Pro Tools for Music Production: Recording, Editing and Mixing

Pro Tools 5.1 for Music Production is a definitive guide for new and professional users of the system. It is a vital source of information to keep by your side, whether you are just starting out, or an existing user looking to maximize your system for optimum results. The book takes a real-world approach and shows how to build the right system to suit your needs. Detailed chapters on recording, editing and mixing blend essential knowledge with practical examples from actual recordings. The sections on signal processing, plug-ins, virtual instruments, MIDI + audio sequencers and hardware controllers are easy to understand and contain first hand advice. Mac users will benefit from essential operational tips such as software installation, file organization, hard drive maintenance and troubleshooting tips, whilst the book also contains essential information that will equally appeal to PC users.

If you are a music producer, recording engineer, musician, or composer there will be something in this book for you, whether you are running a small home or project studio right up to a world-class professional facility for audio and music production.

If you are about to purchase new equipment, wish to troubleshoot technical problems, need guidance on how to achieve professional sounding results, or are looking for inspiration for new ideas - keep this book by your side. Fully illustrated in colour throughout with screen grabs demonstrating step-by-step examples packed with helpful tips and notes, this book will enhance your understanding of the system.

Mike Collins is Technical Consultant to the Music Producers Guild (MPG) contributing to the Education Group and organizing technical seminars. For several years Mike has operated a Pro Tools project studio and has been involved in everything from dance remixes, to TV ads, background and featured music for TV and video, album editing and compilation and recording jazz. Mike offers consultancy, troubleshooting and personal tuition to other professionals with Pro Tools-based project studios as well as seminars on Music Technology, Pro Tools and other music software. He has written over 500 articles for audio, music technology and computer magazines and advises on college education programmes.

Mike's wide-ranging career and experience enables him to bring excellent insight from all sides into his writing, from technical detail to creative expression. Starting out as a musician and club DJ, Mike soon moved into professional recording working for EMI and other music companies. He has worked as a songwriter, Film Sound Consultant for Dolby Labs, produced TV recordings and was Senior Recording Engineer and Music Technology Specialist for Yamaha. He has also been a MIDI programmer working on records, films and music tours with bands such as the Shamen and well-known film composers such as Ryuichi Sakamoto. He has worked on CD-ROM projects for Apple and Canon and set up a programming and editing website for the Guild of Record Producers and Engineers. He has a BSc in Electroacoustics and an MSc in Music Information Technology.

Mike Collins (Author)
Mike Collins is a studio musician, recording engineer and producer with more than 30 years experience of making records. He has many credits on UK chart singles and albums, for radio and TV broadcasts, advertising jingles and movie scores.

Mike was awarded a BSc Degree in Electroacoustics-with-Music from Salford University in 1979, became a Member of the Audio Engineering Society in 1980, and was awarded an MSc Degree in Music Information Technology, with Distinction, in 1989.

After graduating, he spent 14 months working on transducer designs for Standard Telephones and Cables (STC), followed by a couple of 6-month stints as a Planning & Installation Engineer for Neve Electronics and as a Film Sound Consultant for Dolby Labs, before joining Yamaha's London R & D Studio in 1986 as Senior Recording Engineer and Music Technology Specialist.

Working freelance since 1988, Mike has regularly reviewed music and audio software and hardware and written about a variety of audio and music production topics, with more than 2000 articles and reviews published in Pro Sound News Europe, Future Music, Computer Music, Macworld, MacUser, Personal Computer World, Sound On Sound, AudioMedia, Studio Sound, Electronic Musician, EQ, MIX and similar publications.

In parallel with this, Mike established a career throughout the 1990's as a studio musician, MIDI programmer, recording engineer and producer working on Top 40 albums and singles in the leading London recording studios including Abbey Road, Mayfair, Townhouse, Eden, Strongroom and Sony Whitfield Street Studios, CTS and Lansdowne Studios. In 1997, Mike set up a project studio equipped with a high-end Pro Tools system and has since been involved in everything from dance remixes to TV ads, background and featured music for TV and video, album editing and compilation, and, since 1999, producing jazz, blues and soul recordings. Notable projects include working on music for a Deutsche Bank promotional video, co-production credits on Ayetoro, an experimental jazz/Afrobeat album, and, in 2010, working as a freelance audio transfer engineer at Iron Mountain's studio facility in Slough, helping to digitize Universal Music's vast library of master tape recordings. Most recently, Mike has set up a 'boutique' record label to release recordings he has produced - see http://rudenoterecords.com/author/rudenoterecords/