DannyNguyenAudio DNA

In addition to the video, I like to talk about the sample rate of audio being imported into Pro Tools and the sample rate of your Pro Tools session that you set when you created the Pro Tools session.

 From the video, You saw how I imported a .wav and a .mp3 file but what would happen if imported a audio file that was a different sample rate than my session. In this situation, you will have to do a Sample Rate Conversion or SRC. For example, I set my Pro Tools session at 48kHz and wanted to import an audio file that was at 44.1kHz. If I imported the 44.1kHz audio file without converting it to 48kHz, than you will probably notice that when played, the file sounds a bit weird. You will also get a pop-up window warning you of the possible conflict if you were to import an audio file of a different sample rate than your session. Without going into too much detail on what is actually going on, just don’t do it. Convert it or create a new session with the same sample rate as the files that you are working with.  Just a little side note FYI, 44.1kHz is for CD audio and 48kHz is audio for video.

 If you guys have any question, please feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer them. If I get enough of the same questions or similar questions I will make a video to answer them.

Just to add to my video, plug-in automation can allow you be very creative musically and sonically. It also allows you to apply certain effects to a specific part in your music. For example, you want to create a telephone sounding vocal during the chorus and a different sound for the verse—plug-in automation can help you do that. This applies to not just EQ plug-ins, but Compressors and any other plug-in you can think of.

 The significance of plug-in automation is that it can only be done in the box. In the outboard gear world, there is no automation. In order to achieve this in outboard gear, you must turn knobs on the fly while you are recording or printing. This can be time consuming and inaccurate. 

The video above is part 1 to my Automation video. In part 2, I will go over different Automation modes in Pro Tools. Part 2 should be up in about 1-2 weeks if I don’t procrastinate.

I feel that I didn’t thoroughly explain what a compressor does and why you should use a compressor in my video above; therefore, I will further elucidate in this post.  A compressor allows you to make the loud quieter and the quiet louder.  For example, say you have a vocal recording of a singer and the singer was not the most talented singer you ever worked with. She would sing softly and abruptly sing louder. To help fix this issue, you can employ a compressor to make the soft parts louder and the louder parts quieter.  In reality, you will probably have to ask her to go home and practice or just find another singer. You should always try to get the best recording of something first and then start fixing minor issues afterwards. Compression does help but it is not a silver bullet.

 Why should you use a compressor? You should always listen to you recording first and identify what needs to be done. Do not just throw on a compressor to one of your tracks just because. You need to know why a compressor is necessary in the first place. This applies to other things as well such as, EQing, reverb or anything that you do to your tracks.  A reason why you should use a compressor is when you want to create a certain effect or sound.  For instance, creating that Dubstep kick sound will require a compressor. Another reason to use a compressor would be the predicament I mentioned earlier with the singer singing loudly and softly.

I just want to mention a few things about Reverb to inform you guys on. So, what exactly is Reverb? I think there are quite a few misconceptions about Reverb and I just want to clear some of that up in this post. I hear things like, “Reverb is like an echo” when in fact it is not. Reverb is actually the way something sound in a specific environment. For example, singing in a restroom will sound different than singing in your bedroom. Many of you probably already experienced this. In addition, playing a guitar inside your car will sound different than playing guitar on stage at a venue that holds 10,000 people. The theory behind this is that sound travels from a source to a surface and bounces back to your ears and depending on how far away the surface is the longer it will take sound to travel back to your ears. There are many factors that can affect the way Reverb sounds; but, this post will end up being a essay and I don’t want to bore you guys & gals.