The EM Poll

Pro Tips for Pro Tools LE

Apr 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Gino Robair

           

I recommend creating templates that don't include audio files, because when you rename and save new versions, the original audio files are not automatically copied into the Audio Files folder of the recently saved session. The audio files remain in the original Audio Files folder. (You can see where these audio files reside by clicking on the Audio tile at the top of the region bin and selecting Show Full Pathnames.) As long as you have access to the drive where the template's audio files reside, you won't have a problem. But if you plan to take the session elsewhere, you should use the Save Session Copy In option under the File menu. That will create a new folder for the session and copy all of the required elements into it.

Import Session Data

If you want to import audio files and other attributes from another session, use the Import Session Data option. This feature imports the specified audio tracks and video elements and maintains any associated plug-in settings and automation. In the process, audio files are automatically converted to the proper session resolution.

FIG. 1: In the Import Session Data dialog box, I have selected to import two stereo audio tracks (Stereo Perc and Prep Piano). Note that I have also chosen to copy the media into the new session, and offset the incoming tracks by 17 seconds.

Under File, select Import Session Data. The first dialog box you see will prompt you to locate the session file from which you want to import data. Select the file and click on Open. In the next dialog box, select the source tracks and other session elements that you want to import (see Fig. 1). Click on the desired Source Tracks (or select New Track under the Destination heading for each track you want). Make your Audio Media Options selection and click on OK. The selected elements will appear in your new session.

The Audio Media Options box determines how the audio files are imported into your new session. Select Copy From Source Media to make copies of the selected tracks and put them in the desired location. If the source files differ in file format, bit depth, and sampling rate from the destination session, the source files will automatically be converted.

If you select Link To Source Media (Where Possible), the audio regions appear in your session, but the original audio files are not copied into your new session file. They reside in the source folder, and your regions point to their location. If the source files cannot be used during playback (which would be the case if they reside on a CD-ROM or slow drive), then the files will be converted (if needed) and copied into the session during the import process.

Another option is Consolidate from Source Session, which copies only the audio files that are used in source session tracks, skipping the ones that aren't being used. The final option is Force to Target Session Format, which copies and converts only the source tracks, which have a different file format, bit depth, and sampling rate than the destination session. Source files that don't need conversion aren't copied; they appear in the track but read from the source file.

Other Import Session Data features include Video Media Options, Timecode Mapping Options (for maintaining absolute or relative values or mapping start time code to a selected value), Track Offset Options (user definable as Bars:Beats, Min:Secs, or samples), Sample Rate Conversion Options (including conversion quality), and the ability to import a session's Tempo/Meter Map.

FIG. 2: From the Workspace window, you can see which drives and CDs are mounted and their content. Here, you can see the waveforms for the audio files, read the duration of each, and preview a file by clicking on its icon or waveform.

Entering the Workspace

The DigiBase database provides a powerful way to organize and manage your files in Pro Tools LE. Although there are three types of DigiBase browsers (Workspace, Volume, and Project), I'll focus on Workspace. Among other things, Workspace lets you view, organize, and search for a variety of file types across multiple mounted drives simultaneously (see Fig. 2).

Open the Workspace from the Windows menu or click on Option/Alt + semicolon (;). At the far left, you will see your drives and media, as well as number of categories that will be useful for organizational purposes. Click on the arrow to view the files on each drive.

When you first launch Workspace, you will find the Waveform column in the far right panel. If the wave — forms don't appear automatically, go to Calculate Waveform under the Toolbox menu. Once calculated, the waveform overviews are saved as a database file in a folder within Pro Tools LE, so when you remount the media at a later date, the waveforms will appear automatically. In addition, you can share the database file with other users of the storage volume from which you were working, allowing them to automatically retrieve the waveforms without having to wait for them to be calculated.

Select the name of the file that you want to play using the Up- and Down Arrows to scroll through the names, and press the spacebar to play it back. In addition, you can click on any point on a waveform and preview the file from that point by clicking on and holding down your mouse button. This is especially useful for browsing lengthy files.

When you've located the file that you want to use, you can add it to your session in one of three ways: drag-and-drop the file from the workspace onto a track you've already created; drag-and-drop the file into the blank space below the other tracks, which will create a new track and place the file within it; or drag-and-drop the file into the Audio Regions list. No matter which method you choose, the audio is automatically copied into your session's Audio Files folder. If you want the audio file to retain its original bit depth and sampling rate, hold down the Shift key as you drag-and-drop the file.