Podcast
Features
CommentsCreate and save a Pro Tools Session
- Make sure your Digidesign hardware is properly connected and launch Pro Tools.
- Once Pro Tools is open, select File > New Session…
- Give the project a name, select the hard drive where you want to save your project, and make the following selections in the “Session Parameters” box to ensure maximal compatibility and minimal processing:
- Audio File Type: BWF (.WAV)
- Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
- Bit Depth: 16 bit
- I/O Setting: Last Used should be fine
- Fader Gain: choose +12 dB (ProTools 6 only)
- Enforce Mac/PC Compatibility: Sure, why can’t we all just get along? (ProTools 6 and below)
- When done, click “Save” to create your new session.
Each time you create a new session, Pro Tools automatically creates the following files and folders in your save location
- a main project folder named after your session
- a session file with the extension “.ptf”
- Audio Files and Fade Files folders, and new in Pro Tools 7, a Region Groups folder
Reminder – Save your work!
Frequent iterative saves are highly advisable. It is much easier to recover from mistakes or return to an earlier version of a project if you have a series of session files (e.g., “yoursessionname01.ptf”…”yoursessionname99.ptf”). The key is to save frequently and with some easily-recognizable series of filenames. Don’t worry about taking up drive space, these session files are small.
Important! When moving between workstations-
Remember that NO AUDIO is ever saved in the file “yoursessionname.ptf”. Whenever you move from workstation to workstation, be sure to copy and bring the ENTIRE contents of your project folder, including the “.ptf” file(s) AND the “Audio Files” and “Fade Files” folders, along with any other folders Pro Tools has created within your main project folder. Check that you have these files saved on your external hard drive or burned to CD or DVD as data before you move to a new workstation.
