Need Advice From The Experienced

[BPlayer]

Hi Guys,

I have had ProTools a few weeks now and have a few questions I’d like some input on:

1. I have a session that when stopped the CPU creeps up to about 50%. When it’s recording or playing back it drops way down to about 5-10%. The problem appears to be that I am using Xpand on 3 instrument tracks because I can close them and the CPU drops way down. I have a new PC with plenty of horsepower. I know how to set up an AUX track for reverbs to use that on multiple tracks. Is there a better way to set up multiple tracks of Xpand or something else I am missing here ?

2. When I have a midi note that spans between 2 measures, is there a way to shorten its duration other than changing the time in the Midi Event List ? If I highlight and cut the part of the note I want removed, the entire note is removed.

3. When I have an 8 bar region just like I want it, and then copy and paste it so there should be two identical regions side by side, the transition from one section to the other is not totally seamless – there is a slight bump/pause between them. I have used the “Quantized to grid” feature. These are drum tracks that were recorded on instrument tracks – not midi. I think in the future I should use midi on everything possible. Is that correct? [/list]

[spkguitar]

1. I have a session that when stopped the CPU creeps up to about 50%. When it’s recording or playing back it drops way down to about 5-10%. The problem appears to be that I am using Xpand on 3 instrument tracks because I can close them and the CPU drops way down. I have a new PC with plenty of horsepower. I know how to set up an AUX track for reverbs to use that on multiple tracks. Is there a better way to set up multiple tracks of Xpand or something else I am missing here ?

This sounds more like you are experiencing Denormalization. Are you using the DVerb in that session? Read that article from the link and try the suggestions in it.

2. When I have a midi note that spans between 2 measures, is there a way to shorten its duration other than changing the time in the Midi Event List ? If I highlight and cut the part of the note I want removed, the entire note is removed.

Use the trim tool or the pencil tool to trim the note back to where you want it.

I think in the future I should use midi on everything possible. Is that correct?

No. While you can use MIDI tracks as well as or instead of instrument tracks if you want, they are technically/basically the same thing and function in exactly the same way.

When you are duplicating the MIDI regions, are you in Grid Edit mode? (you should be). Does your region actually start on the beat (locked to the grid in grid edit mode) or does it start early/late? When you "paste" the region, are you in grid mode and is the cursor positioned at the grid point you want it to be? Why are you manually copy/pasting instead of using the duplicate feature? (ctrl + D) Or the Repeat feature? (alt + R)

[BPlayer]

Hi spkguitar,

To answer your questions:
1. Are you using the DVerb in that session? ------ I was but turned them off. That did help but closing the Xpand sessions is what really helped.

2. Use the trim tool or the pencil tool to trim the note back to where you want it. ----- I tried that but was unsuccessful. I must have been in the wrong mode or something. It did work but removed the entire note – not just the part I wanted removed.

3. Why are you manually copy/pasting instead of using the duplicate feature? (ctrl + D) Or the Repeat feature? (alt + R)------ Because I still have much to learn.

Thanks for the help !