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Pro Tools, one of the most advanced Digital Audio Workstation software
used to make compositions, improve sound and create professional projects.
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In this video we will see how to use Pro Tools First. The basics do not
change in case you use another version of Pro Tools.
When opening Pro Tools its Dashboard panel appears. On the left side
choose Open to open an existing project or Create to start from a new
session by using any ready template available. To understand how to work
with Pro Tools, let's just start from an empty project by unchecking
Create From Template. Consider that you can save and store up to three
projects in the First version.
A Pro Tools session is open on the Workspace browser on the center with
several windows and panels around, including the Edit window on top and
the Tracks window on the left. You can also show other windows from either
the Window tab or the dots button in the top left corner.
To start working you have to import the necessary audio files first. You
can use the Soundbase window to pick ready samples from the Pro Tools
libraries or simply drag and drop your own files inside the workspace.
Consider that you need QuickTime installed or you won't be able to import
and use .mp3 files.
All the audio files added are collected inside rows called Audio Tracks
and are represented as simple blocks called clips, showing their own audio
waveform: a single one for mono and doubled for stereo sound.
To playback the project content, fix the starting point by clicking on the
timeline above and use either the Space bar key or the player above.
The placement in time is represented by a thin marker. As you stop the
playback, such marker will restart from the starting point, unless you
enable Insertion Follows Playback.
The display above shows the time placement in either minutes-seconds or in
bars-beats-ticks. This format is also adopted on the main timeline above.
Minutes-seconds is the standard and absolute time format; whereas the
beats-ticks format is relative, whose length in time depends on the tempo
set above. The change of tempo affects the speed rate of all the clips
inside the Tracks, being their timebase set on Ticks by default. If their
timebase is changed to Samples, the current Tracks content takes the
seconds as reference, becoming independent from the tempo set.
To check the project content, you can use your mouse wheel with the ALT
key down to zoom in and out and the Shift key to move in time.
To edit the audio clips inside the workspace you have to use the Edit
tools and the Edit Modes on the left side of the Edit window.
Use the Grabber tool to move clips in time within the same Track or in
another one by clicking and dragging these. The way you move clips depends
on the Edit Mode chosen: use Shuffle to move clips without leaving any
time gap; Spot to set the time values directly; Slip to move freely and
Grid to snap to the timeline grid. In case you do not see it, just enable
the Grid button on top. In this simple tutorial, we will always work in
Slip Mode.
Use the Trim tool to adjust the clips duration in time in several ways.
Enable Standard to change the duration by clicking and dragging on the clips
edges, cutting part of their content. Use TCE to change the clips duration
by changing their speed rate, making it faster or slower. With Loop you
can increase the clip duration by repeating its waveform in loop.
The Selector tool is used to select and edit only parts of a clip by
clicking and dragging on it.
All these editing tools can be used together by clicking on the top side
of the box.
You can cut, copy and paste any clip by using CTRL (or CMD) and X, C and V.
This also works on limited parts of clips selected with the Selector tool.
If you make any mistake you can undo with CTRL (or CMD) and Z.
On the left side you get all the options to manage each Audio Track. This
shows its name on top and several buttons below it, such as the Record
button to record; the Solo button to mute all the other Tracks and the
Mute button to disable the current Track.
Below these buttons you can change the Track View. By default this is set
at waveform, showing the audio waveform on each clip. You can also choose
blocks to see the clip as a simple block or other options from volume to
pan to adjust these properties. In this case you can move and shape the
automation line on the Track itself to change the chosen property in time.
To do so you can either use the Grabber tool to move and create anchors or
the Pencil tool to draw freehand.
You can also view and edit multiple automations by using the arrow button
on the left side.
While editing clips it can be useful to playback the interested region
in loop continuously to check the effect of your modifications. First of
all, click and drag on the timeline above to select the interested region
and then right-click on the play button above to choose Loop.
Pro Tools First also includes the Mix window, used to mix the several
Tracks inside your project, here called Channel Strips. You can open this
window from its button in the top left corner or show any of its sections
from the list inside the Window View selector.
You can use the Inserts section to add and apply adjustments, plug-ins and
effects to the current channel chosen. Click on any slot to choose the
right correction and then use the dedicated interface to adjust how this
must be applied. You can use ready templates under Preset.
Use the Sends to send the current channel to either a physical speaker or
an audio bus within the project, in order to make post-processing. Whereas
the I/O section defines the real input and output of the channel, in order
to record or playback. If the Track must be played, any output or speaker
must be defined on it or the Track will remain silent.
Whereas if you use the Track to record, any input shall be set, for
example any microphone. In this case, use the Record button to arm the
Track and then the top Record button to enable recording. You will start
recording once you click on the play button, until you stop. During this
process, just the armed Track will be recorded, getting all the other
Tracks in play.
Next to the outputs you can extend the volume options for the current
Track, including the main volume and the panning between the left and right
stereo channels. You can check the deciBel meter to control the volume
level during time.
With Pro Tools First you can also make your own compositions by using the
MIDI clips. These include notes and tones that create any melody or
percussion from scratch once they are sent to an instrument or a
synthesizer.
To realize these you can either use a MIDI or an Instrument Track. In this
video we will use an Instrument Track, which is more suitable for virtual
compositions made with synthesizers. For external samplers a MIDI Track
is recommended.
To create a new Instrument Track right-click from the Tracks window and go
to New..., choosing Instrument Track. Then apply any synthesizer with the
Inserts slots, going to Instrument and adjusting the synth properties.
At this point you can add notes by enabling the Pencil tool and clicking
on the Track. This becomes a Piano Roll where you can fix tones and length
of each note by clicking and dragging. Consider to put the MIDI clip in
loop to compose in an easier and faster way.
Also in case of MIDI clips you can use the Edit tools to move and edit
these. In particular, choose clips as Track View to move and edit MIDI
clips entirely as seen for audio clips. Whereas choose notes to move and
edit each single note inside the MIDI clip.
You can adjust MIDI clips by using the Mix window or the Track options
on the left, that include automations for the synthesizers properties.
To save your project in progress, just use CTRL (or CMD) and S. Whereas
to render and export it outside Pro Tools, go to File and then to Export,
Audio Mix.... Set the format, the bit depth, the sample rate and where to
save. By default, Pro Tools exports everything, from the beginning of the
first clip to the end to the last one on the workspace, unless you define
a specific region with the Selector tool.
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