by StĂŠphane Calce
February 2015
Fore-thinking
Trick: Organize your files on your external hard drive before you start working Create a project folder in your external HD including all your media before you create a Pro Tools session
Example:
1. Getting started
External Hard Drive
Computer Project Folder Copy your project folder onto the computer’s desktop
Loading up Pro Tools
Launch the application
Set your session’s parameters like this, and click ok when done
Your project title
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Reminder: save your work often! (⌘s)
Save your Pro Tools session in your project folder
Click save when done
2. Organizing and customizing Pro Tools’ interface
Edit Window
PT menu
You will use this window to manipulate your media
Mix window
This window houses all your tracks volume and enables you to root and mix your signals
Accessing the Mix windows (⌘ =)
3. Creating tracks
PT menu : Track / New
(shift+cmd+n)
Let’s start with : 1 mono audio track, 4 stereo audio tracks, and 1 stereo master fader track
Name your tracks (Double-click on the track name) Some standards
DX = Dialogue FX = Effects MX = Music MX_Aux = Auxiliary Master Out = Master You can also add a colour to each track :
4. Importing media
PT menu : File / import / Audio or Video
Import video
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Example
If needed, you can mute the audio track imported with the video file
No video? Go to the window tab in the PT menu bar and press ‘’video’’
Import audio - dialogue box
*Reminder: when importing sound files from the school’s server, or from sources other than your project folder, use ‘’copy’’ or ‘’convert’’
To audition files
Click done to import
Pro Tools will ask you to choose a destination folder. Leave it as it appears by default : Audio Files. Click ‘’open’’
Then, click ‘’open’’
You have 2 options: Import to new track, or to clip list. Make your choice and click ‘’ok’’
Or‌ Drag and Drop technique Drag on PT icon technique
File types supported - Recommended
Sound .WAV (or BWF - broadcast wav files) .AIFF .MP3 .WMA
Video Most common: DNxHD Quicktime .MOV (codec Apple Pro Res 422) H.264 (performance may vary) *Avoid MP4 codec
Session data AAF (From Avid Media Composer) OMF
5. Basic editing technique
Toolbar window
editing modes
zoom controls
grid and nudge values
editing tools
playback controls
midi and sync controls
main counter
Edit tools zoomer
trim
selector
graber
scruber
smart tool ** Zoomer - hold option key to demagnify. You can also use the zoom controls buttons if you prefer
pencil
Editing modes Slip mode : move clips on the track without affecting the placement of other clips -the most editing freedom Grid mode : to snap clips to grid Shuffle mode : shuffle the order of clips (mostly used in music) Spot mode : spot clips in exact locations
Grid and nudge values Main counter set up
Automation
Go to start of session……………………. End of session…………………………… Move up track……………………………. Move down track………………………… Move playhead (to grid)……………….. Play/stop………………………………….
return alt+return p ; , . space bar
Separate clip……………………………… b or cmd+e Delete clip………………………………… delete key Mute clip………………………………….. cmd+m Copy clip…………………………………. c Paste……………………………………… v Copy-paste………………………………. cmd+d Undo……………………………………… z Redo……………………………………… cmd+z Toggle edit tools………………………. Edit modes F1 shuffle mode F3 spot mode Edit tools F5 zoomer (+alt) F7 selector F9 scruber
esc
F2 slip mode F4 grid mode F6 Trim tool F8 graber F10 pencil
Zoom (window)………………………… Zoom in…………………………………. Zoom out………………………………..
1,2,3,4,5 r t
Activate keyboard focus
Workshop : Edit sound to picture Shot 1 to 2
Use helicopter or plane sound
Shot 3 to 4
Cut plane, and add city ambiance
Shot 5
_Use city ambiance, _edits foot steps (import _foot steps from server)
Shot 6
Use laboratory sound
Finally : edit music to picture wherever you like
WS02
Exercise #2
1) Edit footsteps to picture / match sound to visuals 2) Edit tape hiss to picture 3) Edit Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue to picture
Plug-ins and Audiosuite
Real time‌
To add a plug-in to a track
1) activate Inserts (A-E) in desired track 2) click on one of the inserts 3) select: multi-channel plug-in / (your choice)
EQ 7 band
to select presets
to automate plugin
to bypass plugin
use mouse to affect the frequency and the Q (slope steepness) turn on if you wish to affect HPF and LPF
Frequency - Human ear 20Hz to 20,000Hz (or 20Khz)
EQ 7 band / breakdown
input / output - volume Lo-pass - lets low freq pass, cuts only high Hi-pass - lets high freq pass, cuts only low Q - affects slope steepness LF - lower freq LMF - lower mid freq MF - mid freq MHF - mid high freq HF - high freq *Use peak to cut specific freq (shelf mode affects wider parts)
play with the amount of reverb you want (Dry/Wet)
Reverb : we hear direct (dry sound) first, and then reverberations off surfaces (e.g. walls)
Remember
To create an illusion of perspective (and depth), there are no correct rules. Fiddle with the EQ (mostly by filtering out lows and some highs), and play with reverb. You can usually get it to sound pretty good.