The Watering Hole

I've downloaded and tried the M-Powered demo version (the cracked version didn't work).

First impressions, far superior sound quality to any other that I've used and the latency is excellent. I can hardly notice any latency at all to be honest.

However, it is not very intuitive at all.   Does anyone know of any good instruction videos on this as I am thinking of actually purchasing it, but I need to know more first.

What about all my vst plugins? How do I get them to show up?

How do I set us busses?  Couldn't find anywhere how to do that at all.

How do I edit midi data? is there no editor/viewer for this?

Deano, I know you said you find it easier to use than sonar, how so?   Everything that I find very intuitive in Sonar has me stumped in pro-tools.  I think what I need is a demo song to play around with to see how everything fits together.

Any help appreciated

Jon — Aug 26, 2008
What about all my vst plugins? How do I get them to show up?

You have to buy another plugin to "wrap" your vsts as RTAS.  It's called fxpansion VST-to-RTAS wrapper.  Or, you can get a crack.

How do I set up busses?  Couldn't find anywhere how to do that at all.

Think of the Mix window as a real, modular mixer, with a patch panel. At the top of the patch panel, the first section, you stick in your plugins. The next section down is the "sends" section. To create a bus, you need two things--audio that's getting sent to the bus, and the actual bus (mixer channel) itself. So, to add a bus, you add a track. Using "mixing board" terminology, Pro Tools calls a bus an Aux, or Aux bus.  

To create an aux bus, go to Tracks > New Track, and select Aux, mono or stereo.  Your new track gets added.  
Now, you need to configure the bus to receive audio from a certain place. An Aux track in Pro Tools can get audio from one of two places--a physical input, or a bus input. Click the input assignment button (usually this says either "no input" or "none" or a number or pair of numbers, for a stereo track).  Typically, you'll be selecting a bus, so you could select, say, bus 1-2.  
Now, configure something to go to the track. On a track you want to "send" to the bus, click a button in the send assignment area. Select "stereo bus 1-2" or whatever.  A little send fader pops up.  This has a number of options... you can configure the volume level to send (with the slider), the pan with the pan knob, you can make it a pre-fader send (with the Pre button), and you can configure the Send to automatically follow the master pan information for the track (FMP button).  Note that there is no pan or FMP button if it's a mono send.
It's actually a lot simpler, and more logical, than it sounds written out.  Do it three times and you will think it's totally logical.

How do I edit midi data? is there no editor/viewer for this?

Pro Tools puts MIDI data right on the MIDI track. Each track has a number of ways you can view data, from a little pull-down.  I'm not sure off the top of my head what they are for MIDI tracks, but I know there is a piano roll type view.

Any help appreciated

If you'd like I can put together a demo session tonight and upload it for you, something with a few tracks, sends, plugins, etc.

not to hijack, but when you say "far superior sound to any other (you've) used" can you tell me what differences you hear?  

DreamTheaterRules — Aug 26, 2008not to hijack, but when you say "far superior sound to any other (you've) used" can you tell me what differences you hear?  

More "punch", solid, defined etc. Just all round better sound, especially noticeable with EZ Drummer.

Charger said"

If you'd like I can put together a demo session tonight and upload it for you, something with a few tracks, sends, plugins, etc.



That would be really good if you could do that. Many thanks in advance

Charger, perhaps an ongoing Pro Tools Demo thread is in order.  

DreamTheaterRules — Aug 26, 2008Charger, perhaps an ongoing Pro Tools Demo thread is in order.  

We'll see how it goes after I get the first thing posted...

Jon — Aug 26, 2008[quote author=DreamTheaterRules link=1219780450/0#2 date=1219782306]not to hijack, but when you say "far superior sound to any other (you've) used" can you tell me what differences you hear?  

More "punch", solid, defined etc. Just all round better sound, especially noticeable with EZ Drummer.

What "others" have you used?

Hey Jon,  Sorry slept all afternoon.  :D I was up early.  PT for me was kinda like a new pair of shoes.  After I wore them for a while, I didn't notice the change anymore.  There are a few hurdles to jump.  Like I said in the other thread, There are some pros and cons between various DAW's, but which side of the scale weighs heavier?  For me it was PT.

I bought a Pro Tools Power 7 Book.  It answers most any question about navigating quickly and thoroughly.

I know a man, who knows a man, who knows a man that can get the VST wrapper for you.  Just Holler!!

Once you use it for a bit, you'll see that it is quite simple.

See, you've forgot all about the attention required for a new girlfriend. :D

CraigBert — Aug 26, 2008[quote author=Jon G link=1219780450/0#3 date=1219785196][quote author=DreamTheaterRules link=1219780450/0#2 date=1219782306]not to hijack, but when you say "far superior sound to any other (you've) used" can you tell me what differences you hear?  

More "punch", solid, defined etc. Just all round better sound, especially noticeable with EZ Drummer.

What "others" have you used?

Sonar 1, sonar 3, sonar 7 point something, reaper

DM — Aug 26, 2008
See, you've forgot all about the attention required for a new girlfriend. :D

That's very true....These days I just want to "get in there" and bypass the formalities  ;D

The other really good thing I'm liking about the pro tools demo version is that everything is very quick and responsive.  In sonar, everytime you do something the screen repaints etc, very very graphics intensive, but with pro tools, owing to the non-graphics intensive approach, it seems to be instant and rock solid.  I think I will be making a purchase soon (unless I can find a cracked version of m-powered 7 that works  ;) )

Hey Jon,
I've just brought pro tools 7.4 and a MBox.
Pro tools came with a DVD, "Pro Tools Method One" which covers the basics of getting things started, I was running it in the background, pausing, going back to protools, and managed to get mics/guitars/keyboards happening no problems.
the Digidesign website, has a "digidesignTV" page (under community tag) with has quite a few helpful tutorials, the Reason Adapted one got me set up no problems.
I have also ordered this book and This book , but they have yet to arrive. I'm expecting them this week, so I'll let you know what I think.
FWIW, I've only had it running less than a week and am yet to record anything purposeful, still coming to grips with setting up plugins etc, but I agree, it is a great program.

After an evening of playing around with the demo I have this morning just placed an order for M-Powered 7.4    

Should be here tomorrow with a bit of luck.

After a couple of hours of fiddling and "getting to know her" (Deano) I've found her to be very responsive.   Things at first seemed so different to get my head around, but after 2 hours it all fell into place and is extremely easy to use, but best of all seems to be rock solid.

Yeah, once you rub 'em in the right places, they always give in.

It is fairly simple.  I have several Template projects that I made for FNJ's, DI guitar, Mic'ed Tracks, Instrument tracks for say EZ Drummer, or a Soft Synth.  I just save the projects and delete the old audio when I'm done.  There are lots of options for setting up the appearance of the tracks.  I keep the mix on the left and the tracks on the right.  It's all right in front of you to see.

It does way more shit than I'll ever know about, but the more I screw with it, the more stuff I find that is cool about it.

You will have to set up an iLok account.  Costs nothing.  It just stores your keys.  It's fairly self explanitory how to set it up, but if you run into any snags, I'll help out.  The iLok just plugs into one of your USB ports.  I just leave mine in there.  That way I never have to look for it. :D  It'll store all kinds of activation codes, so once you get it set up, you can try all kinds of software put out by Digidesign or their supporters.  You just email them with your iLok account Name, and they put the keys in your iLok account.  There is tons of stuff that is only available for PT.  Most of it is damn expensive, but fun to look at to see what it's about.  I ended up buying a Studio suite from McDSP.  I dig their M4000 Mastering plug.  I bought Project Studio and then upgraded the Mastering Plug.  Have a look one day when you're bored.  

Sorry I never got the demo session up yesterday... I was in the studio wrangling with a mix, and too tired afterwards. I still have a couple of demos I want to stick up... coming soon.

charger — Aug 27, 2008Sorry I never got the demo session up yesterday... I was in the studio wrangling with a mix, and too tired afterwards. I still have a couple of demos I want to stick up... coming soon.

I stuck with the demo late last night (into the early hours of today) and figured most of the basics out, but it would be good to see how you put a project together.

It still just astounds me at the sound quality of pro tools. Everything sounds so tight and punchy, truly amazing. I just haven't had that before.

I just found this on youtube.  Excellent information here

http://www.youtube.com/user/digidesign

They are the same videos that are on the digidesignTV site. The videos on the digidesign site are easier to navigate and are sequence in order.

Cinvala — Aug 28, 2008They are the same videos that are on the digidesignTV site. The videos on the digidesign site are easier to navigate and are sequence in order.

But you have to sign-up to see them on the digidesignTV site.

When you went to buy Pro Tools, did they have a "competitive upgrade" (from Sonar) or did you just have to buy the software as if you've never had another recording suite?

Craig, I've never seen a competitive upgrade for Pro Tools.  Doesn't mean there isn't one, but I looked around and didn't see one.  M-Powered or LE is Pretty Cheap at $249.  Of course you need a compatible interface.  Whether it's from Digidesign or M-Audio, is your choice.  They have a whole bunch of different package deals available.  Anywhere from about $300 to the moon.  If you already have an M-Audio card, then you just need the software.

CraigBert — Aug 29, 2008When you went to buy Pro Tools, did they have a "competitive upgrade" (from Sonar) or did you just have to buy the software as if you've never had another recording suite?

No, mostly because my version of Sonar is a "free", cough cough version  ;)

Just curious since, when I finally can put a studio up SOMEWHERE, I currently have the same setup as Harv: SONAR with a Layla 24.

If Jon's used both and says that Pro Tools SOUNDS better (the most important part of recording I would think), then I'll have to at least check it out.

CraigBert — Aug 29, 2008Just curious since, when I finally can put a studio up SOMEWHERE, I currently have the same setup as Harv: SONAR with a Layla 24.

If Jon's used both and says that Pro Tools SOUNDS better (the most important part of recording I would think), then I'll have to at least check it out.

I have found there are two things that are instantly apparent when using pro tools.  

1) The sound quality, just astounding
2) The rock-solid stability of the product

Wish I had bought this sooner.