Pro Tools 101 - The Basics | Part 1, Getting Started

[@carlbull9555]

I have watched a half dozen of these intro protools videos and this one has been the best. Logically sequenced, reasonably paced with lots of examples and explanations.

[@gabriellemiller2133]

Here in 2024, almost an audio production graduate at full sail . thank you .

[@derekmclaurin9444]

Here from Full Sail as well, cool!

[@420scene]

Same here. lol.

[@JaedenPetti]

starting my audio engineering journey in january!

[@valisiareed5389]

Wow! I was watching this on my TV, but I had to go grab my phone specifically to leave a comment. I can’t thank you enough for making this video! 😭 I’m trying not to be dramatic, but it’s one of the most helpful videos I’ve saved on KZbin. Thank you so much! A lot of the stuff on your page is probably over my head at this moment, but I’m subscribing anyways 🤣 Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us! 😊

[@Denver_Risley]

I am starting to train for audio engineering at The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma and this is where I was sent to be introduced to Pro Tools. A good choice!

[@devon-graves-studio-D]

Adam, you don't need to create a MIDI track and feed it into a separate instrument track. Just create the instrument track and hit record. The MIDI will be recorded directly on the Instrument track. The MIDI tracks are used for addressing the same MIDI Instrument instance multi-timberally.

[@Producelikeapro]

Absolutely amazing! Adam Steel teaching Pro Tools Basics? Hell has officially frozen over! Ha

[@adamsteelproducer]

Right?! I felt it was time to cover other DAWs (and subtly bring people over to the dark side in the process.....)

[@Producelikeapro]

Nicely done my friend! ​@@adamsteelproducer haha

[@jpaqw614]

Been watching ALOT of videos trying to figure pro tools out, by far the most understandable and best video

[@ukulelesojourner5976]

Same here. Glad I found it because I was about to give up on PT.

[@TotalCastingca]

Excellent tutorial!!! As a professional engineer, I find you've perfectly presented the essentials of Pro Tools to help anyone get, not only started, but doing full sessions. There's only one fatal mistake you've made in an otherwise flawless video ... and that is having put the compressor after the EQ in the chain. It's the other way around, you always compress first and Then EQ for fine-tuning ... like boosting 10K and higher to put air back into the voice, and bringing up some low end too.

[@BrantK147]

I really need part 4... and 3 and 2 :) Awesome video. Thanks!

[@maxulyses2]

Thanks, ive just started to get things up running in my room. I haven't got pro tools yet but already seeing this video. Warm up for what's coming! This is gonna be a loooong journey

[@ukulelesojourner5976]

Excellent Video. It took a while to get thru the section of setting up Pro Tools but its not an easy process for anyone with my lack of experience. This video should be essential learning for anyone new to Pro Tools. From set-up to application, you are very thorough and concise. (Not being paid to say this btw) I'm very glad I found this because I have been absolutely frustrated. But in the time I've taken to watch this I have learned a ton. Thanks!

[@Johnny_Katch]

Thank you so much. This was the perfect introduction I needed. Your video had a great pace and really explained everything in detail.

[@pixpusher]

Wow!! The best intro to ProTools. Thank you.

[@adamsteelproducer]

Is there anything specific you'd like to see us cover about Pro Tools in the future? Or any other DAW you'd like to see us do a similar video for?

[@Producelikeapro]

Adam doing Pro Tools? Amazing!

[@Driftuner]

@@Producelikeapro right?! Studio One would be nice, its such an amazing daw yet i feel like it gets so little coverage from the community

[@themktgdepartment]

THANK YOU!!!! With your cool teaching style, and ProTools being "the industry standard," this video is AWESOME! For FUTURE ProTools vids? Their "industry standard" status PROVIDES YOUR TEMPLATE FOR EVERYONE!!!! Simply put, Avid's PT101 + 110 gets you a "user" certification. After 201, you take 210 in 'production' or 'post-production' to become certified as an "operator" in THAT field. So, you can fashion your NEXT PT vid as 110 (with any 101 bits missed from this one) and you can assure all of your viewers (even Reaper, Cubase, and other platform preferers) that their PT knowledge is valid to a certain point (a more 'advanced' PT person would translate from there). FUTHERMORE, setting vids up in this 'Avid-industry-education' framework allows for "industry standard rankings" in an individual viewer's chosen DAW platform. ["Steel got me thru PT to a "user" (101 +110) level, but his Reaper vids got me up to "expert" level in music production (201+210 FUNCTIONS IN REAPER vids) and I'm almost there (in Reaper) on post-production!!!!] It'll even make it easier working with other PT pros ("I got it to (PT 110 point 'x'). The next step in PT is (PT 201 point 'y'), but I can't do that in PT. WAY beyond that in Cubase, Acid, or Reaper, but PT-guy needs to take it from there in Avid's environs....") Nice to have landmarks and known levels for such things. Simplest terms? The Avid "industry standard" framework and associated classes/levels can be applied to ALL DAWs and you can frame your Reaper, Cubase, AND PT vids through that lens to help your viewers learn AND communicate intelligently with different DAW users.

[@MooseAtYou]

My Xpand only has factory default as a preset selection. How to do make it follow the file path to all the instruments for mac?

[@annaseruma]

I can't believe you're actually teaching people to use Pro Tools, Reaper guy:)))

[@adamsteelproducer]

Haha I know! Broadening the horizons :)

[@MiggyCrash]

love videos like this. how amazing it is for someone who knows what they are talking about to give everyone free information like this. if you wish he would dive deeper, you can always download the free manual! ps all the pro tools haters. I own ableton live 11 suite and subscription to pro tools. running a 2011 imac 2.7ghz 16 gb ram. pro tools runs amazing with barely any hiccups. ableton on the other hand. I can barely record 4 tracks without cpu overload etc. and this is coming from a long time ableton user. I have two ssds. one for all my vsts, plugins, etc, then another one strictly to use for saving the actual song files etc. I've also used reason and studio one pro (subscription) when I first started recording two years ago. studio one honestly is amazing. for some reason I iust prefer pro tools. maybe its because its not super user friendly and I dont know all the special tricks which makes me focus on the actual recording of said instruments over taking shortcuts. but all in all, use any daw you want. luckily we dont still have to pay big bucks to get in a studio, let alone record to tape. when everything is said and done, haters will hate regardless. make good music. cause MuZiK is f'n awesome. keep on keepin on! "I'll try my best, and that's the best anyone can do"- pinocchio movie. lol 🤘⚡

[@a-gnosis]

Great video m8, I appreciate your patient and orderly, yet practical approach. I look forward to watching more of your stuff!

[@yourpowell]

Thank you for this. I've read and watched many Pro Tools tutorials and this one has helped me the most!

[@KaiDown]

Can’t believe you’re ditching Reaper 😕 Just kidding, being able to work in both is clutch! I’m working on getting better at Pro Tools right now - thank you for this 🙏

[@adamsteelproducer]

Thanks god someone gets it 😂 Thanks Kai! Cubase and Logic are coming this week as well, then deeper dives and more DAWs over the next couple of months

[@swaglad1957]

You guys were so incredible making this, very well done and informative. I really hope you make more parts.

[@timothysussman3282]

Thank you so much for making this!!! I really needed it, and I really needed it from you specifically, since I am already a huge fan of your Reaper videos.

[@arthursmit6413]

Nice, when are you going to make your next video?

[@kellcoleStyleEnt]

I been use in pro tools and over the years I m still learning new things

[@stevenjewell460]

Adam Steel. So catchy. Is it your real name? This was a great video for newbies. It's a confidence builder. Other videos where instructor know Pro Tools so well is too fast paced and has many assumptions. You are using a comfortable pace. Plug ins can be overwhelming cause there are so many. Give us a fundamental plug in video; Drums bass guitar keyboard. More Pro tools. Thanks once again! Live your dream!

[@adamsteelproducer]

Yep, real name! Cheers :)

[@mariocurro1041]

Sounds like John Browne on guitar. If I’m not mistaken. Very significant play style. Love it!

[@MyStutteringLife]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I switched from Audacity to Pro Tools because I wanted to improve my audio with Waves plug-ins since they don't work in Audacity. I need to learn this quickly because I have podcast episodes that I have in my que that need publishing. I'm going to binge your videos, and if I need additional help, are you available one-on-one? Thank you again!!!

[@nomadptgalexandrecarvalho2133]

Audacity is not a DAW,its an Audio Editor.

[@JesusArmasOficial]

This video simply appeared on my suggestions and I'm amazed. I'd love to hear your impression as a Reaper user and how does it compare when coming from such a customisable environment as Reaper knowing that Pro Tools kinda has a built-in workflow when you get it.

[@Rhuggins]

Im trying to Learn Pro Tools, knowing Ableton, Reaper, and even FL…and I HATE it lol. Seems so murky and unnecessarily complicated

[@Ozinho13]

we need that part 2!

[@DarkItachi1]

as long as you habe your feet under my table we preach the word of Reaper in this house ADAM!

[@adamsteelproducer]

I think you’ll find this is my house! 😂

[@DarkItachi1]

@@adamsteelproducer I´m pretty sure im At my House right now!

[@niallsbasstones9713]

Hey from Dublin Absolutely brilliant video I have one question I hooked up my Bass Guitar to my new SSL12 Audio Interface today and connected it to my DAW (pro tools artist) and monitored it via Headphones. Unusually, while the Bass tone sounded really great prior to hitting “record” on my Pro Tools DAW, once I actually started recording, the Bass Tone changed significantly and emanated a very “hollow” sounding tone. Even more unusually, I went ahead and recorded anyway, and during subsequent playback, the tone sounded great again, exactly as it did prior to the recording. So I’m wondering, why might my SSL12 audio interface tone that I’m hearing in my headphones regress in quality, once I engage the record switch on my DAW?

[@cassandrabangel572]

Thank you for this excellent tutorial! Just wondering, what do you use to screen capture and capture audio from ProTools to make your videos? Thanks:)

[@ariarrini]

thank you very much, this was actually the basics

[@argonaut3001]

Nice one. You've saved me hours of messing about!

[@ROCKnROLL1406]

Good video, Informative. I just wished I used the time stamp and jumped ahead to 13:54 to where the actual tutorial begins. 👍

[@adamsteelproducer]

The “actual” tutorial starts at 1:46, just because you don’t need the first part doesn’t mean I can omit it…

[@ROCKnROLL1406]

@@adamsteelproducer fair enough...

[@ernestfox4880]

This was absolutely AMAZING...very clever and creative. THANK YOU, Professor Steel!!! 😃Subscribing NOW!!!

[@JLF-x5x]

Where can I find Part 2? Thank you for this video!

[@adamsteelproducer]

Part 2 coming soon!

[@PartyMinimal]

​@adamsteelproducer Came to the comments for this. Looking forward to part 2!

[@71prabhakar]

As a begginer It is very informative

[@belgradeboy1977]

Thanks for the video. It is super informative for a beginner. I am using this to get myself familiar with Pro Tools as my Berklee online course is starting soon. I never used Pro Tools but I have used Cubase for a quite long time and I have to tell you.. For all these things in the video, Cubase is light years ahead of Pro Tools. And a question. Why would you set the reverb input to bus 3-4 when there is already a bus called Verb?

[@mageprometheus]

Well, I watched it all. Thanks, I think. 😄

[@Barnsey87]

FL studio user looking to learn pro tools to help my pro studio sessions in future. Thanks for sharing

[@johnsnyder4949]

omg you said logical and pro tools in the same sentence....i need another wine

[@ericcsmith808]

Making from unable to start to actually getting intruments and plugins set up and making synth noises via midi keyboard. Thank you. Way more familiar with logic pro/garageband😢

[@BorisDiRocco]

Thanks so much for the great tutorial.

[@matthewwilson5548]

Thank you for the great tutorial Adam!😀

[@andrebravo1089]

The best hands down

[@devon-graves-studio-D]

You don't need to create the track if you have imported audio. Just drag it into the window and the appropriate track is created.

[@FirebrandVOCALS]

It’s good to learn other DAWS … never limit yourself 👍💯🍻cheers Adam🍻

[@edwardharness3505]

Hi Adam, Nice steady paced tutorial on Protools. I don't know whether you could help me. I downloaded Protools Intro and when i booted the software up The Dashboard window was missing the three buttons on the bottom of the dasboard Template, OFF disk Cancel and Blue Create button. Any ideas.

[@Driftuner]

Nice. Im following your Reaper course on the academy, nice to see you covering other daws. If i was not using reaper i would probably be on Studio One though

[@michaelwirth6843]

Can anyone tell me how I can get visible faders and pan control in the vertical view?

[@bustamante-music]

what's the song at 23:30? sounds sick

[@tonyvalenti6614]

Great video! When will we see Part 2? It has been 8 months! 😬

[@treborretlaw]

you have to make a midi track then send the midi to an instrument track???? That is why whenever I try a new Daw (Mixbus, Fl or ProTools) I go back to Reaper! So much faster in everything!

[@enchantedundergroundorphanedgu]

Starting up today first run my Protools subscription crashes on startup due to audio issues, no interface, but Windows 10 Pro ASIO4ALL installed driver on Realtek sound card after Creative Sound Blaster Z was rejected, it will not open, restart, after restart, after restart.

[@kekojones8431]

The best tutorial many thanks

[@Nothing-sn9nc]

How to put the bus fader in the mixer window?

[@forestvalentine2678]

two thumbs up!!

[@ramonestilaok2565]

Hello! What seems to be the problem? When I changed my output device via playback machine, protools restarts but didn't nake any changes after.. 😔

[@_unfiltered]

Can you use a yeti nano speaker with protools?

[@vincentromano936]

Is there a reason they didn't integrate the mixer in the same window? I have seen some DAW programs have the mixer integrated.

[@dg2517]

Thank you Adam!

[@alexandrglushchenko1257]

Is having an interface driver absolutely essential? I have m-audio interface and it looks like they don't have any drivers for Macs.

[@adamsteelproducer]

Nothing is essential, but you’ll have a rough time without them. You might be alright but if things aren’t behaving well this could be your first port of call

[@CybreSmee]

It's like listening to a kindergarten teacher with a bunch of 4-year-olds. Yes, I think we all know DAW means digital.....audio......workstation. This is all complete newbie to computers level stuff. If you don't understand what the power button does or where the enter key is on your keyboard, this is for you.

[@hillarnold7575]

What is happening when the installation reads "initiating controllers, finishing up," but never finishes? I've waited overnight, and it never finishes. HELP!

[@carlathepoet]

Will there be a series on this or just this one video?

[@luxuryinteriorsllc1652]

how long did it take to install mine is taking hours

[@goldiemusic8394]

thank you for your work.

[@Falcontf]

Is there a part 2 out already ?

[@KicksTv_23]

Can u pls help I’m trying work in pro tools but I don’t have a create button on my dashboard panel I recently just subscribe to pro tools unlimited where it’s say create my says new I don’t get it

[@vanessajazp6341]

The "Import Audio" section really shouldn't be in a "Basics" video, IMO, since almost no one starting out with PT for the first time is going to use that function. We want to know how to assign audio interface(s), set rates and bit depths, load tracks (midi/audio) and DAW controls and shortcuts. For those of us who do have files in a different DAW (I have Sonar and Cubase, for example), that import audio function may be useful, but I want to know the basics about getting around the DAW, setting up drum tracks, etc before getting into something like loading an already-existing wav file.

[@adamsteelproducer]

I’m sorry but you’re only speaking from your own experience. The scripts for these videos were based on countless specific requests from users over several years, and importing audio (for example recording a vocal to another producer’s track) was highly requested.

[@vanessajazp6341]

@@adamsteelproducer Interesting. After years of using Sonar before it was officially killed and then Frankensteined, my struggle with new DAW's has been more in the basic getting around functions before doing more advanced operations. I did say "IMO"....

[@kennyadvocat]

Can you still buy pro tools to own? or is it now a monthly fee??

[@SOUNDCONTROLFLA]

Both. Subscription or Perpetual License.

[@ChickenPermissionOG]

got a free three month artist version but can't activate with out dongle :/

[@billfrater1948]

I missed the part where you show how to connect a Audio Interface.

[@foljs5858]

It's 2024 (2023 when you made the video) and Pro Tools still uses iLok?

[@ross1ful]

Well...all was well 'till we got to "import audio", YOU already had something, I was following from scratch, and didn't have nothin on this window. I'm a newbe to PT, that was the end of my progress with the tutorial. Maybe if I could figure out how to add a file I'll come back to check out the rest. 😎👍

[@AdamSki.45]

Why not just have a metronome button like other daws

[@SOUNDCONTROLFLA]

Am I seeing a vault boy back there?

[@bozzmanE]

🚀

[@psonix_music]

SUBBED🎉

[@EBsDenStudio]

The Pro Tools guy now? 🤣 ...It will be fun to see you go through the options mentioning how much better it is using Reaper hehehe

[@adamsteelproducer]

Haha yeah I tried hard to not overdo that here but it was in the back of my mind a lot 😂

[@carlosa.chacon985]

You ignored the "Interleaved" checkbox

[@eggoazzi5951]

This made things easier

[@AlphaMonMusic]

Where is the advanced video??

[@swimin7357]

This is quite weird to see but cool. Lol

[@DamienTheCat]

No part 2 :(

[@audiosounddoctor5834]

No REAPER anymore?

[@adamsteelproducer]

Where does it say that?

[@audiosounddoctor5834]

@@adamsteelproducer I am just asking......are you going to do reaper tutorials in the future.....I hope yes...pro tools is great too

[@adamsteelproducer]

Yes of course, it’s what I’m known for. I’m just expanding outwards to reach more audiences…. And maybe bring a few more to the dark side

[@audiosounddoctor5834]

@@adamsteelproducer Wish you all the best

[@wastelandmetal]

You forgot the part where ProTools starts randomly crashing for some reason. Ultimately leading to your session getting corrupted and you lose an hours worth of work. :) We won't even get in to the CPU Overload Errors that are way too easy to run in to...

[@andrewt2588]

Thank you.! Im just guessing. The protools is confusing. Have Advisor pop ups option!!!!!!! What is dashboard and apple speakers? Simple sync button and 2 edit track labels. Simple reset start track button label for instruments not guess n strain eyes. How do you know if they are in sync? How do you lower volume of a track in the song? Why is not priortic in the manuel and videos?!!!!!!! How do I label a track.?!! How do I isolate a track area to work on it, is it labeled? A simple button n label? Scientifically it takes weeks and weeks to learn. Need long great labels. Thank you. Righteousness!!! Tadpole. Unknown. Psa99:9 pray. Crooked stalks, fools....

[@Mumble8988]

I don’t like the subscription based model these software are going with now. I wish Pro Tools was like Logic Pro where you just pay one single $199 payment or whatever and can use it indefinitely.

[@nicholas19karr]

It used to be that way, and it was called a perpetual license. After subscription-based services took off, Pro Tools jumped on the bandwagon. Ever since then, it’s been like this.

[@nothing-else-m23]

Adam has succumbed (rip)

[@fireloks6362]

No more Reaper?

[@adamsteelproducer]

Adam:- “I like pancakes!” Viewer:- “so you hate waffles now?”

[@kalidesu]

@@adamsteelproducer No I just hate the anti-customer iLok, when everybody will allow you to activate and de-activate on a web page like normal human being.

[@adamsteelproducer]

I’ve never had a problem with iLok in 15 years, had more issues with trying to move non-ilok licenses around so I can keep working at other studios or even on my own laptop though…. Almost all with reaper but other DAWs as well

[@anshuljain8515]

Next video - how to uninstall Pro Tools

[@Covid-fu9eb]

😂u wrong for that

[@jumoney8933]

😂😂😂😂

[@BrokeTheGamer]

Nawwww don’t do people like that! 😂 Hate it or love it, Pro Tools is what you need to learn if you really want to work with career industry professionals. Sure, Your tracks/samples/stems/loops are ultimately what’s important - and you can certainly build a commercially viable finished product/piece in *almost* any DAW… …But when you get INTO the studio with multiple AAA artists, LABEL SIGNED and CONTRACTED PRODUCTION TEAM, STAFF ENGINEERS etc… You MUST know Pro Tools. Time is money. To save EVERYONES time and thus make the best impression in the room, Pro Tools is the industry standard expectation.

[@BeyAli672]

Bro omg 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 this like my third video

[@leomdk939]

$43 USD minimum shipping charge on the iLok USB-c ... wtf????????

[@joanarling]

Pro tools? Oh, cool! I've been looking for pro tools for woodworking... err, motocycle maintenance... err, photography... Please, for the sake of many people, insert audio in the title. Thank you.

[@EgoPhagist]

I thought you hate protools 🤔

[@adamsteelproducer]

People still want to know how to use it

[@kylepetersen6520]

No wonder I couldn't figure out the midi and virtual instruments, the way they have done that makes no sense. I understand it can serve a purpose, but the way software should work is it does by default the most typical thing, which with midi is a Virtual instrument, if someone wants to do something other then the typical thing then they have to change it from there, it shouldn't be vice versa.

[@danboniface914]

So funny how this looks just like Studio One. Except Studio One is SO MUCH EASIER to use.

[@connor7021]

E

[@_Tanvir99]

bro what

[@boonie2006]

THIS ISNT REAPER 🤬🤬🤬🤬 HOW DARE YOU!! 😅