Getting Inside of Pro Tools 10

Goals

• Recognize the basic Pro Tools file structure• Starting a Pro Tools session.• Navigate the Pro Tools menu system to locate

common commands.• Recognize and work in the Edit window.• Understand the tools and Edit Modes.

Pro Tools File Structure

• Before you create a session in Pro Tools, it is helpful to understand how the software works with various files that are related to a project.

• Rather than storing a session as a single file, Pro Tools stores various session components separately and maintains a roadmap to the files it uses in a session file.

• All of the files used for a project are grouped together in a session folder.

File Organization

• When you create a Pro Tools session, the system sets up a standard hierarchy.– Pro Tools Session Folder• Pro Tools Session.ptx• WaveCache.wfm• Audio Files• Session File Backups

Pro Tools Session File

• A session file is the document that Pro Tools creates when you start a new project.

• Pro Tools creates this file (along with various sub folders) inside a session folder of the same name. Pro Tools 10 session files use the extension .ptx. Earlier versions of PT used .ptf extension.

• The session file contains all of the tracks, audio and video files, settings, and edits associated with your project.

WaveCache File

• Each Pro Tools session will also have an associated WaveCache.wfm file created inside the session folder.

• This file stores all of the waveform display data for any audio in the session.

Audio Files

• When audio is recorded into Pro Tools session, each take of the audio recording is stored as a separate file inside the Audio Files folder. Pro Tools natively supports audio files in either WAV or AIFF format. However for cross-platform compatibility, WAV is the default file format for both Mac and Windows systems.

• Audio is saved only in the Audio Files folder; it is not saved in the session file.

Fade Files

• With Pro Tools 10, all fades are calculated and played back in real time, eliminating the need to store rendered fade files.

MIDI Files

• MIDI data is normally stored within the Pro Tools session. No MIDI files will exist outside of the session document.

Session File Backups

• If you enable AutoSave function in the Pro Tools, the Session File Backups folder will be created automatically, and auto-saved session files will be stored in this location.

Edit Menu

• Edit menu commands allow you to edit and manipulate the current selection and to affect data in the timeline. You have the options for copying, pasting, duplicating, repeating, and shifting selections, etc.

The Edit Window

• The Edit window• Provides a timeline display for audio, MIDI data,

video, and mixer automation for recording, editing, and arranging tracks.

• It displays waveforms for audio in your session and is the main window that you will use to work directly with audio, MIDI, and video files.

• Each audio, MIDI and MIDI track in the Edit window has controls for record enable, solo, mute, and automation mode.

The Edit Window

Edit Tools

Edit Tool Functions

• The Edit tools located in the toolbar area at the top of the Edit window provide access to audio and MIDI editing functions.

• These tools include the Zoomer tool, the Trim tool, the Selector tool, the Grabber tool, the Scubber tool, the Pencil Tool, and the Smart Tool.

Zoomer Tool

• Use the Zoomer tool to zoom into and out of a particular area within a track. Zooming in is often helpful to examine a clip or waveform closely.

The Zoomer Tool

How to Zoom