Boom and Vacuum Plug-ins

 Boom
-comes with 10 drum kits, each individual sound has pan, volume, pitch, decay and manipulate, audimate, mute, solo, and change drum kit (under DRUM KIT) options
-the Matrix Display provides a visual representation of what is going on per instrument, per beat and shows which pattern is being used
-Each groove has 16 different patterns
-By clicking on the red dots inside the Matrix Display, you can change the velocity and deselect dots to add/subtract instruments
-the horizontal rows of Boom correspond to the instrument channel (where the red dots are)
-the vertical columns represent 1 of 16 steps that make up a pattern
-"copy" copies the red dots to the individual channels
-"pattern" under the B in Boom shows which preset is being used in the channel
-command, click BOOM gives you more options to work with
To clear a pattern:
-set the Edit Mode to Pattern Select mode
-Click the chosen Event to clear
-Click the clear button found above the Matrix display
In Pattern Select mode:
-you can select where to place the beat of the selected channel, for example, if you found an awesome snare sound from one kit but a cooler bass drum in another kit, you can apply each to a channel without having to stick to only one drum kit


Vacuum
-it is a mono synth, meaning you cannot play more than one key at a time (monophonic)
-VTO 1 and VTO 2 are oscillator controls (found in upper left corner), the sound of plug-in originates here
       -Range setting = sets octave at what the VTO plays, each range has a special setting from wide to
       low range. (Wide meaning HUGE range around 5 octaves)
       -Fine setting in regular mode = up/down 7 semitones
       -Shape setting = wave shapes, including: tri = triangle wave, noise = random white noise, saw =
       saw tooth wave, PW = pulse wave
       -Env 1 (and 2) moving it to the right = more modulation, to the left = inverted modulation
-The Mixer contains the signal from the two oscillators together (both VTOs)
       -Drive- distortion
       -Ring modulator- adds a variable amount of the 1st and 2nd multiplied together
-HPF + LPF- high pass filter and low pass filter's are volume sensitive, if you put more volume through them it adds character to sound
       -Cutoff- sets frequency at which the filter cuts off or attenuates sound
       -Reso- affects the filters resonance, amount of signal fed back into the filter circuit around the
       chosen frequency at higher values, a peak is created
       -Slope
       -Env1- controls the amount that the filter cut off frequency is modulated by.
       Its envelope at center = no modulation, at the right = more modulation, at the left = modulation
       is negative
       -Key track- function of pitches the midi keyboard is playing, affects the filters cut off frequency
       -Sat- adds saturation to the resonate feedback loop (distortion)

Markers, Automation, XPand2

Marker

-Make sure the marker ruler is showing.

-Apple 5 to bring up the marker memory locations menu

-To recall a marker location:      (. # .) on keypad  (dot+#+dot)  # being the assigned -marker number.

To edit markers:

-Double click the memory location to open the dialog box. 

-Double click the marker.

Memory locations window menu:

-Show main counter, sub-counter and comments.

-Sort by time – selected – markers are sorted by their order in the timeline.  De-selected markers are listed in order of their assigned numbers

Automation

-In the edit window, go to the track view selector

-Select volume

-A line will appear across the waveform

-Use the pencil tool to draw the volume curve.

- Use the smart tool to manipulate with the selector and trimmer

- Cut and paste automation 

-Grab points with the grabber tool 

-Click and hold the pencil tool to draw various automation shape. The size of the shape depends on the set grid value

-Automation assignments can be made for mute and pan as well.  These are also found under the track view selector.

Automation of Xpand2:

-To automate an individual plugin parameter, use all three modifiers (control – option – command) and click the parameter.  Select enable.  A green light will appear.
Return to the edit window.  Go to the track view selector and note that the parameter you selected will now have its own automation capabilities.
-you can go to the automation enable button. A dialog box appears. ‘add’ the parameters you wish to automate.

Xpand2:
Plugins settings select button:

·         dialog box appears

·         up and down arrow beside keypad to audition different settings (like the seek function on car radios) (not the info change)

·         increment settings every x amount of settings-do this while playing

·         or, use the +/- buttons beside the plugins settings select button to scroll

-4 slots, each can hold 500 synth presets (parts)
-each slot has individual mix, midi, arpeggiator, modulation, and effects settings
-settings of all 4 slots and their parts can be saved as a single patch
-each slot has a mixer page-> volume, pan and send Fx1, Fx2
PRESET = save the settings chosen
-to set parameter back to original setting, option click
To assign parameters to Midi Controllers = control, click fader to change and fixed modulation
-Master level at top right corner
-Fx1 and Fx2 correspond to the effects at the bottom of the window, press power to enable
-in the list for Fx1 and Fx2 there's reverb, delay and modulation but each have their own modifiers
-TR/Fine = transpose, make fine adjustments to pitches
-Hi/Low Key = change key (slot assigned for each octave)
-ARP = automatically triggers notes that are played simultaneously in a predefined rhythmed pattern

Waveforms, A/D Conversion, Sampling

Waveforms

amplitude- measured in decibels, it is the size of the pressure difference it causes in the wave (loudness).
wavelength- the physical distance between two points in a cycle.
frequency- refers to pitch, the measurement of time (cycles/second) and how often a wave repeats itself (hz). Frequency is independent from amplitude.

Photo from http://www.planetoftunes.com/sound/waveform.html


Sampling
-a method that converts analog signal to digital information
-it takes discrete episodes over time
                  44.1K sample rate = 44,100/ sec -> Frequency
                  16 bit depth -> Amplitude
-The higher the bit rate the greater the dynamic range
-The digitization of acoustic sound uses sampling (discrete time sampling) to store data from an analog waveform
-The voltage is variable = amplitude level
-The continuous line is representing numerically by digital system at specific point and time

Photo from: http://forums.applenova.com/showthread.php?t=20688

Analog to Digital Conversion
The Mic or D.I. (electric instrument) is a transducer where variations in air pressure are captured by the microphone and that electrical energy changes analog signal to voltage in the form of an electric signal. It sends these electrical pulses to the Analog to Digital converter (interface, inbox) changing the electrical voltage to binary code. This digital numerical data is then sent to Protools, then sent from protools back out through a digital to analog converter, then to a speaker.

Photo from: http://en.flossmanuals.net/PureData/WhatIsDigitalAudio


Latest Assignment
Our latest assignment dealt with the conspiracy of the Apollo 11 Voyage of 1969, recording a paragraph, reversing words, then splicing it up creatively with music sound effects. I realized working with a partner on these projects makes it a longer process because it is hard to understand each others creative directions. I also find it limits time because my partner has less experience with Protools. However it is fulfilling to help teach someone about Protools or better understanding certain techniques because it reinforces it for myself as well.
For our project we used pitch shift, audimation, reverse speech, panning, and EQ on the vocals. We also created an original drum track and piano part.

Protools Basics

For a new session:
Audio file type = BWF(.wav) which means it is transferable between mac and windows
Bit Depth = (16) or 24 bit
Sample Rate = 44.1kHz (or 48kHz)

Double clicking on track name = change track name (Give meaningful names before recording)
Control, click = hide, make inactive, new, rename, or delete a track
Esc on keyboard = edit tool
First audio file = Audio1_01


To Record and listen to Midi Track:
-Create a Midi track
-Create an aux track, with a plug in (mini grand piano)
-Output of midi track is the same as the input of aux track
-record enable
-or-
-create and instrument track
-insert plug in (Mini grand piano)
-record enable

A midi track receives and sends midi information. You can take midi and send to audio track instrument, that in turn creates audio.
An instrument track can route and record like an audio channel, but it is not audio.

Loop Record:
-control, click play = loop (select measures)
-Wait for Note, Metronome engaged, and hit keypad 3
-Double click on midi track to edit

Quantize- moves the midi information to the closest designated bar/beat/subdivision
press option, keypad 4

Input Quantize:
-Option, 3
-Input Quantize (drop down menu)
-enable input quantize
-you can set a preset (1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, whole)

Step Quantize:
*Does not need to be record enabled
-option, 3 Step Input
-enable it
-Choose Destination Track
-enable numeric keypad shortcuts
-set velocity to record (picks up how hard you hit keys)
-(1/4) hit a note on keyboard and hit next step to place the next note in phrase
-Make sure it is in Midi merge
-4th button on transport = conductor track, to adjust tempo

Understanding Protools 9/10/10

To enable the Digidesign Mbox 2 on any of the macs:
Grey HD Icon-> applications-> utilities-> Audio Midi Setup-> (on left side) Digidesign Mbox 2- 4 channels- 24 bit, format- 48 bit

To create a Protools session:
-> Applications-> digidesign-> protools-> protoolsle.app

Enabling a Midi Track in Protools:
-apple, shift, n (for new track) -> select Midi
-create a Stereo Aux track
-Under the stereo aux track inserts, insert the Mini Grand
-On Midi track, make output Mini Grand
-hit record enable on Midi Track

Under the Setup in Protools:
Playback Engine- Lower Buffer size = reduces monitoring latency (for recording)
Higher Buffer size = allows for more processing, more RTASS
(for mixing)
CPU Usage Limit- Higher limit allocates extra help in protools

What A Protools Session Contains:
.ptf= protools file
.wfm= stores a depiction of a wave form (wavecache)
audio files= stores original audio files recorded
Fade Files, Region Groups, Video Files, Midi Files, Session File backups, Rendered Files

File->
New, Open, Save, Create, Bounce, Import, Export
Edit->
Undo, cut, copy, paste, trim, mute, consolidate
View->
Windows, Tracks, and Data Display
Track->
New Track, Duplicate, Delete, Make Inactive, or create Click Track
Region->
To edit a region/selection
Event->
Used for midi or time based functions
AudioSuite->
EQ, Dynamics, Pitch Shift, Reverb, Delay, Modulation, Harmonic
Options->
Play, Record, Playback options for both audio and midi
Setup->
Hardware and Software settings

Window->
Edit, mix, transport configurations
Help->
Plug in guide, Menu/reference guide

In the Edit Window of Protools:
Edit audio and midi to a certain extent. In top right corner arrow is transport in window.
(Wait for Note, Metronome, Midi Merge, Conductor Track)
From left side:
Bars/Beats
Min/Secs
Samples
Tempo
Meter
Key
Chords
Markers
^To hide any of the above from the window, go to View, then Minimal

Tracks Display Area (Left hand corner):
-shows the tracks as you create new tracks
-up arrow= midi editing window

Edit Tools:
Magnifying Glass- Zoom on region, or use r and t on keyboard. Hit 1 on keyboard to zoom out to default zoom.
<- -> - Trimmer Tool used to crop audio using the mouse on the sides of regions
(Waveform button)- Selector tool, i beam on mouse, move to where you want to split region and hit apple, E.
Hand- Grabber tool to move regions, grab near bottom, middle of region

On the Top left or Top right corners are Fade in’s and Fade out’s.

Shuffle, Spot, Slip, Grid region:
Shuffle- shifts over to the left
Spot- Dialog Window-> Specify exactly where you want it to go
Slip- Grab audio to move around freely
Grid- Bound by bars/beats