expectations of a protools op

[psychicoctopus]

I may have an opportunity for a gig as a protools operator in a couple of months. I've used protools many times, but I'm curious about what is expected, in general, from a protools operator in a professional situation. Can you lay down the parameters for me?

[sonikbliss]

it really depends on what your using it for. I'm guessing it's in relation to music recording/mixing. All I can tell you is if you're working with rap guys just know how to fly the hook in to all the choruses and they'll love you.

[joel hamilton]

Every day is different, so you have to know everything. Seriously. One day someone will say: I need to lock this drum machine to tape and then dump it into protools without losing TC at any point. Then someone will want to copy all the chorus's. Then someone will bring in a PC formatted drive, and you have to know how to get around that.... Just be prepared for anything. Know all the quick keys for even the more obscure operations. Even just knowing how to fan out the outputs is a huge timesaver. You should be waiting on the client/producer, rather than the other way around. you should be done with your edit or output assignments before the client asks for the next move.

Be quick about everything, and feel out how the people like to work. Be their hands unless you know a better way to achieve what you know they are going for.

All of this applies to being an engineer, rather than being exclusive to pro tools, BTW.

Be a heads up engineer and people will come back to you. Present someones art in a nice light and they will come back to you.

Everybody grows together if you are doing your job.

[ValveTone Mastering]

Even just knowing how to fan out the outputs is a huge timesaver.

Joel,

What do you mean exactly (I know what I THINK you mean)? Damnit, is there some quick key for this that I've missed all these years? Well, I learn a new one from every engineer that comes through the studio, so, what's one more...

Damon

[sonikbliss]

Even just knowing how to fan out the outputs is a huge timesaver.

Joel,

What do you mean exactly (I know what I THINK you mean)? Damnit, is there some quick key for this that I've missed all these years? Well, I learn a new one from every engineer that comes through the studio, so, what's one more...

Damon

option + command

fan out I/O, works with Inputs, Outputs, Busses


shift + option

set all selected tracks to same, works with Inputs, Outputs, Busses, Inserting Plugins

[ValveTone Mastering]

Well, you learn something new everyday! I knew the assign all keystroke, but this is a good one too!

D

[JGriffin]

Well, you learn something new everyday!

Not true. Two weeks ago Wednesday, I learned nothing.

[ValveTone Mastering]

Well, you learn something new everyday!

Not true. Two weeks ago Wednesday, I learned nothing.

Well, you should have learned something! Fucking waste of a day my man. You should get a refund.

D

[Family Hoof]

The one time I was offered a gig as PT OP for this R&B producer the only questions he asked were "are you fast?" and "how fast?", assuming that I already knew the software well. I'd say that knowing the keyboard commands and one key shortcuts (key command focus) for just about everything is a good skill to have. My impression of people who hire a PT OP is that they want it to seem fast, smooth, and invisible while they're free to tackle other producing/engineering tasks and relate more with the artists.

[JGriffin]

My impression of people who hire a PT OP is that they want it to seem fast, smooth, and invisible while they're free to tackle other producing/engineering tasks and relate more with the artists.

Yup, but isn't fast, smooth, invisible what engineers are supposed to do anyway?

[Family Hoof]

My impression of people who hire a PT OP is that they want it to seem fast, smooth, and invisible while they're free to tackle other producing/engineering tasks and relate more with the artists.

Yup, but isn't fast, smooth, invisible what engineers are supposed to do anyway?

That's what I've heard.

[syrupcore]

option + command

fan out I/O, works with Inputs, Outputs, Busses


shift + option

set all selected tracks to same, works with Inputs, Outputs, Busses, Inserting Plugins

gold. thank you.

[joel hamilton]

You know that control>[select another output] is the mult in pro tools right? you can send the smae thing to two different channels. If the snare is already coming out channel 3, for instance. Hold down control and select output 24. Now the snare is coming out of both, and phase coherent.