Pro Tools Pointers #1
Organizational Tips
by Dave Whittaker
Keep folder and session names simple and consistent. Abbreviate the show title to just a few letters, followed by R-__, DIA, FX, ADR or Foley, and Temp #__ (if needed). The version date (or #) should go in the session document, not the session's folder name (otherwise cumulative backups of just that folder become a problem if the version changes and the version's been included in the folder name).
Save often - after finishing each effect or angle of dialog is good. Do "save as" every few hours of work, altering the session document slightly in a logical fashion so you have a backtrack trail available if you need it later (this can be very useful if a session document gets corrupted!). I like using a small letter append after the version date; for example: DHard R-9 DIA 5/22a, then the next "save as" becomes DHard R-9 DIA 5/22b, etc.
Obtain the "Keyboard Shortcuts" and "Pro-school Online" from Digidesign and take full advantage of them - they're great. Use "Quick Keys" macro software for putting all the editing tools and common functions on theFunction keys. I try to use my left hand for the keyboard stuff so my right handdoesn't have to leave the mouse.
I suggest doing bounces to a dedicated "Bounces" folder within your session. This makes it easier to find them for later use or sharing with others. Put bounced copies of dialog fills, elaborate fx work & processed stuff in this folder.
Use the best quality mouse or trackball - don't scrimp (I recommend Kensington). Always use a wrist rest with a trackball (and for the keyboard too). And don't try to get away with a small monitor - 13" or 14" is just way too small.
Always check "Disk Allocation" in Setup menu when re-starting a session after an additional drive has been added to the SCSI chain because Pro-Tools will reassign the tracks to the new drive. Reset back to the original drive tracks that have switched assignment (hold the Option key down when reassigning the tracks and they'll all change together). If you forget to do this audio recorded in after this point will end up in a fresh folder on the new drive, as will all fades made until the allocation is switched back. This can create an organizational mess. It's best to have all fades for a single session in a single folder inside the session folder.
I suggest that stereo pairs always have the left channel on an odd-numbered track. This ensures integrity of stereo phase when outputting. Also suggest that FX tracks be numbered sequentially with each track getting its own unique number, so that stereo pairs get named: FX7L and FX8R, for example. This makes it very easy to change your mind about whether a track will be mono or 1/2 of a stereo pair and yo u always know how many tracks you've created.
Reprinted from
The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter
Vol. 16, No. 4 - July/August 1995.