Question for Protools users...

[anppilot]

Hey guys, i'm getting a insurance settlement and I'm interested in getting a new PC or MAC and Pro Tools LE Digi002 Rack Factory.

My question is this. I've used Cubase to sequence for years. I want my clients to be able to take their projects to a Pro Tools HD studio and master there.

I like the fact that in my PC Cubase system, I use a Unitor-8 with all of my modules patched to. I just call up a instrument and sequence with it.

I see that there is like 1 midi in, 2 midi outs. Explain to me if it's possible to control patches on my jv-1080, fantom x, jd-990, etc directly from pro tools le like I can on Cubase?

Or should I still use to DAW's, continue to sequence on Cubase, and run the audio out on my Cubase DAW to the input on my Protools LE DAW and transfer each midi track to an audio track? What am I missing? Then theres the whole thing of syncing up the 2 daw's.

I know that I've heard that protools isn't very midi and sequencing friendly, but it doesnt seem logical to have to use 2 daw's.

Or should I just get Cubase SX 3.0? I dont know if most pro studios use SX.

Or do I just need to hook up each keyboard/module everytime I want to use one?

Please help

[bennychico11]

Originally Posted by anppilot

I see that there is like 1 midi in, 2 midi outs. Explain to me if it's possible to control patches on my jv-1080, fantom x, jd-990, etc directly from pro tools le like I can on Cubase?

yes, of course. Pro Tools is totally MIDI capable.
now, which program you think has the most flexibility is up to you.

many MIDI users in the past didn't like PT because MIDI was it's weakness...but they've since added a lot of features, and there's a bunch of new stuff in the latest versions. I've never been a huge MIDI user, so I can't say which program is the best for MIDI out there...but I know some users who think PT has stepped up it's game in the recent updates.

Just make sure you read over Digi's site to see what features are in Pro Tools that you might or might not like.

[giraffe]

as long as your shoping and you use midi, i'd check logic too.

[TragikRemix]

if you need more midi i/o, you will not have any problems with something like an m-audio midisport 4x4 or they likes.

also, get the mac!! seamless with PT. i've heard people have had some slight difficulties with pc and pro tools. either way, its cool, and welcome to the PT family.

[anppilot]

Thanks guys for the replies. I just got home from school (hair dressing) Don't laugh.

Anyway, I want my clients to take their mixes to a pro-studio to get mastered. I figured it's easier for them to lets say take a song in audio format in pro multi-tools tracked out to get mastered, vs me doing my own mix down to wav file to a studio to get mastered. Am I right? Mastering an art, despite what most might say. I dont even try.

The way I do things, I can't speak for others when I used cubase is like this:
I lay out my beat from scratch, no loops, no samples. all beats original
I lay down a hat, open hat,
lay down a kick,
lay down snares
lay down cymbals and other percussion.
all drum pieces in 1 bar increments. copy/paste drum parts into 4 bars, then
copy as needed

followed by baseline,
ep's
guitars,
synths, strings, etc
each midi track i turn into a audio track
drop in vocal tracks, etc. yada yada, final track is done. mix the song, and master it.

But i want to get away from cubase and use PT cause it's professional and most big studios master with PT.

I guess what Im trying to say is, wouldnt i'll pre mix it, then burn the arrangement or whatever PT calls a track, hand it over to the client to take the multi-tracked out song over and get mastered?

See I'm used to using cubase 3.7. I KNOW IT'S OLD, but i love it. I know it inside and out.

I'm thinking about keeping it, still using it, convert all the midi tracks in cubase to audio tracks, and burning ann the audio tracks to a cd to give to a client to take to a studio and let them import each audio track in PT and arrange it there. That can work right? Import esisting audio tracks to PT from cubase?

Lets say I have a:
clsd hihat aud file
op hat file
kick drum file
snare, other perc aud file

each seperate file can be imported to PT, eq'd and mixed right?
same thing with istruments - guitars, basses, keys, synths, etc
if theyre a seperate aud file, they can be imported, eq'd, mastered right?

Mychelle

[TragikRemix]

yes, but pt LE works seamlessly into PT HD. (but not the other way around, it wont work.)

[bennychico11]

Originally Posted by TragikRemix

yes, but pt LE works seamlessly into PT HD. (but not the other way around, it wont work.)

LE can open HD sessions just fine. You'll just have the same hardware errors that you do when transferring LE to HD. And of course plugin errors if you don't have the same plugins on both systems....but that happens with any software program you use. The session formats are the exact same, the only difference between the two is the hardware, some editing options, and the way HD sums the audio.

anppilot, are you talking about sending your session over to have it MASTERED or MIXED? Pro Tools can be used by mastering engineers if need be...but I doubt many of them use it or some may not even have it. They prefer to use more specialized mastering gear. PT is geared more towards the recording/mixing side of things. Also, I believe most mastering houses prefer to get a stereo or stem mix from you instead of the entire multitrack session. Otherwise they're basically just doing the mix for you. So you'll probably be better off doing the mix yourself to the best of your ability, and then send it off.

[TragikRemix]

i stand corrected!

good to know, thanks benny.