70A Pro Tools 101 Syllabus

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• Contact Bruce Tambling
• You are invited to contact me with questions and to attend live office hours

Course Description

Introduction to Pro Tools with Avid Certification training material. Basic audio editing tools and techniques, plug-ins and mixing in the Pro Tools environment. Build sessions that include multitrack recordings of live instruments, MIDI sequences, virtual instruments, audio loops and beats. Practical experience with examples from major label recording artists and feature films. Understanding menus, windows, preferences and system configurations for Pro Tools in home studios and professional facilities. Intro to automation, dialog editing and audio post production for film and video. Required for Avid Pro Tools Certification.

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the dynamic spectrum of a multitrack recording
2. Operate a midi keyboard within the Pro Tools environment
3. Explain the Pro Tools file system
4. Evaluate and apply selection techniques for audio clips
5. Create a stereo mix from a multitrack master using AudioSuite (file-based) plug-ins
6. Create fade files from audio tracks

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this class.

Course Outline

1. Pro Tools Background
2. Getting Started with Pro Tools
3. Basic Controls
4. Creating First Session
5. Audio Recording
6. Importing Media
7. MIDI
8. Navigating
9. Editing Media
10. Mixing
11. Hands-On Projects

Required Textbook

Pro Tools Fundamentals I (PT101 2022)

Author: Frank Cook

eBook Access Code: $49.99

Publisher: Avid

SBN eBook: 978-1-943446-97-1

ISBN: 978-1-7376692-0-3

eBook Part Number: 9321-00024-00

Part Number: 9320-70203-00 – April 2022

This book is only available at the Foothill Bookstore. Paste the ISBN in the bookstore's search tool to find the textbook. Versions on Amazon.com might NOT be up-to-date. Electronic versions of the first few chapters will be provided to give students adequate time to purchase the textbook.

Required Accounts and Subscriptions

1. Canvas
   • Canvas is the LMS, Learning Management System, used and required at all California Community Colleges
   • For more info check out: Intro to Canvas Resources
2. MusicTech Wiki
   • Free website created to support this class
   • Username and Password provided in Canvas
3. LinkedIn Learning
   • FREE for students
4. Register pureMix Free
   • pureMix is one of the best online music production educational spaces on the planet

Required Hardware

Computer

1. Although iOS and Android mobile devices are getting more powerful all the time, Music Technology students need a computer to do a lot of this work
   • Either a Mac or Windows computer is fine
2. As much RAM as you can afford
3. As much internal storage as you can afford
4. Processor speeds are not as important

Additional Storage

• Dedicated Media Drive is recommended

Required Software

1. Any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
   • Including Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Love, FL Studio, Cubase, Digital Performer, Reaper, GarageBand, Audacity etc.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Your contributions to this class are a vital ingredient for all of us. The exchange of information and sharing of the creative process contribute to a rich learning experience often greater than any textbook could provide. Music Technology Classes involve the creation of digital media content. Students will retain full ownership of all their works and copyrights. Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. Only the author, or those deriving their rights through the author, can rightfully claim copyright. In other words, you hold the copyright once you've written it.

Diverse Range of Students

We acknowledge the diversity of the students in all of our Music Tech courses. Many of you join our classes ranging in age and with different backgrounds, experience levels, and skill sets. In teaching so many diverse students, one of our challenges as professors is to provide a personalized experience for all of our students so that you may get the most out of each course and walk away with skills and knowledge that you feel will benefit you for the future. That being said, given the diversity of your backgrounds, it is possible that at certain points, the courses may not be moving at the pace that you would like, whether that be too fast or too slow. If you feel the course is moving too fast and falling behind, please message me as soon as possible so we can help you get caught up and point you in the right direction for resources and materials to help you. If you feel the course is moving too slowly, we would also like you to contact us ASAP and let us know. We have many supplementary materials, including hundreds of articles, videos, and exercises, so you can learn at your preferred pace and get the most out of each course.

Welcome to Class!

We are all in this class because we are moved and inspired by the magnificent magic of music and sound. We are fascinated with Music Technology and the rapidly evolving tools and techniques used in the creative process. Learning the art and science of music production also requires focused work and self-discipline. You should plan on dedicating time each week to study and explore. Your instructors are here to help - so we can all learn and grow together.