Comments on: From MIDI to Audio: Music Creation Workflow in Pro Tools Tutorial http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/ The Only Pro Tools Training Site you need. Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:07:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chris Bryant http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 Chris Bryant Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:27:11 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-1014 <a href="http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-983" rel="nofollow">Glenn</a> ~ It's actually a really good question because there are certain modes and features in Pro Tools that can make it behave counter intuitively. The <code>Link Timeline and Edit Selection</code> button may be disabled on your system. This is the button just below the Grabber Tool button in the Toolbar. When it is activated you can simply click with the Selector Tool anywhere on the track and you'll be able to start playback or recording there. <em>Tip: The work flow you are describing would benefit greatly from using the Pre and Post Roll times on the Transport.</em> Glenn ~ It’s actually a really good question because there are certain modes and features in Pro Tools that can make it behave counter intuitively. The Link Timeline and Edit Selection button may be disabled on your system. This is the button just below the Grabber Tool button in the Toolbar. When it is activated you can simply click with the Selector Tool anywhere on the track and you’ll be able to start playback or recording there.

Tip: The work flow you are describing would benefit greatly from using the Pre and Post Roll times on the Transport.

]]> By: Chris Bryant http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-1012 Chris Bryant Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:11:43 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-1012 <a class="comment_link" href="http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-1011" rel="nofollow">Lisa</a> ~ Sounds like you may have written some automation to the track without knowing it. In short, you can do one of two things:<ol><li>switch the track from Read to Off using the Automation mode selector (located just below the Solo and Mute buttons on the track channel)</li><li> clear the automation that you've written using the Edit → Cut Special → All Automation function. You'll need to be sure and select the portion of the track where the automation is currently written and if you're not sure where that is just yet, this option wouldn't be as good as the first. </li></ol> Lisa ~ Sounds like you may have written some automation to the track without knowing it. In short, you can do one of two things:
  1. switch the track from Read to Off using the Automation mode selector (located just below the Solo and Mute buttons on the track channel)
  2. clear the automation that you’ve written using the Edit → Cut Special → All Automation function. You’ll need to be sure and select the portion of the track where the automation is currently written and if you’re not sure where that is just yet, this option wouldn’t be as good as the first.
]]> By: Lisa http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-1011 Lisa Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:04:12 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-1011 Every time I change the fader value on the AUX or Master Fader the fader just resets itself back to the original value! Any clues? Every time I change the fader value on the AUX or Master Fader the fader just resets itself back to the original value! Any clues?

]]> By: Chris Bryant http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-984 Chris Bryant Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:43:25 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-984 <a href="http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-982" rel="nofollow">Adoney</a> ~ You're Welcome. You don't <em>have</em> to record the MIDI parts as audio if you don't want to. However, there's a number of benefits to committing your MIDI tracks to audio. <ol><li>You free up CPU that a Virtual Instrument can take up</li><li>If you are using a hardware sound module, recording it as audio ensures you'll have a working version of the session even if the hardware (which is sometimes borrowed, rented, or broken) isn't available</li><li>You have a version of the session that you can share with other people who probably don't have the exact same setup as you</li><li>...and so on</li></ol> Of course - there's also benefits to keeping the tracks happening as MIDI tracks, too. So there's no rule. Just benefits to each way of working. I go back and forth several times during the course of a session depending on the need of the moment: work with MIDI tracks → turn them into audio and deactivate (but keep) the MIDI tracks → realize I need to tweak something and re-activate the MIDI track again, work with that for a while → record that tweaked version as audio, etc. Adoney ~ You’re Welcome.

You don’t have to record the MIDI parts as audio if you don’t want to. However, there’s a number of benefits to committing your MIDI tracks to audio.

  1. You free up CPU that a Virtual Instrument can take up
  2. If you are using a hardware sound module, recording it as audio ensures you’ll have a working version of the session even if the hardware (which is sometimes borrowed, rented, or broken) isn’t available
  3. You have a version of the session that you can share with other people who probably don’t have the exact same setup as you
  4. …and so on

Of course – there’s also benefits to keeping the tracks happening as MIDI tracks, too. So there’s no rule. Just benefits to each way of working.

I go back and forth several times during the course of a session depending on the need of the moment: work with MIDI tracks → turn them into audio and deactivate (but keep) the MIDI tracks → realize I need to tweak something and re-activate the MIDI track again, work with that for a while → record that tweaked version as audio, etc.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-983 Glenn Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:42:23 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-983 This is a ridiculously basic question, but I've switched to Pro Tools from Cubase LE. Can you please tell this idiot (being me) how to resume recording in the middle of a track? For example, if I want to re-take half of the track. If I hit stop (or space bar), it's defaulted to go back to the beginning and start recording from there. Is there a setting I'm missing? I'm running Pro Tools M-Powered Essential on a Mac. Thank you for your help. Glenn This is a ridiculously basic question, but I’ve switched to Pro Tools from Cubase LE. Can you please tell this idiot (being me) how to resume recording in the middle of a track? For example, if I want to re-take half of the track. If I hit stop (or space bar), it’s defaulted to go back to the beginning and start recording from there. Is there a setting I’m missing? I’m running Pro Tools M-Powered Essential on a Mac.

Thank you for your help.

Glenn

]]> By: adoney http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-982 adoney Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:04:48 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-982 Thanks again. Why do you have to use an Audio track? Why not just use the MIDI track? Thanks again. Why do you have to use an Audio track? Why not just use the MIDI track?

]]> By: Chris Bryant http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-955 Chris Bryant Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:16:57 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-955 <a href="http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-954" rel="nofollow">Ian</a> ~ You're welcome. Glad to be of help. Ian ~ You’re welcome. Glad to be of help.

]]> By: Ian Carter http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-954 Ian Carter Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:09:04 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-954 Hi Chris, thanks for your quick response and of course - you are right. I shall now go sit in the "guy - who didn't read the manual" corner [mmm...looks like I'm not alone :-) ]. OK - I did what you suggested for the Alpha - works a treat. I'll get the M1 happening asap. Keep up the good work and thanks again. Cheers, Ian Hi Chris, thanks for your quick response and of course – you are right. I shall now go sit in the “guy – who didn’t read the manual” corner [mmm...looks like I'm not alone :-) ]. OK – I did what you suggested for the Alpha – works a treat. I’ll get the M1 happening asap. Keep up the good work and thanks again. Cheers, Ian

]]> By: Chris Bryant http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-949 Chris Bryant Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:08:38 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-949 <a class="comment_link" href="http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-943" rel="nofollow">Ian</a> ~ Yes I know exactly what the problem is. The Alpha Juno 2 is a Mono-Timbral device. That means it can only play one sound at a time via <acronym title="Musical Instrument Digital Interface">MIDI</acronym>. Your goal of having three or four <acronym title="Musical Instrument Digital Interface">MIDI</acronym> tracks triggering the Alpha Juno 2 at the same time can't be accomplished. However, you could do the first track, then print it as audio on an audio track in Pro Tools. Then move onto the second track, same thing. And so on. You'll encounter the same problem with the Roland D-50, too. The M1, on the other hand, is 8 parts multi-timbral and you'll be able to accomplish your goal using that instrument. Ian ~ Yes I know exactly what the problem is. The Alpha Juno 2 is a Mono-Timbral device. That means it can only play one sound at a time via MIDI.

Your goal of having three or four MIDI tracks triggering the Alpha Juno 2 at the same time can’t be accomplished.

However, you could do the first track, then print it as audio on an audio track in Pro Tools. Then move onto the second track, same thing. And so on.

You’ll encounter the same problem with the Roland D-50, too. The M1, on the other hand, is 8 parts multi-timbral and you’ll be able to accomplish your goal using that instrument.

]]> By: Ian Carter http://www.showmeprotools.com/from-midi-to-audio-workflow-in-pro-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-943 Ian Carter Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:48:56 +0000 http://showmeprotools.com/?p=267#comment-943 Great tutorial Chris. I'm new to Pro Tools 8 LE and have an iMac [the new big one], Eleven Rack and a set of M-Audio monitors. I have a bunch of synths left over from the 80's that I'm looking forward to integrating into the basic setup. Reading your tutorial got me on the right road to getting the Alpha Juno 2 up and running. The Korg M1 is next and then I'll have a go at the the Roland D50. Only stuck one one thing at the moment. When I record a second MIDI track it messes up the program changes on the existing track. What I'm trying to end up with is a 3 or 4 MIDI tracks - each playing different programs back through the Alpha - got any ideas what I need to do? Cheers, Ian Great tutorial Chris. I’m new to Pro Tools 8 LE and have an iMac [the new big one], Eleven Rack and a set of M-Audio monitors. I have a bunch of synths left over from the 80’s that I’m looking forward to integrating into the basic setup.

Reading your tutorial got me on the right road to getting the Alpha Juno 2 up and running. The Korg M1 is next and then I’ll have a go at the the Roland D50.

Only stuck one one thing at the moment. When I record a second MIDI track it messes up the program changes on the existing track. What I’m trying to end up with is a 3 or 4 MIDI tracks – each playing different programs back through the Alpha – got any ideas what I need to do? Cheers, Ian

]]>