Hi there folks, it seems that some new visitors to my blog (www.protoolsprofessional.com) aren’t finding all the various videos or visiting them in any logical order, so I thought Id take the initiative of posting a “contents” type list of the videos I’ve made so far and how the logical progression of ideas could be navigated…ICON BOOTCAMP!
First, configuring your system. Understanding your PTHD automation prefs and your ICON console prefs is vital to getting the system working the way YOU want it, rather than YOU working the way the console wants:
ICON console prefs – aimed more at DCommand
Most folks can find their way around the board pretty easily, particularly if they are familiar with PT in the first place, but will possibly be intimidated by how to insert a plugin onto a channel.
ICON Assignment matrix – inserting plugins
Another great feature on ICON is interrogating your signal flow by holding the sends button, or opt/alt sends button to show the input/output view:
Where is your signal coming from and going to?
Now you’re ready for the big league – CUSTOM FADERS…unique to ICON – the key to navigating your mix on the console in the context of the mix, rather than following the layout of the session inside Pro Tools
Lets leave custom faders for a minute and look at the new plugin mapping feature…
Intro to Plugin mapping with PT8
Now back to custom faders to put the two together:
Mapping plugin parameters and other mix components together into custom groups
OK, so now you’ve got a very good idea of how to move everything about and navigate your way around the ICON. Why do we have so much flexibility in where things go?? Well, simply put, to automate your mix as effectively and effortlessly as possible. So lets more on into automation.
If you like to automate your mix moving down the timeline, typically in Touch auto mode, please consider moving over to Latch mode. Latch allows you to multitask, where Touch will only allow you to work on whatever you are touching at the time. Autojoin and back and play are new features to help Latch based workflows.
Autojoin workflows, mixing down the timeline in sequence
If you work in post, chances are you like to write your automation on a scene by scene basis. The Write To commands are your key. Snapshot automation is also very powerful.
Using the automation “Write to” commands for scene based mixing
Using snapshot automation on ICON
Speaking of scene based automation – or writing automation within a selection, such as to a region – Preview mode is a super powerful tool to use, which largely surpassed older “Automation suspend” workflows:
Using Preview mode with the Latch Prime in Stop Preference
Lastly, you may need to lock up more than one HD rig together to mix your film or you may need HD video playing alongside your mix position. Check our these new, related technologies:
Avid HD picture workflow with ICON and Video Satellite
FCP QT HD picture workflow with PTLE and Video Satellite LE and Decklink technology
I hope these videos are of use to both earlier adopters of ICON and new users. I made these videos to assist freelancers who often have no time or training and are expected to sit in front of a relatively complicated piece of kit and use it proficiently in a very short amount of time. Hopefully they find these videos and it helps take some of the pressure off their shoulders. PLEASE pass this post on to your peers who you think could benefit from the tips and tricks!
Kind Regards,
Brent Heber
Senior Applications Engineer, Pro Audio
Avid Digidesign
Sydney, Australia