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There are a number of different pieces of software that you could use for recording and mixing your music, but in all honesty, if you want to be part of the film scoring industry I can't emphasize strongly enough how important it is that you become familiar with DigiDesign's ProTools software (which also means having some their hardware such as the 003). ProTools is a common form of delivery as most movie mixes will involve ProTools, and more often than not I am asked to submit final mixed music in a ProTools session.
If you are new to ProTools don't worry, it's fairly straight forward once you know your way around. Here are a few key points to get you started and a few tips to ensure good clean sound.
ProTools Editing Tools:
Towards the top of the screen you will see a few tools which will be your main tools to use. Here's a very basic description of each of them. (Please note that there are more functions than the basics, which can be explored by holding down the mouse when ever there is an arrow under the icon.)
These tools are:
- Magnification tool: You can make horizontal magnification increse by clicking on the edit window with this tool selected, or make it smaller by holding down 'ALT' while clicking. Double click on this icon to put the whole recording on one screen. You can also drag over the area you want enlarged and it will magnify the section so that it enlrges to screen size. (N.B. Just to the left of this icon are tools you can use to increase the size of the wave forms.)
- Trim Tool: This is as its name suggests, a tool to trim down the size of individual, or group, blocks.
- The Selection Tool: Allows you to drag select portions of the recording for editing.
- The Grabber Tool: this tool allows you to 'grab' certain elements and move them to new locations. You can move anything from 'blocks' of music to volume levels.
- Scrubber Tool: This tool allows you to drag over pieces of music and hear it at the same speed at which you 'scroll', both forward and backwards. This is helpful for finding certain events such as the start of a quiet piece of music where the audio waves are too small to be seen, or when looking for specific edit points.
- The Pencil Tool: This tool is used for creating and editing MIDI data, allowing you to draw lines under certain parameters. Clicking this tool will allow you to see the specific parameters.
Setting Up A ProTools Session:
When you first open ProTools you need to create tracks to record on. To do this go to the Track menu and press 'New' (or SHOTCUT KEY: APPLE KEY SHIFT N). You then have a new option to choose how many tracks to add, whether they are stero or mono tracks, what type of track (either Audio track for recording, Aux Input, Masterfader (to control the main outputs), MIDI Track (to use ProTools as a sequencer) or an Instrument Track (to add VIs to your session), and finally how you want the track to be displayed.
If you're recording a live instrument or vocals with a mono lead, then select mono, or for a stereo instrument such as a sound module or another computer, choose a stereo track. So, lets say you have 2 mono mics plugged into inputs 1 & 2 on the 003, a sound module pluged into inputs 3 & 4 and another computer's outputs plugged into 5& 6. Your set up would need to have 2 mono tracks, 2 stereo tracks and a stereo Master Fader track. Using your 'Mix Window' you can name the tracks by double clicking the track name (by default it says 'Audio 1', 'Audio 2' etc.) and renaming it in the window that pops up. You also have an option to add any comments about the track should you wish. Press next to be able to name the next track until all your tracks are named and then press OK.
The next step is to assign the interface input and outputs. For example, if you're using the 003, or 003 Rack, and you're monitoring the sounds through a set of stereo monitors, then you would need to let the software know what is plugged into which channel on the 003. Using the 'Mix Window' Mic 1 will probably be automatically assigned to 'Mic / Line 1' in the Input Interface selection. Mic 2 will also be set up as 'Mic/Line 2'. However, the Sound Module track will also probably be set up by default as 'Mic/Line 1-2' (Stereo). As the sound module is plugged into inputs 3 & 4, you will need to change this setting by clicking on the input path selector, choosing 'interface' and then select 'Mic/Line 3-4 (Stereo)'. Likewise you will to change the other stereo input's settings to 'Mic/Line 5-6 (Stereo)' in a similar manner. If done correctly the window should look something like this:
Before you will hear any sounds coming through your monitors you will need to 'Record Enable' each track. This is done by clicking the red 'R' on each track that you want to hear in either the mix or edit windows. Once this is done you will start to see the 'green levels' move once sounds is played on those tracks and you should be able to hear the sound through your monitors. If you can see the levels moving but don't hear any sound, make sure that the 003 isn't 'muted' (you will see a red light next to the mute button if it is on), your monitors are powered on and also make sure the volume is turned up.
Before you actually record, make sure you do a sound check first on each track to make sure that the levels are not too loud (meaning that they don't peak on the 'red' zone) nor that it's too quiet. Adjust the pre-amp levels as needed (meaning the levels of the controlling device - either the volume controls of the sound module, other computer or in the case of mics going through the 003, adjust the gain on the mic input).
Setting Up Your Time Code:
If you're recording to a particular time code you will need to set up your session to start around that time code, particularly if you're synching with another computer. (Click here for instructions of how to synch with another computer.) To set up a starting timecode go to the Setup menu and select Session (or SHORTCUT KEY: APPLE KEY 2 (on the number keypad). In the new window that opens up you will be able to enter the SMPTE start time of the session as well as Frame Rates. A word of advice: don't start the session at the timecode of the start of the piece. You want to leave a little room at the front end especially if you are slaving to another machine. The extra time you give will allow for all the machines to catch up with each other, so I usually enter the timecode 2-4 seconds earlier than the start of the actual piece of music's start time.
Mixing: Fade In / Fade Out
The most simple of mixing functions begins with the fade in / fade out. Once you have recorded your tracks you can use your mouse to 'draw' fade ins or fade outs if you don't have a mixing desk, or sometimes just for precision. Fades are 'drawn' in the edit window. You have to make sure that you change the 'waveform' mode of the track to 'volume'.
 
Once this is done you will notice the track has changed to a different shade of color and there is a black line going through it, indicating the volume levels. The volume levels can be adjusted by use of the 'Grabber Tool'. When you click on the volume line with teh grabber tool it inserts an edit point. That edit point can be moved up or down, left or right until it's at the position and level you want it to be at. By clicking on multiple locations on the volume line you can quickly create fades or dip down certain points where the music volume push the levels into the 'red'. As you can see in this example, I have created a 'hard start' fade in right where the piece begins. This kind of a start makes any 'hiss' or noise prior to the first sound of the recording in audible, giving me a 'silent' introduction.
This is just the basics of how to get started with ProTools. Every few weeks I will be putting more tips and tricks up on this page.
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