once again, my PT LE on macs really isn't that cool thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter shackrock
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shackrock

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so now I'm using PT LE, newest version for os x, pretty regularly here at school.

at home I'm still using my PC with vegas 5.

being completely honest, again, Vegas is like a million times better than PT! And I really feel like it's not just becuase I'm used to it.

first of all, my biggest pet peeve so far: zooming. In vegas, on pc, it's simple as hell with the mouse wheel. on macs, ONE mouse click and NO wheel, and you ALWAYS have to select the tool. The keyboard shortcut, I think command bracket or something, is ok but it's def. no wheel.

The "3 tools in one" button is cool, but I have to say that Vegas has had one button for all that forever - and I imagine other programs may have too.

next, fading. Vegas gives you the option to do auto fades, and it's so simple. Just drag at the top edge of anything. If you overlap 2 things, anm the auto crossfade option is on, then boom it's done. And you didn't want the crossfade? then select the other event, split the track with S and hit delete.
In PT, it's a little easier now than i remember, with that "3 tools in one" thing, but you can't manipulate the end of a waveform anymore once you put a fade or crossfade on there - it says something like "you can't trim the end of the event after you have a fade on there." That also angers me...

Now another thing, I cannot believe that the program doesn't compensate for FX plugins delay time. I had a lot of stuff on one track the other day, and it was a noticable time delay. I physically moved the waveform till I couldn't notice. But i mean, why do that - just because it's LE?? Seems redicuilous to me as well. haha.

anyway, I was hoping this class would make me WANT to switch to macs, and maybe a digi 002, etc. But all it's doing is making sure I stick with PC and Vegas for now...

here's a question though - can I teck my microsoft intellipoint mouse (with the wheel) to a mac and use it? it's USB.

holla.
 
learn the keyboard, you just need more time in protools.
 
being completely honest, again, Vegas is like a million times better than PT! And I really feel like it's not just becuase I'm used to it.
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with command focus on, i believe it's just R and T on the keyboard too. can't remember though, I don't zoom that way that much...i use the shift bracket, first way i learned and just stuck with it.

the Smart tool's been around for a long time with PT too. as far back as the earliest version I've used I think.
In PT there is about 10 different ways to do one thing, which bugs a lot of people, because they only learn one way and think there's no other way to do it. Plugin compensation is a thing LE users have been complaining about for awhile now, and I think Digi is starting to hear the complaints finally. But then again, they still need something that makes the program LE so it gets people to buy TDM. It's a marketing technique I guess. I think there is an auto fade option somewhere, but I never use it....maybe up in the setups-->operations menu (where EVERYTHING seems to be). I prefer to have direct control over all my fades, so I use the "selector tool"-->CTRL+F and then make my fades how I like them. Crossfade is a simple "select the split"-->F. I don't think an auto fade is a default because people like to change the length of the fades all the time.

like giraffe says, just learn the keyboard. every program is different and have different ways of doing things. I sincerely believe the first program someone learns extensively sticks in their mind and when they try and learn another program, they have a hard time understanding the way things are done.
 
shackrock said:
here's a question though - can I teck my microsoft intellipoint mouse (with the wheel) to a mac and use it? it's USB.
Click to expand...

I used to have an old G4 450 with an intellipoint mouse (I hated Apple's stock mouse which at the time was this odd, little round-shaped device). So it works--even the scroll wheel. I don't remember if the software that came with the mouse was compatible with mac, however.
 
My wireless microsoft mouse works with my mac, wheel and all no problems.
 
we have used a wireless mouse with my iMac G5 before and i want to do it again soon.
for what its worth i like Mackie Tracktion just fine and do not see much reason to use pro tools yet... unless my studio becomes world class and i get some kind of rig but... i like the simple stuff and i am waiting for ardour to come out and clean PTs clock any way.
 
that's cool about the mouse...very cool.

what is command focus??

and yeah, I'm gonna keep using it, I have to..haha., so we'll see how I like it a year from now, ay? haha.
 
shackrock said:
In PT, it's a little easier now than i remember, with that "3 tools in one" thing, but you can't manipulate the end of a waveform anymore once you put a fade or crossfade on there - it says something like "you can't trim the end of the event after you have a fade on there." That also angers me...
.
Click to expand...

Hit "delete" and it will delete the fade :D

if i got your question right
 
Ok I had something argumentative written in here but I decided to ease up a bit. I think shackrock or whatever you just need to learn ptle a little better. And as far as macs go, like i said i have a wireless mouse and keyboard and it works great. As far as the delay thing. I've recorded probably 75 songs in ptle and never noticed this. What plugs effect it, what makes it do that. I've never applied a plug in and had it delay the track, maybe I'm just insane but I'm not hearing delay, even with plug ins maxed.
 
shackrock said:
here's a question though - can I teck my microsoft intellipoint mouse (with the wheel) to a mac and use it? it's USB.

holla.
Click to expand...
The mouse should work. However, the question is, will you gain any additional functionality in PTLE? I believe the answer is no. The last time I used PTLE, the scroll wheel did nothing, and right click did nothing (or maybe it was the same as left click). I too use Vegas at home, but I sometimes find myself sitting in from of PTLE when working at a friend's studio, and it always feels like I'm fighting a losing battle - the PTLE interface just seems archaic compared to Vegas.
 
I have one of those mouses with the wheel and stuff and the wheel works. It scrolls up and down thru my tracks and I'm sure if i tried to figure it out it'll have some kind of zoom option. and the right click does work on some things not as many things as I'd like but it does seem to work on some things. oh and I just remembered my mouse has the wheel the also scrolls side to side and that works too. unless i just smoke too much and i made all that up in my head
 
elevate said:
I too use Vegas at home, but I sometimes find myself sitting in from of PTLE when working at a friend's studio, and it always feels like I'm fighting a losing battle - the PTLE interface just seems archaic compared to Vegas.
Click to expand...

that's how i'm feeling at the moment. even watching my professor, who engineered plenty of albums, including some sublime tracks, and a lot by the Long Beach Dub All Stars.....and I could do a lot in Vegas of the same things he does in ptle twice as fast!
 
shackrock said:
that's how i'm feeling at the moment. even watching my professor, who engineered plenty of albums, including some sublime tracks, and a lot by the Long Beach Dub All Stars.....and I could do a lot in Vegas of the same things he does in ptle twice as fast!
Click to expand...

well engineering some big albums and being a Pro Tools operator are two different things. There are actual people who are digi certified and their entire job in the studio consists of running pro tools all the time. And there are other guys who are the actual session engineer and don't want to even touch the tape machine or Pro Tools, or hardly do...that's what assistant engineers and Pro Tools operators are for. And at the same time I doubt your professor is trying to show off his speed in front of you guys. If he did, you would never learn anything and would be asking him to slow down. Besides, who says that you're supposed to do editing and mixing at the speed of light?? Does a mix sound better the faster you do it?

But then again, all this just goes to show that no program is THE program for recording/editing. You'll get the same results out of Vegas that you do out of Pro Tools, it's all a matter of how comfortable you are with a program. To each his own, I say.
 
yea, if i was trying to show you something at my normal work speed, i can guarantee you'd not get much out of it.

and it's true, at the end of the day the differences are not that big
(except with a couple programs that really suck)
 
hm this is all true. But for example, sometimes I'll get to class early as he's setting up something to play for us in class, and just doin quick cuts and sends etc. etc. I don't know, it's possible he's taking his time but still...i just feel like the workflow so far is not nearly as easy/custimizable.

nevertheless....i'll live! haha.
 
Yeah,when i switched from Homestudio to protools,i was paralised,because it just seemed too limiting(timely speaking)but when i got used to it,it was fine but still not faster than my home studio 2002 nor cubase.But i tell you what...some things in protools software really kick some booty like the mixer view/inserts,no one has a better layout than protools!Cubase got a sad/limited strip that you cant see nothing,too many windows to open,and dont get me started on home studio 2002 this thing doesn't even work,lol,so not one is perfect,but some are close.I'm sticking to cubase for now,hope its the software i can master.
 
I highly recommend "Musicians Guide to Protools" by Keene. He really shows you a great system and style to operating Protools that'll speed up your workflow a ton. I'd been flumbling through projects by flipping through the manual and when I read the book, I definitely slapped my forehead a few times when I realized how complicated I was making some things on myself, and how many shortcuts there are for the most commonly used things.
 
Just curious, what school do you go to shackrock? The program at Mcnally Smith College of Music completely imerses you into PT, HD and LE. But we didn't get into PT until my third semester of four.
 
ohio university. right now i'm double majoring, EE, and music production.
 
shackrock said:
Now another thing, I cannot believe that the program doesn't compensate for FX plugins delay time. I had a lot of stuff on one track the other day, and it was a noticable time delay. I physically moved the waveform till I couldn't notice. But i mean, why do that - just because it's LE?? Seems redicuilous to me as well. haha.
holla.
Click to expand...

Ive switched to digital performer because of this reason.

Its retarded that they dont offer delay compensation.
 
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