Studio Files: Organize a Pro Tools Project Before Mixing

From http://www.thestudiofiles.com. Before you go to Mix, organize your tracking session. By creating Aux tracks to sub group your instruments, you can process the instruments as one and have visual separation in the mixer. Additionally, this video will show you how to color code tracks and create a Mix bus with an aux track.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• mix
• pro tools
• protools
• pro tools 8
• color code
• aux track
• sub
• group
• sum

[tlennon1684]

I see what you mean about the Aux as a auick way to manage a mix down. I looked up some info online about the master track and found some debates as to its use. I have Pro Tools 8 and have done some of the test they performed in the forums and found no difference with/without master fader track. Thanks for your insite.

[studiofiles]

The sound is not different, but the function is. A Master Fader's inserts are post-fader, which is very important to differentiate. Additionally, I prefer the Aux track (like you said) for the mix organization and "printing" and saving my mixes right in my session.

[tlennon1684]

Why didn't you use a master track for the final bus?

[studiofiles]

Great question - a few reasons:

By using an Aux track, when I am done mixing for the day, I can send that aux track to a stereo audio track. In doing this I can print mixes very easily right in the session. In this way, I also can "bounce" my songs down without using the bounce function, and keep everything lined up and organized in the timeline.

There are a few more reasons, including the fundamental way the master fader actually works, which is a discussion for another video/article.

[drumhyper2]

That was real quick and super informative. Thanks alot!

[ixf37]

Hello i'm sure everyone might still be having problems on getting the whole track color coded one very important thing and i just figured it out to color the whole track make sure when u open the Color Pallete window make sure you have the little color box that's in between the Tracks & Saturation is on and that's how the whole track will have it's color.

[myjazzvibes]

thank you so much!

[JustinAndBrent]

Why instead of doing Aux tracks for your groups, why don;t you just create a region group?

[channelqinfo]

@sonuvman click the saturation button in the color pallette...i jsut noticed when u wrote this...might be a late ...if not here u go...

[channelqinfo]

awesome!!!

[eastriver15]

Go to view and click on Narrow Mix

[sonuvman]

Thanks for the tip, Studiofiles. Hey, when I try to change the colors of my tracks, just the top of the tracks change color. How do I change the color of the whole track? I have Pro Tools 8 LE running on PC. Thanks again