Pro Tools 7 Session Secrets

1
Pro Tools 7 Session Secrets

• Chapter 6
• After the Bounce or
• Life Outside of Pro Tools

2
Pro Tools Recording techniques in this chapter
include

• Audio formats outside of Pro Tools
• Mp3s
• Burning your tracks to CD
• Creating Podcasts
• Setting up your tracks to master
• Mastering in Pro Tools

3
Audio Formats outside of Pro Tools

• MP3. The most common and well known compressed
  audio format. Compresses the file at a rate of 10
  to 1 and the quality is set by the user
• MPEG-4 AAC. An Apple format used by iTunes and
  the iPod. With a sample rate to 96k it beats the
  original maximum MP3 rate of 48k.
• Ogg Vorbis. Its creation was a direct
  retaliation to a licensing fee boost from the
  holders of the MP3 format. This is a hot codec
  right now for a number of reasons, not the least
  of which is the fact that its free and it sounds
  very good.
• WMA (Windows Media Audio). Microsofts system of
  encoding and decoding media native to Windows
  Media Player.
• Apple Lossless encoder. This is the Mp4 format
  and utilizes about a 60 file reduction with no
  apparent loss in quality. The file reduction is
  much less than an MP3 or AAC but you get pretty
  much the sound of the original.

4
Working with Mp3s

• You can make MP3s that sound like anything from
  AM radio to CD quality depending on the bit rate
  setting.
• The original MP3 Codec has been greatly improved
  upon.
• By compressing a file too much (or at all) your
  audio can lose much of its hi frequency content
  and low frequency energy.
• Building an iTunes library or equivalent with
  good quality MP3s will let you store 10x more
  music than if you rip it in as a wav.
• The MP3 codec was developed in the late 80s but
  it was almost a decade before computers and the
  Internet could encode and send the data fast
  enough to make it useful.
• iTunes can make hi quality MP3s by changing the
  settings under Advanced / Preferences / Import to
  the highest quality setting.

5
Burning your tracks to CD

• As you bounce in Pro Tools consider your final
  destination. Bit rate and sample rate need to be
  set accordingly to what medium you output to.
• In addition to bit and sample rate, choose the
  right audio format for your needs. A red book
  audio CD needs to be a Wav not an Mp3.
• Burn audio to CD-R discs, not CD-RW.
• The brand of CD you use is very important.The
  compatibility and failure rate of the disc
  directly corresponds to the manufacturing. Dont
  skimp!
• Slower burn rates are generally thought to be
  better when making audio CDs.
• Dont burn important discs with a cheap burner.

6
Creating Podcasts

• Podcasts are server based media files usually
  containing audio or video content, in English,
  Podcasts are just digitally formatted shows of
  any kind, you can subscribe to, download and
  playback on a digital device.
• Uncompressed audio and video still require too
  much bandwidth so you will have to compress your
  files.
• If your content is not music think about mono.
• Podcasts can be downloaded into mobile devices.
• Podcasts utilize RSS technology and are
  subscription based.
• iTunes 4.9 and above has a built-in Podcast
  playlist and you can link your feed to their site.

7
Setting up Your Tracks to Master

• Eliminate any plug-ins on your master fader
  before you bounce your final mix. Leave
  maximizing, compression, EQ and similar fx to the
  mastering process.
• Dont convert your files as you bounce. Bounce
  out your session at the native sample and bit
  rate and let the mastering engineer do the
  conversions.
• Make multiple versions of your track such as Full
  mix, A cappella, instrumental and music with
  chorus.
• Burn your bounces to data cds instead of audio
  to take to mastering.
• Label everything. If you have different versions
  of your track make sure they are labeled
  correctly.

8
Mastering in Pro Tools

• The mastering process addresses tone, imaging,
  compression, space and volume. Mastering prepares
  your tracks for duplication.
• EQ. Give a similar tone to all of your songs or
  tighten up individual tracks. EQ is one of the
  most common effects used during mastering.
• Stereo Imaging. Check and adjust the width and
  depth of your stereo field.
• Exciter. An exciter can put a little presence
  and sizzle into your track.
• Reverb. Apply a global reverb to add overall
  consistency to a track that might have used
  different reverbs while mixing or to give depth
  and sheen to the entire mix
• Maximizer. Bring your track up to commercial
  volume levels and add fullness. The Waves L1, 2,
  L3 and Digidesigns Maxim are great examples of
  track slammers.
• Multiband FX. Multiband plug-ins allow you to
  apply different settings to different
  frequencies. Multiband plug-ins give you much
  more flexibility than single band plug-in in
  mastering.