PT 110: Pro Tools Fundamentals II (Live Online)

Our three-day Pro Tools Fundamentals II (PT110) course expands upon the basic principles taught in the Pro Tools Fundamentals I (PT101) course and introduces the core concepts and skills students need to competently operate a Pro Tools system running mid-sized sessions.

This course covers Pro Tools concepts and techniques that range from beginner to intermediate-level. Students learn to build sessions designed for commercial purposes and improve the results of their recording, editing, and mixing efforts. The hands-on exercises provide experience setting up sessions, working with digital video, using loop recording and MIDI Merge techniques, working with virtual instruments, warping with Elastic Audio, applying Real-Time Properties, creating clip loops, applying signal processing, using automation, and using submixes and groups to simplify a final mix.

Together with the first course in the series, Pro Tools Fundamentals (PT101), this course provides the training required to prepare for the Avid Certified User: Pro Tools.

Who is this class for?
Musicians, Audio Engineers, and Sound Editors for Film or Television.

Prerequisites:

• Completion of the Pro Tools Fundamentals I (PT101) course, or equivalent experience
• Ability to create sessions, select appropriate session parameters, use Edit modes and tools effectively, set Grid and Nudge values, create and recall memory locations, navigate tracks and media, create Edit selections using a variety of common techniques, use plug-ins for signal processing and virtual instruments, create a basic mix, and use basic automation techniques

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Manage large track counts and multiple channels of simultaneous inputs and outputs
• Create appropriate Pro Tools software and hardware settings
• Set up and modify input/output (I/O) settings
• Assess and integrate virtual instruments and specialized plug-ins for specific music
• Utilize advanced recording techniques to capture multiple record takes in succession
• Analyze Elastic Audio processors and methods to select appropriate options
• Utilize Elastic Audio techniques MIDI Real-Time Properties to achieve desired tempo and/or rhythmic effects and outcomes
• Apply clip-based editing techniques to audio and MIDI tracks
• Incorporate automated mixing techniques into a Pro Tools workflow for selective during a session post-production tasks automation
• Be ready to sit the associated certification exam
  

SYLLABUS:

Getting Started
About This Course

• Requirements for Exercises
• Software and Hardware

Working with I/O Settings

• Saving and Reusing I/O Settings
• Viewing, Modifying, and Restoring I/O Settings
• Setting the Audition Path
• Setting the Default Output Bus

Configuring Pro Tools Hardware Settings

• Setting the Default Sample Rate
• Changing the Clock Source
• Configuring the Footswitch Control
• Using a Dedicated Control Panel

Optimizing Pro Tools Performance

• Playback Engine
• Hardware Buffer Size
• Host Engine Error Suppression
• Cache Size (Pro Tools HD Only)

Adding Tracks to Your Session

• Adding a New Track Like the Previous
• Adding a New Track of a Specific Type

Edit and Mix Window Display Options

• Changing the Display of the Mix and Edit Windows
• I/O View
• Comments View

Track List Display Options

• Showing and Hiding Tracks
• Using the Track List Pop-Up Menu
• Sorting Tracks

Managing Session Data and Media Files
Pro Tools Software Capabilities

• Basic Specifications
• Plug-Ins
• Pro Tools HD Software

Working with Digital Video

• Video Editing Features of Pro Tools HD
• Setting Up Video Tracks
• Assembling Video Clips on Video Tracks
• Video Playback on a Secondary Monitor

Workspace Browsers

• Browser Features
• Workspace Browser Overview
• Workspace Browser Functionality
• Waveform Display

Importing Files and Session Data

• Considerations for Importing Files
• Importing Files Using a Workspace Browser
• Importing Files Using the Import Commands
• Importing Session Data
• Batch Importing Files

Clip Groups

• Creating Clip Groups
• Ungrouping Clips
• Regrouping Clips
• Editing Clip Groups
• Clip Groups and Tick-Based Tracks
• Clip Groups in the Clip List

Recording MIDI and Audio
Setting Up the Session

• Displaying Conductor Rulers
• Adding Meter and Tempo Events
• Creating a Linear Tempo Change
• Recording with a Click

Recording Selections

• Creating a Selection
• Using Pre- and Post-Roll

Loop Recording Audio and MIDI

• Loop Recording Differences: Audio Versus MIDI
• Capturing Loop Record Takes

Auditioning Loop Record Takes

• Setting the Match Criteria
• Selecting Alternate Takes

Recording MIDI Using Loop Playback with MIDI Merge

Working with MIDI & Virtual Instruments
Understanding Track Timebases

• Sample-Based Operation Versus Tick-Based Operation
• Track Timebases
• Tick-Based Timing and Note Values

Virtual Instruments

• Using Plug-In Virtual Instruments
• Using Stand-Alone Virtual Instruments

MIDI-Compatible Tracks and Track Views

• Viewing MIDI Data in the Edit Window
• MIDI-Compatible Tracks in the Pro Tools Mix Window

Auditioning and Playing Back MIDI

• MIDI Thru Versus the Default Thru Instrument
• Auditioning MIDI Clips

Editing MIDI Data

• Editing MIDI Clips
• Editing MIDI Notes with the Pencil Tool
• Editing Existing MIDI Notes
• Deleting MIDI Notes

Working with Elastic Audio
Elastic Audio Basics

• Enabling Elastic Audio on a Track
• Auto-Enabling Elastic Audio for New Tracks
• Understanding Elastic Audio Analysis
• Conforming Clips to the Session Tempo Map
• Warp Indicators
• Removing Clip Warping

Elastic Audio Track Views

• Elastic Audio Markers

Warping Sound with Elastic Audio

• Using Warp View
• Types of Manual Warping

Using Elastic Audio to Tighten a Rhythmic Performance

• How Quantizing Affects Elastic Audio Events
• Improving the Quantization Results

Using Elastic Audio to Experiment with Tempo

• Applying Tick-Based Timing to Elastic Audio-Enabled Tracks
• Applying Tempo Changes

Improving the Quality of Warped Audio

• Editing Event Markers in Analysis View
• Adjusting Event Sensitivity
• Using X-Form

Using Elastic Audio for Pitch Changes

• Pitch Shifting with the Elastic Properties Window
• Pitch Shifting with the Transpose Window
• Changing and Undoing Pitch Transposition

Editing and Fine-Tuning a Performance
Smart Tool

• Activating the Primary Smart Tool Functions
• Creating Fades Using the Smart Tool
• Smart Tool Fade Rules

Creating Rhythmic Changes for Audio and MIDI Data

• Using Grid Quantize Versus Groove Quantize
• Using Input Quantize
• Quantizing After Recording
• Setting the Options for Groove and Feel

MIDI Real-Time Properties

• Using the Real-Time Properties View
• Using the Real-Time Properties Floating Window
• Enabling Real-Time Properties
• Quantizing with Real-Time Properties

Working with Fades

• Using the Fades Dialog Box
• Applying Fades
• Editing Fades
• Fades and Elastic Audio Processing.

Additional Editing and Media Management
Track Color-Coding
Clip Looping

• Working with Clip Loops
• Creating Looped Clips
• Modifying Clip Loop Settings
• Editing Looped Clips
• Considerations for Working with Clip Loops
• Unlooping Clips

Editing on the Grid

• Using Grid Mode
• Separating Clips on the Grid

AudioSuite Overview

• AudioSuite versus Insert Processing
• AudioSuite Features
• Using AudioSuite Plug-Ins

Working with the Clip List

• Finding a Clip in the Clip List
• Cleaning Up the Clip List
• Exporting Clips and Clip Definitions

Basic Mixing and Signal Flow
Track Type Icons
Solo and Mute Status Indicators
Using Inserts for Effects Processing

• Inserts on Audio Tracks and Aux Inputs
• Inserts on Master Faders
• Plug-In Inserts
• Hardware Inserts

Using Sends and Returns for Effects Processing

• Creating a Send
• Setting the Send Level
• Changing the Default Send Level Preference
• Send Display Options
• Creating a Return

Working with Sends

• Using the Send Window
• Moving and Copying Sends
• Changing and Removing Sends

Using Native Plug-Ins

• Using Gain-Based Processors
• Using Time-Based Processors
• Using the Plug-In Window

Master Fader Tracks

• Uses of Master Fader
• Creating Master Faders

Writing and Editing Automation
Understanding Automation

• Groups and Automation
• Automation Playlists
• Automation Modes

Working with Automation

• Enabling and Suspending Automation
• Writing Automation Selectively
• Playing Automation
• Viewing Automation

Graphical Editing of Automation Data

• Automation Displays
• Creating and Adjusting Breakpoint Automation Data
• Drawing Automation

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Automation Data

• Cutting Automation Versus Deleting Automation
• Using Cut, Copy, and Paste Commands
• Using Paste Special Mode

Removing Automation from a Track

• Deleting Breakpoints on the Displayed Automation Graph (Recap)
• Clearing Automation for the Displayed Automation Graph
• Clearing Automation for All Automation Graphs

Using Advanced Mixing Techniques and Creating Final Media
Working with Track Subsets

• Using the Do-To-Selected Function
• Using Submaster Tracks
• Routing Signals Using Paths and Selectors

Grouping Tracks

• Understanding Mix and Edit Groups
• Creating a Group
• Activating and Deactivating Groups

Working with Groups

• Identifying Group Membership
• Selecting Members of a Group
• Modifying a Group
• Deleting a Group
• Using the All Group
• Groups and Automation
• Groups and Elastic Audio
• Creating Final Media
• Creating a CD-Compatible Bounce
• Creating an Archive