Pro Tools 101 Chapter 1

Question 1

Name and describe 5 types of production tasks that Pro Tools can be used for (See “What Is Pro Tools?” beginning on page 4)

Answer 1

Audio
Notation
Post-Production
MIDI
Mixing

Question 2

What types of products does the AIR Software Group specialise in? What contribution from the AIR group is included with Pro Tools? (See “Expansion of Avid Audio” beginning on page 9.)

Answer 2

• Virtual instruments & effects Plug-ins

- AIR Creative Collection

Question 3

What is the frequency range of human hearing? (See “Basic Parameters of Sound: Waveform, Frequency and Amplitude” beginning on page 13.)

Answer 3

20Hz - 20,000Hz

Question 4

What does the frequency of a sound wave affect in terms of how we perceive the sound? How is frequency measured? (See “Basic Parameters of Sound: Waveform, Frequency and Amplitude” beginning on page 13.)

Answer 4

• It affects the Pitch

- It is measured in Hertz (Hz) or Cycles Per Second (CPS)

Question 5

What does the amplitude of the sound wave affect? How is amplitude measured? (See “Basic Parameters of Sound: Waveform, Frequency and Amplitude” beginning on page 13.)

Answer 5

• It affects the loudness

- Measured in decibels (dB)

Question 6

How does the sample rate of a system relate to the frequency of audio it can capture? What is the name of the law that specifies the relationship between sample rate and audio frequency? (See “How Sample Rate Affects Frequency Resolution” beginning on page 14.)

Answer 6

The sample rate is the frequency with which discrete readings are taken of a signal at various moments in time. Nyquist Theorem or Sampling Theorem.

Question 7

How does the bit depth of a system relate to the dynamic range of audio it can capture? How can you estimate the dynamic range of a system? (See “How Bit Depth Affects Amplitude Resolution” beginning on page 14.)

Answer 7

Larger binary words (bit depth) are able to quantify variations in amplitude (dynamic range) with much greater accuracy. Use the formula 2^n where n is the bit depth.

Question 8

What are some common digital connections available on Pro Tools audio interfaces? What type of connector jack does each use? (See “Recording In Digital Format” on page 15.)

Answer 8

• Sony/Philips Digital Interface
  S/PDIF uses RCA jacks (sometimes called coaxial jacks)
• Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcast Union
  AES/EBU uses XLR-type connectors

Question 9

Name some audio interfaces that are compatible with standard Pro Tools software. (See “Audio Interface Options (Non-HD)” beginning on page 16.)

Answer 9

• The Pro Tools | Fast Track Family
• The Pro Tools | Mbox Family
• Pro Tools | Eleven Rack
• Pro Tools | Duet and Quartet

Question 10

Name some audio interfaces that are compatible with Pro Tools HD software. (See “Pro Tools|HD-Series Audio Interfaces” beginning on page 19.)

Answer 10

• HD OMNI
• HD I/O
• HD MADI