update

• EQ III Band-Pass mode

• Synchronic updates

• Additional Bomb Factory support

• Special Edit commands for automation

• New shortcuts to enable plug-in parameters

Avid interoperability enhancements:

• Support for AAF Embedded media

• MediaStation compatibility on Macintosh OS X 10.4

For more information on the new features in Pro Tools 7 LE, see Digidesign’s Web site at www.digidesign.com.

Additional information

For additional information on Pro Tools LE or Pro Tools HD, see Digidesign’s Web site at www.digidesign.com. The site offers a wealth of information on all Pro Tools-related topics, including downloadable software updates and product manuals, product support, and upgrade plans. Also, refer to the Pro Tools Reference Guide that comes with the product.