Pro Tools Tips: Using Your Mixer Notes Wisely February 18, 2009
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digidesign, Pro Tools, Studio Setup , trackbackThe “notes” section in the Pro Tools mixer window is a resource often overlooked. Jotting down notes here can keep a session organized and flowing. Here are some suggestions:
Names!
When working in a studio, its likely you have new musicians coming in almost every day. Remembering everyone’s name can be really hard. But, calling clients by name rather than “Hey You!” is a good business practice. When I am working with a new group of musicians, I often write their names in the sum track associated with their instrument. For example, in the picture below, I write “Brian” in the aux track notes into which I am summing the drums -
As simple as it seems, this is a useful trick.
Mics/Signal Path
In the heat of a busy overdub session, its good to have a reference of how things are being recorded. For example, if you hit acoustic guitars at the beginning of the day, but by the evening realize you need a few more punches, it would be nice to use the same signal chain. Writing a few quick notes on the mic, preamp, and gain setting (etc.) can help you keep things consistent through a session.
Track Names
Now, if you are using narrow mix view (View > Narrow Mix), sometimes you may even want to write the track name again in the notes section. For example, if you have lots of drum tracks (say a top snare mic, a bottom snare mic, and a sample), it may be beneficial to write this in the notes.
More tips to come!
If you have suggestions on what to put in your notes, let us know in the comments.
C
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Comments»
I need to be this organized
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