Pro Tools Tips - Posted on 2017-07-21 by April Stephenson

User Graphics Drive:

1. Open Control Panal
2. Select Device Manager
3. Select Dsiplay Adapters
4. Select Intel(R) Display Graphics 5500
5. Select Drive and Update Driver

Network Adapter Driver:

1. Open Control Panal
2. Select Device Manager
3. Select Network Adapters
4. Select Intel(R) Dual Band Wireles -  AC 7265
5. Select Drive and Update Driver

Protools Session:

1. Session Folder - When you create a New Session in Pro Tools, the software automatically creates a folder named after your session
   1. think of this session folder as the master folder associated audio files folder - any audio that you record or import into pro tools will reside in this folder?.
2. ?Pro Tools Session File (.ptx) - the session file (.ptx) holds directions to the audio files location and audio is played from a separate folder named, aptly, audio files.
   1. ?no actual audio is stored in the session file
   2. however, every single session detail (from automation pro tools session.ptx breakpoints to track colors to midi performances to track heights, region definitions, memory locations, and track names) almost everything other than raw audio and video files is stored within this documen.
   3. ?Pro Tools session files take up relatively little memory (from 20kb up to a few MB) and can easily be copied and renamed.
3. ?Audio Files Folder - any audio that you record or import into pro tools will reside in this folder.
   1. If you process audio using audiosuite plugins, it will be stored here too.
   2. If this folder gets misplaced or worse – deleted, it could mean your entire session is toast.and you’ll need to start again right down.to setting up the mics again and recording the first note.
   3. one of the most common session management problems you will encounter is caused by just not naming your audio files.
      1. the best practice is to name the audio tracks before recording on them, that way the naming of the audio files will be done automatically for you.
4. ??Session File Backups Folders - This folder could quite possibly SAVE YOUR LIFE! 
   1. ?The session backup preference in your pro tools preferences is a tool that tells pro tools to automatically save your session at regular intervals designated by you.
   2. Pro Tools automatically saves your session files according to a predetermined time value. 
   3. These backup session files are saved in the session file backups folder for easy access.
5. Rendered Files Folder - ?the rendered files folder is a folder that is used to hold temporary information on elastic audio events that are rendered.
   1. ?this file folder also holds .aan files rendered files that hold data once an elastic audio analysis has been changed.
   2. most sessions will not have this folder or will have it appear while working on a session and then disappear after saving.
   3. this folder is non-essential to a session working or being transferable, however not having the folder present when needed, may result in a session taking a little bit longer to load than normal
6. ??Clip Groups Folder - The clip group folder holds temporary information regarding these groups in .cgrp files created by Pro Tools.
   1. This folder will appear when a session is open, and disappear when it it is closed.
      1. It is nonessential for the transfer of a Pro Tools session.
   2. ?each clip comes equipped with a clip gain adjustment in the bottom left corner of the clip.
   3. these clips can be grouped together to make editing easier.
7. ?Plug-Ins Settings Folder - just like it sounds, the plugin settings folder holds the session plugin settings.
   1. this is an option that is helpful when saving a copy of a session
   2. pro tools gives you the option to save these plugin presets with your session.
   3. this is available from the presets menu settings drop down window on the interface of your plugin
   4. ?when saving a copy of a session, you can choose to include your root plugin settings folder in your session as well.
      1. this will give you access to any presets you have created for any of your plugins anywhere you take your session
8. ???WaveCache File (.wfm) - The wavecache file has one purpose: it stores the information that Pro Tools has calculated and stored to draw the waveform overviews that you see in the edit window.
   1. since the data is only loaded (not re-wavecache.wfm computed), pro tools can load your sessions that much quicker.
   2. if the wavecache file is deleted, pro tools will be able to recalculate and draw the waveform overviews.
      1. but again, like the rendered files folder if deleted, the absence of the wavecache file makes the loading a session much slower.??

*When transferring a Pro Tools session to another location the entire session folder, containing all the session information, must be transferred

Basic Key Commands:

1. • automation mode	• volume/peak indicator
   • monitor mode	• extend edit or timeline section
   • record, solo and mute enable	• track height
   • record and solo safes	•  i/o bus, send assignment
   • inserting plugins

• Change parameter on all channel strips = Alt+ (Select from above)
• Change parameter on selected channel strips = Alt +Shift + (Select from above)
• Create New Session = Control + N
• Create New Track =  Shift + Control + N