Pro Tools 7 Session Pro Tools 7 Session SecretsSecrets

Chapter 5Chapter 5

Mixing in Pro Tools: Directing Audio Mixing in Pro Tools: Directing Audio TrafficTraffic

Pro Tools Recording techniques in this Pro Tools Recording techniques in this chapter include:chapter include:

Automation RecipesAutomation Recipes Panning TechniquesPanning Techniques Routing OptionsRouting Options EQ and Compression IdeasEQ and Compression Ideas

Automation RecipesAutomation Recipes Pro Tools has 6 total automation modes.Pro Tools has 6 total automation modes. Automation can be draw in, or recorded real Automation can be draw in, or recorded real

time with a mouse or through a control surface.time with a mouse or through a control surface. Pro Tools offers multiple tools to edit Pro Tools offers multiple tools to edit

automation.automation. Automation can be disabled to A/B your mix.Automation can be disabled to A/B your mix. Automation can be copied and pasted between Automation can be copied and pasted between

automation playlists and tracks. For example a automation playlists and tracks. For example a volume curve can be copied to the same type of volume curve can be copied to the same type of playlist or pasted to an fx automation playlist playlist or pasted to an fx automation playlist such as reverb decay.such as reverb decay.

Check Preferences / Automation to configure the Check Preferences / Automation to configure the automation parameters for your workflow.automation parameters for your workflow.

Use to ride vocals, raise instruments levels for Use to ride vocals, raise instruments levels for solos, panning, ducking instruments under solos, panning, ducking instruments under vocals etc..vocals etc..

Panning TechniquesPanning Techniques Center your lower frequencies. Low end tone off Center your lower frequencies. Low end tone off

center loses energy.center loses energy. Center your main vocals. Pan your background Center your main vocals. Pan your background

and double and tripe tracks at different spots in and double and tripe tracks at different spots in the stereo image. Panned fx also greatly the stereo image. Panned fx also greatly enhance the since of space.enhance the since of space.

Create a believable stereo image for your drums Create a believable stereo image for your drums if you want to capture a natural sound. Pan your if you want to capture a natural sound. Pan your percussion to give a since of separation.percussion to give a since of separation.

Be aware of mixing and panning when wearing Be aware of mixing and panning when wearing headphones. You get a different sense of space headphones. You get a different sense of space than when monitoring with speakers.than when monitoring with speakers.

Guitars can live in the center mono or hard Guitars can live in the center mono or hard panned in stereo and offset by a few samples.panned in stereo and offset by a few samples.

Routing OptionsRouting Options Busses are for internal routing only.Busses are for internal routing only. Sends can be routed to Busses or Interface outputs.Sends can be routed to Busses or Interface outputs. The number of the bus you Send on needs to be the same The number of the bus you Send on needs to be the same

as the bus you use as an Input for your Aux or Audio track. as the bus you use as an Input for your Aux or Audio track. That completes the loop.That completes the loop.

Aux tracks don’t take a voice.Aux tracks don’t take a voice. Multiple tracks can be submixed down to a mono or stereo Multiple tracks can be submixed down to a mono or stereo

Aux to maximize control and apply common fx. Submixing Aux to maximize control and apply common fx. Submixing drums this way is common. You can lower or raise the drums this way is common. You can lower or raise the volume for the entire group of instruments without losing volume for the entire group of instruments without losing their relative levelstheir relative levels

Submixing down to an audio track can free up voices in an Submixing down to an audio track can free up voices in an LE system without any of the consequences of old style LE system without any of the consequences of old style tape bouncing. I.E. eight tracks of background vocals tape bouncing. I.E. eight tracks of background vocals become stereo.become stereo.

EQ and Compression EQ and Compression IdeasIdeas

Most instruments are compressed and Eq-ed a little if Most instruments are compressed and Eq-ed a little if not quite a bit.not quite a bit.

Compression on an electric guitar can offer sustain.Compression on an electric guitar can offer sustain. EQ can make an acoustic guitar sound natural and full EQ can make an acoustic guitar sound natural and full

or fake and thin. An electric can be Eq-ed drastically or fake and thin. An electric can be Eq-ed drastically without sounding fake or awkward. without sounding fake or awkward.

Compression helps vocals stay on top of a mix without Compression helps vocals stay on top of a mix without being too loud or getting lost.being too loud or getting lost.

EQ can help bring out sizzle or depth in a vocal track EQ can help bring out sizzle or depth in a vocal track but used too much or incorrectly can cause sibilance, but used too much or incorrectly can cause sibilance, muddiness or hollowness.muddiness or hollowness.

Compression on live drums can change the sound from Compression on live drums can change the sound from tight to big and give be natural or used to create an tight to big and give be natural or used to create an effect.effect.