Pro Tools 6 for Macintosh and Windows [Paperback]

Steven Roback (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2003

With a streamlined interface, the amazing DigiBase file management utility, enhanced MIDI functionality, and much more, the recently released Pro Tools 6 proves what you probably already knew: That Digidesign's Pro Tools software sets the standard for recording and editing digital audio. Here to make sense of it all--and to get you recording, editing, mixing, and processing effects quickly and efficiently--is the popular Visual QuickStart Guide on the topic, completely updated to cover all of Pro Tools 6.0's powerful new features. Through task-based, step-by-step instructions peppered with plenty of visual aids, this volume shows you how to make multitrack audio recordings with Pro Tools 6. Along the way you'll learn about the basics of automation, MIDI sequencing, and file management in Pro Tools as well as how to set up and use several mid-level Digidesign hardware systems. Beginning users will find all they need to begin creating audio masterworks, and pros will discover a valuable quick reference to their tool of choice.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

With a streamlined interface, the amazing DigiBase file management utility, enhanced MIDI functionality, and much more, the recently released Pro Tools 6 proves what you probably already knew: That Digidesign's Pro Tools software sets the standard for recording and editing digital audio. Here to make sense of it all-and to get you recording, editing, mixing, and processing effects quickly and efficiently-is the popular Visual QuickStart Guide on the topic, completely updated to cover all of Pro Tools 6.0's powerful new features. Through task-based, step-by-step instructions peppered with plenty of visual aids, this volume shows you how to make multitrack audio recordings with Pro Tools 6. Along the way you'll learn about the basics of automation, MIDI sequencing, and file management in Pro Tools as well as how to set up and use several mid-level Digidesign hardware systems. Beginning users will find all they need to begin creating audio masterworks, and pros will discover a valuable quick reference to their tool of choice.

About the Author

Internationally acclaimed songwriter, musician, and producer Steven Roback has recorded more than a dozen albums since 1982 with his bands and as a solo artist. As co-founder of the influential Los Angeles band Rain Parade, Steven helped create an impressive catalog of neo-psychedelic songs that critics have called among the most important from any era. Later, his self-produced albums under the name Viva Saturn received accolades for hook-filled pop songwriting and hypnotically textured production. Today, Steven continues to record as a solo artist and soundtrack contributor. He also produces other artists and has received high praise for his work on several recent albums. Steven writes about audio recording and related topics for books and magazines. For more information, see www.rainparade.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (October 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321213157
• ISBN-13: 978-0321213150
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,851,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for Protools LE, March 16, 2004

By 

Stuart Venable Jr (La Mirada, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pro Tools 6 for Macintosh and Windows (Paperback)

This book is more of a how-to reference manual. For each type of operation, it provides a description, what you can do with it, and then step-by-step instructions on how to do it. These operations are very logically organized throughout the book.

As an example, setting up a click track is one of the most counter-intuitive things in protools (to me), and this book walked me through it.

It's light on "recording technique" and heavy on ProTools, which was exactly what I was looking for.

My only complaint is that, in many cases, the author doesn't provide keyboard shortcuts, but rather walks you through the menus.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not much more than a basic ProTools manual., December 24, 2004

By 

mike o "mike o" (oakland, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pro Tools 6 for Macintosh and Windows (Paperback)

If you do not want to waste your time printing out the .pdf files of the ProTools manual, this book may be for you. It gives you the how-to's, but without much extra in the way of tips and real world applications of the various tools, which is what I am looking for. For me, this was a waste of money and I still need a decent book on home recording. YMMV.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Neither a tutorial nor a reference for beginners, July 27, 2004

By 

S. Solomon (Ridgefield, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pro Tools 6 for Macintosh and Windows (Paperback)

Another reviewer said this was a reference book, and in fact, the back cover declares, "Works like a reference book--you look up what you need and then get straight to work.". If you are already familiar with Pro Tools, that may be true. But if you are new to PT, it's not very helpful in that manner, as the how-tos are not detailed enough, they require prior knowledge.

For example, the reviewer mentioned adding a click track. Well, step 2 is "Create a mono Auxilary input and insert the click plug-in." If you're reading this and don't already know what that means, you're out of luck, as not only is no further information about that step included here, but it does not tell you what page to go to to find that information. A beginner would need, at least, "(see page x)" for this kind of reference book to be useful. And no, using the index doesn't solve the problem, either. There is no entry for "create" or "mono" (in this context); none of the half dozen entries under "Auxillary input" will take you to a page that specifically tells you how to create one. There is an entry for "inserts, plug-ins as" but it is 4 pages long so you'll have to further browse to learn the actual process. And that process includes another insufficiently explained step which may send you searching still further.

Okay, so maybe now you're thinking, it may not be a great reference for beginniers, but maybe a beginner should go page-by-page so that s/he has the necessary background for understanding the instructions as they're presented. Well, the click track instructions are on page 155; the instructions about inserting a plug-in are on page 321. So that's not going to work, either.

This book may be useful for someone who already has some comfort with PT and wants something to point him or her in the right direction in figuring out how to accomplish a specific task. As that does not describe me, someone else will have to review it from that perspective. But the book is marketed to beginners (based on the cover phrases like "QuickStart," "Teach yourself Pro Tools...You'll be up and running in no time!"). And from that perspective, I don't think it does the job.