Pro Tools Guide

How to Create Sessions

QUICKSTARTQuick Start box lets you quickly and easily create a new session or open an existing one.

When you first launch Pro Tools, you are prompted by the Quick Start dialog to do one of the following: Create a new session from a template. Create a new blank session. Open any of the last ten most recent sessions. Open any other session on your system.

TO CREATE A NEW SESISON FROM A TEMPLATE:1 Select Create Session from Template.

2 From the Session Template pop-up menu, select the category for the session templates you want.

3 Select the session template you want to use from the list (on the right).

4 If you want to change any of the session parameters, click the Session Parameters reveal button (to show the parameters) and do any of the following:

Select the Audio File Type for the session. Select the Bit Depth (16 bit, 24 bit, or 32 bit float). If desired, select (or deselect) Interleaved to create interleaved multichannel audio files in the session. Select the Sample Rate.

IT IS BEST TO KEEP THESE THE SAME FOR A STANDARD TEMPLATE

5 Click OK

6 In the Save dialog, name the session, choose where you want to save the session, and click Save.

TO CREATE A NEW BLANK SESSION:1 Select Create Blank Session.

2 If you want to change any of the session parameters, click the Session Parameters reveal button and do any of the following: Select the Audio File Type for the session. Select the Bit Depth (16 bit or 24 bit). Select the Bit Depth (16 bit, 24 bit, or 32 bit float). If desired, select (or deselect) Interleaved to create interleaved multichannel audio files in the session. Select the Sample Rate. Select the I/O Settings to use for the session.

Several pre-configured I/O Settings are included and it is best to keep these the same.

IT IS BEST TO KEEP THESE THE SAME FOR A STANDARD TEMPLATE

3 Click OK.

4 In the Save dialog, name the session, choose where you want to save the session, and click Save.

TO OPEN A RECENT SESSION:1 Select Open Recent Session.

2 Select any of the last ten recent sessions from the list (on the right).

3 Click OK.

TO OPEN ANY SESSION:1 Select Open Session.

2 Click OK.

3 In the Choose a Session dialog, navigate to the location of the session file and select it.

4 Click Open.

Creating a New SessionThe New Session box lets you create a new session from a template or create a new blank session (with no tracks or media).

TO CREATE A NEW SESSION FROM A TEMPLATE:1 Choose File > New.

2 In the New Session box, select Create Session from Template.

3 From the Session Template pop-up menu, select the category for the session templates you want.

4 Select the session template you want to use from the list (on the right).

5 Select the Audio File Type for the session.

6 Select the Bit Depth (16 bit, 24 bit, or 32 bit float).

7 If desired, select (or deselect) Interleaved to create interleaved multichannel audio files in the session.

8 Select the Sample Rate.

IT IS BEST TO KEEP THESE THE SAME FOR A STANDARD TEMPLATE (STEPS 5-8)

9 Click OK.

10 In the Save dialog, name the session, navigate to the location where you want to save the new session and click Save.

TO CREATE A NEW BLANK SESSION:1 Choose File > New.

2 In the New Session dialog, select Create Blank Session.

3 Select the Audio File Type for the session.

4 Select the Bit Depth (16 bit, 24 bit, or 32 bit float).

5 If desired, select (or deselect) Interleaved to create interleaved multichannel audio files in the session.

6 Select the Sample Rate.

7 Select the I/O Settings to use for the session.

IT IS BEST TO KEEP THESE THE SAME FOR A STANDARD TEMPLATE (STEPS 3-7)

8 Click OK.

9 In the Save dialog, name the session, navigate to the location where you want to save the new session and click Save.

Session Files and FoldersWhen you create a new session, Pro Tools automatically creates a new folder named for your session. Within this folder is the session file, a WaveCache.wfm file, and several subfolders (including, an Audio Files folder and a Clip Group folder).

Session FileThe session file is the document that Pro Tools creates when you start a new project. Pro Tools can open only one session file at a time. The session file is appended with the extension .ptx.

Audio Files FolderThe Audio Files folder contains all audio recorded or converted during the session.

When you record a new audio track, the track is saved as a new audio file to the Audio Files folder. You can also import other audio files into the session, and work with them as well.

Wave-Cache FileThe Wave-Cache.wfm file stores all of the waveform display data for the session. If you delete the Wave-Cache.wfm file, Pro Tools creates a new one the next time you open the session.

By storing waveform data in the Wave-Cache file, sessions open more quickly. The session Wave-Cache file can be included whenever a session is transferred to another Pro Tools system.

Deleting a Wave-Cache file does not harm the session or your system. However, the session will take longer to open because it has to recalculate waveform data for any associated audio files and store that data in a new Wave-Cache file.

Session File Backups FolderThe Session File Backups folder contains automatically- generated backups of your Pro Tools sessions. These files are created when working on a session and the Operations preference for Enable Session File Auto Backup is enabled.

Renamed Audio Files FolderThis folder includes file names that have been renamed when you open a session that contains audio file names with incompatible characters, or, in certain situations, save a copy of a session to a Pro Tools version that does not support long file names.

Opening a SessionWhen you open a session, Pro Tools looks in the session folder for audio files linked to the session.

TO OPEN AN EXISTING SESSION:1 Choose File > Open Session.

2 Locate the session you want to open and click Open.

Saving the Session FileThe Save command saves the changes you have made to your session and writes them over the previously saved version of the session file. The Save command cannot be undone.

To save a session:1 Choose File > Save.

Reverting to a Previously Saved Session FileIf you have made changes to a session since you last saved it, you can discard those changes and revert to its previously saved state.

To revert to the last saved version of a session:1 Choose File > Revert to Saved.

Saving the Session File with a New NameTo save a copy of the current session with a new name or to a different hard drive location, use Save As. Save As closes the current session and lets you keep working on the renamed copy. This is useful if you are experimenting and want to save different versions of the session.

Save As saves a new version of the session file only, and does not duplicate versions of the audio/ MIDI files.

TO SAVE A SESSION WITH A NEW NAME:1 Choose File > Save As.

2 Type a new name for your session.

3 Click Save.

Pro Tools Main WindowsPro Tools provides two ways of viewing tracks in a session:

Mix Window Shows tracks as channel strips, like a mixing board

Edit Window Shows tracks and track material against the Timeline

Pro Tools also has several other types of windows:

Transport Window Lets you control the transport and transport-related functions

Plug-In Windows Let you control plug-in parameters, such as Frequency and EQ

MIDI Editor Windows Lets you edit MIDI data

Score Editor Window lets you edit MIDI data as music notation

DigiBase Browsers Let you manage, audition, and import media for Pro Tools sessions.

In-App Web Browsers Let you access the Avid Marketplace and Pro Tools Online

Mix WindowIn the Mix window, tracks appear as channel strips just like a mixing console, with controls for: Inserts Sends Input and output assignments Volume Panning Record enable Track Input monitoring Automation mode Solo and Mute Instrument controls HEAT controls (Pro Tools HD only) Mic preamps

To display the Mix window:1 Choose Window > Mix.

To display all Mix window view options:1 Select View > Mix Window > All.

Edit WindowThe Edit window provides a Timeline display of audio, video, MIDI notes, as well as other MIDI data and mixer automation for recording, editing, and arranging on tracks. As in the Mix window, each track has controls for record enable, solo, mute, and automation mode.

To display the Edit window:1 Choose Window > Edit.

To display all Edit window view options:2 Select View > Edit Window > All.

Edit Window ToolbarAt the top of the Edit window is the Edit Window Toolbar and menu. This Toolbar provides access to the editing modes, tools, options, indicators, and displays for Pro Tools. You can customise the Toolbar in the Edit, MIDI Editor, or Score Editor windows by re-arranging, showing, and hiding the available controls and displays.

Edit Toolbar Controls and DisplaysThe following controls and displays in the Edit Window Toolbar are always shown.

Edit ModesThe Edit mode affects the movement and placement of audio and MIDI clips (and MIDI notes), how commands like Copy and Paste function, and also how the various Edit tools (Trim, Selector, Grabber, and Pencil tools) work.

Edit ToolsEdit tools are used for editing audio, MIDI, and automation data in Pro Tools.

Counters and Edit Selection IndicatorsThe Counters and Edit selection indicators provide information where selections are in the Timeline.

Main Counter Displays the current Edit insertion location in the Main Timebase ruler.

Sub Counter Displays the current Edit insertion location in the Sub Timebase ruler.

Cursor Location Displays the current cursor location in the Main Timebase ruler.

Cursor Value Displays the value of the current cursor value in peak amplitude (audio), pitch (MIDI), or according to the current automation or controller data type.

Edit Selection Indicators Display the Start, End, and Length of the current Edit selection.

MIDI Selection Indicators and Controls Display the current MIDI Edit selection (MIDI note number, and Note On and Note Off velocities) and provide controls for MIDI editing.

Timeline Data Online Status Indicator Is green when all files in use in track playlists are available for playback. If files are offline, being processed, or otherwise unavailable for playback, this indicator is red.

Session Data Online Status Indicator Is green when all audio and MIDI files referenced by the session are available for playback. If files are offline, being processed, or otherwise unavailable for playback, this indicator is red.

Delay Compensation Status Indicator Is displayed when Delay Compensation is enabled (Options > Delay Compensation). When Delay Compensation is disabled, this indicator is not displayed.

Track Solo Indicator Lights yellow when any track in the session is solod. When no tracks in the session are solod, the Track Solo indicator appears dim green.

Track Mute Indicator Lights orange when any track in the session is muted. When no tracks in the session are muted, the Track Mute indicator appears dim green. (Note that because Mute is an automatable mixing function, the Track Mute indicator does not function to clear all mutes when clicked.)

Grid and NudgeThe Grid and Nudge selectors let you set the Grid and Nudge values for editing in Pro Tools.

TO SHOW OR HIDE CONTROLS IN THE EDIT WINDOW TOOLBAR:1 Do one of the following: Click the Edit Window Toolbar menu (in the upper-right corner of the window). or Right-click in the Toolbar.

2 From the menu, select or deselect any of the following depending on which window you are configuring:

Zoom Controls When selected, the Zoom controls are displayed in the Edit window toolbar.

Transport When selected, the Transport controls are displayed in the Edit window toolbar

MIDI Controls When selected, the MIDI controls are displayed in the window toolbar

Synchronisation When selected, the Synchronisation controls and indicators are displayed in the Edit window toolbar

Minimal When selected, the Zoom, Transport, MIDI, and Synchronization controls are not displayed in the Edit window toolbar.

All When selected, the Zoom, Transport, MIDI, and Synchronization controls are all displayed in the Edit window toolbar.

Expanded Transport When selected, the Expanded Transport controls are displayed in the Edit window toolbar if Transport is also selected.

Track List When selected, the Track List is shown on the left of the Edit window.

Clip List When selected, the Clip List is shown on the right of the Edit window.

Universe When selected, the Universe view is shown near the top of the Edit window.

MIDI Editor When selected, the MIDI Editor view is shown at the bottom of the Edit windowEdit Window Zoom ButtonsThe Edit window also provides Zoom buttons in the lower right and upper right corners of the tracks pane.

Vertical and Horizontal Zoom In and Out ButtonsIn addition to the Zoom controls in the Toolbar, Pro Tools provides horizontal and vertical zoom buttons in the lower-right corner of the Edit window.

Vertical Zoom Buttons Zoom the track heights proportionally in the Edit window.

Horizontal Zoom Buttons Zoom the Timeline just like the Horizontal Zoom controls in the Edit window toolbar.

Audio and MIDI Zoom In and Out ButtonsPro Tools also provides Audio and MIDI Zoom In and Out buttons in the upper-right corner of the Edit window. These controls function exactly the same as the Audio and MIDI Zoom controls in the Toolbar, and let you zoom in and out vertically on audio waveforms and MIDI notes respectively.

Transport WindowThe Transport window can be set to show basic transport controls, counters, MIDI controls, and expanded features. The counters in the Transport window mirror the controls and counters at the top of the Edit window.

To display the Transport window:1 Choose Window > Transport.

Online Puts Pro Tools online so that playback and recording is triggered by an external timecode source.

Return to Zero Locates to the beginning of the session

Rewind Rewinds from the current play location. You can also click repeatedly to rewind incrementally, by an amount based on the Main Time Scale

Fast Forward Fast forwards from the Timeline insertion point. You can also click repeatedly to fast forward incrementally (by an amount based on the Main Time Scale).

Go to End Locates to the end of the session.

Stop Stops playback or recording.

Play Starts playback or (if the Record button was clicked first) recording from the Timeline insertion point or the Play Start Marker location if Dynamic Transport mode is enabled.

Right-clicking the Play button lets you select the playback mode from a pop-up menu: Half-Speed Prime for Playback Loop Dynamic TransportWith the Transport stopped, Start-click Play (Windows) or Control-click Play (Mac) to toggle Loop Playback mode. When enabled, a loop symbol appears in the Play button and Pro Tools plays continuously from the beginning of the selection to the end.

Record Arms Pro Tools for recording (the button flashes). Clicking Play then starts recording on record-enabled tracks only.

Right-clicking the Record button lets you select the record mode from a pop-up menu: Normal Loop Destructive QuickPunch

You can also cycle through the Pro Tools record modes with the Transport stopped, by Startclicking the Record button.

The Record button changes to indicate the currently selected mode: blank for Nondestructive, D for Destructive, a loop symbol for Loop Record, P for QuickPunch, T for TrackPunch, and DP for DestructivePunch.

Track Record Enable Indicator When lit (red), indicates that at least one audio track is currently record-enabled. When off (gray), no tracks are currently record-enabled.

TrackInput Monitor Indicator When lit (green), indicates that at least one audio track is currently set to Input Only monitoring (regardless of record enable status). When off (gray), all tracks are in Auto Input monitoring.

Transport Window Menu Lets you select what options to show in the Transport window: Counters, MIDI Controls, Synchronization, Minimal, All, and Expanded Transport.

Pre-Roll During playback or record, specifies the amount of audio that plays before the Play (Timeline) Cursor or Play Start Marker location, or beginning of the Timeline selection. Pre-roll is particularly useful with punch recording since it gives you time to catch the beat before reaching the punch-in point. To set the pre-roll amount, type a new value in this field, or drag the Pre-Roll flag in the Main Timebase ruler.

Post-Roll During playback or record, specifies the amount that plays after the end of a Timeline selection. Post-roll is useful in punch recording since playback continues after the punch-out point so you can check for a smooth transition to previously recorded material. To set the postroll amount, type a new value in this field, or drag the Post-Roll flag in the Main Timebase ruler.

Start Specifies the beginning of the play or record range. You can set the start point by entering a location in this field, or by dragging the corresponding Timeline Selection or Play Start Marker in the Main Timebase ruler.

End Specifies the end of the play or record range. You can set the end point by entering a location in this field, or by dragging the corresponding Timeline Selection Marker in the Main Timebase ruler.

Length Specifies the length for the play or record range. You can set the length by entering a location in this field, or by selecting a range in any Timebase ruler.

MIDI Editor WindowsMIDI Editor windows let you view and edit MIDI notes and controller data. You can open multiple MIDI Editor windows to work on different parts of your MIDI arrangements separately.

MIDI Editor windows show Instrument and MIDI track data superimposed in Notes view, or on separate tracks in Notation view, and lets you view and edit MIDI controller data (such as velocity, pitch bend, and mod wheel) in controller lanes under the Notes pane.

Displaying the MIDI Editor in the Edit WindowYou can choose to show (or hide) a MIDI Editor pane at the bottom of the Edit window (below the Tracks pane).

To show (or hide) the MIDI Editor view in the Edit window, do one of the following:1 Select (or deselect) View > Other Displays > MIDI Editor.

2 Click the MIDI Editor Show/Hide icon in the lower left corner of the Tracks pane in the Edit window.

3 Double-click the divider below the Tracks pane in the Edit window.

4 From the Edit Window menu, select (or deselect) MIDI Editor.

Score Editor WindowThe Score Editor window lets you view and edit Instrument and MIDI tracks as music notation. It automatically transcribes MIDI performances in real-time. You can print a score of your session or just parts from individual tracks.

Pro Tools provides different types of tracks for working with audio, MIDI and video in Pro Tools sessions.

Track TypesIn a Pro Tools session, you can have several different types of tracks. These can include audio, Auxiliary Input, MIDI, Instrument, and video tracks.

Audio Tracks Audio tracks let you record to disk and play back from disk recorded or imported audio files.

Auxiliary Input Tracks Auxiliary Input tracks can be used as effects sends, destinations for submixes, as a bounce destination, as inputs to monitor or process audio (such as audio from external MIDI instruments), and for many other audio routing tasks.

MIDI TracksMIDI tracks record, store, and playback MIDI data. You cannot select a track format when you create a MIDI track, because audio does not pass through it.

Instrument TracksInstrument tracks are a special type of track that provide both MIDI and audio capabilities in a single channel strip. Instrument tracks simplify using software and hardware instruments to record and monitor MIDI instruments.

Video TracksVideo tracks let you add or import QuickTime and Windows Media Files

With Pro Tools, you can add or import video to the Pro Tools Timeline. Video tracks only appear in the Edit window, and video can be viewed in the Video window.

Track Formats

Mono TracksA mono audio, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, or Instrument track controls volume, and, in some cases, panning, for a single channel of audio. A mono audio track uses a single voice. A mono track can also be routed to a multichannel output.

Stereo TracksA stereo audio, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, or Instrument track is a single channel strip for two channels of audio as a stereo pair. Stereo audio tracks use two voices.

Track Controls and Indicators (Edit Window)

Audio Track ControlsEach audio track has its own set of track controls, including Track Name, Playlist, Record Enable, Solo, Mute, Track View, Track Height, Timebase, Elastic Audio, Voice Assignment, and Automation mode.

Auxiliary Input Track ControlsEach Auxiliary Input track has its own set of track controls, including Track Name, Solo, Mute, Track View, Track Height, Timebase, and Automation mode.

MIDI Track ControlsEach MIDI track has its own set of track controls, including Track Name, Playlist, Record Enable, Solo, Mute, Track View, Track Height, Patch, Timebase, and Automation mode.

Instrument Track ControlsEach Instrument track has its own set of track controls, including Track Name, Playlist, Record Enable, Solo, Mute, Track View, Track Height, Patch, Timebase, and Automation mode.

Video Track ControlsEach video track has its own set of track controls, including Track Name, Playlist, Online, Track View, and Track Height.