Scot Ranney's LearnJazzPiano.com archive: pro tools

LearnJazzPiano.com archives: pro tools
Mike -- 11/21/2006, 14:31:02 -- #31349
I have tried for years to ignore Pro Tools. I have enough Technology in my life at this point. I would like to say enough, use the stuff I have and just play piano beyond that. I have tried hard to ignore Pro Tools. But I have found it impossable. I believe it is here to stay. You can not do an internet search, open a music magazine, record anything, tweak anything musical, talk to another musician, cough, sneeze, fart or blow your nose without Pro Tools being mentioned. So I have given in. I realize Pro Tools is here to stay. I am now of the opinion that it is best for me as a musician to start looking into what it is all about. So now because I have put it off for so long I am at an extreme disadvantage of course. Where do I start? I think it is Recording software for computers? HELP!!! What should I do for initiation to learn about Pro Tools What is the best way. There must be people in this forum using it right?
jaledin -- 11/21/2006, 14:38:55 -- #31349
I assume your question is, at least in part, a joke. But, if you really have never heard of using computers to record and edit audio and MIDI, much less recorded audio or MIDI using a computer, a beginner like you might do well to consider practicing with some less sophisticated software. You'll need microphones, stands, probably a mixer or some type of control interface, various cables, all of which will cost you. There's no need to spend much on a first bit of software, considering all your other expenses starting out.
Mike -- 11/21/2006, 16:03:13 -- #31349
no I am not joking at all. BUT i do not see where you see that I said I have never heard of using computers for recording audio and midi. I never said that all. Thanks for your effort Jaledin but you missed my question entirely. My question is about the program out there called "Pro Tools". Do you knwo about that specific program. That is what I am asking about. I am quite computer literate and have all the equipment you are talking about and have probally had it since before you were born since I am an old man.
Jazz+ -- 11/21/2006, 17:44:42 -- #31349
There is a site called Wikipedia than can help with your questions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Tools
jaledin -- 11/21/2006, 20:11:00 -- #31349
Well, Pro Tools is just another front-end bit of software which does about the same as any other bit of recording software. That's why it's surprising you have so many questions about it. Given the astonishing amount of joke threads you start, it wasn't exactly a world-class inference to presume this thread was in a similar vein.
flapjack -- 11/21/2006, 21:29:43 -- #31349
A great source of info. http://www.soundonsound.com/ Take the time to read a few issues and you will get familiar with the lingo and technology available. You will be amazed at what you can do with a relatively small investment. I have fond memories of my Tascam 4-track cassette recorder but times have changed.
Mike -- 11/22/2006, 04:51:29 -- #31349
Jaledin just like you did not take the time to read carefully my post here you have not really read my posts if you think even more than a small portion of them have been jokes. I believe in comic relief and I personally think a little humour here and there helps give the forum a sort of family feel in the long run. But the amount of time I have spent on serious posts hardly merits your comment.
Mike -- 11/22/2006, 04:57:13 -- #31349
Jaledin,Jazz+,flapjack... ARe any of you actually using Pro tools now?
7 -- 11/22/2006, 08:41:56 -- #31349
Pro Tools is for pros. Consequently it is pretty pricey. Why spend tons of time and tons of money learning to become a recording engineer (unless that's your goal in life), when you can simply go into a studio that uses pro tools (almost all of them do) and let a professional engineer record, mix and master your tracks?
Mike -- 11/22/2006, 10:02:00 -- #31349
I decided to look into it because it seems to be talked about everywhere I turn. When I look into it... I can not really figure out at this point though... What does the most basic begining Pro Tools Software cost? or Is there such a thing as basic Pro Tools Software or is there just one animal called Pro Tools and it cost X?
Whacky -- 11/22/2006, 10:38:37 -- #31349
I'm a layman too, but here's the product list on their website: http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=14&langid=100&itemid=22700 From what I understand, Pro Tools has become the "Microsoft Office" of recording software. There are many companies and packages out there that to a gret job, but with so many folks using Pro Tools, campatability with others is quite an asset. A couple of great recording engineers I know, prefer Digital Performer, citing for example, that it handles midi issues better - me, I dunno...I'm thinking of getting Pro Tools too - just because everyone else is using it and knows a lot more about it than me. Let us know what you find out/experience
Scot -- 11/22/2006, 12:53:28 -- #31349
Thing about pro tools is that it's intended for a studio. There is hardware, expensive hardware, that goes with it. If you want to put together a poor man's studio but be able to EVERYTHING you can do with pro tools, I recommend getting Sonar or Cubase (I personally like Sonar) and then going to http://www.echoaudio.com and buying one of their firewire systems, such as the AudioFire8.
ziggysane -- 11/22/2006, 15:19:23 -- #31349
To echo what the others said, (Full) Pro Tools requires expensive added hardware from the same company. There is a demo on the website that does not require the hardware. I would suggest checking that out. But really, I don't think Pro Tools is worth the money if you're just using it for solo piano home recording. It's for if you're planning to go Stevie Wonder and multi-track record a professional album in your basement or a band or something like that.
Whacky -- 11/23/2006, 05:29:03 -- #31349
Good points...I'd like to be able to track stuff at my house when I'm feeling and playing well. I would then take those tracks to someone who really knows how to mix and master (or learn it myself) My son is using Cubase and learning as he goes. I would like to take his tracks to some pros for mixing and mastering as well. My questioins is, will he be able to get his tracks into a Pro Tools or DP system? He's using a Windows PC and most of the Pro Tools folks are using MAC - which is why I've been thinking about just getting a Mac w/Pro Tools sys just for recording...hmmm
Mike -- 11/23/2006, 06:48:35 -- #31349
which brings up another incredibly stupid question by me I am sure: Is there such a thing as buying a Computer already loaded with Pro Tools on it?
Whacky -- 11/23/2006, 07:06:49 -- #31349
Yeah, the MAC and some music stores will very happily put it all together for you... The great part is that for a few thousand dollars you can have a state of the art recording studio - But that only gets you started. As you go you'll want more and more goodies like, mics, plugins, etc...but hey why not?
Scot -- 11/23/2006, 08:00:33 -- #31349
As long as you export your tracks as wav files you can then import them into pro tools later. Vice versa as well (I've got tracks from a session here that were saved in a protools session but I can read the files on my windows system without any problem).
Whacky -- 11/23/2006, 21:47:15 -- #31349
Would you have to export each track individually, then import them individually and sync them up??
anacephalic -- 11/28/2006, 15:28:14 -- #31349
sweetwater would be a good place to turn if you want to do a complete hardware/software protools thing. that said there are simpler and cheaper alternatives out there that can get you a start. a very broke friend of mine has something pretty cheap (can't remember the name not) that he did a couple of home CD's on. just need ot search. i did a couple of tracks on it. editing was easy and the sound quality was not bad for what we were doing. My brother works in a music store and told me the other day that there is a digital 8 track for sub $200. you can get loaded workstations with virtual tracks out the ying yang for around 1500 personnaly i'd go the deck route
johnmarkpainter -- 11/29/2006, 21:37:28 -- #31349
Mike, Don't buy ProTools...it isn't for you. The only reason to use it is for compatibility with other Studios. Their MIDI functionality isn't as good as any of the 'other' programs (Cubase, Nuendo, Logic, Digital Performer). It is an excellent Audio/Recording/Editing software coupled with Hardware. "Full" ProTools isn't about the Software. It is Hardware and it is really expensive ($10K-$25K). Their Hardware takes the Processing load off of your computer. It also goes obsolete about every 3 years. "Cheap" ProTools also forces you to use their low level hardware and limits your Track count to 24 or 32 tracks depending upon what you get. I score Films, mix in 5.1, mix and record Pop Records and arrange for Pop records. I use Nuendo. I regularly run 50 to 100+ tracks of Audio. The ONLY reason I would ever buy ProTools is so that I can directly hand Projects to other Engineers.
johnmarkpainter -- 11/29/2006, 21:38:28 -- #31349
Just to add..... I Import and Export Files to and from ProTools on a daily basis. You just can't import/export the Mixer settings.
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