Pro Tools MIDI Lesson 3 - Sequencing

Question 1

What are the three ways to sequence MIDI in Pro Tools?

Answer 1

1. ) draw MIDI with pencil
2. ) real-time record while playing a controller
3. ) using step input from event operations menu

Question 2

What are the 3 advantages of drawing MIDI?

Answer 2

1. ) no need for a controller
2. ) quickly enter notes with a mouse
3. ) works well with a grid

Question 3

What are the 2 disadvantages of drawing MIDI?

Answer 3

1. ) music will sound stiff

2. ) time consuming for a lot of notes

Question 4

What are 6 preparation steps for drawing MIDI?

Answer 4

1. ) go to notes view in edit window or open MIDI editor
2. ) set grid value
3. ) check default note duration
4. ) check default note on velocity
5. ) switch on play MIDI notes when editing
6. ) pencil enable a track

Question 5

What are the 4 steps of entering notes when drawing MIDI?

Answer 5

1. ) with the pencil tool selected, click to enter notes; with smart tool, hold ctrl to get pencil
2. ) holding down mouse and dragging right when entering a note will extend the note if freehand is selected in pencil tool OR repeat the end of the note if line is selected in pencil tool
3. ) use other shapes such as triangle to shape velocity levels for repeated notes
4. ) you can draw notes in score editor

Question 6

What are three advantages of real-time recording?

Answer 6

1. ) can be quicker than drawing MIDI
2. ) rhythms and velocities are looser and more musical
3. ) can capture controllers such as wheels and pedals

Question 7

What are two disadvantages of real-time recording?

Answer 7

1. ) performance skills needed

2. ) requires controller

Question 8

What are the 5 preparation steps to real-time recording?

Answer 8

1. ) set up click
2. ) use edit window in clip view or MIDI editor
3. ) consider using countoff (one or two bars)
4. ) consider using MIDI input quantization
5. ) consider using MIDI merge to merge recording with existing MIDI

Question 9

What are the 3 steps to doing real-time recording?

Answer 9

1. ) record-enable a track
2. ) use #3 to start recording and spacebar to stop
3. ) if you did not use input quantization, can use it after recording to tighten up timing

Question 10

What are the 4 preparation steps for real-time loop recording?

Answer 10

1. ) switch on MIDI merge
2. ) switch on loop playback
3. ) switch off link timeline and edit selection
4. ) drag in timeline ruler to set loop boundaries

Question 11

What are the 2 advantages of step input?

Answer 11

1. ) doesn’t require good performance skills

2. ) good way to enter sheet music

Question 12

What is the con of step input?

Answer 12

slow and tedious

Question 13

What are the 8 steps for step input?

Answer 13

1. ) switch on link and edit selection
2. ) click on location in the track
3. ) open step input window from event menu > event operations
4. ) enable it
5. ) choose track
6. ) choose increment
7. ) check velocity preference
8. ) play notes on controller