Chapter 1: Welcome to Pro Tools

Welcome to Pro Tools®. Pro Tools integrates powerful multitrack digital audio and MIDI sequencing features, giving you everything you need to record, arrange, edit, mix, and master quality audio for music, video, film, and multimedia.

The Pro Tools Guides

Pro Tools systems include the following guides:

Getting Started Guide Instructions for installing your Pro Tools system and connecting your studio.

Basics Guide (Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools

M-Powered Only) Designed for new users, these guides provide specific methods for accomplishing common tasks (such as getting sound in and out of your Pro Tools LE or Digidesign-qualified

M-Audio hardware, connecting a mic or instrument, and recording a session).

Pro Tools Reference Guide Full details on all

Pro Tools functionality and operations.

(Pro Tools LE systems include an electronic PDF version of the Reference Guide .)

To learn about basic Pro Tools concepts, see

“Pro Tools Concepts” on page 11.

Pro Tools Menus Guide Electronic PDF guide to the Pro Tools on-screen menus.

DigiRack Plug-Ins Guide Instructions for using the DigiRack plug-ins (included with Pro Tools) for both real-time and file-based audio processing in Pro Tools. (Pro Tools LE systems only include an electronic PDF version of this guide .

)

Digidesign Plug-Ins Guide Electronic PDF guide with instructions for using optional Digidesign plug-ins for both real-time and file-based audio processing in Pro Tools.

DigiBase Guide Full details on using Pro Tools

DigiBase databasing and browsers for data and media management. (Pro Tools LE systems include an electronic PDF version of this guide.)

Expanded Systems Guide (TDM Systems

Only) Instructions for expanding a Pro Tools

TDM system with optional Digidesign cards or an expansion chassis.

MachineControl Guide (TDM Systems Only) Electronic PDF guide for MachineControl option

(available separately). This guide includes installation and operation instructions for using the

MachineControl option for Pro Tools to enable serial communication with remote audio and video machines.

Pro Tools Keyboard Shortcuts Separate electronic PDFs for Windows and Macintosh that list keyboard shortcuts not shown in Pro Tools menus.

Chapter 1: Welcome to Pro Tools 3

Digidesign also provides guides with audio interfaces, optional dedicated consoles

(such as D-Control) and controllers (such as Command|8), and other Digidesign options (such as MIDI I/O, PRE, and

SYNC I/O). Refer to the separate guide provided with each Digidesign product.

Conventions Used in These Guides

:

The Pro Tools guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands:

Convention Action

File > Save Session

Control+N

Control-click

Right-click (Windows)

Choose Save Session from the File menu

Hold down the Control key and press the N key

Hold down the Control key and click the mouse button

Click with the right mouse button

The following symbols are used to highlight important information:

User Tips are helpful hints for getting the most from your Pro Tools system.

Important Notices include information that could affect your Pro Tools session data or the performance of your Pro Tools system.

Shortcuts show you useful keyboard or mouse shortcuts.

Cross References point to related sections in

Digidesign guides.

Compatibility Information

Digidesign can only assure compatibility and provide support for hardware and software it has tested and approved.

For a list of Digidesign-qualified computers, operating systems, hard drives, and third-party devices, refer to the latest compatibility information on the Digidesign Web site

(www.digidesign.com/compato).

About www.digidesign.com

The Digidesign Web site (www.digidesign.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of your Pro Tools system. The following are just a few of the services and features available.

Support Contact Digidesign Technical Support or Customer Service; download software updates and the latest online manuals; browse the

Compatibility documents for system requirements; search the online Answerbase or join the worldwide Pro Tools community on the Digidesign User Conference.

Training and Education Study on your own using courses available online or find out how you can learn in a classroom setting at a certified

Pro Tools training center.

Products and Developers Learn about Digidesign products; download demo software or learn about our Development Partners and their plugins, applications, and hardware.

News and Events Get the latest news from Digidesign or sign up for a Pro Tools demo.

To learn more about these and other resources available from Digidesign, visit our Web site

(www.digidesign.com).

4 Pro Tools Reference Guide