Watch the full video HERE:

Learn which version of Avid Media Composer is right for you HERE

Learn more about Avid HERE

“Grid Independence”

This is a term I use to describe being able to have your Edit window set to display a particular grid value (let’s say quarter notes) while also having the ability to set your MIDI Editor to an entirely different value simultaneously (such as eighth-note triplets). Because I’m constantly worrying about more than one rushed task at a time, I have my MIDI Editor open on one screen and my edit window on another. Having “Grid Independence” makes it so easy for me to work fast: adjusting MIDI on a triplet grid while also working out audio/MIDI region edits locked to a quarter note grid. It’s quite shocking that almost no other DAW has this capability. Huge time-saver, and much easier on the eyes!

The Timeline

Working with film is an entirely different beast when it comes to setting up a “virtual workspace,” or canvas to create. Pro Tools makes it effortless to work in a variety of scenarios, whether it be records, film, TV, or post-production audio. Since I host video/picture inside Pro Tools when I’m scoring (so do the majority of other film composers… even those using other sequencing software), I like to see the entire video clip in relation to the scene I’m working on. Setting your “Bar 1/Song Start” in the middle of a video clip in Pro Tools without having to edit/trim the video? Three clicks (maybe two, if you have a macro shortcut). Doing this same task in any other DAW? Welp… the milk I left out on my kitchen counter probably expired by the time I figured it out.

Inserting and cutting time is incredibly intuitive. Not only does this help the creative process move along (“Oof, I don’t need this eight-bar section anymore… done!”), but when video edits are changing by the day or hour, the “conforming” process is quite a breeze in Pro Tools: re-jiggering your music to a new edit of a scene; a few seconds added here, a bunch of frames cut there, music starts 17 seconds later…have I mentioned how easy it is to move your entire piece of music up and down the timeline?!

Automation

Pro Tools does a great job with user interface. It’s actually logical and simple. The ability to view and edit multiple automation lanes—not to mention you can save you preferred layout as a “Window Configuration”—is marvelous. Pro Tools not only comes in clutch matching your MIDI notes to your track color, but executes your automation exactly how you intended; no hang-ups or stutters. And last but not least, viewing multiple selected MIDI regions in the MIDI editor isn’t stress-inducing. A definite weak-point in other software.

“Import Session Data” & “Match Tracks”

This is an absolute game changer, life saver, and essential part of my workflow (and any other fellow Pro Tools user I know and love). In the media scoring world, the likelihood of a very condensed work schedule/timeframe is high. Something that media composers do to enhance their hastened workflow is compose suites, themes, and ideas that can be referenced, pulled from, and rearranged as those particular scenes come up in a project (for example: a love theme, or motif for two of our main characters.) “Import Session Data” and “Match Tracks” comes in super handy when I’m pulling in material from other music I’ve written for a project, creating tempo maps, preparing Pro Tools sessions for recording, bringing in recorded material from the aforementioned recording session files, etc., etc., etc. This is about as vital as brushing your teeth (but to be clear, dental care is most vital).

Pro Tools Treats MIDI Like Audio

Pro Tools is highly acclaimed for the way it handles audio. I personally love how this carries over to MIDI. You can utilize the same tools and tricks, which allows for flexibility and mental ease when editing and dealing with MIDI. Some of my favorites: “Tab to Transient”, “TCE Tool” (time stretching), “consolidate” (the good ol’ option/alt+shift+3), pencil tool, chopping, and… BACKWARDS DUPLICATING (control+option/alt+command+click a region. This trick will absolutely impress all of your friends and family).

Bonus: Key Commands

Whenever you touch a Pro Tools rig, you know exactly what you’re stepping into. The universal key commands are a wonderful thing. Not only the “greatest hits” (command+E to edit, command+D to duplicate, F for fade, A and S to chop, D and G for fade in/out), but the new MIDI commands are extremely useful:

↑/↓ to move a MIDI note up or down by a semi-tone,

shift+↑/↓ to jump up/down octave,

control+↑/↓ to move diatonically in the key to which your session is set to,

option/alt+↑/↓ to duplicate a note up/down a semi-tone, and

control+option/alt+↑/↓ to duplicate a note up/down diatonically.

Did I forget to mention the “Cascade Inputs/Outputs” feature (select more than one track of the same type, shift+option/alt+command+select an input/output)? Crucial for routing (GIF below)!

Today we are demonstrating how the PTZOptics MIDI Camera Control app integrates with Avid Pro Tools.  For this presentation, we step into our Lead Engineers audio recording studio to integrate PTZOptics cameras into his Pro Tools setup using MIDI controls.  MIDI is an industry standard for Digital Audio Workstations and the PTZOptics MIDI Camera control application allows producers the ability to synchronize live streaming cameras from within their DAW Software.

Learn more at https://ptzoptics.com/MIDI

Pro Tools MIDI Camera Control Setup

The setup for Pro Tools requires some knowledge of MIDI and using MIDI with the PTZOptics MIDI App.  The PTZOptics MIDI app needs to receive the MIDI notes coming from Pro Tools where it then translates unique MIDI notes to PTZ camera presets.  In this video, we are using LoopBe on a Windows computer.  When using MIDI to send notes from one application to another you basically have two different options. You can set up an internal MIDI loop to share MIDI from one program to another on the same computer OR you can send MIDI over your network to another computer on your network.  This process is outlined in the PTZOptics blog here – https://live.ptzoptics.com/case-studies/control-ptz-cameras-midi/ When you are working with a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software like Pro Tools, you can integrate many different hard solutions into the time line such as Lights, Cameras and even video switchers.  There is a very interesting case study that we just finished from a Church using Ableton with Chauvet DJ lights, Blackmagic Video Switchers, Pro Presentor, TouchOSC (touch screen controller) and PTZOptics cameras outlined in our blog here – https://live.ptzoptics.com/church/live-streaming-system-w-ableton-blackmagic-propresenter-touchosc/ It’s interesting to note that for many users connecting Pro Tools with MIDI that PTZ cameras are usually done after other integrations such as lights.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Pro Tools PTZ Cameras and Lights

Once you have setup the output of your Pro Tools track to send MIDI to the PTZOptics MIDI camera control app (or another app) you are ready to setup your timeline with PTZ camera controls.  Throughout your musical performance you may want to have cameras focusing on various positions.  You can also use cameras during a studio recording session as a confidence monitor to show the talent a multi-view of the entire recording studio.  There are many uses of the Pro Tools integration with PTZOptics MIDI camera control software but the main solution is providing music producers an easy way to view, record and stream if desired with easier camera controls.

MIDI Keyboard PTZ Camera Controls

Finally, you have the choice of calling PTZ camera presets with notes inside Pro Tools or directly through a MIDI keyboard setup to call those notes.  So if you have a track setup with your MIDI routed correctly, the MIDI keyboard can be setup to call those MIDI notes on command.  These MIDI notes each represent a unique PTZ camera position which could be for a drummer, a singer or other locations in a recording studio or live performance stage.  The integration with PTZ camera controls and MIDI is really an open ended solution and the folks at PTZOptics are here to listen to your requirements.  If you have an additional feature request we would be happy to listen! PTZOptics Live Streaming Camera Manufacturer focused on HD-SDI, USB 3.0, HDMI and IP streaming cameras. Our YouTube channel features live broadcasting tips, tricks and tutorials for live streaming and more.

Click here to watch on YouTube.

Click here to watch on YouTube.

To stay ahead of the industry news and trends tune in every Thursday at 2pm to our Broadfield Live webinars. If you miss the live airing or just want to catch up on past product reviews, head over to the Broadfield YouTube Channel.

To stay ahead of the industry news and trends tune in every Thursday at 2pm to our Broadfield Live webinars. If you miss the live airing or just want to catch up on past product reviews, head over to the Broadfield YouTube Channel.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Generally, a Windows computer is going to give you more computer for your money, Macs on the whole cost more than a comparable Windows computer. What Apple offer with their integrated software and hardware ecosystem is compatibility, as outlined above this helps when third party manufacturers need to support protocols like Thunderbolt.

If you are looking for advice on buying a computer for audio recording with Pro Tools, then we have lots of advice from both Pro Tools professionals and Pro Tools enthusiasts about getting the best Pro Tools computer for you.

We are not tied to any particular platform so you can find open-minded advice on both Mac and Windows PC for Pro Tools. We don’t sell anything either so that you can be sure of impartial advice from the largest independent Pro Tools user community in the world – even better all our Pro Tools computer information is completely free.

If you are looking for a list of Windows computers approved for Pro Tools then Avid, the makers of Pro Tools, have produced a list of approved Pro Tools windows computers….[continue reading]

Avid has gone off the deep end with their latest release, or it seems so at least.  For $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, you can get Avid’s Complete Plug-In Bundle for Pro Tools.  This bundle includes 51 Pro Tools plug-ins for less than a dollar a plug-in with the yearly price.  For anyone looking to branch out into what Pro Tools can do, this bundle is an easy purchase to make.  For those that are weary of such plug-ins and even bundles like this, worried about policy and support, the price alone makes this decision also easy to make.  At that price to test and see if these add-on products are worth it costs virtually nothing when compared to other media products.  Even at the yearly $49.99 price for anyone with Pro Tools, this should be an instant buy.

Of course, there will be those who will want to pick the Avid The Complete Plug-in Bundle apart and suggest the plug-ins are old, or already included in various Pro Tools bundles. They may just be the growing number of people who feel entitled. But set those things aside and $5 a month for even a few of the gems in this package is still a steal.

Another thing to note is that as Avid continue to develop the collaboration option, there’s one thing that can kill it – people not having the same stuff on their systems. Ask any post professional, and they will tell you what a pain in the ass that can be if you move around facilities. This offer means that you can have any system with the same 51 plug-ins for $5 a month, that’s more than enough time to complete a project.

Just think back a couple of years with Avid, and the Pro Tools offer. You had a couple of choices, a native system that was more locked down than a high-security prison or software with all the features as long as you bought expensive HD hardware.

The Complete Plug-in Bundle for less than the price of a sandwich and a beer per month tells me something else. The world Avid is selling to has changed, companies are making better hardware and software and often for a fraction of the price, so it’s time for Avid to get with the program or continue to lose customers and revenue.

Rather than Avid losing their mind, it seems they have come to their senses. Whatever their rationale, the new plug-in bundle is a great deal, even if it’s tied to Pro Tools AAX and for someone like me who uses more than one DAW paying £4.80 for the bundle is a no-brainer….[continue reading]

NEXIS and NEXIS|Pro also provide realtime creative team collaboration for workflows employing non-Avid brand editorial and creative tools, including Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Apple Final Cut Pro X, and DaVinci Resolve.

Pro Tools is now qualified on Avid NEXIS, enabling audio creative teams to leverage the powerful media storage environment. With Pro Tools combined with Avid NEXIS, users can now share projects on a centralized pool of media storage.

Click here to read the full article.

Together with your support, the Avid Customer Association (ACA) has made overwhelming progress and continues to create a deeper level of engagement between Avid and its customers, partners, and community. In the first inaugural ACA Vote this past December, we were able to leverage our impressive growth to over 17,000 members and the strength of our community to make our collective voice even louder. You voted and we listened – The results are in!

Participants voted on products and solutions as well as Avid’s strategic direction and future offerings to help ensure that Avid is delivering the comprehensive tools and solutions needed to solve our community’s most critical issues and support what is most important to them and their businesses!…[continue reading]