20th Studio Lesson 2-21-18 - Posted on 2018-03-23 by Bill Sloyer

During our 20th lesson on Wednesday, 2/21, Larry and I talked about:

“Comp” = compile

“Pocket” or “groove” = notes a little ahead or behind.  Also:  multiple overlapping swings with beat/accents that all instruments lock into (rhythm-responsible instruments should keep sync most frequently & accurately). The overall feel can be varied by offsetting each instruments timing (playing bit ahead the 'beat/accent' or behind).

-Recording same song with multiple takes:  Use PLAYLIST

-Don’t use playlist for new song, but instead start a new session.

-To SAVE A COPY of a project (in another location, for example), choose SAVE COPY IN, and make sure to SELECT THE AUDIO FILES BOX so all audio files are copied – meaning the entire project will also be in the new place you save the copy, and not just the .ptx file.

CLIP GAIN / COMPRESSOR:

-CLIP GAIN = ADJUSTING THE DB LEVEL IN THE TIMELINE. 

-This adjustment is BEFORE the plugins.

-Larry doesn’t use when compressing.  But another option is to clip gain down so signal doesn’t hit a compressor as hard.  Automating the volume is a backup, too.

-Check your level meter BEFORE adding a compressor.  Better to keep compressor working less.

*EQ NOTE:

-Pay attention to the EQ presets and what they do:  What are the presets for different instruments?

Auto Tune – use for:

-Pitch

-Emotion

-Timing

-Tuning

*The better the performance is, the less Auto Tune will have to be used!

BEAT DETECTING:

-Have to decide who’s running the show (with timing), OR everyone plays to a click.

-Can have drums record first, then everyone record to drums:  Bass plays to drum track, then guitar plays, etc….   Then you can edit the drums.

-Larry edits drums to the grid (kick & snare).

-BEAT DETECTIVE IN ProT = Open w/CMD + 8 (keypad)

**Good video instruction:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFw8dYilH74

*Larry’s instructions:

-Highlight drum section you want to work with

-Open Beat Detective

-Click capture selection

-Pick 1/16, 1/8, ¼, etc

-Click analyze button

-Pick between high emphasis, low emphasis, or enhanced resolution, which covers high & low (Larry uses this one)

-Adjust purple bars to match beats

-Click clip separation

-Larry doesn’t use clip conform, says it doesn’t work right, he does QUANTIZE (OPTN + 0)

-Change drop down to audio clips (sometimes have to close window and open again to make it work)

*Beat detection can also fix cut up tracks, vocals, and guitars, using the “edit smoothing” and “fill gaps” functions.

*DUPLICATE YOUR PLAYLIST BEFORE USING BEAT DETECTIVE IN CASE YOU MESS UP.  (If you only have ¼ notes, you can just use QUANTIZE instead.)