Getting Started Mbox® 2 Academic Version 7.
Copyright © 2007 Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the express written consent of Digidesign. Avid, Digidesign, Mbox , and Pro Tools are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the US and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
contents Chapter 1. Installation QuickStart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Windows Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Mac Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Chapter 2. Welcome to Mbox 2 Academic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 4. Mac Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Installation Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Mac System Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Installing Pro Tools Academic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 8. Time Code and Synchronization Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Timebase Rulers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Selecting Time Code Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Selecting Feet+Frame Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix C. Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Avoid Recording to the System Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Supported Drive Formats and Drive Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Formatting an Audio Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Partitioning Drives . . . . . . . . . . .
chapter 1 Installation QuickStart Windows Installation Overview (Windows Systems Only) Installing the Mbox 2 Academic on a Windows computer includes the following steps: 1 “Windows System Optimization” on page 9. 2 “Installing Pro Tools Academic and Connect- ing Mbox 2 Academic” on page 12. 3 “Launching Pro Tools Academic” on page 14. 4 “Configuring Pro Tools Academic” on page 14. 5 Making audio and MIDI connections to the Mbox 2 Academic. (See Chapter 6, “Making Hardware Connections” for details.
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chapter 2 Welcome to Mbox 2 Academic Welcome to the Mbox® 2 Academic audio/MIDI production system from Digidesign®. Mbox 2 Academic provides your USB-equipped computer with two channels of analog audio input and output, two channels of digital audio input and output, MIDI In and Out ports, analog monitor outs, and a headphone output with front panel level control. Mbox 2 Academic provides professional-quality mic preamps and 24bit analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters.
• Mono switch for enhanced monitoring of single-channel input sources (does not affect recording) • 1/4-inch (TRS) stereo headphone output with adjustable level control Pro Tools Academic uses your computer’s CPU to mix and process audio tracks (host processing). Computers with faster clock speeds yield higher track counts and more plug-in processing. • USB-powered operation Mbox 2 Academic will not function properly if connected to a passive USB hub.
• Support for multiple Quicktime movies on each video track • Support for multiple video tracks in the Timeline • Support for multiple video playlists on each video track • Ability to drag video from Region List to Timeline • Video Import Options dialog additional options Pro Tools LE Only Options Pro Tools Academic does not support the following Pro Tools LE only options: • DV Toolkit 2 • Digidesign Ethernet-based control surfaces (such as Control|24) • Avid video peripherals • Mac HFS+ Disk Support Optio
USB MIDI interfaces work effectively with Pro Tools systems on Windows or Mac. Serial MIDI interfaces are supported on Windows systems only. Only USB MIDI interfaces are compatible with Pro Tools systems for Mac OS X. Modem-to-serial port adapters and serial MIDI devices are not supported. Digidesign Registration Review the enclosed Digidesign Registration Information Card and follow the instructions on it to quickly register your purchase online.
These guides and other guides are installed on your startup drive during installation. To view or print PDF guides, you can use Adobe Reader or Apple Preview (Mac only). Printed copies of the Pro Tools Reference Guide and other guides in the Pro Tools guide set can be purchased separately from the DigiStore (www.digidesign.com).
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chapter 3 Windows Configuration This chapter contains information for Windows systems only. If you are installing Pro Tools on a Mac computer, see Chapter 4, “Mac Configuration.” Before installing this version of Pro Tools, refer to the Read Me information included on the Pro Tools Academic Installer disc. Windows System Optimization Before configuring your computer, make sure you are logged in as an Administrator for the account where you want to install Pro Tools.
Enabling DMA To configure Windows Power Management: Enabling your computer's DMA (Direct Memory Access) frees up CPU bandwidth so the computer can do other Pro Tools tasks. 1 Choose Start > Control Panel. 2 Double-click Power Options. 3 Click the Power Schemes tab. In most cases the DMA option will already be set correctly, as Windows XP detects and activates DMA mode by default. 4 From the Power Schemes pop-up menu, select Always On. 5 Click OK.
Recommended Optimizations Pro Tools can also be affected by other software and hardware drivers installed on your computer. It is recommended (but not required) that you do the following: • Avoid running any unneeded programs at the same time as Pro Tools. • Turn off any software utilities that run in the background, such as Windows Messenger, calendars, and disk maintenance programs. 4 Under the General tab, choose “Do not use this device (disable)” from the Device Usage pop-up menu, and click OK.
Disabling Hyper-Threading To Disable System Startup Items: Pro Tools Academic takes advantage of the added processing power of computers that have multiple processors, or that feature multi-core processing or Hyper-Threading, for RTAS processing. 1 From the Start menu, choose Run. 2 Type “msconfig” and click OK. The System Configuration Utility opens. 3 Under the General tab, choose Selective Star- tup.
2 Connect the small end of the included USB ca- 13 Click Install. ble to the USB port on Mbox 2 Academic. Mbox 2 Academic may not function properly if connected to a USB hub. If you need to use a hub for other USB peripherals, connect the hub to a separate USB port; Mbox 2 Academic must have a dedicated port in order to function properly. 3 Connect the other end of the USB cable to any available USB port on your computer.
4 Restart your computer. If the USB LED on the front panel of the Mbox 2 Academic does not illuminate after installation, try unplugging the USB cable from the Mbox 2 Academic USB port, and plugging it back in. If the USB LED still does not illuminate, shut down the computer, disconnect Mbox 2 Academic and start the computer. Once the computer has fully restarted, reconnect Mbox 2 Academic. The Pro Tools Installer disc includes additional software for your system.
To change the Hardware Buffer Size: 1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine. ◆ A lower number of processors leaves more CPU processing capacity for automation, screen redraws, and video playback in Pro Tools, or for other application running at the same time as Pro Tools. To set the number of RTAS Processors: 1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine. 2 From the RTAS Processors pop-up menu, select the number of available processors you want to allocate for RTAS plug-in processing. 3 Click OK.
To change the CPU Usage Limit: DAE Playback Buffer Size 1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine. The DAE Playback Buffer Size determines the amount of memory DAE allocates for disk buffers. The optimum DAE Playback Buffer Size for most disk operations is Level 2. 2 From the CPU Usage Limit pop-up menu, se- lect the percentage of CPU processing you want to allocate to Pro Tools. 3 Click OK.
Pro Tools Hardware Settings Clock Source Pro Tools lets you set the default sample rate and clock source for your system, as well as a range of controls specific to each type of audio interface. The Pro Tools Hardware Setup dialog lets you select the Clock Source for the system. Default Sample Rate The Sample Rate setting appears as the default sample rate when you create a new session. (This setting is available in the Hardware Setup dialog only when no session is open.
Configuring I/O Setup MIDI Studio Setup Using the I/O Setup dialog, you can label Pro Tools Academic input, output, insert, and bus signal paths. The I/O Setup dialog provides a graphical representation of the inputs, outputs, and signal routing of the Mbox 2 Academic. (Optional) Pro Tools Academic has default I/O Setup settings that will get you started. Use the I/O Setup dialog only if you want to rename the default I/O paths. To rename I/O paths in I/O Setup: 1 Choose Setup > I/O.
Digidesign ASIO Driver Pro Tools Demo Session The Digidesign ASIO (Audio Sound Input Output) Driver is a single-client multichannel sound driver that allows third-party audio programs that support the ASIO standard to record and play back through Digidesign hardware. The Pro Tools Academic Installer disc includes a demo session that you can use to verify that your system is working. For detailed information on configuring the Digidesign ASIO Driver, see the Windows Audio Drivers Guide.
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chapter 4 Mac Configuration This chapter contains information for Mac systems only. If you are installing Pro Tools on a Windows computer, see Chapter 3, “Windows Configuration.” Before installing this version of Pro Tools, refer to the Read Me information included on the Pro Tools Installer disc. Installation Overview Installation of the Mbox 2 Academic on a Mac includes the following steps: 1 “Mac System Optimization” on page 21. 2 “Installing Pro Tools Academic” on page 23.
Turning Off Energy Saver To turn off the Energy Saver feature: 1 Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and click Energy Saver. 2 Click Sleep and do the following: • Set the computer sleep setting to Never. • Set the display sleep setting to Never. • Deselect “Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible” option.
Installing Pro Tools Academic After the Apple System software settings are configured, you are ready to install Pro Tools Academic. 13 When installation is complete, click Restart. The Pro Tools Installer disc includes additional software for your system. For more information, see “Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc” on page 24. To install Pro Tools Academic on Mac OS X: 1 Make sure you are logged in as an Administrator for the account where you want to install Pro Tools.
Launching Pro Tools Academic When launching Pro Tools Academic the first time, you are prompted to enter an authorization code to validate your software. The Mbox 2 Academic CoreAudio Driver is installed by default when you install Pro Tools. For information on configuring the Mbox 2 Academic CoreAudio Driver, see the CoreAudio Drivers Guide.
Configuring Pro Tools Academic To change the Hardware Buffer Size: 1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine. Pro Tools System Settings Pro Tools Academic lets you adjust the performance of your system by changing system settings that affect its capacity for processing, playback, and recording. In most cases, the default settings for your system provide optimum performance, but you may want to adjust them to accommodate large or processing-intensive Pro Tools sessions.
◆ A lower number of processors leaves more CPU processing capacity for automation, screen redraws, and video playback in Pro Tools, or for other application running at the same time as Pro Tools. To set the number of RTAS Processors: To change the CPU Usage Limit: 1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine. 2 From the CPU Usage Limit pop-up menu, se- lect the percentage of CPU processing you want to allocate to Pro Tools. 3 Click OK. 1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
128 samples (which ever is greater). If you are on an older, slower computer, you may not want to enable this option since doing so can adversely affect performance. The Minimize Additional I/O Latency option is only available if the Ignore Errors During Playback/Record option is enabled. Using a larger DAE Playback Buffer Size leaves less system memory for other tasks. The default setting of Level 2 is recommended unless you are encountering -9073 (“Disk too slow or fragmented”) errors.
2 Choose Setup > Hardware. Configuring I/O Setup Using the I/O Setup dialog, you can label Pro Tools Academic input, output, insert, and bus signal paths. The I/O Setup dialog provides a graphical representation of the inputs, outputs, and signal routing of the Mbox 2 Academic. Hardware Setup dialog for Mbox 2 Academic Pro Tools Academic has default I/O Setup settings that will get you started. Use the I/O Setup dialog only if you want to rename the default I/O paths.
Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) (Optional) If you plan to use any MIDI devices with Pro Tools Academic, configure your MIDI setup with the Apple Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) utility. See Appendix B, “Configuring AMS (Mac OS X Only)” for details. Safe Uninstall Leaves certain plug-ins and system files needed for compatibility with some Avid products. Clean Uninstall Removes all Pro Tools files, including system files, Digidesign plug-ins, and MIDI patch names. 5 Click Uninstall.
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chapter 5 Mbox 2 Academic Hardware Overview Mbox 2 Academic Front Panel Features The Mbox 2 Academic front panel has the following features: Input 2 Input 1 Headphone Monitor Level Level S/PDIF LED USB LED Mix (Ratio) Gain Mono 48V Peak LED Source selector Pad Gain Peak LED Source selector Pad Headphone Output Mono 48V LED LED DI/Mic LEDs DI/Mic LEDs Figure 1.
Headphone Level Mono Switch and LED The headphone knob adjusts the output level of the Headphone port, which outputs the signal that is routed to Outputs 1–2 in Pro Tools Academic, and mirrors the Line Outputs. The Mono switch sums the input channels to a mono signal (delivering that identical signal to both speakers). This has no effect on Pro Tools playback monitoring, recording, or on the main outputs.
48V Switch and LED Pad Switches and LEDs Phantom power is activated by the switch labeled 48V on the front panel of Mbox 2 Academic. The LED, when lit, indicates that 48V phantom power is active on the Mic/Line inputs. These inputs provide phantom power for microphones that require it to operate. The Pad switches engage a –20 dB pad on their corresponding input channels. When engaged, the Pad LEDs light.
Mbox 2 Academic Back Panel Features Figure 2 identifies each port on the Mbox 2 Academic back panel. Input 2 (analog input 2) Mic Input 1 (analog input 1) DI Mic Line DI Line Monitor outputs S/PDIF digital I/O MIDI I/O USB port Figure 2. Mbox 2 Academic back panel The Mbox 2 Academic back panel has the following features: USB Port This standard USB v1.1 connector is used to connect your computer to the Mbox 2 Academic. One standard USB cable is included with your system.
Mon Out (Monitor Output) These outputs support balanced TRS, or unbalanced TS, 1/4-inch connections. To monitor your mix, these outputs can be connected to a mixing board, directly to a monitoring system such as a stereo power amp, or another stereo destination. The Mon Out Left and Right play the audio that is routed to analog outputs 1 and 2 from within Pro Tools, respectively. These analog outputs feature 24-bit digital-to-analog converters.
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chapter 6 Making Hardware Connections To hear audio recorded into a Pro Tools session, you will need to connect headphones or an external sound system (such as powered monitors or a home stereo) to Mbox 2 Academic. Sound from Mbox 2 Academic cannot be played through your computer’s speakers or your computer’s sound output. Connecting a Sound System Connecting Headphones The monitor outputs on the back of the Mbox 2 Academic support 1/4-inch plugs.
Mon Outs Left and Right play the audio that is routed to analog outputs 1 and 2 within Pro Tools. Connecting a Recorder for Mixdowns After you record and mix your sessions in Pro Tools, you may want to mix them down to a DAT, CD recorder, Mini-Disc, or other stereo 2track recording device. For more information on mixdown options, see Chapter 7, “Common Tasks with Pro Tools Academic.
Each Input section has three analog input jacks: Mic Cables and Connectors Mic For XLR microphone cables. Some microphone cables use an XLR connector to attach a microphone to an input (such as those on the Mbox 2 Academic); other microphones use a 1/4-inch connector. If you have a choice, use an XLR connector to connect the microphone to the Mbox 2 Academic to yield better results. Line (TRS) For 1/4-inch Tip-Ring-Sleeve cables from keyboards, mixers, microphones, and other line sources.
The Mbox 2 Academic can only supply power through a microphone cable with XLR connectors. If you are not sure about the phantom power requirements for your microphone, refer to your microphone’s documentation or contact the manufacturer. Using a Mic that Has an XLR Connector 4 If your microphone requires phantom power, make sure the microphone is connected, then press the Phantom Power switch (labeled 48V) on the front of the Mbox 2 Academic. This switch sends 48V to both mic inputs.
Using a Mic that Has a 1/4-Inch Connector Mix control Gain Pad To use a microphone that has a 1/4-inch TS (Tip-Sleeve) connector: 1 On the back of the Mbox 2 Academic, plug the 1/4-inch connector from your microphone into one of the DI inputs. Input 1 Gain and Pad controls, and the Mix control 4 On the front of the Mbox 2 Academic, care- Input 1 DI fully turn the Gain control to the right to increase the input level of your microphone signal.
Connecting Electric Guitar or Bass To use a guitar with Mbox 2 Academic: 1 On the back of the Mbox 2 Academic, plug your guitar cable into one of the DI inputs. Input 1 DI When you record a guitar (or any mono instrument that uses only one source input), you will hear the sound in only one side of the stereo field. Pushing the “mono” button on the front of the Mbox 2 Academic brings the sound from one side of the stereo field to both sides. The Mono switch does not affect the audio being recorded.
3 On the front of the Mbox 2 Academic, turn Digital Input and Output the Mix control fully left to Input. Mix control Mic/DI selector Input 1 Gain (level) control Mbox 2 Academic provides digital inputs and outputs for S/PDIF format digital audio. The two channels of S/PDIF digital input can be used in combination with the two analog inputs (for a total of four simultaneous input channels).
S/PDIF Mirroring Pro Tools Academic uses S/PDIF mirroring to automatically “mirror” the audio that is sent to Line Outputs 1 and 2 on the S/PDIF RCA outputs. This is useful, for example, if you are monitoring a mix using your Line Outputs, and also recording the same source to an external S/PDIF device. MIDI Connections The two MIDI ports on Mbox 2 Academic let you take advantage of all the MIDI features of Pro Tools Academic, including recording and editing MIDI tracks.
chapter 7 Common Tasks with Pro Tools Academic This chapter is designed to give new users specific methods for accomplishing common tasks with your Pro Tools system. For the most complete information on using Pro Tools, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide. You can view an electronic PDF version of the Reference Guide by choosing it from the Pro Tools Help menu. To create a Pro Tools session: 1 Verify the connections between your Mbox 2 Academic and your instrument or microphone.
7 Click Save. 7 Play the instrument or sound source at the volume you will record. To prepare an audio track for recording: 1 Choose Track > New. 2 Specify 1 Mono Audio Track in Samples, if your source is mono, or 1 Stereo Audio Track in Samples, if your source is stereo. Creating a new Stereo Audio track 3 Click Create. A mono instrument uses one input on the Mbox 2 Academic, and a stereo instrument uses two. Creating a stereo track in Pro Tools will not make a mono instrument into a stereo instrument.
3 Click Record in the Transport window to arm Pro Tools for recording. The Record button flashes red to indicate that Pro Tools is ready to record. 4 When you are ready to start recording, click Play or press the Spacebar. 5 Record your performance. 6 Click Stop in the Transport window or press the Spacebar when you are finished recording. Importing Audio from a CD To import audio from a compact disc: 1 Put the source CD into your computer’s CD/DVD drive.
5 Drag the audio file from the Workspace browser to the Track List in the Edit window to import the file to a new audio track. If you are bouncing to 16-bit (CD resolution), you should use a dither plug-in on the main output. (For details, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide.
5 Choose Stereo Interleaved for the Format. 10 Click Save. 6 Choose 16 for the Resolution and 44100 for Pro Tools begins bouncing to disk. Pro Tools bounces are done in real time, so you hear audio playback of your mix during the bounce process (though you cannot adjust it). the Sample Rate. 7 If you are changing the sample rate of the bounced file, choose a Conversion Quality setting. (For details, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide.) . 8 Choose “Convert after Bounce,” and click Bounce.
Recording MIDI in a Pro Tools Session What is MIDI? MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data is not audio, and has no sound. MIDI is a way for musical devices to communicate. MIDI is data that can trigger a MIDI device (such as a keyboard or software synthesizer). In order to create or play a MIDI recording, you must have a MIDI controller or sound module (real or virtual) connected to the computer through a MIDI interface.
4 At the top of the Instrument track in the Mix window, click the track’s MIDI Input selector and assign the device and channel to be recorded, or leave it set to All. MIDI Input selector • If you are using an external MIDI device, click the track’s MIDI Output selector (at the top of the Instrument track) and assign the device and channel to receive the MIDI output (the choices will vary depending on the device).
6 If you are using an external MIDI device and have connected its audio output to your audio interface for monitoring in Pro Tools, click the Input selector of the Instrument track and choose the corresponding audio input. (This step is not necessary if you are using an instrument plug-in.) 9 Play some notes on your MIDI controller and look for the track’s MIDI Velocity meter to move. Remember, MIDI is not audio, and the MIDI Velocity meter is not registering sound output, but MIDI activity.
3 Click Record in the Transport window. Return to Zero Rewind Online Fast Forward Play Go to End Stop Record Transport window 4 Click Play in the Transport window or press the Spacebar to begin recording. 5 Play your MIDI controller or input device. 6 When you have finished recording, click Stop in the Transport window, or press the Spacebar. The newly recorded MIDI data appears as a MIDI region on the track in the Edit window, as well as in the Region List.
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chapter 8 Time Code and Synchronization Features Pro Tools Academic enables various time code and synchronization features for working with audio, film, video, or digital video in Pro Tools, which are not included with standard Pro Tools LE or M-Powered software. For more information on working in Pro Tools with time code and synchronization, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide.
Pro Tools will display time code values in the currently selected SMPTE frame rate or the currently selected Feet+Frames rate. Selecting Time Code Rate The Time Code Rate for the session can be set in the Session Setup window with the Time Code Rate selector. The Time Code ruler displays the current Time Code Rate in SMPTE (hours:minutes:seconds:frames). Selecting Feet+Frame Rate The Feet+Frame Rate for the session can be set in the Session Setup window with the Feet+Frame Rate selector.
3 Enter a new time code position in the dialog. 4 Click OK. Redefining Current Feet+Frames Position Use Subframes Option When spotting or shifting material in Pro Tools, or using the Go To dialog, enable the Use Subframes option for greater precision. Use the Current Feet+Frames Position command to redefine the Feet+Frames position at the current insertion point (or starting point of a selection). Redefining Feet+Frames does not redefine the session start time.
Pull Up and Pull Down Commands Use Audio Rate Pull Up/Down and Video Rate Pull Up/Down for audio layback to film or video, or when recording audio for film or video. See the Pro Tools Reference Guide for more information. When using Audio Rate Pull Up/Down, Pro Tools does not automatically adjust the Pro Tools sample rate clock during playback or recording.
Since Pro Tools Academic does not have any means to adjust the Pro Tools sample clock, it instead simulates the audio/video pull relationship by pulling up the video instead of pulling down the audio. This maintains the proper video/audio speed relationship when using the fixed Pro Tools internal clock. The audio sample clock is not pulled down, so the digital outputs are not outputting a pulled down sample clock.
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chapter 9 Post Production Features Pro Tools Academic enables various post productions features for working with audio, film, video, or digital video in Pro Tools, which are not included with standard Pro Tools LE or MPowered software. For more information on working in Pro Tools with video and post production features, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide.
Expanding Alternate Channels to New Tracks When working with a mono region that is part of a multichannel recording, you can expand that region (or a selected portion of it) to new tracks that reflect its matching alternate channels while preserving any edits or fades. Matching alternate channels are mono channels that were recorded simultaneously with the original region (such as multichannel recordings made by one or more field recorders).
Selecting an Alternate Channel for a Specific Region 3 From the Matches pop-up menu, select the name of the alternate region that you want to use to replace the original region. You can replace a mono region (or selected portion of a mono region) with a matching segment of an alternate channel that was recorded simultaneously. Any fades performed on the original region are automatically recalculated against the replacement region, and any pre-existing automation on that track is unchanged.
Main Video Track The main video track is the video track that is currently online, and will be played back with any audio in the session. When the main video track is offline, you can play back the audio in your session without playing back the video. When the video is offline, the Video Online button changes to grey so you can tell at a glance whether your video is offline or simply playing black fill. If no video track is currently online, the main video track is the video track that was last online.
Gaps Between Regions (Additional Video Import Options Section) When you import more than one video file into a track, they will be shuffled together by default. This option lets you indicate the number of seconds by which each video clip will be separated when imported into the video track. Bypassing the Video Import Options Dialog You can bypass the Video Import Options dialog when dragging video files from DigiBase browsers.
Working with Regions and Selections • Capture regions • Separate regions and Separate Grabber Tool • Region overlap and underlap • All trimming commands except for TCE • Heal separated regions • Place, align, slide, shuffle, and spot regions • Sync points • Nudging • Shift command • Quantize region to Grid (rounds to nearest video frame) • Cut, Copy, Paste, and Clear commands • Renaming disk files in the Region List or Timeline (available in all versions of Pro Tools) • Fades • Mute/unmute regions • AudioS
Selecting within Video Frame Boundaries Renaming Video Disk Files Pro Tools does not let you select, play back, or edit a partial video frame. The following rules apply when selecting or editing video: When renaming audio regions in either the Timeline or the Region List, you have the option of also renaming the audio files on disk. However, this does not apply to video files on disk.
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appendix a Configuring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only) MIDI Studio Setup MIDI Studio Setup (MSS) lets you configure the MIDI controllers and sound modules that are connected to your system, and control the routing of MIDI data between your MIDI equipment and Pro Tools. MSS automatically finds MIDI interfaces, and lets you specify a custom name for each of the MIDI ports within the MIDI Studio Setup document. MIDI Studio Setup Window The MIDI Studio Setup window is organized into three sections.
Export This button lets you export the current MIDI Studio Setup file. Show Duplicate Emulated Ports When this option is selected and you are using a MIDI interface that supports timestamping (such as MIDI I/O), in addition to the MIDI ports on Mbox 2 Academic, the MIDI Studio setup window shows both the DirectMusic time-stamped output ports, and non-stamped duplicate emulated output ports. Some MIDI Interfaces will not properly load or unload their drivers unless you quit and re-launch Pro Tools.
Manufacturer Send Channels The Manufacturer pop-up menu provides a list of MIDI equipment manufacturers. This list is derived from the XML-based MIDI device files. The Send Channels grid sets the send channels for the MIDI device specified in the Instrument Name field. For more information, see “MIDI Patch Name Support” on page 71. Model The Model pop-up menu provides a list of MIDI devices, filtered by the manufacturer name.
3 Click the MIDI track’s Patch Select button. 6 Click Open. The Patch Select dialog is populated with patch names and the Patch Name Bank pop-up menu appears in the upper left hand corner of the window. Patch Select button Patch Select button, Edit window Patch Select button Patch Select button, Mix window Patch Select dialog with patch names 4 In the Patch Select dialog, click the Change Once patch names have been imported into Pro Tools, they are available for that MIDI device in all sessions.
appendix b Configuring AMS (Mac OS X Only) Audio MIDI Setup Pro Tools recognizes the ports on your MIDI interface as generic ports. With Mac OS X, you use Apple’s Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) utility to identify external MIDI devices connected to your MIDI interface and configure your MIDI studio for use with Pro Tools. 2 Click MIDI Devices. AMS scans your system for connected MIDI interfaces. If your MIDI interface is properly connected, it appears in the window with each of its ports numbered.
5 Connect the MIDI device to the MIDI interface by clicking the arrow for the appropriate output port of the device and dragging a connection or “cable” to the input arrow of the corresponding port of the MIDI interface. 2 Select a manufacturer and model for the new device from the corresponding pop-up menus. (If the Manufacturer and Model pop-up menus do not provide a name for your particular device, you can type a name.
3 Click the More Properties arrow to expand the 4 Click the device image. The window expands dialog, then enable the appropriate MIDI channels (1–16) for the Transmits and Receives options. (These determine which channels the device will use to send and receive MIDI.) to show images for various MIDI devices (such as keyboards, modules, interfaces, and mixers). Select an icon for your device.
MIDI Patch Name Support 4 In the Patch Select dialog, click the Change button. Pro Tools supports XML (Extensible Markup Language) for storing and importing patch names for you external MIDI devices. Pro Tools installs MIDI patch name files (.midnam) for the factory default patch names of many common MIDI devices. These files reside in directories, sorted by manufacturer, in /Library/Audio/MIDI Patch Names/Digidesign.
appendix c Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance It is recommended that you start with a newly formatted external or secondary internal audio drive. You should also periodically defragment your audio drive to ensure continued system performance. Always back up any important data on your drive before formatting it, as it will erase all data on the drive. Avoid Recording to the System Drive Recording to your system drive is not recommended.
SCSI Hard Drives Digidesign recommends qualified SCSI hard drives and a qualified SCSI host bus adapter (HBA) card or (on Windows systems) a qualified built-in SCSI HBA connector on the motherboard. For complete information on track count and the supported number and configuration of SCSI drives, visit the Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com). Formatting an Audio Drive Formatting Windows Audio Drives (Windows Only) For optimal performance, audio drives should be formatted as FAT32 or NTFS.
3 If the volume is “Healthy,” do the following: 4 If the volume is “Unallocated,” do the follow- ing: Healthy volumes are volumes that have previously been partitioned and formatted. • In the Disk Management window, rightclick the hard drive you will use for audio and choose Format. • In the Disk Management window, rightclick the hard drive you will use for audio and choose New Partition. • In the New Partition Wizard window, click Next. • In the Format window, name the volume.
Formatting Mac Audio Drives (Mac Only) For optimum performance, audio drives should be formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). To format an audio drive: 1 Launch the Disk Utility application, located in Applications/Utilities. Partitioning Drives Partitioning creates a logical volume or volumes on a physical drive, almost as if you were creating virtual hard drives. Partitions can then be formatted with the appropriate file system (NTFS or FAT32 for Windows, HFS+ for Mac).
Defragmenting an Audio Drive Mac Systems When working with larger files (such as video), you can limit fragmentation by backing up your important files to another disk, erasing the files from the original hard disk, then copying the files back, instead of doing a defragmentation. Window Systems Periodically defragment audio drives to maintain system performance.
Hard Disk Storage Space Mono audio tracks recorded with 16-bit resolution at 44.1 kHz (CD quality) require approximately 5 MB of hard disk space per minute. The same tracks recorded with 24-bit resolution require about 7.5 MB per minute. Stereo audio tracks recorded with 16-bit resolution at 44.1 kHz (CD quality) require approximately 10 MB of hard disk space per minute. The same tracks recorded with 24-bit resolution require about 15 MB per minute.
appendix d Troubleshooting Backing Up Your Work It is highly recommended that you back up your work on a regular basis, and especially before making changes to your system configuration. Backing Up Your Session Data Back up your session and audio data frequently. There are a variety of media that are suited to back up projects of various sizes, from automated tape backup systems to high-capacity optical drives, or to CD burners.
◆ If you tried to launch Pro Tools by doubleclicking a Pro Tools session file, do the following: • Close any error message. • Double-click the Pro Tools application. • In Pro Tools, choose File > Open Session to open the session. ◆ Reinstall the Pro Tools application, using the Pro Tools Installer disc. See your Getting Started Guide or Pro Tools Upgrading Guide for installation instructions.
Before You Call Digidesign Technical Support Register Your System Register your purchase immediately after reviewing the Digidesign Registration Information Card included with every Pro Tools system. Registering your purchase is the only way you become eligible to receive complimentary technical support and future upgrade offers. Registering is one of the most important steps to complete as a new user.
Other Hardware Refer to the manufacturer’s documentation for operational details. The most common hardware additions include: • 1394 (FireWire) cards for Windows systems (manufacturer, model) • Video Capture cards (manufacturer, model) To verify that your hardware is qualified for use with your Pro Tools system, refer to the latest compatibility information on the Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com).
index A G alternate channel 63 ASIO driver (Windows) 19 audio digital connections 43 audio drivers ASIO driver (Windows) 19 CoreAudio driver (Mac) 24 WaveDriver (Windows) 19 Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) (Macintosh) 73 authorizing Pro Tools Mac 24 Windows 14 gain C Clock Source 17, 28 and digital output 38 Internal setting 17, 28 S/PDIF (digital) setting 17, 28 connecting Mbox 2 Academic Mac 23 Windows 13 CoreAudio driver (Mac) 24 CPU Usage Limit 15, 26 D DAE Playback Buffer Size 16, 27 drive formatting Mac
inputs analog 35 digital 34 gain 33 monitoring 32 installing Pro Tools Academic Mac 23 Windows 12 installing QuickTime Windows 13 K key commands 7 L latency see monitoring M Main Time Scale 55 Mbox 2 Academic back panel 34 connecting (Mac) 23 connecting (Windows) 13 features 3 front panel 31 removing the handle 33 MIDI connections 44 requirements 5 setup (Macintosh) 73 setup (Windows) 69 MIDI Input Selector 51 MIDI Studio Setup (MSS) (Windows) 69 mix control (Mbox 2 Academic) 32 monitoring when overdubbi
sources analog 35 DI 35 digital 34 line 35 microphone 35 selecting 33 Spot dialog Use Subframes option 57 Stereo Width control 42, 44 subframes 57 system optimization Mac 21, 22 Windows 9, 10, 11, 12 system requirements 5 system settings Clock Source 17, 28 CPU Usage Limit 15, 26 DAE Playback Buffer Size 16, 27 Hardware Buffer Size 14, 25 I/O Setup 18, 28 RTAS Processors 15, 25 Sample Rate 17, 27 T technical support product registration required 85 Time Scale Main 55 TRS 39 U USB connection indicator 31 U
90 Mbox 2 Academic Getting Started Guide
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