Pro Tools: Edit Tools

Today we will venture into the microcosm of Digidesign® Pro Tools 'EDIT TOOLS'. This is a continuation of software series for quick startup into the life of digital recording with computer-based audio gear.
Above is a screenshot from the top of a new Pro Tools® session- showing the 'edit tools' close to the transport section. Now for the quick start break down..

To explain the 'edit tools'- it's easier to just open up a new pro tools session- here's 1 with a 909 kick sample. The highlighted portion is a pre-recorded region with the 909 kick played from a Roland® Dr. Rhythm DR-770 drum machine.


And here's a shot of the Digidesign® Pro Tools LE 7.3 editing tools you will use to cut up and manipulate audio files in your session, once you get going.


With the 'selector' tool, highlight the region to edit..


Right click [CNTL click] the selection and click "cut"..


now click in a spot in a new track and CNTL click, "paste"..


the copied region shows up in the track at that exact spot..


use the "grabber" tool to slip/slide the region around in the new track- and grid mode provides a visual guide to align beats with any song tempo set in transport bpm..


with the trimmer tool you can extend the region for more sample..


the "zoomer" tool will allow you to zero in or focus on a specific portion of the audio region that you select while using the zoom tool..


here is what the new zoomed region looks like..



Next, let's break down the "edit tools" section on the pro tools edit window..

1 "EDIT TOOLS"»


2 "ZOOMER" tool»


3 "TRIMMER" tool»


4 "SELECTOR" tool»


5 "HAND" tool»


6 "SMART" tool»


7 "SCRUBBER" tool»


8 "PENCIL" tool»


EDIT TOOLS at top of edit window..

• shuffle/spot/slip/grid section
• horizontal/vertical zoom section
• EDIT TOOLS section
• transport section on edit window

QUICK BUTTONS at below edit tools section..

• "Tab To Transients"
• "Keyboard Focus"
• "Link Timeline and Edit Selection"
• "Link Track and Edit Selection"
• "Mirrored Midi Editing"
• "Grid"
• "Nudge"
• "Cursor" position

TRANSPORT [floating window]


Tip: Hit the "PLAY" button to hear region playback!


Now go follow the "new session" quickstart guide article to get a recording session going, start recording a guitar track with a click track or play in some samples from a drum machine, and start playing with the EDIT TOOLS. Once you get started editing your own audio region files in a Pro Tools session, the knowledge will just ooze from your brain into you mouse-clicking finger tips. And you will soon find yourself well on your way to editing madness!

Have fun editing your way to digital geek heaven- and check back for the next installment of digital recording with the dog.. "How2 get a good input volume".


Peace out homedogs!
Mike the AudioK9

Mackie Onyx800R Interface

For an extra 8 tracks of digital recording with pristine sound at a great cost, check out the Mackie Onyx800R. And piggyback the Onyx800R to the DigiDesign Digi003R for a streamlined mobile recording rig..

This setup gives you 16 channels input/output with 8 Onyx digital pre-amps and 8 Focusrite pre's on the Digi003. If tracking local garage bands is your thing, this is plenty of i/o for an audio engineer/producer in a project studio. Basic session setup will most likely pan out to 8 tracks for drums, and 8 ins for vox, gtr, bass, and keys. This setup will vary for each session, but that's the basic idea.

Any project studio environment can extend it's track count by using an array of Onyx digital interfaces alongside the basic digital recording setup of DigiDesign or other recording gear manufacturers.

So, optically hookup the Onyx800R to your

digital interface like a Digidesign Digi003R..

and add the digital gear to the rest of

your computer-based recording setup..

next add some drum mics..

and maybe a sub-kick or 2..

and throw up a decent vocal mic..

..and you're off to the races, recording demo/cds in your project studio! Don't forget to come back for the next blog article in this series to learn how to "open a new session" in Pro Tools on a Mac. Til then- peace!

Mike the AudioK9


check out the Mackie Onyx 800R stats:

Onyx 800R Technical Specifications

Frequency Response
Mic Input to Line Output (Gain @ unity):
+0, –0.1 dB, 20 Hz to 30 kHz
+0, –3 dB, 10 Hz to 170 kHz
Mic Input to Digital Output (AES, 192 kHz sample rate):
+0, –0.2 dB, 20 Hz to 85 kHz
+0, –1 dB, 10 Hz to 90 kHz
Distortion (THD & IMD)
Mic Input to Line Output (@ +4 dBu output):
THD+N: <>123 dB (Mic In to Line Out)
>113 dB (through A-to-D converters)
Noise
Signal-to-Noise (A-weighted):
>103 dB (ref. +4 dBu, Mic In to Line Out, Gain @ unity)
Equivalent Input Noise (E.I.N.), 20 Hz to 20 kHz Bandwidth,
150Ω source impedance:
–129 dBu @ +60 dB gain
Residual Output Noise:
Line Out: < –102 dBu (Channel Gain at unity) Digital Out (AES, 48 kHz): < –113 dB FS
Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) Mic In: >60 dB @ 1 kHz, Gain @ maximum
Crosstalk
Mic Input to Line Output:
< –100 dB @ 1 kHz, +10 dBu signal on adjacent input,
150Ω source impedance Input Gain Control Range
Mic In: 0 dB to +60 dB Line In: –20 dB to + 40 dB
Phantom Power +48 VDC Equalization
High-Pass Filter: 75 Hz @ 18 dB/octave
Rated Output Line: +4 dBu
Maximum Rated Output: +24 dBu @ Balanced Line-Level
Outputs AC Power Requirements Power Consumption:
45 watts Universal AC Power Supply: 100 VAC 240 VAC,
50-60 Hz Physical Dimensions and
Weight Height: 1.75 in/44 mm
Width: 17.75 in/451 mm (main body of unit),
19.00 in/483 mm (with rack ears)
Depth: 14.38 in/365 mm (including front knobs and rear BNC jack)
Weight: 10.6 lb/4.8 kg

Maximum Input Levels
Mic Input: +22 dBu, Gain @ unity Inst
Input: +21 dBu, Gain @ –20 dB
Line Input: > +22 dBu, Gain @ –20 dB
Input Impedance

Ch 1 and 2 Mic Input:
300Ω, 500Ω, 1.3 kΩ, or 2.4 kΩ balanced
Ch 3 through 8 Mic Input: 2.4 kΩ balanced
Inst Input: 1 MΩ
Line: 20 kΩ balanced, 10 kΩ unbalanced
Output Impedance
Line: 100 Ω balanced
Signal Level LEDs
–20 dBu, 0 dBu (normal operating level), OL = 22 dBu
Sample Frequency Selections
32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz,
176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, External
Bit Depth Selections
24-bit (full range from converters), 16-bit (dithered)
Analog Input Connectors
Eight balanced XLR mic inputs
Two 1/4" TS high-impedance instrument inputs
One DB25 connector with eight balanced line-level inputs
Analog Output Connectors
One DB25 connector with eight balanced line-level outputs
Digital Input Connectors
One BNC connector for external word clock input
Digital Output Connectors
Two Toslink Optical Connectors
Both transmit channels 1-8 at 44.1/48 kHz operation
One transmits channels 1-4 and one transmits
channels 5-8 at 88.2/96 kHz operation
using S/MUX standard
One transmits channels 1-2 and one transmits
channel 3-4 at 176.4/192 kHz
operation using S/MUX standard
One DB25 Connector
Transmits AES/EBU or S/PDIF formatted digital audio
with single-wire/dual-wire options available at all
sample rates

Digidesign Digi003R Factory

Digidesign Pro Tools Software