Lesson 9 - Using Effects

Question 1

What is the origin of the term INSERT?

Answer 1

From mixing on an analog console, when the engineer would INSERT an external processing device (hardware unit) into the signal chain

Question 2

Before you can instantiate a plugin on an insert, you must -

Answer 2

show Inserts

Question 3

How many inserts can each track have?

Answer 3

10

Question 4

How can you copy an insert to another slot?

Answer 4

Option drag

Question 5

How can you bypass a plugin? (All 3 ways)

Answer 5

1. Hit Bypass in the plugin window
2. Right click the Insert Assignment and choose Bypass from the menu
3. Command click the Insert Assignment

Question 6

Do bypassed inserts effect your computer’s processing power?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

Do inactive inserts effect your computer’s processing power?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

How can you deactivate a plugin?

Answer 8

1. Right click the Insert Assignment and choose “Make Inactive” from the menu
2. Hold Command+Control and click the Insert Assignment

Question 9

What plugin is commonly instantiated on a master fader track?

Answer 9

Limiter

Question 10

What are the 3 major types of plugin formats?

Answer 10

VST (Virtual Studio Technology)
AU (Audio Units)
AAX (Avid Audio eXtension)

Question 11

What are VST plugins?

Answer 11

Virtual Studio Technology
introduced by Steinberg
supported by Cubase, Studio One, Ableton Live

Question 12

What are AU plugins?

Answer 12

Audio Units
designed for use with Apple’s Logic Pro
supported by other DAWs as well
MAC ONLY

Question 13

What are AAX plugins?

Answer 13

Avid Audio eXtension
ONLY TYPE SUPPORTED BY PRO TOOLS
they report their latency so Pro Tools can compensate

Question 14

At the top of a plugin window, what basic controls are on the left side under “Track”

Answer 14

Track Selector
Insert Position Selector
Plugin Selector

Question 15

At the top of a plugin window, what basic controls are in the second column, under “Preset”

Answer 15

Circle to the right of “Preset” with a down arrow - opens the Plugin Settings menu where you can save plugin settings, import settings from elsewhere, etc

Librarian Menu (says factory default until changed)

(+) and (-) buttons for previous/next preset settings

Plug-in Settings Select button (two windows, as it opens a new window - the plugin settings dialogue box)

Compare - turns blue when you alter a preset

Question 16

What is a “Native” plugin?

Answer 16

A plugin that is processed by the host computer’s CPU

Question 17

Can you use a non-native DSP plugin with Pro Tools Studio?

Answer 17

Only if you have the Carbon interface

Question 18

When using Pro Tools Ultimate with HDX cards, how do you run DSP plugins?

Answer 18

Use dedicated DSP chips to power a plugin

Question 19

If you want to process the L and R channels of a stereo track differently with a plugin, what plugin type should you use?

Answer 19

Multi-Mono

Question 20

What is a multichannel plugin?

Answer 20

a single plugin that processes multiple audio streams within a single plugin window. Changes you make are applied to both left and right

Question 21

How do you process the L and R channels differently with a multi-mono plugin?

Answer 21

Click the Master Link button (grey is off)
Then choose L or R from the Channel Selector button below

Question 22

If you unlink a multi-mono plugin and later choose to re-link, what box opens and why?

Answer 22

Relink Dialog box
prompts you to choose one channel’s parameters to be applied to all channels

Question 23

Traditionally, sends and returns are used for what types of effects?

Answer 23

Time-based effects
(reverb, delay)

Question 24

What are the advantages of using plugins with a send-return routing structure?

Answer 24

-You can send multiple tracks to one plugin, so you can just change one plugin if it needs tweaking. This is more efficient for your computer’s processing power.

-the plugin/effect has it’s own fader, easy access

-something like a reverb is creating space, so it’s realistic to send multiple tracks to one reverb, so your tracks are living in the same space

Question 25

How do you show Sends?

Answer 25

1. View ->Edit Window Views/Mix Window Views-> Sends (2 banks) 2. Edit Window View Selector 3. Mix Window View Selector

Question 26

When instantiating a time-based plugin in Pro Tools with Send/Return routing, which part is the Return?

Answer 26

The Aux track

Question 27

A Send Window is very similar to a -

Answer 27

Track Output Window

Question 28

How can you quickly switch between Sends without closing and re-opening a new send window?

Answer 28

Use the Send Selector at the top of the Send Window

Question 29

By default, Sends are _____-fader when they're created

Answer 29

Post

Question 30

How do you show Expanded Sends view?

Answer 30

1. View -> Expanded Sends 2. Command click the small arrow to the left of the send

Question 31

Should cue mix Sends be pre or post-fader?

Answer 31

Pre-fader

Question 32

How do you use Copy to Send?

Answer 32

1. Select the tracks whose settings you want to copy to send, Edit ->Automation ->Copy to Send 2. Option+Command+H opens the Copy to Send dialog box

Question 33

What are AudioSuite plugins?

Answer 33

File-based plugins (work directly on files) Not done in real time = Can't be automated won't consume processing power

Question 34

In an AudioSuite plugin window, what are the two options you can choose from the Selection Reference Selector?

Answer 34

1. Playlist - the plugin will process the selected area in your track 2. Clip List - the plugin will process the currently selected clips in the clips list

Question 35

In an AudioSuite plugin window, if USE IN PLAYLIST is grey, what will happen when you hit render?

Answer 35

The processed clip won't appear on the track - it will only appear in the Clips List

Question 36

In an AudioSuite plugin window, what are the 3 options you can choose from the Processing Output Mode Selector?

Answer 36

Overwrite Files - your original file is permanently changed Create Individual Files - Nondestructive, creates separate audio files for each selected clip Create Continuous File - Nondestructive, creates a single new audio file regardless of the number of clips selected

Question 37

In an AudioSuite plugin window, what are the 2 options you can choose from the Input Mode Selector?

Answer 37

Clip by Clip - analyzes each clip individually Entire Selection

Question 38

AudioSuite plugins are especially good for -

Answer 38

doing things that are impossible to do in real time (like reversing a sound, a reverse reverb, etc)

Question 39

In an AudioSuite plugin window, what will clicking WHOLE FILE (at the bottom near Render) do?

Answer 39

Process the entire original file (useful if you're working with a trimmed or separated clip) Creates 2 clips - one subset clip of the clip in your timeline, plus a rendered whole-file clip

Question 40

What are "Handles" in terms of AudioSuite, and where do you enter a handle value?

Answer 40

Handles are padding on each side of your processed clip, so you have some extra space for crossfading, etc Enter the value in sec.msec at the bottom of the window between "WHOLE FILE" and "Render"