Pinnacle Systems Pro Tools - 11.0 User's Guide [es]

Introduction to Pro Tools

Legal Notices

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Guide Part Number 9329-65428-00 REV A 06/14

Introduction to Pro Tools....................................................... 1

Connecting Headphones or Speakers ......................................... 1

Playing Back the Demo Session ............................................. 2

Creating a New Session ................................................... 6

Recording Audio ........................................................ 6

Measuring Time in Minutes and Seconds or Bars and Beats......................... 9

Importing Audio ........................................................ 13

Editing Audio .......................................................... 16

Sequencing MIDI with a Virtual Instrument Plug-In............................... 20

Mixing and Plug-In Processing ............................................. 28

Exporting Your Mix...................................................... 36

Learn More ........................................................... 37

Introduction à Pro Tools ...................................................... 38

Connexion d'un casque ou de haut-parleurs ................................... 38

Lecture de la session de démonstration....................................... 39

Création d'une nouvelle session ............................................ 43

Enregistrement audio .................................................... 43

Mesure du temps en minutes et secondes ou en mesures et temps .................. 47

Importation de fichiers audio ............................................... 51

Édition audio .......................................................... 55

Programmation MIDI avec un plug-in d'instrument virtuel .......................... 59

Mixage et traitement de plug-in ............................................. 67

Exportation de votre mix .................................................. 75

Pour en savoir plus...................................................... 76

Contents iii

Einführung in Pro Tools....................................................... 77

Anschließen von Kopfhörern oder Lautsprechern ................................ 77

Wiedergabe der Demo-Session ............................................ 78

Erstellen einer neuen Session.............................................. 82

Aufnehmen von Audio ................................................... 82

Zeitmessung in Minuten und Sekunden oder Takten und Schlägen................... 85

Importieren von Audiodateien .............................................. 90

Bearbeiten von Audiomaterial .............................................. 93

MIDI-Sequencing mit einem Virtual Instruments-Plug-In ........................... 97

Mischen und Plug-In-Verarbeitung ......................................... 106

Exportieren Ihres Mix ................................................... 114

Weitere Informationen .................................................. 115

Introducción a Pro Tools ..................................................... 116

Conectar auriculares o altavoces .......................................... 116

Reproducción de la sesión de demostración .................................. 117

Creación de una sesión ................................................. 121

Grabación de audio .................................................... 121

Medición del tiempo en minutos y segundos o barras y compases .................. 124

Importación de audio ................................................... 129

Edición de audio ...................................................... 132

Secuenciación MIDI con un plug-in de instrumento virtual ........................ 136

Mezclas y procesamiento con plug-ins ...................................... 145

Exportación de la mezcla ................................................ 153

Más información....................................................... 154

Pro Tools

ࡢᴫせ ......................................................... 155

࣊ࢵࢻࣇ࢛ࣥࡲࡓࡣࢫࣆ࣮࣮࢝ࢆ᥋⥆ࡍࡿ ................................... 155

ࢹ࣭ࣔࢭࢵࢩࣙࣥࢆ෌⏕ࡍࡿ ............................................. 156

᪂つࢭࢵࢩࣙࣥࢆసᡂࡍࡿ ............................................... 161

࣮࢜ࢹ࢕࢜ࢆ㘓㡢ࡍࡿ .................................................. 161

ศ࡜⛊ࡲࡓࡣᑠ⠇࡜ᢿ࡛󰪍㛫ࢆ⾲♧ࡍࡿ..................................... 165

࣮࢜ࢹ࢕࢜ࢆ࢖࣏࣮ࣥࢺࡍࡿ ............................................. 169

࣮࢜ࢹ࢕࢜ࢆ⦅㞟ࡍࡿ .................................................. 173

ࣂ࣮ࢳ࣭ࣕࣝ࢖ࣥࢫࢺ࣓ࢗࣝࣥࢺ࣭ࣉࣛࢢ࢖ࣥࢆ౑⏝ࡋ࡚

࣑࢟ࢩࣥࢢ࡜ࣉࣛࢢ࢖࣭ࣥࣉࣟࢭࢵࢩࣥࢢ ................................... 186

࣑ࢵࢡࢫࢆ࢚ࢡࢫ࣏࣮ࢺࡍࡿ ............................................. 195

ࡉࡽ࡟ヲࡋࡃᏛࡪ࡟ࡣ .................................................. 197

ࢩ࣮ࢣࣥࢫࢆసᡂࡍࡿ. 177

MIDI

Contents iv

Pro Tools

䔋ᣒ㕠ᱧᝃយฝக ..................................................... 199

᧚ᩫ⑁⹧ጒ⼸ ......................................................... 200

݈ᐧ󰩾ጒ⼸ .......................................................... 204

䴠䶾ᒂݣ ............................................................ 204

В“ܳহ⻿”ᝃ“ᄼ㞯হ៺ၽ”≸䛼ᬣ䬡 .................................... 207

ᄩڒ䴠䶾 ............................................................ 211

㑃䒾䴠䶾 ............................................................ 214

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ᄩܧ⌤䴠 ............................................................ 232

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キϸ........................................................... 199

MIDI

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Contents v

Introduction to Pro Tools

Read this guide if you are new to

Pro Tools

| Software. This guide provides examples of how to record, edit, and mix audio, as well as how to use MIDI in Pro Tools.

If you have not yet installed Pro Tools, install it now according to the instructions in the Pro Tools Installation Guide. For information on connecting and installing drivers for your audio hardware, refer to its documentation.

Headphone level

Connecting Headphones or Speakers

To hear the audio from Pro Tools, connect headphones or speakers to your audio hardware (this guide uses a Pro Tools | Mbox an example). If you are using headphones, lower the Headphone level control (by turning it counterclockwise). If you are using speakers, lower the Master volume control (by turning it counterclockwise). It is important to start with the volume sufficiently low to avoid damaging your ears or your equipment. Once you have started Pro Tools and opened a session (or created a new one) you can adjust the volume controls to a comfortable listening level.

Master volume level

audio interface as

1/4-inch headphone jack

Mbox front panel connectors and controls

Mbox back panel speaker connections

Introduction to Pro Tools 1

Playing Back the Demo

Session

Use the demo session to test your headphones and speakers, and start exploring what you can do with Pro Tools.

To install and open the demo session:

1 Do one of the following:

• Insert the Pro Tools Installer disc into your DVD

drive, locate and open the Additional Files folder, and then drag the Demo Session folder to your hard drive (for best performance, use an Avid-qualified external hard driverather than the system drive).

• Download the Pro Tools demo session from your

online Avid account to your hard drive (for best performance, use an Avid-qualifiedexternal hard drive rather than the system drive).

oolbar

2 Launch Pro Tools.

3 Do one of the following, depending on what you

see on-screen:

• If the Quick Start dialog appears, click

Session,

then click OK. Locate the Demo Ses-

sion file (.ptx), select it, and click

Open

Open.

• If the Quick Start dialog does not appear, choose

File > Open Session, then locate the Demo Ses-

sion file (.ptx), select it, and click

For more information about the demo session, see the Demo Session Read Me.

Open.

Tracks

Introduction to Pro Tools 2

To play the Demo Session:

1 Turn the volume down on your audio interface

so that you don’t play back audio at an uncomfortably high level.

2 Start playback of the demo session in Pro Tools.

To start or stop Pro Tools, do one of the following:

• Press the Spacebar on your computer keyboard.

• Click the Play or Stop button in the Transport

window (

Window > Transport) or in the Edit win-

dow toolbar.

Play

Stop

Stop and Play controls in the Transport window

3 While the session plays, raise the volume on

your audio interface to a comfortable listening level.

4 Explore Pro Tools while the demo session plays

back (see the different options available in the

Window menu):

• The Edit window provides a Timeline display of

audio, video, MIDI data, and mixer automation for recording, editing, and arranging on tracks. Use the Edit window for editing and arranging audio, MIDI, and automation data in your session.

• The Mix window shows tracks as channel

strips—much like a mixing board—with level meters and controls for plug-in and hardware inserts, sends, input and output assignments, panning, volume, solo, mute, and record enable. Use the Mix window for routing and mixing audio and MIDI in your session.

• The Transport window provides controls for transport related functions such as Play, Stop, Record, Fast Forward, and Rewind.

• Plug-In windows provide controls for audio processing and virtual instrument plug-ins.

• MIDI Editor windows let you edit MIDI data using a “piano-roll” style interface, breakpoint editing, and traditional music notation.

• The Score Editor window lets you edit the session’s MIDI data using traditional music notation. You can even print the score directly from Pro Tools.

• The Workspace provides an interactive database for all of the media in your session as well as for your system.

5 Press the Spacebar or click the Stop button to

stop playback.

6 When you’re finished checking out the Demo

Session, choose

The Demo Session is an example of a finished project that has been arranged, edited, and mixed. You don’t need to return to the Demo Session for anything else in this guide, but you might want to check it out again later, after you’ve been introduced to a few more Pro Tools features.

File > Close Session.

Introduction to Pro Tools 3

Viewing the Edit and Mix Windows

The Edit window and the Mix window are the two main work areas in Pro Tools. Throughout the rest of this guide, you will see examples of both windows being used for different types of production work.

Viewing the Edit Window

To display the Edit window:

 Choose Window > Edit.

To display all Edit window view options:

 Select View > Edit Window > All.

Edit window

Introduction to Pro Tools 4

Viewing the Mix Window

To display the Mix window:

 Choose Window > Mix.

To display all Mix window view options:

 Select View > Mix Window > All.

Mix window (with Transport and Plug-In windows shown)

Introduction to Pro Tools 5

Creating a New Session

Recording Audio

This section shows you how to create a new session. You can create a new session when you first launch Pro Tools or while it is already running.

To create a new session:

1 If Pro Tools is not already running, launch

Pro Tools.

2 Do one of the following:

• When launching Pro Tools, if the Quick Start dialog opens, select

OK.

click

• Choose

File > New Session. If you currently

Create Blank Session and

have a session open, you will be prompted to save any changes. In the New Session dialog,

Create Blank Session and click OK.

select

3 In the Save dialog, navigate to where you want

to save the session, name it, and then click

Save.

You have just created a new session with no tracks. Next, you will connect a microphone or instrument cable and create new tracks for audio recording.

This section shows how to connect a microphone or instrument (such as a guitar or keyboard) to an Mbox and record audio.

Connecting a Microphone or Instrument to an Mbox

To connect a microphone or an instrument:

1 Do one of the following:

• If you are using a microphone, connect it to a Mic/Line input on the Mbox using an XLR cable.

• If you are using an instrument, connect it to a DI input on the Mbox using a 1/4-inch cable.

2 Do one of the following:

• With an Mbox, ensure that the Front/Rear switch is set correctly for either a front panel or rear panel connection.

• With an Mbox Mini, depending on which input you are using, ensure that the Line/DI switch or the Mic/Line switch is set correctly for the type of connection.

Input 1 source selector

(Front/Rear switch)

Connecting a mic to Mic/Line Input 1 on the rear panel of an Mbox with an XLR cable

Introduction to Pro Tools 6

Input 1 Mic/Line input

Creating a Track

Pro Tools uses tracksfor recording audio and MIDI in a session. Before you can record audio, you need to create an Audio track.

To create and prepare an audio track for recording:

1 Create a new session, or open an existing

session.

2 Choose Track > New.

3 To record a single microphone or instrument

connected to your audio interface, set the New Tracks dialog for

Samples, and click Create.

1 Mono Audio Track,in

5 In the middle of the new track’s channel strip,

notice where it says “Analog 1 (Mono).” This shows which Input channel (Input 1 or Input 2) is assigned to this track. (To specify a different Input channel, click the Audio Input Path selector and choose the other channel.)

Audio Input

Path selector

Recording Your Performance to a Track

Creating a new mono audio track

If you want to record both inputs at once, create one stereo track or two mono tracks depending on what you have plugged in and what you plan to record:

• To record two different sources (such as one vocal mic and one electric guitar), create 2 Mono audio tracks. This lets you record two input signals simultaneously.After recording, these can be edited, processed, and balanced independently.

• To record a two-channel stereo source (such as a stereo keyboard), create 1 Stereo audio track.

4 Make sure the Mix window is open by choosing

Window > Mix.

To record an audio track:

1 Click the track’s Record Enable button to arm

the track for recording. The button flashes red.

Record Enable button

Record enabling a track in the Mix window

2 Sing or play into the mic, or play your

instrument.

Watch the meter level in the Pro Tools track while you raise the input gain on your audio interface. (Note that moving the on-screen fader has no effect on input levels; it’s only for adjusting monitoring levels.)

Introduction to Pro Tools 7

3 Turn up the input gain on your audio interface

until you see the on-screen track meter show green most of the time, or yellow for louder passages.

Input 1 Gain (Mbox)

• If the track meter shows red, gain is too high; lower the input gain.

• If you barely see green in the track meter, gain is too low; raise the input gain.

4 In the Transport window, click the Return to

Zero button if you want to start recording from the beginning of the session.

5 Click the Record button in the Transport to

record arm the session. The button flashes red. (This tells Pro Tools that you are ready to record—think of this as a “master” record enable button for the session.)

Return to Zero Play Record

6 Choose Window > Edit so you can watch what

happens when you record.

7 When you are ready to start recording, press the

Spacebar or click the Play button in the Transport. The Transport Record button and the track’s Record Enable button turn solid red while recording.

8 To stop recording, press the Spacebar again or

click the Stop button in the Transport. (The Transport Record button disengages, but the track’s Record Enable button remains enabled

Track meter

and flashes red until you click it).

You have just recorded your first audio track.

A mono audio track after recording

Introduction to Pro Tools 8

Listening to Your Recording

After you have recorded some audio, you can play it back for review, editing, and mixing.

Measuring Time in Minutes and Seconds or Bars and Beats

To play back a recorded track:

1 Click the track’s Record Enable button again to

take it out of Record mode. The Record Enable button stops flashing red.

2 To start playback, press the Spacebar or click

Play in the Transport.

3 To stop playback, press the Spacebar or click

Stop in the Transport.

Recording More Tracks

Simply repeat the same steps to create another audio track (mono or stereo) and continue recording more tracks. In this way, you can record additional parts against the tracks you have recorded previously. This is a common production technique for layering different parts to create an arrangement of a song.

Pro Tools lets you measure time in minutes and seconds (absolute time), or bars and beats (relative time). For music production, it is often desirable to measure time in bars and beats. The timing of beats is relative in that it depends on the tempo. The timing of bars is relative in that it depends on the meter.

Pro Tools lets you set tempo and meter changes using markers in the session Timeline at the top of the Edit window. These settings scale the relative time of bars and beats against the absolute time of minutes and seconds (or samples). This distinction is referred to in Pro Tools as tick-based (relative) time versus sample-based (absolute) time, and both audio and MIDI data can be set to follow either on a track-by-track basis (for more information, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide).

Main Counter

Grid mode

Timebase Rulers

Timeline

Pro Tools Timeline and Main Counter (with the Main Time Scale set to Minutes and Seconds)

Introduction to Pro Tools 9

The Pro Tools Main Time Scale for the session’s Timeline is set to

Min:Secs (minutes and seconds)

by default, but you can change the Main Time Scale to

Bar|Beats (bars and beats) if you want to

record with a click track in a specified meter at a specified tempo. Setting the Main Time Scale to bars and beats is also useful if you want to create, edit, and arrange audio and MIDI on a bar/beat grid.

Recording with a Click Track

A click track provides a metronomic click for tempo reference while recording. Set the Main Scale to material according to the specified meter and tempo instead of

To create a click track:

1 Choose Track > Create Click Track.

Bar|Beats to record and edit your track

Min:Secs.

Changing the Main Time Scale

To set the Main Time Scale, do one of the following:

 Click a Main Counter selector (located at the top

of the Edit or Transport window (when it is set to display Counters) and select a Time Scale.

Main Counter selector (in the Edit window)

 If a Timebase ruler is displayed, click its name

so it becomes highlighted.

Setting the Main Time Scale to the timebase currently displayed in the Sub Counter switches the two Time Scales, setting the Sub Time Scale to the previous timebase of the Main Time Scale.

Pro Tools creates a new Auxiliary Input track with the Click II plug-in on the first track insert. When you start playback or recording, the click provides a countoff and continues according to the meter and tempo map in the Pro Tools Timeline.

2 Select View > Transport > MIDI Controls to view

the MIDI controls in the Transport Window.

3 In the Transport, ensure that the Metronome and

Count Off buttons are selected.

4 Ensure that the Conductor button is enabled if

you want the click to follow the session tempo (on the Timeline). Disable the Conductor button if you want to adjust the tempo manually.

5 Press the Spacebar or click the Play button in the

Transport to start playback and hear the click.

Tempo

Count Off button

Metronome button

Setting the Main Time Scale to Bars|Beats

Introduction to Pro Tools 10

Conductor button

To set the Click settings:

1 Choose Setup > Click/Countoff.

2 Select one of the following options:

•

During play and record—the click sounds during

playback and recording

•

Only during record—the click only sounds while

recording and not during playback

•

Only during countoff—the click only sounds

when counting off before recording or playback starts

Setting the Session Meter

Be sure to set the session meter to match the meter of your music. If your session’s meter does not match the music you’re recording, the accented clicks from the Click track will not line up with what you’re playing, and, as a result, the recorded material may not align with the bars and beats grid in the Edit window.

To set the meter for a session:

1 Double-click the Current Meter button in the

Transport window.

Current Meter button

2 Enter the Meter for the session and set the

Location to 1|1|000 (to ensure that the inserted

meter event replaces the default).

Click/Countoff dialog

3 Click OK.

To silence the click track, do one of the following:

 Mute the Click track by clicking the M (Mute)

button in the Track controls for the Click track.

 In the Transport window, deselect the Metro-

nome button so it is not highlighted blue. Then deselect the Count Off button so it is not highlighted. (Doing both silences the click track and disables Count Off.)

Introduction to Pro Tools 11

Meter Change dialog

3 From the Click pop-up menu, select a note value

for the beat. (For example, if you are in 6/8, select a dotted-quarter note).

4 Click OK to insert the new meter event.

Setting the Session Tempo

New sessions in Pro Tools default to a tempo of 120 BPM. If you want to record with a click at a tempo other than 120 BPM, make sure to set the tempo accordingly.

To change the session tempo:

1 Do one of the following:

• Double-click the Song Start Marker in the Edit window.

• Click the Add Tempo Change button (+) at the head of the Tempo ruler.

Song Start Marker

Tempo ruler

Add Tempo Change button

Tempo ruler

2 In the Tempo Change dialog, enter the BPM

value for the session.

3 Set the Location to 1|1|000 (to ensure that the

inserted tempo event replaces the default session tempo).

4 From the Resolution pop-up menu, select the

note value for the beat. (For example, if you are in 6/8, select a dotted-quarter note.)

5 Click OK.

Using Manual Tempo Mode

In Manual Tempo mode, Pro Tools ignores tempo events in the Tempo ruler and instead plays back a Manual Tempo. This tempo can be set numerically by tapping in the tempo.

To set tempo manually:

1 Ensure that the MIDI controls are shown in the

Transport by selecting

Controls

2 In the Transport, disable the Tempo ruler by

clicking the Conductor button so it is not highlighted. Pro Tools switches to Manual Tempo mode. In this mode, any tempo events in the Tempo ruler are ignored.

View > Transport > MIDI

Tempo Resolution

Tempo

Conductor button

Manual Tempo mode

3 Click the Tempo Resolution selector and select a

note value. (For example, if you are in 6/8, select the dotted-quarter note, or if you are in 3/4, select the quarter note.)

Tempo Change dialog

You can type in a specific tempo, or you can use the T key to tap in the tempo.

Introduction to Pro Tools 12

4 To enter a new tempo, do one of the following:

• Click the Tempo value, type a new number, and press Enter.

• Click the Tempo value and drag up or down to change the setting. For finer resolution, hold Command (Mac) or Control (Windows) while dragging.

• Click the Tempo value and press the “T” key on your computer keyboard at the desired tempo to set the value.

Importing Audio

Many music production workflows include using audio loops and audio from sample libraries. For example, you can use drum loops instead of a click track for recording. You can even combine and arrange audio loops and “one-shot” samples from a variety of sources to create a whole new piece of music.

Pro Tools provides a number of ways to import audio files from different sources into a session. You can import audio from a hard drive, a network volume, an audio CD, or removable media using

Import Audio command, or by dragging from a

the Workspace browser, or from the Finder (Mac) or Windows Explorer (Windows).

Using the Import Audio Command

The Import Audio command lets you import audio files or clips into your Pro Tools session.

To import audio files or clips into a session using the Import Audio command:

1 Choose File > Import > Audio.

2 In the Import Audio dialog, locate and select an

audio file to display its properties and associated clips.

Import Audio dialog

3 To preview a selected file or clip before you

import it, click the Play button in the Import Audio dialog. Click the Stop button to stop preview.You can adjust the preview volume with the vertical slider. To navigate to a particular location in the file, use the horizontal slider under the Play and Stop buttons.

The Preview Volume control in the Import Audio dialog also affects the preview volume when auditioning clips in the Clip List.

Introduction to Pro Tools 13

4 Do any of the following:

• To place a file or clip in the Import list, select the file and click

Add or Convert.

• To import all files and clips in the current directory, click

Add All or Convert All.

• To remove a file or clip from the Import list, select it and click

• To remove all files and clips, click

Remove.

Remove All.

Pro Tools lets you add files to a session that are at a different sample rate than the session. In the comments field of the Import Audio dialog, a warning is posted that these files will play back at the wrong speed and pitch if they are not converted.

5 When you have added all audio files and clips

you want to the Import list, you can apply sample rate conversion by doing the following:

• Enable

• Specify the

Apply SRC.

Source Sample Rate either by typing

a number, or by selecting a sample rate from the pop-up menu.

• Select the sample rate conversion quality from the

Quality pop-up menu. This setting overrides Sample Rate Conversion Quality setting in

the the Processing Preferences page.

6 Click Done.

7 If you are copying or converting files, select a

location for the new files, such as the Audio Files folder for the current session. When adding files, the file is referenced from its original location.

8 In the Audio Import Options dialog, select

where the imported files will go in the session:

Audio Import Options dialog

New Track

Each audio file is imported into its own

individual track and into the Clip List.

Clip List

Audio files are imported into the Clip List without creating a new track. Imported audio files appear in the Clip List and can then be dragged to audio tracks.

9 If you chose to create a new track, select a

location for the imported file in the track:

Session Start

Places the file or clip at the start of

the session.

Song Start

Aligns the beginning of the file or clip

to the Song Start marker.

Selection

Aligns the beginning of the file or clip to the edit cursor or to the beginning of a selection in the Timeline.

Spot

Displays the Spot dialog, which lets you spot the file or clip to a precise location based on any of the available Time Scales.

10 Click OK.

Introduction to Pro Tools 14

Importing Files by Dragging

Pro Tools lets you import audio, MIDI, video, and session files by dragging files from a Workspace browser, the Mac Finder, or Windows Explorer to the Pro Tools application icon, the session Timeline, a track, the Track List, or the Clip List.

Workspace

Drag media or session files to existing tracks, or to the Track List to add as new tracks

Drag files to the Clip List to import

Importing from the Workspace by dragging

Introduction to Pro Tools 15

The preceding figure illustrates some of the options available to import files by dragging from a Workspace browser.

To import files into the Clip List:

1 Select audio, video, MIDI, clip group, REX, or

ACID files in a Workspace browser, or in the Mac Finder or Windows Explorer.

2 Drag the selected files onto the Clip List.

To import files into an existing track:

1 Select the files you want to import in a

Workspace browser, or in the Mac Finder or Windows Explorer.

2 Drag the selected file to a location on a

compatible track.

To import files as new tracks:

1 Select the files you want to import in a

Workspace browser, or in the Mac Finder or Windows Explorer.

2 Do any of the following:

• Shift-drag files anywhere in the Edit window.

• Drag files to the Track List.

• Drag files to empty space in the Edit window, below or between tracks.

Editing Audio

Pro Tools lets you edit audio on tracks by trimming, separating, cutting or copying and pasting, moving, re-arranging, and more.

Trimming Audio Clips

The following example shows you how to do a simple edit to change where a song starts. In this example, the drummer is heard “counting off” the tempo (“1...2...1.2.3...”) before the song starts (let’s assume this stereo track recorded the overhead mics on the drum kit). Here’s what the audio looks like in Pro Tools.

countoff

The stereo waveforms let you visualize the different sections of the song. You can take advantage of this “what you see is what you hear” aspect of Pro Tools to be able to quickly silence the countoff by “trimming” the beginning of the song.

song start

waveforms (left and right channels)

Introduction to Pro Tools 16

To trim an audio clip:

1 Click to select the Trim tool (located in the Edit

window Toolbar).

Selector tool

Grabber tool

Trim tool

song start

2 Click in the track after the countoff and before

the start of the song (you’ll see the cursor display the Trim icon). Drag right to trim the beginning of the clip in, or drag left to trim the beginning of the clip out.

You can “untrim” the clip by clicking and dragging back to the left with the Trim tool. You’ll see that the previous audio (the countoff) is still there. This is an example of how Pro Tools lets you edit non- destructively.

Copying and Pasting Clips

The following example shows you how to copy and paste an audio clip on a track to different timeline and track locations in a session. This example uses an imported rhythmic audio loop.

To copy and paste a clip:

1 Import a rhythmic audio loop into a Pro Tools

session (see “Importing Audio” on page 13).

Smart Tool

Edit Tools

3 If using the Grabber tool, click the clip you want

to copy and paste. If using the Selector tool, double-click the clip you want to copy and paste.

Use the Smart Tool to have the Edit cursor switch between different Edit tools, depending on where you place it over a clip.

Selecting a clip with the Grabber tool

4 Choose Edit > Copy.

5 With the Selector tool, place the Edit cursor at

the location where you want to paste the copied clip.

2 Click to select the Grabber tool or the Selector

tool (located in the Edit window Toolbar).

Introduction to Pro Tools 17

6 Choose Edit > Paste.

Separating Clips at the Edit Selection

To separate a clip at the current Edit location:

1 With the Selector tool, make an Edit selection

within an audio clip.

Pasting a clip to a different time location on a different track

Press Command+C (Mac) or Control+C (Windows) to copy the current Edit selection to the clipboard. Press Command+V (Mac) or Control+V (Windows) to paste the contents of the clipboard to the current Edit location.

Separating and Rearranging Clips

There are many ways to create new audio clips in Pro Tools. You can import or record whole file audio clips. You can also create audio clips that only refer to parts of audio files by trimming (see “Trimming Audio Clips” on page 16) or by separating whole file clips.

The following example demonstrates different ways that you can separate and rearrange audio clips in a session. This example uses an imported rhythmic audio loop.

Making an Edit selection

2 Choose Edit > Separate Clip > At Selection.

Press Command+E (Mac) or Control+E (Windows) to separate clips at the current Edit selection.

New clips created by separating the parent clip at the boundaries of the Edit selection

Use Edit > Separate Clip > On Grid to separate the audio selection according to the current grid. This is useful when working with audio on a Bar|Beat grid. Use Edit > Separate Clip > At Transients to separate the audio selection according to individual attacks in the audio. This is useful for separating audio out into individual “hits,” such as each hit in a drum loop or each note in a guitar riff.

Introduction to Pro Tools 18

Rearranging Separated Clips

There are many ways to rearrange clips in Pro Tools. The selected Edit mode (set in the leftmost section of the Edit window Toolbar) determines how Pro Tools handles audio clips when you move them. The following provides just a few of the many possibilities for arranging audio clips in your Pro Tools session.

Edit modes, Grid mode selected

To rearrange clips, do any of the following:

 With the Grabber tool in Slip mode, drag an

audio clip to a new location. The clip moves to the exact location where you moved it.

 With the Grabber tool in Grid mode, drag an

audio clip to a new location. The clip snaps to the nearest grid location where you moved it.

 With the Grabber tool in Spot mode, drag an

audio clip to a new location. The Spot dialog opens and you can specify an exact time location for the clip.

 Select a clip with the Grabber or Selector tool

and choose

Edit > Repeat. In the subsequent

Repeat dialog, enter the number of times you want to repeat the selection and click

OK. The

selection is repeated as separate clips, which are then placed one after the other.

A rhythmic audio loop separated at transients and

“shuffled”

For more information about editing and arranging audio, see the sections on Edit Modes and Edit Tools, Clip Groups, and Elastic Audio in the Pro Tools Reference Guide.

 With the Grabber tool in Shuffle mode, drag an

audio clip to a new location between other clips. Adjacent clips shuffle to make room for the moved clip.

 Select a clip with the Grabber or Selector tool

and choose

Edit > Duplicate. The selected clip is

duplicated and placed directly after the current selection.

Introduction to Pro Tools 19

Sequencing MIDI with a Virtual Instrument Plug-In

The following provides an example of how to program a MIDI sequence on an Instrument track to play a virtual instrument plug-in. This example uses the Xpand! Technology.

The Xpand!2plug-in is part of the AIR Creative Collection, which is bundled with Pro Tools as a separate, downloaded installer. Be sure to run the AIR Creative Collection Installer, including the associated content, before proceeding with this example. For more information, see the AIR Creative Collection Plug-Ins Guide.

What is MIDI?

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data is not audio. MIDI does not generate sound. MIDI is a way for MIDI-equipped devices—like synthesizers, samplers, controllers, keyboards, and sequencers—to communicate control data, to “talk” to one another. MIDI effectively tells sound generating devices (like hardware synthesizers or samplers, or software virtual instruments) what to play.

plug-in from AIR Music

USB and FireWire-compatible MIDI interfaces send and receive MIDI messages to and from the computer over USB or FireWire. Hardware MIDI instruments are connected using MIDI cables to the MIDI inputs and outputs on your MIDI interface. Virtual instruments are inserted as plug-ins on Instrument tracks in Pro Tools and accessed directly from within Pro Tools.

Introduction to Pro Tools 20

Creating an Instrument Track with an Instrument Plug-In

You can use either an Instrument track or a MIDI track to record, program, and play back MIDI sequences

in Pro Tools. If you are working with virtual instrument plug-ins (such as Xpand!

from AIR), you will generally want to use an Instrument track. Instrument tracks let you both work with MIDI sequences and monitor audio.

You can also use Instrument tracks with external MIDI devices.

To create an Instrument track and insert an instrument plug-in:

1 Choose Track > New. In the New Track dialog, do the following:

• Select

Stereo.

• Click the pop-up menu that shows Audio Track and select Instrument Track.

• Click

New Track dialog, Stereo and Instrument track selected

2 If necessary, select Window > Mix to show the Mix window.

3 Click the track Insert selector near the top of the Instrument track and select Xpand2 from the Instrument

Create.

submenu.

Insert selector

Inserting the Xpand!2plug-in on an Instrument track

Introduction to Pro Tools 21

4 A plug-in window appears showing the Xpand!

plug-in.You can now select a sound preset to play using

MIDI.

For more information about the Xpand!2plug-in, see the AIR Creative Collection Plug-Ins Guide.

To select a preset sound in the Xpand!2plug-in:

 At the top of the plug-in window, click the Librarian menu (<factory default>) and select a preset from

any of the sub-menus. With Xpand!

, presets are grouped in sub-menus by category.

Selecting an Xpand!2factory preset from the Plug-In Librarian menu

Introduction to Pro Tools 22

Playing a Virtual Instrument

You can play a virtual instrument (such as

Xpand!

) using a MIDI sequence or from an

external MIDI controller.

To play a virtual instrument using an Instrument

track, do one of the following:

 If you have a MIDI controller connected, you

can play the virtual instrument as long as the Instrument track on which it is inserted is selected or record enabled. You can record your performance as a MIDI sequence while you play.

 Import a MIDI sequence (or program a MIDI

sequence) to the Instrument track on which the virtual instrument is inserted, and then start playback.

Recording MIDI with an External Controller

Pro Tools lets you record MIDI data from a MIDI controller.

To record MIDI on an Instrument Track:

1 Make sure your MIDI controller is connected

either to a MIDI interface with MIDI cables or directly to your computer with a USB cable.

7 Play your MIDI controller’s keyboard. You

should hear the sound you selected.

8 When you are ready to start recording, click Play

or press the Spacebar. To stop, click Stop or press the Spacebar.

Recorded MIDI data on an Instrument track

9 Click the track Record Enable button again to

take it out of record enable and play back what you just recorded.

Penciling In a MIDI Sequence

You can program a MIDI sequence in Pro Tools using the Pencil tool.

When inserting MIDI notes or other MIDI data with the Pencil tool, MIDI clip boundaries are created on the nearest barlines.

To insert a MIDI Note on a track in the Edit window:

1 In the Edit window, set the Instrument track (or

MIDI track) to Notes view.

2 Create a stereo Instrument track and insert

Xpand!

on it (see “Creating an Instrument

Track with an Instrument Plug-In” on page 21).

3 Select a bass preset (also known as a “patch”).

4 Select Options > MIDI Thru. (Verify that MIDI

is checked; if not, select it.)

Thru

5 Click the track’s Record Enable button to enable

the Instrument track for MIDI recording.

6 In the Transport window, click the Record

button.

Introduction to Pro Tools 23

Selecting Notes view on an Instrument track

2 Select the Pencil tool and make sure it is set to

Free Hand. The cursor will change to the Pencil tool when located over the playlist area of a MIDI or Instrument track in Notes view.

3 To insert quarter notes on the beat, do the

following:

• Set the Main Time Scale to Bars|Beats.

• Set the Edit mode to Grid.

• Set the Grid value to quarter note.

• Set the Default Note Duration value either to

quarter note (or to

4 Move the Pencil tool into the playlist area for the

Follow Grid).

MIDI or Instrument track. Use the Edit window’s ruler and the track’s mini-keyboard as a reference to locate the pitch and time location you want.

When using the Pencil tool, the Cursor location and value are displayed in the Window Toolbar.

Cursor pitch location Pencil Cursor

Cursor Timeline location

5 When you reach the pitch and time location you

want, click to insert the note.

MIDI note inserted with the Pencil tool

With Grid mode enabled, the start point of the MIDI note snaps to the nearest Grid boundary by default. With the Free Hand Pencil tool, hold Command (Mac) or Control (Windows) while clicking to temporarily suspend Snap to Grid.

The velocity for inserted notes is determined by the Default Note On Velocity setting. The duration is determined by the Default Note Duration value. When in Grid mode, the Note On location is determined by the Grid value.

Play MIDI Notes When Editing option is en-

If the abled, each note sounds as it is inserted.

The Pencil tool can be dragged after clicking (and before releasing) to adjust the note’s pitch or duration. Drag right to lengthen the note without changing its start point. Drag left to shorten the note without changing its end point.

With the Grid mode enabled, the end point of the MIDI note snaps to the nearest Grid boundary by default. Command-drag (Mac) or Control-drag (Windows) with the Pencil tool to temporarily suspend Snap to Grid.

Editing MIDI Notes

MIDI notes can be edited in the Edit window or in a MIDI Editor window, including start and end points, duration, pitch, and velocity. The Selector, Grabber, Trim, and Pencil tools can operate on

Cursor location and value

Introduction to Pro Tools 24

individual notes or groups of notes.

Selecting MIDI Notes

Transposing Notes

MIDI notes must be selected before they can be edited.

To select MIDI notes:

1 Set the MIDI or Instrument track to Notes view.

2 Do one of the following:

 With the Pencil tool or any Grabber tool, Shift-

click each note.

 With any Grabber tool, movethe cursor to where

there are no notes (the Marquee appears) and draw a rectangle around the group of notes you want to edit.

Selecting notes with a Grabber tool

When using a Grabber tool, if any portion of the rectangle touches a note (either its start or end point), the note is included in the selection.

 With the Selector tool, drag across a range of

notes.

MIDI notes can be transposed by dragging them up or down with the Pencil tool or any Grabber tool. If several notes are selected before dragging, each note is transposed.

To transpose a MIDI note:

1 Set the MIDI or Instrument track to Notes view.

2 Select the Pencil tool or any Grabber tool.

3 While holding Shift, drag the note up or down.

Transposing with a Grabber tool

The Shift key ensures that the transposed note maintains its original start point on the Pro Tools Timeline.

While dragging, each new note sounds and the Cursor Location Value indicator (in the Edit window) indicates the number of semitones and direction (+/–) for the transposition.

Hold Control (Mac) or Start (Windows) and press Plus (+) on the numeric keypad to transpose the selected MIDI notes up by one semitone, or press Minus (–) on the numeric keypad to transpose the selected MIDI notes down by one semitone.

To transpose a copy of the note, leaving the

Selecting notes with the Selector tool

original unchanged, hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) while dragging.

When using the Selector tool, a note’s start point must be included in order for it to be selected.

Introduction to Pro Tools 25

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