Pro Tools 8 Explained^®

Intro & Quick Start Features

Learn how the basic session Quick Start features work on initial boot up of Pro Tools 8.

Importing an Audio File

Discover the basic functions of the Import Audio Window, as a means of bringing an already recorded audio file into a blank session.

Basic Transport Commands

Learn how to use the Transport Window and the equivalent key commands for basic playback, rewinding, and fast forwarding; as well as shuttling playback at variable speeds.

Cursors & Counters

Understand how the Playhead Cursor and the Edit Cursor can work either separately or together, and how to use the counters to position them.

Locating & Navigating

Learn how the Playhead Cursor Locator and various scrolling options work when the play position moves beyond the boundary of your edit screen.

Pre & Post Roll

Learn some playback navigation techniques using the pre and post roll functions.

Edit Window Overview

Learn the basic controls in the Edit Window Toolbar, and the main areas of the Edit Window.

Audio Files & Regions

Discover the relationship between audio regions and audio files, and the different ways Pro Tools handles them.

Creating Tracks

See how to use the New Tracks dialogue box for adding new tracks to your sessions.

Working with the Click Track

Learn the different ways of creating and adjusting the various parameters and settings of the Click Track.

Setting the Time Signature

See how to work with the Pro Tools Meter Ruler to create and edit time and multiple time signatures.

Setting the Tempo

Learn how both the Manual and Conductor Tempo modes work and the different ways of establishing the tempo for your session.

Getting Ready to Record Audio

See how to set the track's metering to peak mode, pre-allocate and monitor hard drive space, set the record mode, name tracks and set their input and output routings, record enable a track or multiple tracks, and how to use Record-Safe mode.

Input Monitoring

Learn about several of the monitoring related functions and settings available in Pro Tools, and setting track record levels.

Recording Audio

Learn convenient key commands and workflow for starting and stopping recording and playback while in the process of recording audio.

Getting Ready to Record MIDI

See how to set up a Software Instrument track and set the necessary related parameters to record MIDI.

Recording MIDI

Learn how to record MIDI and then use the MIDI Merge mode to add additional data to the region. Also see how to use the Wait For Note function as an alternative to the count off.

Punch-In MIDI Recording

Learn how to set punch-in and out points, and how to re-record over a pre-determined portion of a MIDI region.

Introduction to Playlists

Learn about Playlists - how to create, duplicate, rename, and manage them from the Playlist Selector.

Selecting Alternate Takes

Learn about the various ways of selecting from the multiple regions that were generated from the loop recording, and discover the Match Criteria Window.

Working with Playlists

See the various features of working in Playlist view, and comp together a track from the guitar regions that were recorded in Loop Mode.

Working with Tracks

Learn how to work with the various track display options in the Edit Window, and how to control the various content and viewing settings.

Edit Modes

Discover the functions of each of the four edit modes, and the various key commands for accessing and moving between them easily.

Zooming

Learn about all the different ways to Zoom inside the Pro Tools 8 Edit Window.

Trimmer, Selector & Grabber Tools

Learn about the functions of these tools and their different modes, and then see how to use them to continue building the arrangement.

Smart, Scrubber & Pencil Tools

See how these three tools work, and then use the Smart Tool to work on the arrangement.

The MIDI Editor

Discover selecting and altering the pitch, position, and lengths of notes in the MIDI Editor Window.

Quantizing

Learn about the quantization parameters available in the Event.

MIDI Real Time Properties

More on quantizing and related functions in the Real Time MIDI Properties windows, and Event Operations sub windows.

Event List & Score Editors

Discover the MIDI Event List and Score Editor windows, and how use the Score Editor to modify a synth melody.

Window Configurations

See how to use the Window Configuration features to store and recall multiple custom window layouts.

Selection Techniques

Learn to unleash some of Pro Tool's powerful and cool key commands for creating, editing, and nudging selections.

Track, Group & Region Lists

See how to manage and control the data and tracks you work with in a session. Learn what they can do, and how to use them effectively.

Memory Locations

how Markers work in Pro Tools 8, and how they can be used for recalling various aspects of the interface in addition to the timeline position.

Beat Detective

See how to use and abuse Pro Tool's Beat Detective functions for realigning audio.

Elastic Audio

Learn how to use Elastic Audio to import loops directly at the session tempo, as well as how to use it on already existing tracks. Also see how the Warp Markers feature can allow you to change various rhythmic or tonal characteristics of the content.

The Mixer

Get an overview of the Mix Window architecture and all the viewable options available on the channel strips, as well as an example of using an effect plug-in as a channel strip insert.

Sends

Learn how to setup a stereo send across all the tracks, and route discreet amounts of the signal through a bus, where it gets processed with a reverb plug-in inserted on an aux track, and then routed to the master output.

Automation

Learn the basics of writing and editing Automation for volume, sends, and plug-in parameters.

Mix Down

See how to get the session ready for the final mix, and perform a Bounce To Disk process in order to render the whole session to a stereo file which can then be burned to CD.