Week 13: Lecture - Basic Intro to ProTools

ProTools is an audio recording and editing software. There are two main windows:

The Mix Window: Is like a mirror of the desk, the tracks are displayed as channel strips and have the same functions as the buttons and knobs on the desk. For example panning, volumes, record enable, solo/mute, and controls for inserts, sends, inputs and outputs.

The Edit Window: Displays a timeline of recorded audio, MIDI data and mixer automations. All the editing takes place in this window and therefore all the tools and main functions are found here.

Audio can be imported into ProTools digitally, and then edited in the mix window. [File > Import Audio – choose audio and then click convert file.]

Edit Modes: They are located at the tope left corner in the edit window.

- Shuffle = snaps two regions automatically
- Slip = free hand moving tool
- Spot = used for time code
- Grid = lets you snap to a pre-defined grid (useful for drum editing)

Edit Tools:

- Zoomer = used to zoom in or out continuously. (Horizontally: press start and drag right or left. Vertically: press start+shift and drag up or down).
- Zoom toggle = lets you define and toggle between different zoom states.
- Trim = used to shorten or expand regions, notes and data.
- Selector = used to place the cursor in a certain track or make edit selections on tracks.
- Grabber = used to select, move, separate and arrange regions on tracks.
- Scrubber = used to ‘scrub’ back and forth and listen to the audio at a slower speed to find a particular location.
- Pencil = allows you to draw automation, MIDI data, tempo/volume changes and audio waveforms.
- Smart Tool = allows you to access the selector, grabber and trim tools at the same time depending on the position of the cursor.