Pro Tools 101

nebo

Just wondering if you guys think there's a point in doing the Pro Tools 101. I would be doing it in order to eventually get to 310 level (which is going to end up costing a fortune!). I've already done plenty of sessions, both recording and mixing, so I would say I've a pretty good working knowledge of Pro Tools. So, would anyone who's done them say they're worth the money, or have most here gotten by just fine without them?
Thanks!

Paolo_M

nebo wrote: »

Just wondering if you guys think there's a point in doing the Pro Tools 101. I would be doing it in order to eventually get to 310 level (which is going to end up costing a fortune!). I've already done plenty of sessions, both recording and mixing, so I would say I've a pretty good working knowledge of Pro Tools. So, would anyone who's done them say they're worth the money, or have most here gotten by just fine without them?
Thanks!

I've done the course material for 101 and it's pretty basic stuff.
Most of it you'll have already covered.

I'd say it depends on what you want.
If you want to be a producer, sound engineer etc. I'd say there's no real advantage to having ProTools training as it doesn't help in those roles.
Getting a great sound, and/or coaxing great performances out of musicians are the skills there.
However if you want to be a ProTools operator/tech etc. I'd say you'd be expected to have completed the course work.

Others with more industry knowledge than I will chime in I'm sure.

madtheory

You can do 101 in an hour with the instructional DVD. You can do the rest with the Pro Tools reference manual. Pro Tools is easier than most DAWs and they don't run expensive courses, do they?

Being able to use PT is a given, what is expected is good people skills and a positive attitude, as well as knowing mic positioning etc. Which you probably already know!

Daftendirekt

I've done as far as PT 110 (I'm a hobbyist at the moment) and IMHO, for the price, they aren't worth it if you've already got a good working knowledge of PT.

Basically, between the 101 and 110, it covers the editing tools, track routing, 'mixing' (meaning how to set up bus sends and plug-ins), automation, the menu system, the file structure of a PT session (not much to that, incidentally), the file browsers, session set-up (buffer sizes and whatnot), track comping, elastic audio and beat detective, digital audio basics, Digidesign (or should I say Avid?) hardware, MIDI, and probably more that I've forgotten about.

That's as far as I went, so I won't comment on the higher levels, but AFAIK, they get deeper into control surfaces and I think there's one that covers game audio as well.

If you're fairly okay with the above list, I'd recommend keeping your cash for something more worthwhile. But if you decide to do it, and have money to burn, you'll pick up quite a few little tricks and it'll probably help make you a more fluid user (at least, it did for me, but I was a total novice at the time).

That said, I do think it's horribly overpriced, and on that basis alone, I can't recommend that you do it. It would be well worth getting your hands on the books though, and reading through them yourself.

DamagedTrax

it all depends on how you look at it.

if you plan on just going learning how to use PT for home/hobby use, going as far as 210 then it may not be worth the price for you. it's just basics that you could pick up by reading a book whilst having PT open in front of you.

if however you wish to become a certified operator then it is worth every penny because its the only way to do so.

like most things on the education side of audio, the price is directly related to what you want to get out of it.

try telling a guy who gets a job in post that his post operator qualification wasnt worth the money!

Daftendirekt

DamagedTrax wrote: »

it all depends on how you look at it.

if you plan on just going learning how to use PT for home/hobby use, going as far as 210 then it may not be worth the price for you. it's just basics that you could pick up by reading a book whilst having PT open in front of you.

if however you wish to become a certified operator then it is worth every penny because its the only way to do so.

like most things on the education side of audio, the price is directly related to what you want to get out of it.

try telling a guy who gets a job in post that his post operator qualification wasnt worth the money!

Well yeah, all good points. I guess I can only really speak for the two I've done myself. Come to think of it, I think there's even a practical element to the 310, so I suppose there is more to it than just reading the manual and answering some multiple choice questions.

I'm still a bit sceptical about the actual usefulness of being a certified operator though. Does it count for anything in the industry? I mean, aside from giving you an edge over the similarly talented but uncertified competition, wouldn't you be better off using the money to build your own setup and volunteering your services?

DamagedTrax

I mean, aside from giving you an edge over the similarly talented but uncertified competition,

what more could you want. its all about having the edge in this industry.

wouldn't you be better off using the money to build your own setup and volunteering your services?

given the choice between an actual paid job in a studio or having to start from scratch and build up a client base, i'd take the paid job anyday. its tough as nails out there and the quickest way to putting money on the table is the best way IMO.