Bob:
So here we are. We are ready to start our session. First thing that we are going to do is we are going to set up our Pro Tool Session. Brett is going to show us how that is done.

Brett:
Exactly. We are going to take you through the whole process, from setting up a session and all the way down the line. Once we have our Pro Tool application launched, we go right up here to file, then new session. Then it gives you this prompt asking for a few information.

First thing is—what should we call this one?

Bob:
We are doing this Blues thing today. How about, Bob and Brett’s Blues?

Brett:
I like it. (Typing) Now, as we come down, the next thing it is going to ask us for is where we want the session stored for future use. So, we will just keep this on the desktop to make it nice and easy.

As we come down here to “session parameters”, first thing that it asks us for is “audio file type”. Now, Pro Tools is capable of writing wav files, which is great if you are working in a PC environment, AIFF. We work on the Mac environment, so we are going to stick with the AIFF files.

Bob:
Could somebody theoretically custom-fit this a day or two?

Brett:
Absolutely. If you are running the Pro Tools on the PC, Pro Tools having the ability to write the wav files, it gives you another option. So, you are cross-compatible.

Next thing that it is going to ask us for is “bit Dep”. Bit Dep is how fast the camera takes the picture of the audio as it comes into Pro Tools and converts the analogue audio to a digital signal. So, the higher your bit Dep, the clearer it is going to be. I recommend sticking with the 24 bit.

The next is a sample rate. The bit Dep is how many pictures it takes per second. The sample rate would be how rich is the color in the photograph.

That said, when you are cutting a lot of rock and roll music, 441 seems really nice. It seems to work well. It does not take up as much hard drive space, either. We are going to stick on that session.

Bob:
But as with the audio file type, somebody could custom-make this?

Brett:
Of course. Maybe if you are doing a classical album, you might want to cut it to 96 or all the way up to 192. It might have a bit more resolution.

Bob:
Depending on the style.

Brett:
…and whatever fits you. The nice thing down here, if you were going between the Mac and the PC, you could click “enforce Mac PC capability”.