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I needed to switch to ProTools to be compatible with other projects I was working on and I needed to come up to speed fast.I purchased the ProTools 101 book and the ProTools Session Secrets and I had all of the information I needed close at hand. Although I'll probably buy the version 8 book as soon as it comes out, there wasn't much missing from the book that I couldn't find in either the 101 book or the helpfile PDF that came with the install (OK, I understand the whole save-a-tree thing but having to flip back and forth between a session project and a PDF file is NOT the same as having a book in front of you). I had used Cubase Studio for quite some time so I was familiar with DAWs. Easy to read and good graphic samples thatr help you gain a quick understanding.Don't worry too much that it says it's for version 7 of ProTools.
A very good, basic level manual if you know absolutely nothing about recording and the tools used in the profession.
A+ It also talks about integrating Reason. For anybody who wants to expand their basic knowledge of Pro Tools this is an incredible tool. It offers suggestions on mic setup, recording, mixing, and mastering in addition to many helpful hints and explanations about working within the program. Great book.
Can't have everything. There were also other little tips that are helping me streamline my workflow, and bits of info that just help me understand PT 7 a bit better.I wouldn't recommend this to a beginner as a sole introduction to PT, but I think it's useful to anybody with basic PT experience and might even help some advanced users. Having this book a year ago would have saved me a lot of time spent figuring out various things the hard way.Areas I found especially helpful: (1) working with MIDI, instrument tracks, REX, and Reason (although no substitute for the Reason documentation); (2) setting up Aux tracks for plug-ins (e.g. Overall, it's very well written and edited, and I found the material easy to understand. I've just upgraded to 7.4, which has a ton of new features, so I was looking for a book that explained techniques for 7.x.
One weakness is that it was published in 2006, so it doesn't cover features of more recent PT releases such as 7.3 and 7.4. creating a "channel strip" that actually works on input audio BEFORE it's recorded); (3) effective use of side chains, and dealing with plug-in latency. This isn't the pure 7.4 reference I was seeking, but in many ways it's more important - it's not about the raw mechanics and options, but it IS about tricks and techniques that let you do useful stuff. After recording and mixing a few dozen sessions in PTLE 6.9, I consider myself an intermediate-level user. Especially stuff you might not have tried before.
Also note that it's not truly a recording, mixing, or mastering handbook, although there is material that complements the books I have that are devoted to those subjects.
I started with the Musician's Guide to Pro Tools, which is much more beginner oriented and hands-on and then picked this up as a supplement. There are a few tips in here that made this worth the money on their own, but together it is a well written and quick reading reference that any home studio Pro Tools user should consider picking up. This is a great no-nonsense how-to guide for those with an intermediate knowledge of Pro Tools. Both are great publications that interface well with each other.
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