Pro Tools for Music Production
Recording, Editing and Mixing
Published on 17. December 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-0-240-51640-0 (ISBN)
Description
Pro Tools 5.1 for Music Production is a definitive guide for new and professional users of the system. It is a vital source of information to keep by your side, whether you are just starting out, or an existing user looking to maximize your system for optimum results. The book takes a real-world approach and shows how to build the right system to suit your needs. Detailed chapters on recording, editing and mixing blend essential knowledge with practical examples from actual recordings. The sections on signal processing, plug-ins, virtual instruments, MIDI + audio sequencers and hardware controllers are easy to understand and contain first hand advice. Mac users will benefit from essential operational tips such as software installation, file organization, hard drive maintenance and troubleshooting tips, whilst the book also contains essential information that will equally appeal to PC users.
If you are a music producer, recording engineer, musician, or composer there will be something in this book for you, whether you are running a small home or project studio right up to a world-class professional facility for audio and music production.
If you are about to purchase new equipment, wish to troubleshoot technical problems, need guidance on how to achieve professional sounding results, or are looking for inspiration for new ideas - keep this book by your side. Fully illustrated in colour throughout with screen grabs demonstrating step-by-step examples packed with helpful tips and notes, this book will enhance your understanding of the system.
Mike Collins is Technical Consultant to the Music Producers Guild (MPG) contributing to the Education Group and organizing technical seminars. For several years Mike has operated a Pro Tools project studio and has been involved in everything from dance remixes, to TV ads, background and featured music for TV and video, album editing and compilation and recording jazz. Mike offers consultancy, troubleshooting and personal tuition to other professionals with Pro Tools-based project studios as well as seminars on Music Technology, Pro Tools and other music software. He has written over 500 articles for audio, music technology and computer magazines and advises on college education programmes.
Mike's wide-ranging career and experience enables him to bring excellent insight from all sides into his writing, from technical detail to creative expression. Starting out as a musician and club DJ, Mike soon moved into professional recording working for EMI and other music companies. He has worked as a songwriter, Film Sound Consultant for Dolby Labs, produced TV recordings and was Senior Recording Engineer and Music Technology Specialist for Yamaha. He has also been a MIDI programmer working on records, films and music tours with bands such as the Shamen and well-known film composers such as Ryuichi Sakamoto. He has worked on CD-ROM projects for Apple and Canon and set up a programming and editing website for the Guild of Record Producers and Engineers. He has a BSc in Electroacoustics and an MSc in Music Information Technology.
If you are a music producer, recording engineer, musician, or composer there will be something in this book for you, whether you are running a small home or project studio right up to a world-class professional facility for audio and music production.
If you are about to purchase new equipment, wish to troubleshoot technical problems, need guidance on how to achieve professional sounding results, or are looking for inspiration for new ideas - keep this book by your side. Fully illustrated in colour throughout with screen grabs demonstrating step-by-step examples packed with helpful tips and notes, this book will enhance your understanding of the system.
Mike Collins is Technical Consultant to the Music Producers Guild (MPG) contributing to the Education Group and organizing technical seminars. For several years Mike has operated a Pro Tools project studio and has been involved in everything from dance remixes, to TV ads, background and featured music for TV and video, album editing and compilation and recording jazz. Mike offers consultancy, troubleshooting and personal tuition to other professionals with Pro Tools-based project studios as well as seminars on Music Technology, Pro Tools and other music software. He has written over 500 articles for audio, music technology and computer magazines and advises on college education programmes.
Mike's wide-ranging career and experience enables him to bring excellent insight from all sides into his writing, from technical detail to creative expression. Starting out as a musician and club DJ, Mike soon moved into professional recording working for EMI and other music companies. He has worked as a songwriter, Film Sound Consultant for Dolby Labs, produced TV recordings and was Senior Recording Engineer and Music Technology Specialist for Yamaha. He has also been a MIDI programmer working on records, films and music tours with bands such as the Shamen and well-known film composers such as Ryuichi Sakamoto. He has worked on CD-ROM projects for Apple and Canon and set up a programming and editing website for the Guild of Record Producers and Engineers. He has a BSc in Electroacoustics and an MSc in Music Information Technology.
Reviews / Votes
"Thank you for this book - it's become nightly reading for me during my transition from Digital Performer to PT HD. The screenshots, labeling and clarity of this book have given me the tools to get up to speed quickly and painlessly. Between deadlines there's no good time to overhaul the studio, but after reading the book I felt completely confident that I could make the switch with minimal downtime. The tips and highlights are worth the price of admission alone. This is a must-read for anyone involved with Pro Tools."Linda Taylor, Rubicon Music
'Whether a Pro Tools rookie or expert, this book will teach you something. No Pro Tools user should ever be far away from a copy.'
David Fanning, Macworld
Back cover
"Totally everything you want to know on the subject - it"s the full bandwidth book on Pro Tools, taking you from a simple mono session all the way through to a full 32-track mixing session. The many steps along the way to creating a finished audio production are very well explained. This is the one book you should definitely have by your side when you need to know which way to go with Pro Tools. Bedside reading for all users!"
John Leckie, Producer (Radiohead, Simple Minds, Baaba Maal, Dr John and many other famous bands and artists).
"A relaxed and practical overview of Pro Tools - a must-read for all levels of users. The Recording section has a useful beginner's guide with lots of tips, with the sections on Editing and Mixing offering progressively more advanced information. The step-by-step examples, complete with detailed computer screenshots are excellent. The guide to setting up your computer system is just fantastic, especially the practical tips on how to use the Norton Utilities to fix problems".
Phil Harding, Chairman of the Music Producer"s Guild and Producer (Boyzone, East 17, Pet Shop Boys, Jesus Jones, Donna Summer, Kylie Monogue, Jason Donovan).
"...a must for anyone involved in recording music. You will instantly feel at home with this book - lots of great colour screen shots, terrific advice - and thoroughly professional in every way. Take it in small doses or heavy chunks and you will come away feeling that you have really learned something."
Barry Stoller
Composer, "Match of The Day"
"Mike Collins is a seasoned trainer as well as an experienced user of technology and this background is reflected in the book"s intensely down-to-earth and practical approach. The book blends exactly the right amount of technical and anecdotal information to maintain both the reader"s interest and sense of being involved in an "actual" learning situation. I can recommend this book to students knowing that they will be able to simply pick it up and get on with it - without losing themselves in empty technical detail or practical blind alleys. It covers just about every aspect of Pro Tools you will need to know about for music production".
Jim Barrett
Music Technology Course Leader, University of Glamorgan
"If you want to know what is possible with Pro Tools and how it works this book will tell you. More than that it really helps you understand what you are doing and why. It"ll be living in my briefcase from now on".
Roger Askew, Broadcast Audio Engineer, Sky TV
"Filled with essential knowledge and supported by practical examples, it's a must for any new or experienced user of Pro Tools."
James Eade, Sound and Lighting International.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Pro Tools users including Recording and<BR id="CRLF">Post-Production Engineers, Music Producers, MIDI programmers, DJs and Remixers, Composers and Musicians.<BR id="CRLF"><BR id="CRLF">Students on music and audio technology courses (as well as lecturers).<BR id="CRLF"><BR id="CRLF">Advanced/serious music hobbyists
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 189 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-240-51640-0 (9780240516400)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
07/2004
2nd Edition
Focal Press
€86.70
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Mike Collins (Author)
Mike Collins is a studio musician, recording engineer and producer with more than 30 years experience of making records. He has many credits on UK chart singles and albums, for radio and TV broadcasts, advertising jingles and movie scores.
Mike was awarded a BSc Degree in Electroacoustics-with-Music from Salford University in 1979, became a Member of the Audio Engineering Society in 1980, and was awarded an MSc Degree in Music Information Technology, with Distinction, in 1989.
After graduating, he spent 14 months working on transducer designs for Standard Telephones and Cables (STC), followed by a couple of 6-month stints as a Planning & Installation Engineer for Neve Electronics and as a Film Sound Consultant for Dolby Labs, before joining Yamaha's London R & D Studio in 1986 as Senior Recording Engineer and Music Technology Specialist.
Working freelance since 1988, Mike has regularly reviewed music and audio software and hardware and written about a variety of audio and music production topics, with more than 2000 articles and reviews published in Pro Sound News Europe, Future Music, Computer Music, Macworld, MacUser, Personal Computer World, Sound On Sound, AudioMedia, Studio Sound, Electronic Musician, EQ, MIX and similar publications.
In parallel with this, Mike established a career throughout the 1990's as a studio musician, MIDI programmer, recording engineer and producer working on Top 40 albums and singles in the leading London recording studios including Abbey Road, Mayfair, Townhouse, Eden, Strongroom and Sony Whitfield Street Studios, CTS and Lansdowne Studios. In 1997, Mike set up a project studio equipped with a high-end Pro Tools system and has since been involved in everything from dance remixes to TV ads, background and featured music for TV and video, album editing and compilation, and, since 1999, producing jazz, blues and soul recordings. Notable projects include working on music for a Deutsche Bank promotional video, co-production credits on Ayetoro, an experimental jazz/Afrobeat album, and, in 2010, working as a freelance audio transfer engineer at Iron Mountain's studio facility in Slough, helping to digitize Universal Music's vast library of master tape recordings. Most recently, Mike has set up a 'boutique' record label to release recordings he has produced - see http://rudenoterecords.com/author/rudenoterecords/
Mike Collins is a studio musician, recording engineer and producer with more than 30 years experience of making records. He has many credits on UK chart singles and albums, for radio and TV broadcasts, advertising jingles and movie scores.
Mike was awarded a BSc Degree in Electroacoustics-with-Music from Salford University in 1979, became a Member of the Audio Engineering Society in 1980, and was awarded an MSc Degree in Music Information Technology, with Distinction, in 1989.
After graduating, he spent 14 months working on transducer designs for Standard Telephones and Cables (STC), followed by a couple of 6-month stints as a Planning & Installation Engineer for Neve Electronics and as a Film Sound Consultant for Dolby Labs, before joining Yamaha's London R & D Studio in 1986 as Senior Recording Engineer and Music Technology Specialist.
Working freelance since 1988, Mike has regularly reviewed music and audio software and hardware and written about a variety of audio and music production topics, with more than 2000 articles and reviews published in Pro Sound News Europe, Future Music, Computer Music, Macworld, MacUser, Personal Computer World, Sound On Sound, AudioMedia, Studio Sound, Electronic Musician, EQ, MIX and similar publications.
In parallel with this, Mike established a career throughout the 1990's as a studio musician, MIDI programmer, recording engineer and producer working on Top 40 albums and singles in the leading London recording studios including Abbey Road, Mayfair, Townhouse, Eden, Strongroom and Sony Whitfield Street Studios, CTS and Lansdowne Studios. In 1997, Mike set up a project studio equipped with a high-end Pro Tools system and has since been involved in everything from dance remixes to TV ads, background and featured music for TV and video, album editing and compilation, and, since 1999, producing jazz, blues and soul recordings. Notable projects include working on music for a Deutsche Bank promotional video, co-production credits on Ayetoro, an experimental jazz/Afrobeat album, and, in 2010, working as a freelance audio transfer engineer at Iron Mountain's studio facility in Slough, helping to digitize Universal Music's vast library of master tape recordings. Most recently, Mike has set up a 'boutique' record label to release recordings he has produced - see http://rudenoterecords.com/author/rudenoterecords/
Content
1 Pro Tools -The world "s leading digital audioworkstation
Introduction, Who this book will appeal to, What the book covers.
2 The evolution of Pro Tools -a historical perspective
Introduction, How Pro Tools came about -the move to digital The road to Pro Tools, The beginnings of Pro Tools, Pro Tools III, The plug-ins, Cubase VST, The Yamaha 02R compact digital mixer, The ADAT Bridge, PCI expansion chassis, Twenty-four-bit digital audio, Pro Tools 24, Pro Tools MIX, Hardware controllers, The latest developments, Chapter summary
3 So what is Pro Tools?
Introduction, The system, Native audio versus Pro Tools, Pro Tools hardware overview, Do you need to use mixer with Pro Tools?, Disk requirements and bandwidth, Pro Tools software Pro Tools LE, Hardware options for Pro Tools LE, Digi ToolBox XP, Digi 001, Monitoring latency and recording, Monitoring latency and MIDI, Can I ruin my recording?, Moving between PT LE and PT TDM, Unique ?le IDs, Chapter summary
4 Recording
Introduction, Digitizing audio, Digital audio caveats, Practical considerations, Things you should know about before recording in Pro Tools, Monitoring, Drum punch-ins, Recording to click, Destructive Record, Playlists, The concept of "voices "in Pro Tools, Loop Recording audio, QuickPunch, Half-speed recording and playback, Markers, Pro Tools MIDI features overview, Recording SysEx in Pro Tools, The rulers Edit window view options, Recording short cuts, Bringing in audio material from CD, Using the QuickTime Player to import audio from CD, Case Study 1. How to get started with simple recording project A simple mono or stereo session, AutoSave Session details, Case Study 2.A MIDI +Audio session, Pitch shifting, Importing audio, Identify Beat, Recording MIDI parts Working with patterns, Time stamping, Chapter summary
5 Editing
Introduction, New features and short cuts in Pro Tools 5.1 Zooming and navigation, Crossfades, Editing accuracy, Auto Fade-In and Fade-Out, Beat Detective, Editing Regions, Linked Selections, Case Study.Editing Take Me To The River, File conversion, Mix window set-up, Edit window set-up, Markers window set-up, Editing tips, Editing vocals, Editing before the downbeat, Arranging sections, Playlists, Using Spot mode, Chapter summary
6 Mixing
Introduction, Mixing features, Tracks, Sends, Output windows for tracks and sends, Automation, Automation playlists, Automation write modes, Trim mode, Snapshot automation 000
Mixdown, A note on terminology, Mixing to analogue tape, Mixing to DAT, Mixing to digital media, Making your own CDs
Audio compression, Bounce to Disk, Recording to tracks, When to use the Dither plug-in, Case Study.Take Me To The River Mix, Setting up groups, Fading-in using automation "snapshots ", Write Mutes, Alternative methods, Setting up Auxiliary routings, Dealing with the drums, Dealing with the bass and guitars, Dealing with the keyboard -getting ready for the vocal, Dealing with the vocal, Panning the instruments, Choosing effects, Dealing with plug-in processing delays, Adding comments, The ?nal mix, Chapter summary
7 Signal processing plug-ins
Introduction, Plug-in delays, Real-time plug-ins, AudioSuite plug-ins, DigiRack plug-ins, EQ, Dynamics, Delays, The Procrastinator, Signal Generator RTAS-and TDM-only plug-ins
Trim, TimeAdjuster, Dither, Optional Digidesign plug-ins Chapter summary
8 Virtual instruments:current developments with
software-based synthesizers and samplers
Introduction, Propellerheads - chocks away! Steinberg enters the market, Native Instruments, Emagic enters the fray ... New from Emagic, From the USA, Back in Hamburg -TC|Works Cracked software, DirectConnect technology, Problems with DirectConnect, Digidesign DirectIO ASIO Drivers, Chapter summary
9 Midi +Audio sequencers
Introduction -how MIDI +Audio sequencers interface with
Pro Tools, Studio Vision, Digital Performer, DP3, Cubase VST Logic Audio, Logic Audio Version 5, Chapter summary
10 Hardware control surfaces
Introduction, Digidesign ProControl, ProControl modules, ProControl rear panel, ProControl summary, Digidesign/Focusrite Control|24, Control|24 control surface
Control|24 rear panel, Control|24 summary, Chapter summary
11 Focusrite hardware
Introduction, Focusrite Red 1 Quad Mic Pre, How does it sound? Focusrite ISA430 Producer Pack, Chapter summary
12 The computer system
Introduction, Choosing and setting up your Mac, What model of Mac should you choose? Power Mac G4 speci ?cations -as at May 2001, What computer peripherals are recommended'Floppy drives and key disk installs, Setting up your Mac
Partitioning the internal drive on the Mac, System installation options, Finder Preferences, Tweaking the operating system
Mac software kit, Updates, Useful Mac tips, Mac crashes
Hard disk organization:how to organize your ?les and
applications, Hard drives for Pro Tools, Con ?guring OMS SCSI versus IDE versus Firewire, SCSI, SCSI interfaces, SCSI on the Mac, SCSI speci ?cations, SCSI cards, SCSI termination IDE/ATA, Firewire, Summary, Backups, Software, Hardware DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DAT, Exabyte, Sony AIT, DLT, Iomega Jaz, Iomega Zip, Disk maintenance and repair, Using Norton Utilities, Norton in action 000
Optimizing and de-fragging, Troubleshooting, Leaving your computer "on "permanently versus switching
"off" when you are not using it, Mac troubleshooting, Why you need to have your start-up disks right next to your computer at all times, A real problem, Pro Tools software problems,
Hardware problems, Another hard drive problem, Another real-world problem, Chapter summary
13 MIDI interfaces
Introduction, Steinberg interfaces, Midex 8 USB MIDI interface Midiman interfaces, USB MIDISPORT 8 [multi ]8/s, MotU interfaces, General features, MIDI timing resolution, MotU MIDI Timepiece AV USB, MotU MIDI Express XT USB, Emagic interfaces, General features, Timing resolution, Emagic Unitor8 MkII, Emagic AMT8, Chapter summary
14 Pro Tools goes mainstream
Introduction, Pro Tools for hire, Pro Tools Discussion Forum at Strongroom Studios, Chapter summary, Glossary, Bibliography
Introduction, Who this book will appeal to, What the book covers.
2 The evolution of Pro Tools -a historical perspective
Introduction, How Pro Tools came about -the move to digital The road to Pro Tools, The beginnings of Pro Tools, Pro Tools III, The plug-ins, Cubase VST, The Yamaha 02R compact digital mixer, The ADAT Bridge, PCI expansion chassis, Twenty-four-bit digital audio, Pro Tools 24, Pro Tools MIX, Hardware controllers, The latest developments, Chapter summary
3 So what is Pro Tools?
Introduction, The system, Native audio versus Pro Tools, Pro Tools hardware overview, Do you need to use mixer with Pro Tools?, Disk requirements and bandwidth, Pro Tools software Pro Tools LE, Hardware options for Pro Tools LE, Digi ToolBox XP, Digi 001, Monitoring latency and recording, Monitoring latency and MIDI, Can I ruin my recording?, Moving between PT LE and PT TDM, Unique ?le IDs, Chapter summary
4 Recording
Introduction, Digitizing audio, Digital audio caveats, Practical considerations, Things you should know about before recording in Pro Tools, Monitoring, Drum punch-ins, Recording to click, Destructive Record, Playlists, The concept of "voices "in Pro Tools, Loop Recording audio, QuickPunch, Half-speed recording and playback, Markers, Pro Tools MIDI features overview, Recording SysEx in Pro Tools, The rulers Edit window view options, Recording short cuts, Bringing in audio material from CD, Using the QuickTime Player to import audio from CD, Case Study 1. How to get started with simple recording project A simple mono or stereo session, AutoSave Session details, Case Study 2.A MIDI +Audio session, Pitch shifting, Importing audio, Identify Beat, Recording MIDI parts Working with patterns, Time stamping, Chapter summary
5 Editing
Introduction, New features and short cuts in Pro Tools 5.1 Zooming and navigation, Crossfades, Editing accuracy, Auto Fade-In and Fade-Out, Beat Detective, Editing Regions, Linked Selections, Case Study.Editing Take Me To The River, File conversion, Mix window set-up, Edit window set-up, Markers window set-up, Editing tips, Editing vocals, Editing before the downbeat, Arranging sections, Playlists, Using Spot mode, Chapter summary
6 Mixing
Introduction, Mixing features, Tracks, Sends, Output windows for tracks and sends, Automation, Automation playlists, Automation write modes, Trim mode, Snapshot automation 000
Mixdown, A note on terminology, Mixing to analogue tape, Mixing to DAT, Mixing to digital media, Making your own CDs
Audio compression, Bounce to Disk, Recording to tracks, When to use the Dither plug-in, Case Study.Take Me To The River Mix, Setting up groups, Fading-in using automation "snapshots ", Write Mutes, Alternative methods, Setting up Auxiliary routings, Dealing with the drums, Dealing with the bass and guitars, Dealing with the keyboard -getting ready for the vocal, Dealing with the vocal, Panning the instruments, Choosing effects, Dealing with plug-in processing delays, Adding comments, The ?nal mix, Chapter summary
7 Signal processing plug-ins
Introduction, Plug-in delays, Real-time plug-ins, AudioSuite plug-ins, DigiRack plug-ins, EQ, Dynamics, Delays, The Procrastinator, Signal Generator RTAS-and TDM-only plug-ins
Trim, TimeAdjuster, Dither, Optional Digidesign plug-ins Chapter summary
8 Virtual instruments:current developments with
software-based synthesizers and samplers
Introduction, Propellerheads - chocks away! Steinberg enters the market, Native Instruments, Emagic enters the fray ... New from Emagic, From the USA, Back in Hamburg -TC|Works Cracked software, DirectConnect technology, Problems with DirectConnect, Digidesign DirectIO ASIO Drivers, Chapter summary
9 Midi +Audio sequencers
Introduction -how MIDI +Audio sequencers interface with
Pro Tools, Studio Vision, Digital Performer, DP3, Cubase VST Logic Audio, Logic Audio Version 5, Chapter summary
10 Hardware control surfaces
Introduction, Digidesign ProControl, ProControl modules, ProControl rear panel, ProControl summary, Digidesign/Focusrite Control|24, Control|24 control surface
Control|24 rear panel, Control|24 summary, Chapter summary
11 Focusrite hardware
Introduction, Focusrite Red 1 Quad Mic Pre, How does it sound? Focusrite ISA430 Producer Pack, Chapter summary
12 The computer system
Introduction, Choosing and setting up your Mac, What model of Mac should you choose? Power Mac G4 speci ?cations -as at May 2001, What computer peripherals are recommended'Floppy drives and key disk installs, Setting up your Mac
Partitioning the internal drive on the Mac, System installation options, Finder Preferences, Tweaking the operating system
Mac software kit, Updates, Useful Mac tips, Mac crashes
Hard disk organization:how to organize your ?les and
applications, Hard drives for Pro Tools, Con ?guring OMS SCSI versus IDE versus Firewire, SCSI, SCSI interfaces, SCSI on the Mac, SCSI speci ?cations, SCSI cards, SCSI termination IDE/ATA, Firewire, Summary, Backups, Software, Hardware DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DAT, Exabyte, Sony AIT, DLT, Iomega Jaz, Iomega Zip, Disk maintenance and repair, Using Norton Utilities, Norton in action 000
Optimizing and de-fragging, Troubleshooting, Leaving your computer "on "permanently versus switching
"off" when you are not using it, Mac troubleshooting, Why you need to have your start-up disks right next to your computer at all times, A real problem, Pro Tools software problems,
Hardware problems, Another hard drive problem, Another real-world problem, Chapter summary
13 MIDI interfaces
Introduction, Steinberg interfaces, Midex 8 USB MIDI interface Midiman interfaces, USB MIDISPORT 8 [multi ]8/s, MotU interfaces, General features, MIDI timing resolution, MotU MIDI Timepiece AV USB, MotU MIDI Express XT USB, Emagic interfaces, General features, Timing resolution, Emagic Unitor8 MkII, Emagic AMT8, Chapter summary
14 Pro Tools goes mainstream
Introduction, Pro Tools for hire, Pro Tools Discussion Forum at Strongroom Studios, Chapter summary, Glossary, Bibliography