Pro Tools Mac FAQ

Pro Tools Mac FAQ

  1. What are the optimum settings for Pro Tools on a Mac?

  2. Which files are installed with Pro Tools and where should they be located?

  3. Can Pro Tools convert and import Mp3 files?

  4. Can I run Pro Tools 5 without hardware (like PowerMix in Pro Tools 4.x)?

  5. What should I use to back up my Pro Tools sessions?

  6. What is the difference between the variations of Dither in ProTools?

  7. What exactly does Compact Selected do?

  8. How can I move files from one session to another and retain TC stamps?

  9. How do I set up a click track in Pro Tools?

  10. Pro Tools is not receiveing midi, what should I check?

  11. Is Pro Tools tempo really that accurate? I only see two decimal digits in the tempo display.

1. What are the optimum settings for Pro Tools on a Mac?

Appearance Control Panel:

  • Under Fonts, change all fonts to Chicago & Disable "Smooth all fonts on screen."

  • Under Sound, set Soundtrack to "none."

Energy Saver Control Panel:

  • Set sleep time to "Never."

Memory Control Panel:

  • Select "Custom" twice under Disk Cache and set it to 512k. You will see a warning regarding system performance. Do Not Panic! This warning does not affect Pro Tools' performance. 512k is the optimum setting.

  • Set Virtual Memory and Ram Disk to "Off."

Monitors Control Panel:

  • If using a 9500 or 9600 (or lower) Mac, set colors to 256.

  • If using a G3 or G4, setting the color to "thousands" should be adequate.

  • AV users should set the monitor attatched to the ABVB card to "millions."

Extensions Manager:

  1. Under "Selected Set," select the OS Base Set (Listed by OS version...ex. OS 8.6 Base Set)

  2. Select "Duplicate Set" and name the set "Pro Tools."

  3. Add/enable:

  • OMS Preferrred Device (control panel)

  • Digidesign DSP Manager (ext)

  • Digisystem INIT (ext)

  • Open Music system (ext)

  • Digidesign Stream Manager (ext) (if applicable/needed)

  • Digidesign Output Drivers (ext (if applicable/needed)

  • Digidesign Direct I/O (ext) (if applicable/needed - v5.01 and higher)

  • Digidesign Sound (control panel) (if applicable/needed - v5.01/OS9 and higher)

Pro Tools/DAE

Memory Allocation (Basic settings, based on 128-196 mb of RAM):

  • In Digidesign folder>ProTools, 'get info' (Cmd-I)* on the Pro Tools application.

  • Set the Preferred Memory to 30-50 mb (30000k-50000k)

  • Minimum Memory should be left at the default (Enter a '0' if in doubt)

  • In System Folder>DAE Folder, 'get info' (Cmd-I)* on the DAE application.

  • Set the Preferred Memory to 40-60 mb (40000-60000k)

  • Minimum Memory should be left at the default (Enter a '0' if in doubt)

  • *NEVER 'lock' these "Get Info" windows

DAE Playback Buffer setting (DAE > File menu > Set Playback Buffer). Buffer size is dependent on your hardware. Use the following settings:

  • Mix System - 2

  • D24 System - 2

  • Pro Tools III System - 0

  • PowerMix Engine - 8

return to top

2. Which files are installed with Pro Tools and where should they be located?

Digidesign Folder (on root level of boot hard drive (usually called Macintosh HD))

  • Document Readers Folder

  • (Other Digidesign Applications, if installed)

  • Pro Tools Folder

    • Pro Tools Utilities folder

      • DigiTest

      • Track Transfer Utility Folder

      • Calibration Mode Templates Folder (TDM only)

      • OMF Tool Folder if installed (TDM only)

    • Pro Tools (Application)

    • Release Notes & Documentation Folder

DAE Folder (in System Folder that lies on the root level of the boot hard drive)

  • Codecs Folder

  • Controllers Folder

  • DAE (application)

  • Plug-In Settings Folder

  • Plug-Ins Folder

    • 16 or 24 bit Optimized Mixer (required)

    • Other plug-ins

  • Plug-Ins (Unused) Folder

The following are installed into the Extensions and Control Panel folders in the System folder:

  • OMS Preferrred Device (control panel)

  • Digidesign Sound (control panel) (if applicable - v5.01/OS9 and higher)

  • Digidesign DSP Manager (ext)

  • Digisystem INIT (ext)

  • Open Music system (ext)

  • Digidesign Stream Manager (ext) (if applicable/needed)

  • Digidesign Output Drivers (ext) (if applicable/needed)

  • Digidesign Direct I/O (ext) (if applicable/needed - v5.01/OS9 and higher)

return to top

3. Can Pro Tools convert and import and export MP3 files?

Pro Tools 5.0.1 can only export and convert to an MP3 file via MP3 Export.($19.95 from the DigiStore)
Pro Tools 5.1 can convert and import MP3 files, as well as export as MP3 using MP3 Option. (also $19.95, or available as a free update for MP3 Export owners)

return to top

4. Can I run Pro Tools 5 without hardware (like PowerMix in Pro Tools 4.x)?

Pro Tools 5 TDM and Pro Tools LE are unable to launch or operate without the appropriate hardware. The only Pro Tools software that works without hardware is Pro Tools FREE.

return to top

5. What should I use to back up my Pro Tools sessions?

Digidesign does not qualify any one style of file back up.* CD-R, DVD-RAM, and Tape Backup are just a few of the options.

  • CD-R's are probably the most common method, however will only store approximately 650-700mb. Some are re-recordable.

  • DVD-RAM's can hold up to 5.2 gigs and are re-recordable.

  • Tape Backup systems (various types) are capable of storing 40+ gigs and are re-recordable.

  • You should never back up your audio in "Compression" mode. Use a "Native" mode.

  • Any system that can backup/restore SDII or other compatible files will work.

  • Check with manufacturers regarding their systems for capacity and other specifications.

*Back up & restoration software & hardware will vary in their features, specifications, and results depending upon their speed, capacity, and error checking/correction capabilities.

return to top

6. What is the difference between the variations of Dither in ProTools?

Dither plug in - Only affects the mono or stereo output of a track or bounced file(s).

Dither Setting in the Preference menu - Only affects Audio Suite plug ins

  • As of right now, there have been no other Audio Suite dither programs created to add to the pop up menu that contains the "default" dither setting

  • When the "Use Default Dither" is not selected, then a standard dither is used

  • (no noise shaping).

Dither on Fades dialogue - Uses a standard Pro Tools dither algorithm.

return to top

7. What exactly does Compact Selected do?

Pg. 196-97 in the 5.0 Reference Manual

Compacting audio files and regions can be an effective way to maximize your storage capabilities, however, it is a DESTRUCTIVE process and CANNOT BE UNDONE.

  • When Compacting, you will permanently alter the orignal "parent"* audio files, that are referenced by the regions residing within the session. The portions of audio files referenced by the audio regions removed from your session, will be deleted, thus consolidating (compacting) the "parent" audio files to only contain the audio actually used in the session.

  • The Padding setting allows you set an amount of extra audio at the beginning and end of each region's boundaries.

  • This is a process normally done near or at the end of the session.

  • Follow steps on page 197 to Compact the selected audio files.

* "Parent" audio files are the SDII files used in your Pro Tools session. They are listed in you session's region bin in Bold. Regions are pieces of audio "captured" from an audio file and are displayed in normal text, not in Bold. Pg. 12 in the Pro Tools 5.0 Reference Manual provides additional basic Pro Tools concepts.

return to top

8. How can I move files from one session to another and retain TC stamps?

  • Highlight the regions/files you wish to move to another session.

  • Select "Time Stamp Selected" from the Audio Menu (above the Region Bin) and set a User Time Stamp to the desired postion in time.

  • With the regions/files still selected, choose "Export Region Definitions" from the same Audio menu.

  • Import files into the new session and use Spot mode to select the User Timestamp.

  • The Original Time Stamp will not be retained.

  • If you have a large number of regions in each track, then you may consider using 'Considate Selection' from the Edit menu.

return to top

9. How do I set up a click track in Pro Tools?

Pg. 83-84 in the 5.0 Reference Manual

  • Pro Tools can generate a midi note click track that follows the tempo set in either the Tempo Ruler or the Conductor track.

  • This is not an audible signal. You must route this track to a midi device, or a Quicktime instrument.

  • In the Midi menu, select Click Options and select the destination device under Output Device.

  • Enable the Click track by selecting Click from the Midi menu or Transport window.

  • Make sure the audio outputs of your midi device are routed into a mixer or an auxillary track in Pro Tools (via the Digidesign interface).

return to top

10. Pro Tools is not receiveing midi, what should I check?

Pg. 104 in the 5.0 Reference Manual

  • First, consult your TDM Software Installation guide to verify you have installed and set up OMS correctly.

  • The midi track should be record enabled.

  • In the Midi menu, select Input Devices, and enabled the midi device you wish to record.

return to top

11. Is Pro Tools tempo really that accurate? I only see two decimal digits in the tempo display.

Pro Tools is actually the most accurate system available when it comes to calculating tempo. Unlike many other programs that require the user to enter a tempo manually, Pro Tools provides a powerful, faster and much more accurate means of defining the song's tempo. By using Pro Tools' Bar|Beat markers you can quickly and automatically find the correct tempo for your song without lengthy experiments or tempo drift.

Pro Tools' Bar|Beat markers are based on the highly accurate sample counter inside Pro Tools and guarantee that any MIDI or audio event is placed at a defined sample location even if your song should be 24 hours long. The internal resolution for calculating the tempo between these markers is much greater than the two digits visible in the tempo track or the tempo display, in fact, it's much higher than any number you would want to enter manually!

Here's an example that shows that even four decimal digits aren't always enough:

At a sample rate of 44100 Hz and a tempo of 100 bpm, 100 beats will take 2646000 samples. At a tempo of 100.0001 bpm, 100 beats will take 2645997 samples. With four decimal digits there is no tempo that will make 100 beats take 2645998 or 2645999 samples; in other words there is an error of three samples. And this is only over one minute duration, imagine what will happen to an hour-long feature or when you try to sync to a two hour movie!

Please note while for all practical purposes four decimal places is probably fine, this example clearly shows why we spent a lot of effort to ensure that Pro Tools guarantees 100% accurate positioning of any Bar|Beat marker over any duration in your session. Once you've started using Bar|Beat markers in Pro Tools you may never want to use anything else.

return to top

More Info:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Database

Web Answerbase