What is Pro Tools?

I. Multi-track digital recording and editing system.

Hard-disk audio recording Graphic audio editing MIDI sequencing Digital signal processing Mix in an integrated system Post-production video editing Mix to picture

Audio

Copy Paste Move Delete Modify Quantize audio

Trim waveforms Reprocess audio Pitch correct Replace drum sounds Rearrange song

sections Experiment with

tempo

MIDI

I. Record & edit MIDI data MIDI time stamping Groove quantize Restore performance Native ReWire support Tick-based & sample-based timelines Plug-in virtual instruments

Mixing

Signal routingEffects processingSignal levelsPanningAutomation

Post-Production

Import video clips“Sweeten” audio by adding effectsNon-destructive editingExport finished movie file with final

audio mix embedded.

Digital Audio Theory: Waveform

Shape of the sound Path is complex, influenced by

physical material, and resonance of surroundings = create unique character and tone.

Digital Audio Theory: Frequency

Pitch of a sound Measured in Hz or CPS Increase in frequency = increase

in pitch. When frequency doubles = pitch

raises 1 octave

Digital Audio Theory: Amplitude

Loudness of a sound Measured in decibels Decibel scale is defined by the

dynamic range of human hearing. As amplitude increases the sound

becomes louder.

Sampling Theorem or Nyquist Theorem

In order to achieve an accurate frequency of sound, each cycle of the sound’s vibration must be sampled at least twice.

Human hearing = 20Hz-20kHz, 2 x 20kHz = 40kHz Sample rates of : 44.1kHz, 48kHz,

etc…

Bit Depth and Amplitude Resolution

Each sample of sound is assigned to an amplitude value. “2 to the nth power”

16 bit word - 2^16th power = 65,53616 bit/48kHz = 11.4 MB storage space 24 bit word - 2^24th power = 16,777,21624 bit/48kHz = 17 MB storage space *Greater accuracy with 24bit vs. 16bit

Calculating the Dynamic Range

Binary word x 6 = dB dynamic range

16 bit x 6 = 96 dB dynamic range

24 bit x 6 = 144 dB dynamic range

Digital Transfers

S/PDIF =RCA jacks, consumer.

AES/EBU = XLR connectors, professional, more stable, filters embedded copy protection.

Virtually identical in quality

Pro Tools: M-Powered

For use with M-Audio hardwareHighly portable with low I/O needsPCI, FireWire, and USB interfacesSample rates up to 96kHzBit depth up to 2432 audio tracks & 256 MIDI tracks48 audio tracks with Music Production

Toolkit

Pro Tools: LE

USB & FireWire Digidesign interfaces Mbox 2 & 003

In home and project studiosSample rates up to 96kHzBit depth up to 2432 tracks & 256 MIDI tracks48 tracks with Music Production Toolkit

Pro Tools: HD

DSP hardware & TDM technologyProfessional studiosSample rates up to 192kHzBit depth up to 24192 tracks & 256 MIDI tracks

Music Production Toolkit

HybridTL Space Native EditionSmack! LESoundReplacerDigidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction Multi-Track Beat DetectiveMore audio tracksMP3 Option

DV Toolkit 2

TL Space Native EditionDINR LESynchro Arts VocALign ProjectDigiBase ProDigiTranslator 2.0Extended Pro Tools FunctionalityMore Audio TracksMP3 Option

Mojo SDI

Hardware video peripheralAvid Video into Pro Tools Post-production seamless

interchange between LE and HD systems.

Import, play back, edit Avid video files in the timeline.