How is the Do-To-Selected function useful? What keyboard modifier set is used to access Do-To-Selected functionality? To apply the same action to multiple tracks. opt-shift
Describe the process of creating a drum submix. What kind of track is traditionally used as a submix destination? 1. TRACK > NEW Aux 2. Set output for all tracks that you want included in the submix to the same available mix bus using AUDIO OUTPUT PATH SELECTOR (opt-shift to do this to all of them at the same time) 3. Set the Input for the Auxiliary Input track to correspond to the internal Mix Bus chosen in step 2 using the AUDIO INPUT PATH SELECTOR. 4. Set the output of the auxiliary input track to your main stereo output using the AUDIO OUTPUT PATH SELECTOR. 5. Solo-safe the Auxiliary input track (cmd+click Solo button). An Aux track is usually used as a submix destination.
What is the difference between a Basic Folder track and a Routing Folder track?Which kind is useful for sub mixing?A Basic Folder track is nothing more than a holding container for other tracks. If you do not need submixing, group processing and routing control, but you would like to collect tracks together for organisational purposes, use one of these. Although Basic Folder tracks provide MUTE and SOLO controls, constituent track signals do not pass through the Basic Folder track in anyway. Routing folders have the added advantage of being able to submix constituent tracks, routing audio similar to an Aux.
What processes can you use to route the outputs of a set of tracks to a destination track ? 1. Route Tracks to New Folder checkbox in right-click menu) 2. Using AUDIO OUTPUT / INPUT SELECTORs (as Q2 above)with Routing to Buses or Routing to Tracks submenus.
What is the purpose of grouping tracks? How many track groups can you create in a session? To organise and control a set of tracksby linking tracks and their controls. 104: in four banks of 26 Group IDs (a-z)
What are some of the parameters that are affected by Edit groups? What are some of the parameters that can be included in a Mix group?Edit Groups: Track Views, Track Heights, Track Timebase, Elastic Audio assignments, Audio and MIDI editing functions, Playlist views, Selection based processing (i.e AudioSuite and Consolidate), Automation Editing. Mix Groups: Track Volume, Track Pan, Automation Mode Settings, Track Mute, Track Solo, Record Enable, Send Levels, Send Panning, Send Mute, Insert Controls (plug-in parameters)
What is the keyboard shortcut to create a Mix or Edit group from selected tracks?cmd+G
How can you enable or disable a track group? How can you globally suspend all groups? How can you visually tell when groups have been suspended?1. GROUP LIST – click Group to toggle 2. GROUP LIST POP-UP > SUSPEND ALL GROUPS (or cmd+shift+G) 3. The Group list will be dimmed.
How can you identify group membership of tracks in the Mix window?GROUP ID INDICATOR and its TRACKS pop-up menu.
How can you quickly select all members of a group? How might this be useful?1. Groups List: click column to the left of a group name. 2. GROUP ID INDICATOR > TRACKS pop-up menu > Select Tracks in Group.
What are some options for modifying or deleting a group? Modify: 1. GROUP LIST POP-UP MENU > MODIFY GROUPS 2. MIX window:GROUP ID INDICATOR > MODIFY 3. Right-click group name in Group List> MODIFY Delete: 1. GROUP LIST POP-UP MENU > Delete Active Groups 2. MIX window: GROUP ID INDICATOR > DELETE3. Right-click group name in Group List > DELETE
What is the purpose of the ALL group? Can you modify track membership or delete this group? To apply global changes. Membership in the ALL group cannot be modified, nor can the group be deleted.
When is it necessary to apply dither? Where should you insert a dither plug-in?When you are down-sampling, e.g a bounce down to 16-bit distribution ready .wav from a 24 bit/32 bit floating-point session. Insert on Master Fader.
What is noise shaping used for in a plug-in? How is noise shaping used by the POW-r dither plug-in?Noise shaping helps improve the signal to noise ratio of dither. The process exploits the Fletcher-Munson loudness contour, which graphs the sensitivity of the human ear (in dB) across the frequency spectrum. POW-r noise shaping improves audio performance and reduces the perceptible noise inherent in dither by shifting noise components into a less audible range. (POW-r = Psychoacoustically Optimised Word-length reduction).Type 1: For solo instrument recordings, spoken-word i.e material with less stereophonically complex material with a narrow dynamic range. Type 2: for moderate stereophonic complexity (rock, pop). Type 3: Especially suited to material with a broad dynamic range. Designed for full spectrum, wide stereo field material (classical, orchestral)
What are the steps involved in creating a session archive? Why is it important to use to the Save Copy In command for compacting sound files?1. Clear unused clips from the session without permanently deleting any audio (See Lesson 7): CLIP LIST POP-UP MENU > SELECT UNUSED > CLEAR > REMOVE2. Create Session Copy: FILE > SAVE COPY IN (this insures that all files needed for the archive are copied into the corresponding Audio Files and Video Files folders. This will also protect the original files against accidental data loss.) 3. Compacting sound files.CLIP LIST POP-UP MENU > SELECT ALL > COMPACT
What are some of the parameters that you can automate in ProTools? 1. Track Controls (Volume, Pan, Mute for Audio, MIDI, Instrument and Aux and Master Fader volumes. 2. Send Controls (Send Volume, Send Pan, Pan Mute) 3. All plug-in controls
What are some of the differences between MIDI continuous control data and ProTools audio automation? What kind of tracks can ProTools audio automation be used on?MIDI: CC automation data is stored within the associated MIDI clip. Audio: although an audio track can have multiple alternate playlists (See Lesson three) an Audio track’s single automation playlist applies to all playlists on a track.Audio automation is used for Audio and Auxiliary track – it offers significantly higher resolution than MIDI CC automation.
What selector can you use to set the automation mode for a track? Where is this selector located? Automation mode selector available in both the Mix and Edit windows.
What is the difference between the Write, Touch, and Latch automation modes? 1. Write: Automation starts writing for all enable parameters when playback starts, overwriting any previous automation data. Writing stops for all parameters when playback stops. 2. Touch: Automation starts writing when an enabled parameter is being modified. Modified parameters only write automation while being held. Writing stops when modified parameters are released – the parameter returns to the previously automated value. 3. Latch:Automation starts writing when an enabled parameter is being modified. Modified parameters continue writing after being released. Writing stops for all modified parameters when playback stops.
When might you suspend automation? What is the difference between the Suspend button and the Write Enable buttons?To obtain hands on control of parameters for an unfamiliar session. Suspend: Suspends all writing and playing of automation for all tracks.Write Enable: Toggles writing of corresponding automation across session, has no effect on automation playback. WINDOW > AUTOMATION, cmd+4 (alphanumeric)
What are the advantages of using Touch or Latch mode over using Write mode? In what scenarios would you use Latch mode? When would it make more sense to use Touch mode instead? Both Touch and Latch only write automation to parameters that are changed allowing you to be more selective. Latch: to set a parameter over long sections of a mix – perhaps useful for an initial automation pass. Touch: to touch up small sections of existing automation
What are two ways to display an automation playlist in the Edit window?1. TRACK VIEW SELECTOR 2. SHOW / HIDE LANES
What are some common automation graphs that you may work with? How might automation graphs be different for different types of parameters, with respect to the available vertical positions?Audio (top to bottom): Volume graph (-INF to +12db) Mute graph (Mute / Not Muted), Pan (<100 to 100>), Send (Level, Mute, Pan) MIDI (0-127) (top to bottom): Velocity, MIDI Volume, MIDI Mute. MIDI Pan, Pitch bend, Aftertouch, Program change, SysEx, Controllers.
What are some ways that the Grabber tool can be used to edit an automation playlist? How would you go about nudging automation break points?Click to create a break point. Drag up or down change the dB value, drag left or right adjust timing. opt-click: delete breakpoint.Select breakpoint(s) > choose nudge increment from the NUDGE VALUE POP-UP MENU in the Edit window toolbar: +/-alphanumeric
What are some ways of the Pencil tool can be used to edit an automation playlist?Freehand, Line, Triangle, Square, Random (not Parabolic or S-curve)
How is cutting automation data different from deleting automation data? Cut adds break points at the start and end of a selection, while the delete key will not
What will be the result if you copy automation (Edit > Copy) from a track displaying Volume automation and paste it (Edit > Paste) on a track displaying Pan automation? Automation data pasted to the same automation graph that it originated from, even if the corresponding automation graph is not currently displayed on the target track.
How would you go about duplicating the volume automation for a track onto Send B for the track? PASTE SPECIAL MODE
How can you delete individual breakpoints in an automation graph? How can you delete a range of automation break points?1. Grabber opt-click. 2. Select range >Delete
How can you clear all automation on a displayed automation graph? What modifier can you use to clear all automation for a track?Triple click on the automation graph (or cmd+A (Select All) > Delete(ctrl+Delete to delete ALL automation on all automation playlists on the track(s) in the selected range). To clear automation from multiple tracks extend the selection across all of the target tracks. In such a case be sure that each track is displaying an automation graph
Where can you assign the colour coding that Pro Tools will automatically apply for tracks and clips? How can you display track colour bars in the Mix and Edit windows?SETUP > PREFERENCES> DISPLAY > Color Coding. VIEW > MIX WINDOW VIEWS / EDIT WINDOW VIEWS >TRACK COLOUR or Mix / Edit Display Selector
Describe the track icons used for the following track types in the Mix window: Audio, Aux Input, MIDI, Instrument, and Master Fader Audio (waveform), Aux (Down Arrow), MIDI (5-pin connector), Instrument (keyboard), Master (Sigma)
What are some of the track status indicators available in the Edit window? Describe at least three.Task Manager Indicator. Freeze. Solo. Mute.
How many inserts are available on a track in Pro Tools? Why is it important to consider the order in which inserts are arranged on a track?10 (A-E, F-J). Pro Tools processes inserts in series adding each effect to the previous one from top to bottom
Are inserts pre-fader or post-fader on Audio tracks, Instrument tracks and Aux input tracks? Are inserts any different on Master Fader tracks? Explain. Audio, Instrument and Aux inserts are Pre-fader. Master Fader inserts are post-fader.
Are Sends pre-fader or post-fader on Audio tracks, Instrument tracks and Aux input tracks? Are sends any different on Master Fader tracks? Explain. Can be either pre or post. There are no sends on Master Fader track.
How many sends are available on a track on Pro Tools?10 (A-E, F-J)
What is the difference between an Output Send and a Bus Send? When would you use each? 1. Output Send: routes a signal out of your audio interface e.g. through an external processor and back into your audio interface, or as a headphone mix. 2. Bus Send: uses internal mix bus to route signal to an Aux Input to be processed by a plug-in.
What level does a send default to when it is first created? How can you change this default? Negative Infinity. SETUP > PREFERENCES > MIXING TAB > disable SENDS DEFAULT TO “-INF”
What is the difference between standard view and expanded view for Sends? What keyboard modifier can you use to toggle between view modes by clicking a Send selector?Expanded View gives access to Send controls for all tracks in the Mix Window rather than an individual track in Standard Viewcmd+click
How can you prevent a “return” track from muting when one of the source tracks is solo’d? What modifier key is used to enable this function? Solo Safecmd-click the relevant Aux Return Tracks.
What is the effect of enabling the PRE button in a Send window? What is the effect of enabling the FMP button?PRE = Prefader.FMP = Follow Main Pan
How can you visually determine whether the inverse pan option is enabled for a Send? What button(s) will be highlighted?Both the Link and Inverse Pan buttons will be highlighted (on a stereo Send)
How can you copy a send from one track to another track and duplicate its settings? What considerations might apply?opt-click and drag. 1. When moving or copying a Stereo Send from a Mono Track to a Stereo Track, any existing Send Pan automation will be dropped without warning. 2. When moving or copying a Stereo Send from a Stereo Track to a Mono Track, the Left Send Pan position/automation data is retained and the Right Pan data is dropped. A warning notification will appear. 3. When moving or copying a Send and replacing an existing Send, all automation on the existing Send will be replaced. A warning notification will appear
Which type of plug-in effects are generally used on inserts? Which are generally used with sends? Why?Inserts are generally used for Gain-based processing (EQ, Compressor, Gate, Expander etc.) (though not always e.g parallel compression) Sends are generally used for Time-based processing (reverb, chorus, delay, etc) – so you can use a common effect for multiple tracks, it also makes more efficient use of processing resources.
What is the Librarian menu used for in a plug-in window? What is displayed in the librarian menu when you first assign a plug-in? Why?Lets you select from available presets for the current plug-in. When a plug-in is first assigned it will have no preset selected and <factory default> will display.
What are some of the uses of a Master Fader? How can you assign a Master Fader to the desired output or bus? They control the master levels of output and bus paths. They can be used to do any of the following: 1. control and process output mixes. 2:monitor and meter an output level(e.g., a bus or hardware output) to guard against clipping. 3: Control sub-mix levels. 4: Control Effects Send levels. 5: Control levels on submasters (bussed tracks). 6: Apply dither or other inserts to all tracks sent to a common output or bus.Set the AUDIO OUTPUT PATH SELECTOR
Describe the process of creating a clip loop. What are some of the options available in the clip looping dialogue box?Select an audio clip, MIDI clip or clip group, or select clips across multiple tracks. CLIP > LOOP
What are the two ways that the Trim tool can be used to edit a Clip Loop?1. If the tool is in the main part of the clip, the entire clip can be trimmed in or out adding or removing loop iterations as needed.(hold ctrl to override Grid mode if active). 2. If the tool is in line with a Loop icon all iterations will be trimmed i.e. a loop pattern duration can be cut in half while the number number of iterations is doubled.
How would you go about creating a loop from several separate clips on a track do you want to have repeat as a unit?Make a Selection and create a clip group, then loop this.
What happens to clip loops when you choose the Clip > Ungroup All command? All loop iterations are flattened and all clip groups are ungrouped down to the lowest nested level
What is the difference between Absolute and Relative grid modes? When would you use each? In Absolute Grid mode moving any clip or MIDI note snaps to the current grid boundary. In Relative Grid mode, offsets from grid boundaries are preserved and can be moved according to the current grid unit.
What is the purpose of Layered Editing mode? How can Layered Editing be enabled or disabled? You can stack clips on top of one another while retaining the freedom to move, trim, or delete the topmost clips without losing the underlying material1. OPTIONS > LAYERED EDITING 2. Click the Layered Editing button in the Edit window toolbar.
Do Audiosuite plug-ins provide real-time processing or non-real-time processing? When might you use Audiosuite processing instead of a plug-in insert? Non-real time. Used to conserve real time processing resources
What does the USE IN PLAYLIST button do in the Audiosuite plug-in window? How can you tell when this option is active?It controls whether the processed audio will replace your selection on the track. When deselected (grey) processed audio will appear only in the Clip List, when selected (blue) the processed audio will appear on the track playlist.
Explain the difference between applying Audiosuite processing as Clip by Clip versus Entire Selection.These two Processing Input Modes determine how the selection will be analysed for processing. Clip by Clip analyses each clip in a selection individually, Entire Selection analyses an entire selection as if it were a single complete clip.
Why is it important to consider Handle Length when processing with an Audiosuite plug-in? What types of processing to be affected by Audiosuite handles?Audiosuite Handles are not available when the Processing Output Modes is set to Overwrite Files or Create Individual Files while Processing Input mode is set to Entire selection. In such cases processing is applied to the selection only. In contrast, when the Input Mode is set to Clip by Clip and the Output Mode is set to Create Continuous File, Audiosuite handles are applied to underlying audio material outside selection boundaries. If the Input mode is set to Entire Selection, the handles are applied using only the audio exposed within selected clips.Esp. Relevant for Reverb, Delay.
What modifier key can you use to audition a clip in the Clip List?opt-click
How could you set the Clip List for a session you just opened to display only your newly recorded and edited clips going forward?CLIP LIST POPUP MENU >FIND > INCLUDE SUBSEQUENTLY ADDED CLIPS
What are some options for selecting clips in the clip list? How can you select a range of contiguous clips? How can you select non-contiguous clips?1. Selecting multiple clips. 2. Selecting Unused Clips. 3. Offline to select all clips that reference files cannot be located on a mounted volume. Contiguous: Click the name, shift-click the last in list. Non-contiguous: Hold cmd
What is the difference between Removing Clips versus Moving to Trash or Deleting clips using the Clear command in the clip list? Remove clears the unused clips from the session while leaving parent files in the Audio Files folder (or their current location). Move to Trash removes clips and moves associated files to the trash. Delete removes the clips and permanently deletes associated files from disk.
What are some options for making selections or subset clips available outside of the current session? What is the purpose of using the Capture command when exporting clips? EDIT > Consolidate Clip. The new clip will be selected in the Clip List. (Optional) Right click on the clip and choose Reveal in FinderCLIP > CAPTURE (cmd+r) lets you create a new subset clip in the Clip List without making a separation on the track. After capturing a clip it can be exported as an audio file CLIP LIST POP-UP MENU > EXPORT CLIPS AS FILES (any wholesale subset audio clips in the clip list can be exported in this manner)
What functions are available with the Smart Tool? How can you access the Selector with the Smart Tool active? How can you access the Grabber?Trim, Selector, Grabber. Selector – Position the cursor in the upper half of the clip not near a clip boundary. Grabber – Position the cursor in the lower half of the clip not near a clip boundary. (Shortcuts SmartTool (f6+f7 or +f8). Zoom(f5), Trim(f6), Selector(f7), Grabber (f8), Scrub(f9), Pencil(f10)
How can you create fades with the Smart Tool? How can you specify the fade curves that the Smart Tool applies?The cursor in the top quarter of a clip, and within 12 pixels of a clip boundary. Fade In: Place the cursor near a clip start boundary, close to the top and drag right. Fade Out: place the cursor near a clip boundary, close to the top and drag left. Crossfade: Place the cursor near a clip boundary, close to the bottom of two adjacent clips, and drag left or right.Fade Curves:SETUP > PREFERENCES> EDITING tab > Fades section
What menu command would you choose to open a Fades dialogue box? What is the associated keyboard shortcut?EDIT > FADES > CREATE.cmd+F
What are some options for previewing crossfades in the Fades dialog box?View First / Left Channel, View Second / Right Channel, View Both. Fade Curves Only, Fade Curves and Separate Waveforms, Fade Curves and Superimposed Waveforms, Fade Curves and Summed Waveforms. nb/ Equal Power slope is best for two different types of material, while Equal Gain is best across similar sounds
What are some options for saving and recalling Fade shapes or configurations in the Fades dialogue box? Save: Librarian menu > SAVE SETTINGS AS. Recall: Click on the Fade preset number, ctrl + preset number, librarian menu.
What operations can you use to edit existing Fades on a track playlist?1. Fades Dialog box: Double click on the Fade graphic with the Grabber, modify the settings in the dialogue box and click OK. 2. Right Click on the Fade graphic, select FADES from pop-up menu. 3. Keyboard Command: Select the Fade graphic with the Grabber or Selector opt-ctrl+ L or R arrow, 4. Smart Tool
What is the purpose of the Quantise function in Pro Tools? What are some different ways to apply quantisation? To correct or modify the timing of material. 1. Using Input Quantise. EVENT > EVENT OPERATIONS > INPUT QUANTISE > ENABLE INPUT QUANTISE2.Quantising existing MIDI Data: Make a selection – EVENT > EVENT OPERATIONS > QUANTISE (or opt+0) 3. Quantising existing Audio clips: Select the audio clips in the Edit window EVENT > EVENT OPERATIONS > QUANTISE > Audio Clips or Elastic Audio Events
What is the purpose of quantising audio clips? How is this different from quantising Elastic Audio?To time align audio.It adjusts audio clip start times (or Sync points). When used with Elastic Audio, quantisation adjusts the location of detected transient events
What feature let you apply changes to a MIDI performance without permanently altering the underlying MIDI data on a track? MIDI Merge.
What types of tracks and clips are affected by Real–Time Properties?MIDI and Instrument.
What are some of the differences between the Real–Time Properties view in the Edit window and the Real–Time Properties floating window? Which allows you to apply clip-based Real–Time Properties? VIEW > EDIT WINDOWS VIEW > REAL-TIME PROPERTIES. 1. In the Edit window Real-time Properties are applied to a whole track, while with the floating window these can be applied to either a whole track, or to selected clips. 2. The Floating window also offers expanded real-time property settings
How would you go about enabling Elastic Audio on a track?EDIT window – Elastic Audio Plug-in Selector
Which real-time Elastic Audio processor typically works best for drums? Which typically works best for vocals?Rhythmic. Monophonic.
Which Elastic Audio plug-in provides only rendered processing? When/why would you want to use rendered processing?X-form. When you want higher quality results, or to reduce processing power, for example in a larger complex session when you’re using lots of plug-ins.
What can Elastic Audio tempo detection determine about an audio file? What are some conditions that will cause no tempo to be detected? It tries to identify rhythmic patterns.Using detected transients Elastic Audio attempts to identify tempo for a file. If tempo detection is successful ProTools will also calculate the file duration in Bars and Beats. Files with only a single transient (such as a one-shot) will have no tempo detected, nor also will files that contain tempo changes or rubato (rushing/slowing tempo), or files lacking a regular periodic rhythm.
Where are Warp Indicators displayed? What are they used for? 5
What views are available for working with Elastic Audio-enabled tracks?What is each view used for?ANALYSIS VIEW: Edit the detected Event Markers on a track. WARP VIEW: create and edit Warp Markers
Name the three types of Elastic Audio markers. What are the differences between them? EVENT MARKERS indicate audio events ( solid black lines in Analysis view and as grey lines in Warp View – they do not fully extend to the top and bottom of the track) WARP MARKERS anchor audio to the timeline (thick black lines with a triangle at the base) and TEMPO-EVENT generated WARP MARKERSindicate where Elastic audio processing has been applied due to tempo events(grey lines with a diamond at the top)
What are some ways to add Warp markers to a clip? List at least three. WARP VIEW: Grabber Tool double-click, Pencil Tool or make a Selection, right-click, ADD WARP MARKER
What is a Telescoping Warp? How does it differ from an Accordion Warp? From a Range Warp? Telescoping Warp lets you stretch/ compress the entire waveform of the clip relative to a start or end point. GRABBER drag any Event Marker to telescope relative to start, opt-GRABBER telescope to end location. Telescoping Warps can be applied to any audio waveform that does not contain Warp markers. Accordion Warp applies Elastic Audio to both sides of a single Warp Marker in a clip. This lets you expand / compress audio equally on both sides of a fixed point. Add a single Warp Marker at the point you want anchored to the timeline, then with the GRABBER drag any Event Marker on either side. Range Warp applies Elastic Audio between two fixed points in a clip. In Warp View create a Warp Marker at the start point, and a second marker at the end point. Create a third marker between the first two and drag to warp the underlying audio while the audio outside the boundary markers remains unaffected.
What is the effect of quantising a selection on an Elastic Audio-enabled track? What happens to the Event markers within the selection?Quantising allows you to align audio events to tick-based information (Bars | beats, sub beats) based on the session tempo. Event markers are used as control points. Those that are closest to the specified quantise grid are promoted to Warp Markings and are moved to the grid.
Why is it important to have accurate Event markers in your clips when applying Quantise operations on Elastic Audio-enabled tracks?Because it is they that become aligned to the grid and hence form the basis of the quantise operation.
After enabling a track for Elastic Audio, how would you enable the track to update dynamically to match any subsequent tempo changes you make in the session?First Enable Elastic Audio, and then change the timebase of all desired audio tracks from samples to ticks.
What are some ways to improve the quality of audio that has been warped with Elastic Audio processing?1. Having accurate event markers (Analysis View), 2. Adjusting Event sensitivity or 3. Using rendered Elastic Audio processing (X-form) – note that X-form processing can take some time!
What is meant by Event Confidence? How can Event Confidence be used to eliminate false transients when applying TCE processing on Elastic Audio-enabled tracks? Each Event Marker is assigned a confidence level based on the relative clarity of the associated transient. CLIP > ELASTIC PROPERTIES window, or right-click the clip and select ELASTIC PROPERTIES or opt- 5 alphanumeric keypad.
What are two ways to apply Elastic Audio pitch transposition? What are some applications for using each option?1. ELASTIC PROPERTIES WINDOW. Apply a pitch shift across selected audio clips. 2. EVENT OPERATIONS > TRANSPOSE WINDOW To create a transposition across multiple tracks including pitched MIDI data.(Pitch transposition is not supported for Monophonic or Varispeed Elastic Audio algorithms)
What timebase do Audio tracks to default to? MIDI tracks? Instrument tracks? By default Audio tracks are sample-based, MIDI and Instrument tracks are tick-based
Which ProTools timescales are absolute? Which are relative? What is the difference between absolute and relative timescales?Sample-based are absolute, tick-based are relative. Absolute timescales remain static and reference fixed measures of time (Samples, Minutes:Seconds, Timecode, Feet+Frames). Tick-based tracks conform to session tempo and reference the relative timescale of Beats| Bars
How do audio clips respond to tempo changes on a sample based track? How do they respond if you change the track to tick- based (without using Elastic Audio)?They will remain static on a sample-based track – if you change an Audio Track timebase to tick-based, the start of the audio clips will become fixed to the Bars |Beats ruler and the start of the Clips will move relative to the sample timeline when tempo or meter changes occur
Pro Tools provides 960 ticks per quarter note; how many ticks does it provide per half note? How many per eighth note? 1920. 480
Why might you want to render a MIDI performance as audio? What are some of the available options for rendering a virtual instrument’s output to an audio file? To make edits or processing in a way that you can’t with MIDI, to save processing power. 1. Drag-and-Drop rendering. 2. Track Freeze
What are some of the different options available for viewing data on MIDI and Instrument tracks in the Edit window? What kinds of operations can you perform in each view? Blocks, Clips view – displays MIDI data for arranging and assembling. Notes View – displays MIDI notes as small individual segments in piano roll style of editing. Velocity View – displays MIDI note attack velocity. MIDIVolume, MIDI Pan and Control Graph views – display automation playlists (Pitch Bend, Aftertouch, Program Change, SysEx) and CC Control line graphs (Mod Wheel, Breath, Foot Control, Expression, Sustain).
Where are the MIDI input and output controls located for MIDI tracks in the Mix window? Where are they located for Instrument tracks?For MIDI: VIEW > I/O view – MIDI INPUT SELECTOR and MIDI OUTPUT SELECTOR. For Instrument: VIEW >Instrument view
What does the MIDI Thru option do? How is it enabled? It allows incoming MIDI data to pass through a track to its MIDI output. OPTIONS > MIDI Thru
What is the Default Thru Instrument setting used for? How can you change the Default Thru Instrument setting?It allows you to preview or audition any MIDI clip in the Clip List. SETUP > PREFERENCES > MIDI tab
What keyboard modifier would you use when clicking on a MIDI clip in the Clip List to audition it? What is required for this process to play sound? opt-click.SETUP > PREFERENCES > MIDI tab – Default Thru Instrument – Follows First Selected MIDI track. Then in EDIT or MIX window select the MIDI track you want to to use as sound source.
How is editing MIDI different from editing audio? How are MIDI notes affected when deleting a selection or trimming a clip compare to how audio waveforms are affected? When cutting, clearing or trimming a selection that includes a MIDI note’s start point the entire note is removed. Conversely, when cutting, clearing or trimming a selection that includes the note’s end point but not its start point the entire note remains and overlaps the end of the clip. When removing and placing MIDI clips with overhanging notes the notes move with the clips. When placing a MIDI clip with overhanging notes next to another clip the overhanging notes extend into the adjacent clip.
What are some of the functions of the Pencil Tool when editing MIDI notes?In many ways the Pencil[f10] is a universal tool for MIDI. It becomes a Grabber Tool when placed over the middle of a MIDI event. It becomes Trim Tool when placed over either end of a MIDI event.opt-click = Selector Tool when not positioned over a note. ctrl+click = Marquee Grabber for selecting individual note and note ranges. cmd+click = Velocity Trimmer when placed over the middle of a note.
What setting determines the Default Note Duration when adding notes with the pencil tool? How can the setting be changed?Current Grid Value. DEFAULT NOTE DURATION in the Edit window Tool bar
How can you select a range of MIDI notes using the on-screen keyboard? Clips view: TAB TO TRANSIENTS allows you to move through subsequent MIDI notes(opt+TAB move to previous) shift+TAB = MIDI note selection. Notes / Velocity Views: Left/ Right arrow (shift+Left/Right extends note selection).
What process can be used to transpose MIDI notes? What modifier can you use to transpose a selection up or down by an octave at a time? Select MIDI notes – Up/Down arrow chromatic or ctrl+Up/Down diatonic (based on Active key on the Key Signature ruler). shift+Up/Down octave. +opt to duplicate selected notes while transposing them, leaving the originals intact.
How can you edit MIDI note velocities from the computer keyboard? Velocity view – Select MIDI note cmd+UP/DOWN (velocity +/- 5) cmd+shift+UP/DOWM (vel +/- 15)
Describe some different ways of deleting notes on a MIDI or Instrument track. What track views allow you to delete notes?EDIT > CLEAR, DELETE , opt+Pencil = Eraser, double click with Grabber or Pencil. Notes / Velocity views.
What menu would you use to display Conductor rulers, such as Meter and Tempo? How can you display rulers without using a main menu?VIEW > RULERS. Clicking the Ruler View selector.
What are the default tempo and meter for all Pro Tools sessions?120 bpm. 4/4
What modifier key would you hold while clicking on a ruler to add a meter or tempo change to your session?ctrl(The ctrl modifier provides an “Add” function in Pro Tools)
What main menu provides access to the Tempo Operations window? What is the purpose of the linear page in the Tempo Operations window?EVENT >Tempo Operations. To create a linear change in tempo events over a range of time. (Other options are Parabolic, S-curve, Scale (%) and Stretch)
How can you configure Pro Tools to use a virtual instrument as the sound source for the metronome click? How can you control what notes are played for the accented and unaccented beats?Turn on the metronome in the MIDI Controls on the Toolbar. To create a Click Track using Click II virtual instrument plug-in TRACK > Create Click Track. Alphanumeric [7] to toggle metronome on/off. SETUP> CLICK Click/Cutoff Options dialogue box (note, velocity and duration)(alphanumeric 7 to toggle metronome)
Describe at least three ways to make a selection for recording.1. Using clips to make timeline selections. Use the Grabber tool (F8) to select a clip (shift-click to extend selection to another clip) Start a record pass, the timeline selection will determine the record range. 2. Making a Selection During Playback DOWN arrow to start selection, UP arrow to end selection. 3. Using timeline selection in and out points to adjust selection. When tracks are record-enabled Timeline Selection In and Out points appear as red markers. 4. Creating a selection from Marker memory locations – click previous marker then shift-click subsequent marker. You can also make a Selection-based Memory Location.
Describe three ways to set the pre-and post-roll values. What modifier do you use to set pre-and post roll by clicking in a track playlist?1. Entered in the Expanded Transport window (VIEW> TRANSPORT > EXPANDED) (/ to move through fields) 2. Set from a track’s playlist or Timebase ruler (opt-click to add pre/post-roll value, disable by opt-click in first (pre) or second (post) half of selection), 3 Recall with a memory location that includes pre-and post-roll values.
What keyboard shortcut can you use to toggle pre-/post-roll on and off? cmd+K
What are alternate playlists on Pro Tools? How can playlists be useful when recording multiple takes? They enable multiple versions of a track, each containing a different arrangement of clips.They allow you to retain each recorded take on a separate instance of the track, which can help with choosing the best take later on. They can also be used for comping.
When might you use the Pro Tools Preferences setting called Send Fully Overlapped Clips to Available Playlist While Recording? How can you ensure that the original audio gets moved to a playlist when re-recording just a section of the original using this setting?PREFERENCES > EditingWhen recording multiple takes. By selecting just that section and separating the clip EDIT > SEPARATE CLIP > AT SELECTION(cmd+E)
What are some differences in the way audio and MIDI clips are created when recording? How do you go about enabling loop recording for audio or MIDI?Audio: ProTools creates a single file that comprises all takes. Takes appear as individual subset clips in the Clip List and are numbered sequentially. If an audio record pass is interrupted before the midpoint of the loop the entire take is disregarded. MIDI: New clips are created each time a new record pass begins. However if no MIDI is received no clip is added. In contrast to audio, if a MIDI record pass is interrupted mid-take, the entire clip is retained regardless of where the pass stopped. 1.Make timeline selection 2. OPTIONS > LOOP RECORD, or right click RECORD button (Shortcut opt-L, or [5] on alphanumeric keypad) (Ensure LINK TIMELINE AND EDIT SELECTION is selected)
What preferences setting do you need to use to enable automatic playlist creation when loop recording?SETUP > PREFERENCES > OPERATION > Operation section: Check Automatically Create New Playlists When Loop Recording
How can you cycle through alternate takes from playlists? How can you audition takes from playlists while cycling through them?Select the current take on the track’s main playlist and use modifiers and arrow keys cmd+shift+UP (next) or cmd+shift+DOWN (previous)
What is the purpose of MIDI merge mode? How can you perform a MDI merge recording while looping? It allows you to add MIDI data to an existing MIDI clip – note that MIDI merge is not compatible with Loop Record mode; Instead record using MIDI Merge and Loop Playback.OPTIONS > deselect LOOP RECORD. Enable OPTIONS > Loop Playback (cmd-shift-L). Record-enable the target MIDI / Instrument track, click MIDI Merge in the MIDI Controls. Select the record range, begin recording and Pro Tools will loop across the selected range.
What are some of the features enabled by Pro Tools | Ultimate software?Full surround mixing capabilities (up to 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos), advanced automation, and video editing features
What is required to import and arrange multiple video clips on the video track? ProTools | Ultimate. ProTools standard only allows a single video clip
Name some areas of focus available for Workspace browsers in Pro Tools.Sound libraries, Volumes, Session, Track presets, Catalogues (user created file collections) and Userlocations
What are some of the functions that you can perform using a Workspace browser? Search files, audition audio files, use elastic audio to hear audio in the context of session tempo, and drag-and-drop files into an open session
How can you audition files from the browser? How can you audition them in context with your session?Using spacebar (if that option has been selected in the workspace browser pop-up menu) or clicking PREVIEW in the browser toolbar or the PLAY icon to the left of a waveform display. Enabling Audio files conform to session tempo button (metronome) in the browser toolbar. (Right click on the metronome icon to select the appropriate Elastic Audio processor). Place the insertion point in the session at the location you want to preview the file.These previous steps enable you to preview audio files at the tempo of the project. To preview in context, do the above, activate playback of your session by pressing zero key on numeric keypad and activate preview using any of the audition methods previously described.
What is Soundbase? What are tags in Soundbase? A workspace browser window that allows you to find audio files using tags. Tags are descriptive labels that are saved as meta-data (file properties) within an audio file.
What are some available destinations when importing audio from a Workspace browser or Soundbase?The Timeline, a Track, the Track list or the Clip List
What are some of the different types of media you can import into Pro Tools (in addition to audio files)?MIDI, video, Clip Groups, Track presets, IO settings, Session Data
What command allows you to import entire tracks from another ProTools session into your current session? FILE >IMPORT > SESSION DATA. Shortcut: option+shift+I (cmd+shift+I import audio, cmd-opt+I import MIDI)
What types of clips can be grouped together as a clip group? Can clips of different types be combined into a single clip group?Audio, MIDI and video. Yes – different types can be combined into a single clip group. Shortcut to create Clip group opt+cmd+G
How many clips are required for a clip group? Can clip groups contain silence?There is no minimum. Yes – clip groups can contain silence.
What kind of icon is used to indicate a clip group? Where is the icon located? There are different kinds of icons for different types of clip groups (Audio, MIDI, Video, Non-contiguous, and Mixed Multitrack). These icons are displayed at the bottom left of the clip.
What do the UnGroup and UnGroup All commands do?How would you go about re-assembling a clip group after using one of these commands?Ungroup ungroups clip groups and when used on nested clip groups it operates in layers. Ungroup All ungroups all nested Clip Groups simultaneously. CLIP > UNGROUP or Shortcut to Ungroup opt+cmd+U. A clip group can be reassembled using the REGROUP command. CLIP > REGROUP or shortcut opt+cmd+R.
How can you sign in to your Avid master account when starting work in Pro Tools? What is required to sign in to your account?From the Dashboard. You’ll need an Internet connection, an AVID account, username and password
Why is it important to select the audio interface you want to use prior to creating or opening the session? What dialog box can you use for this purpose?If you subsequently change this it will require ProTools to close and reopen. Setup -> Playback Engine dialog box.
What is the H/W buffer size setting in the playback engine dialogue box used for? What kinds of tracks are affected by this setting?It determines the number of samples pass from the audio interface to the CPU at one time. The lower the buffer size, the faster samples are passed to the CPU – low buffer sizes minimise latency, at the cost of limiting the processing power, which takes resources from other CPU tasks (e.g. plug-in processing) It only affects tracks using the low latency processing domain– native (PT) plugin processing on record-enabled Audio tracks (also when audio tracks are TrackInput Monitor Mode enabled), Auxiliary and Instrument tracks
What dialog box can you use to access the available options for your connected audio interface?Setup -> Hardware setup
How can you specify which I/O settings on Pro Tools will use when creating a new session from the dashboard?By using the Dashboard I/O settings drop down menu
Where are changes to Pro Tools I/O settings saved? Are they stored in the session or on the system? User/documents/Pro Tools/I/O settings. i.e. on the system
What dialog box can you use to rename signal paths? Setup > I/O Setup dialogue box
How can you configure an Audition Path in Pro Tools?I/O Setup dialogue box >Audition Path drop-down menu
What are some ways to open recently used project or session on a system?Dashboard > Recent projects. File > Open Recent
What shortcut operation can you use to add an individual audio track to your session? cmd+double click. (Instrument: opt+double click, Aux : ctrl+double click, Master: shift+double click)
What options are available for changing the display of the Mix and Edit windows? What are some of the optional views available in each window?View -> Narrow mix, Rulers, Track Number, Expanded Sends. Mix: Preamps, Inserts A-E, F-J, Sends A-E, F-J, EQ, I/O, Meters and Faders, Delay Compensation, Comments, Track Colour.Edit (as Mix): plus Real-Time properties(no Delay Compensation)
How can you easily show or hide tracks? What is the difference between hiding a track and deleting a track?Track List. Hiding a track makes it not viewable in Edit/ Mix window – it still exists in the session project. Delete removes track from the session
What are some options available in the Track List pop-up menu?Show, Hide, Sort
