Session 9 - Posted on 2018-08-28 by Margaret Cantwell

Today my mentor Tom and I went over pro tools basics, the subject of the next chapter. I learned more about Pro Tools and how it works. I'm startingt to feel more comfortable using Pro Tools. I understand what the editing tools are used for, and how to use them. For practice, I started a project using one of the tracks that was provided in the chapter. After much listening to it, I have an idea of how to get it mixed, and am working on it. So far, I have done mixing to some drum, bass, and acoustic guitar on the tracks. After I listen to each track and mix it, I will listen to the whole thing, to see if it is well mixed, or if any adjustments need to be made, but now I feel better about Pro Tools. I had also asked my mentor if he would bring in his sampler, as I had never used one before, or even touched one. Tom showed me how the sampler worked, and I got to try it out. Most samplers nowadays are done on the computer, but using an actual sampler was fun and interesting, and simple to hook up. All he had to do was plug the sampler into an interface and bam! It was up on Pro Tools. Press a button, hear a drum track, there were levels in Pro Tools and sound coming out of the speakers. The sampler was an Akai brand, and originally cost $1600! Hope Beezelbub didn't help purchase that. Just kidding! No one get offended. It was fun and interesting. It was like a drum kit in a box. If you don't have a drummer, it helps for practice. A sampler is something I'd like to look into buying in the future. It can be paired with a keyboard or synthesizer, both of which I play, so the possibilities are endless.