PRO TOOLS 101 EXAM
In order for Loop Playback to work correctly, your selection must be at least _________________.
.5 seconds
What is the default audio file type in Pro Tools on both Mac & Windows systems?
.wav
What audio file formats can be imported into Pro Tools without requiring conversion? (In other words, these formats are native to Pro Tools.)
.wav and .aiff
What audio file types are NATIVE to Pro Tools? (In other words, what audio file types can you choose as a session parameter when you start a new session?)
.wav and .aiff
How many video files can be associated with a standard Pro Tools session at once? (Standard = Not HD)
1
A mono 44.1 kHz, 16-bit audio file consumes approximately 5 MB of disk space per minute. How much disk space is consumed by a mono 88.2 kHz, 16-bit audio file?
10 MB
What is the default tempo in Pro Tools (in bpm)?
120
How many separate channels of MIDI information can be sent over a single MIDI cable?
16
Pro Tools supports recording at sample rates up to ______ with a compatible audio interface.
192kHz
The frequency range of human hearing is generally accepted to be between _________.
20Hz and 20,000Hz
Pro Tools supports recording at bit depths up to:
32-bit floating point
The default meter for a Pro Tools session is:
4/4
The standard sample rate and bit depth for an audio CD is ___________.
44.1kHz/16-bit
Pro Tools 12 and beyond supports up to ______ levels of undo.
64
Pro Tools subdivides the bars and beats of a session into ticks. How many ticks comprise a quarter note?
960
The maximum dynamic range of 16-bit audio is _______________.
96dB (6db for every 1 bit, so 6x16 = 96)
What is the maximum number of Memory Locations possible in a single session?
999
Which of the following are REAL-TIME plug-in formats supported in standard (host-based) Pro Tools systems?
AAX Native
Which plug-in format below is the real-time, host-based plug-in format for current, standard Pro Tools systems?
AAX Native
The Grabber Tool can be used to edit an automation graph in which of the following ways?
Add Breakpoints, Move Breakpoints, Delete Breakpoints
Which of the following options are available directly within the Bounce to Disk dialog box in Pro Tools?
Add to iTunes library
The difference between ADDING an audio file or clip and COPYING an audio file or clip when using the Import Audio dialog box is:
Adding references the audio file in its original location; copying makes a copy in the session's Audio Files folder.
What Windows/PC shortcut modifier is equivalent to the Mac's OPTION key?
Alt
What key would you press to reverse the direction of the trim tool?
Alt (Win)/Option (Mac)
Which of the following is used to authorize Pro Tools software (and to store plug-in licenses) and must be present for Pro Tools to run?
An iLok USB smart key
To record an audio signal into Pro Tools, the signal must be converted into binary information that can be stored, read, and manipulated by a computer. This process is called:
Analog to digital conversion
What are some available options for the Session Parameter settings in the Pro Tools Dashboard?
Audio File Type Bit Depth Sample Rate I/O Settings
Which plug-in format below is the non-real-time, file-based processing plug-in format available in standard and HD Pro Tools systems?
AudioSuite
An Instrument track is a combination of a MIDI track and what other type of track?
Aux
Which of the following statements is/are TRUE about Xpand!2 and Structure Free?
Both are included as standard components of Pro Tools Both are virtual instrument plug-ins Both can be placed directly on an Auxiliary Input track or an Instrument track Both are real-time plug-ins
Which of the following are common mixdown techniques in Pro Tools?
Bounce to Tracks, Bounce to Disk
The default key signature for Pro Tools is __________.
C Major (no sharps, no flats)
Which of the following operations can you use to create a backup copy of your session and all associated audio files?
Choose File > Save Copy In
How can you change the display order of tracks in your session?
Click a track's nameplate in the Edit window and drag the track above or below other tracks Click a track's nameplate in the Mix window and drag the track to the right or left of other tracks Click a track's name in the Track List and drag it to a higher or lower position in the list
How can you set the main time scale to Bars|Beats in Pro Tools?
Click on the Bars|Beats ruler to select it as the main time scale View > Main Counter > Bars|Beats Use the Main Counter Selector (pop-up menu) to select Bars|Beats
Which of the following is a way to recall a Memory Location?
Click the entry in the Memory Locations Window, Click the marker in the Ruler, Type . - number - . [decimal - keypad number - decimal]
Which of the following statements relating to Nudging is/are TRUE?
Clips and selections can be nudged earlier or later in the session using the minus and plus keys on the numeric keypad
The Avid Dynamics III plug-in suite includes which of the following processors?
Compressor/Limiter, Expander/Gate
What Windows/PC shortcut modifier is equivalent to the Mac's COMMAND key?
Control
With the Smart Tool placed at the bottom corner of a clip boundary where two clips come together and meet, what tool will it engage?
Crossfade
In what Pro Tools window can you monitor the storage space available on your system to determine the amount of record time remaining for each hard drive?
Disk Usage Window
How can you quickly zoom out to get a full track view that fills the Edit window with the longest visible track in the session?
Double-click on the Zoomer tool
Which of the following are ways to rename an existing audio clip in your session?
Double-click the clip with the Grabber tool. Right-click the clip and select Rename from the pop-up menu.
Which main Pro Tools window displays audio waveforms and can be used to work directly with audio, MIDI, and video files on tracks?
Edit Window
When creating a bounce to disk, Pro Tools always bounces the entire session, regardless of any timeline or edit selections you may have.
FALSE
With the Smart Tool placed at the upper right-hand corner of a clip, what tool will it engage?
Fade Out
TRUE or FALSE: The "Track Delete" command can be reversed by choosing Edit > Undo.
False
True or False: "Mic level" is a recordable signal level.
False
True or False: A microphone with a 1/4" connector and an on/off switch is a professional-grade microphone.
False
True or False: If the WaveCache file is deleted or goes missing, you will no longer be able to open your Pro Tools session.
False
True or False: In the Import Audio dialog window, if you "add" audio to your session, it will make a copy of that audio file and will place it into your session's audio files folder upon import.
False
True or False: Memory locations can store record-enabled information for tracks.
False
True or False: When importing audio from the Workspace Browser, if the audio does not require conversion, Pro Tools will make a copy of the audio into your Audio Files folder anyway.
False
True or False: You adjust the INPUT level going to a record-enabled track in Pro Tools by adjusting the track's fader in the mix window.
False
True or False: You store a zoom preset by Option-clicking on one of the five zoom preset buttons.
False You Command-click to set a zoom preset
What tool can select an entire audio clip with one click?
Grabber Tool
How can you set all tracks in your session to the same height?
Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) while selecting a track height from a Track Height selector
How is frequency measured?
Hz / kHz
What feature needs to be engaged to link the Playback & Edit cursors in Pro Tools?
Link Timeline & Edit Selection
The Workspace Browser can be used to do which of the following:
Locate and open a session and Import audio to a session
The __________ window displays MIDI and automation data for Aux Input tracks, Instrument tracks, and MIDI tracks.
MIDI Editor
Pro Tools allows users to record MIDI information on which of the following track types:
MIDI Tracks, Instrument Tracks
Which main Pro Tools window provides access to Pan controls and Volume Faders for each track?
Mix Window
When turning on the devices in your system, which device should be turned on last?
Monitor Speakers
The term "MIDI" is an acronym for:
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
Which of the following may be affected by the Hardware Buffer Size setting?
Native Plug-In processing
Which of the following are ways to view MIDI data in Pro Tools?
Notes view in the Edit window Clips view in the Edit window Notation view in the MIDI Editor or Score Editor windows
The Dashboard in Pro Tools allows you to:
Open an existing session or create a new one
What Mac shortcut modifier key will force-copy files into your session's Audio Files folder when importing?
Option
In what menu do you find Edit Window Scrolling Options?
Options
Loop Playback can be enabled/disabled from the __________ menu.
Options
What are the two types of CURSORS found in Pro Tools?
Playback Cursor and Edit Cursor
Which of the following is a type of cursor available in the Edit window?
Playback cursor and Edit cursor
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding video files?
Pro Tools can import audio embedded in a QuickTime movie
What are the video file type(s) that can be imported by Pro Tools?
QuickTime (.mov) Avid MXF
To play back automation without running the risk of overwriting it, your tracks should be in ____________ automation mode.
Read
When you delete an Audio track in Pro Tools, any clips that were on the track will:
Remain in the Clip list
Which of the following connection types can be used for DIGITAL transfers?
S/PDIF and AES/EBU
What parameter will Pro Tools convert when importing audio from a CD into a 48-kHz Pro Tools session?
Sample Rate
What condition below would require that an audio file be converted upon import?
Sample Rate is different from session
This "save" command is useful for saving a copy of the current session under a different name or in a different hard drive location. It does not allow for saving a "complete" session that includes audio files - it links to the original file's audio files.
Save As
Which of the following Save commands will allow you to change attributes of your session such as sample rate and bit depth?
Save Copy In
The ______________ window lets you view, edit, arrange, and print MIDI data as music notation.
Score Editor
What tool can be used to set the playback point by clicking directly on a track, creating an insertion point?
Selector
In what menu will you find access to Click/Countoff options?
Setup
Where do you go to change the Hardware Buffer Size setting?
Setup menu > Playback Engine
What Windows/PC shortcut modifier is equivalent to the Mac's SHIFT key?
Shift
The Nudge function works in which of the following edit modes?
Shuffle, Slip, Spot, Grid
Which tool is active when the Trim, Selector, and Grabber icons are all selected in the Edit window toolbar?
Smart Tool
The differences between a standard Pro Tools system with a USB interface and a Pro Tools|HDX system with dedicated DSP hardware include:
Standard Pro Tools systems are host-based; Pro Tools|HDX systems are not.
What Windows/PC shortcut modifier is equivalent to the Mac's CONTROL key?
Start
What term is used to describe the smaller, edited pieces of an original sound file in Pro Tools?
Subset Clip
The "Bounced Files" folder in your Pro Tools session folder is:
The default location for files created by the Pro Tools Bounce to Disk function
Which of the following steps takes place when you create a Pro Tools session?
The system creates a top-level session folder and various sub-folders The system creates a session file with a .ptx extension.
What connection is 20 times faster than USB?
Thunderbolt
What are the two types of Selections in Pro Tools?
Timeline Selections and Edit Selections
Under what menu can you find the command that lets you add a track to your session?
Track
What is the easiest way to create a click track for your session?
Track > Create Click Track
Which of the following can be undone with the Undo command?
Trimming a clip
TRUE or FALSE: Pro Tools allows you to add audio tracks to your session after you create the session.
True
TRUE or FALSE: The Xpand!2 virtual instrument plug-in comes equipped with Presets, Patches, and Parts that you can use to create instrument sounds from within Pro Tools.
True
True or False: A power conditioner is (or should be) an essential component of your DAW.
True
True or False: All audio files imported into your session from the Workspace Browser are automatically converted to be compatible with the session parameters, if needed.
True
True or False: Boom is a virtual drum machine.
True
True or False: D/A converters, A/D converters, and mic preamps are built into audio interfaces.
True
True or False: DI Boxes are used to convert Instrument Level signals down to mic level, so that a preamp can be used to boost them to an appropriate Line Level for recording.
True
True or False: Deleting clips and their underlying audio files from the Clips List is something that you cannot "undo" in Pro Tools.
True
True or False: Double-clicking with the Selector tool will select an entire clip
True
True or False: If the Auto Backup function has been enabled in Pro Tools' Preferences, your Session File Backups folder will include multiple backups of your session, saved periodically.
True
True or False: If you make a selection and then "click out" and remove your selection from the playlist, you can use Pro Tools' "Restore Last Selection" feature to get your selection back.
True
True or False: If you need to undo changes that are no longer available in the Undo History window, you can use the Revert to Saved command to restore the last saved version of your session.
True
True or False: It's best to have dual hard drives and dual- or multi-core processors on a computer system when working with digital audio.
True
True or False: One advantage of using the Workspace Browser to import audio into your Pro Tools session is that you are able to audition the audio before importing it.
True
True or False: Pro Tools bounces audio based on a Timeline Selection. If no selection is made, it bounces your entire session from beginning to end.
True
True or False: Pro Tools bounces audio based on a selected output path.
True
True or False: Pro Tools can import all of these audio file types (although some will require conversion upon import): .wav, .aiff, .aifc, .wma, .mp3
True
True or False: Pro Tools only bounces audible tracks in your session. (If tracks are muted, they do not bounce.)
True
True or False: Pro Tools supports both interleaved and split stereo/dual mono stereo audio file types.
True
True or False: Pro Tools will import interleaved and split stereo files both without conversion, regardless of whether your session parameters are set to interleaved or not.
True
True or False: The Hardware Buffer Size in Pro Tools' Setup > Playback Engine can be used to adjust for latency issues during recording on host-based Pro Tools systems.
True
True or False: The MIDI Editor Window can display data for MIDI, Instrument, and Aux tracks
True
True or False: The Playback Cursor "Locator" appears in your main timescale ruler.
True
True or False: The only way to completely zoom out and reset both the vertical and horizontal zoom of your session is by double-clicking on the zoom tool button.
True
True or False: There is a Notation Display Enable button in the MIDI Editor Window that allows you to view MIDI notes as music notation within the MIDI Editor Window.
True
True or False: To play back a video in Pro Tools, you will first need to enable the Avid Video Engine (in the Playback Engine).
True
True or False: When bouncing your session out of Pro Tools using the Bounce dialog, you can choose to bounce an Interleaved file or Split Stereo/Dual Mono files.
True
True or False: When importing a Quick Time file (.mov) into Pro Tools, you will have the option of importing the movie's embedded audio as well.
True
True or False: When recording into Pro Tools version 12.5+, your average input signal should appear in the lime green (-6dB) area.
True
True or False: When you complete a "SAVE AS" command, a new copy of your session FILE is saved, which links to your original session Audio Files folder.
True
True or False: When you complete a "SAVE COPY IN" command, a full & complete copy of your existing session (along with its audio files) can be saved (archived) in a specified location, and your existing session file will remain open.
True
True or False: When you open a session backup from your Session Backups sub-folder (within your session folder), you will need to complete a proper "Save As" to restore the session with an appropriate name and file extension, if you plan on continuing to use it.
True
True or False: When you record audio onto a track in Pro Tools, the audio file is automatically named after the track name, followed by a "take ID" (a numbered take).
True
True or False: When you select items in Pro Tools' "Setup Menu," a secondary floating window will always open on the screen.
True
True or False: When you use the Pro Tools "View Menu" or "Options Menu," you will always be checking items on and off. (Choosing items from these two menus will never open a secondary/floating window.)
True
True or False: You can change the meter in Pro Tools using the "add meter change" button [+] on the meter ruler.
True
True or False: You can delete unused whole-file clips from your Clips List and choose to either keep the files or erase the files from your hard drive.
True
True or False: You can import audio into Pro Tools by dragging-and-dropping it into your session.
True
True or False: You can link and unlink Timeline and Edit Selections
True
True or False: You can open a Pro Tools session from the Workspace Browser by double-clicking on it.
True
True or False: You select a track in Pro Tools by selecting its nameplate
True
True/False: Cat5 cabling is now being used for digital audio transmission in live sound environments.
True
True/False: Powered Nearfield Monitors are the best speakers for small home studios.
True
What connection do we use to connect our MIDI keyboards to our computers in our lab (standard for most MIDI keyboards today)?
USB
What keys do you use to create selections "on the fly" during playback?
Up Arrow and Down Arrow
Audio files in one of Pro Tools' native formats can be imported without requiring format conversion. The native audio file formats in Pro Tools include:
WAV and AIFF
What term is used to describe an unedited audio file in Pro Tools?
Whole File Clip
The Undo History window can be opened from the ______ menu.
Window
Which of the following automation modes allows you to record volume changes in real time during playback?
Write mode
What is another name for a standard microphone cable/connection?
XLR
After record-enabling a track in Pro Tools, what shortcut(s) will allow you to begin recording immediately, without first putting the session into Record Ready mode?
[3] Command + Space Bar
The Universe View in Pro Tools displays ___________________.
a miniature representation of all clips on your displayed tracks
The Create Click Track command __________________.
creates a new aux input and inserts the "Click" plug-in on the track
How is amplitude measured?
dB (SPL)
The Bounce to Disk function in Pro Tools allows:
faster than real-time bounces, bouncing to AIFF or WAV format, creating a simultaneous MP3 version of the bounce
Pro Tools 11 and later can import a video file...
in the Quicktime format in a wide range of Avid MXF video formats
Where are audio files automatically stored in the session hierarchy?
inside of an Audio Files folder within the session folder
Where is the Pro Tools session file (.ptx) automatically stored when you create a Pro Tools session?
inside the session folder
The word "frequency" refers to the ___________ of a sound.
pitch
By default, a session's recorded audio files are __________________.
stored in the "Audio Files" subfolder
Which of the following files stores waveform display data for the audio in a Pro Tools session, enabling the session to open more quickly?
the WaveCache file
