Pro Tools Glossary

Version 10.0

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Pro Tools Glossary

96 I/O-series audio interfaces 96 I/O and

Numbers
003 family FireWire-based Pro

Tools

audio/
MIDI workstations, including 003 , 003 Rack,
and 003 Rack+. 003 includes an integrated a
control surface. For more information, see the
003 Family User Guide.pdf.
1622 I/0 A legacy Pro Tools|24 MIX 16 x 2 audio

interface with support for sample rates up to

48 kHz.

I92 I/O-series audio interfaces 192 I/O and

192 Digital I/O audio interfaces for

Pro Tools|HD systems with support for sample
rates up to 192 kHz. For more information, see
the 192 I/O Guide.pdf or 192 Digital I/O
Guide.pdf.
24-bit ADAT Bridge I/O A legacy Pro Tools|24
MIX digital audio interface with support for
sample rates up to 48 kHz.
882|20 A legacy Pro Tools|24 MIX 8 x 8 audio in-

terface with support for sample rates up to

48 kHz.
888|24 A legacy Pro Tools|24 MIX 8 x 8 audio in-

terface.
9-pin (Sony 9-pin; DB-9) Industry standard for

serial machine control of professional video and

audio transports, made by Sony and other manufacturers. Refers to the DB-9-style physical external control connector found on 9-pin-compatible devices.

96i I/O audio interfaces for Pro Tools|HD systems with support for sample rates up to 96 kHz.
For more information, see the 96 I/O Guide.pdf
or 96i I/O Guide.pdf.

A
AAX See Avid Audio Extension.
Absolute Grid mode An editing mode that con-

strains movement and alignment of clips to precise increments on a user-defined grid. See also
Relative Grid mode.
A/D (analog-to-digital) Analog-to-digital converters operate at various bit-rate resolutions
and sampling rates, converting analog audio signals to digital audio signals.
ADAT lightpipe Standard industry term for opti-

cal connection of digital audio. Created by

Alesis, the lightpipe can simultaneously stream
eight channels of digital audio.
address (timecode address) Specific
SMPTE/EBU timecode reference or reading, in
hours:minutes:seconds:frames.
AES/EBU (Audio Engineering Society/European
Broadcasters Union) Industry professional

standard for transferring digital audio between

professional-quality audio devices. Most
AES/EBU connections utilize an XLR-style 3-pin
connector to carry two channels of digital audio.

AIF or AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) An

audio file format invented by Apple Computer.

AFL (After Fader Listen) This is a channels level
after it is attenuated or boosted by the fader setting. Audio tracks, Auxiliary inputs and Instrument tracks are AFL in Pro Tools. Also see postfader.
Aliasing In digital sampling and recording,

aliasing is digital distortion that occurs when

the frequency being sampled is higher than onehalf the sample rate (called the Nyquist Frequency). When a frequency exceeds the Nyquist
Frequency, it is folded over (at the value of the
difference between the Nyqyist Frequency and
the frequency in question) and becomes an audible component of the signal. Most digital recorders have filters to prevent aliasing from occurring. With time compression and expansion
or pitch shifting, aliasing can occur when an audio clip has been stretched too much in time
or pitch.
AMS (Audio MIDI Setup) Apple Computers au-

dio and MIDI operating system, which is part of

Mac OS X. For Mac users, AMS replaced Opcode
Systems OMS (Open Music System) for
Mac OS 9 (and lower versions of Mac OS).
ASIO (Windows Only) Steinbergs Audio Stream
Input/Output (ASIO) provides audio stream
connectivity between software applications and
audio hardware on Windows. Pro Tools software can use audio interfaces with supported
ASIO drivers for playback and recording.
ASIO Driver (Windows Only) The ASIO Driver is

a multichannel sound driver that allows audio

programs that support the ASIO Driver standard
to record and play back through audio interfaces.
ATR (Audio Tape Recorder) A tape recorder of

any format, including a Digital Audio Tape

(DAT) deck.
2

Pro Tools Glossary

audio interface Among most Pro Tools systems,

the audio interface is a separate box that is attached with a special cable to the audio card, or
to a USB or FireWire port. An audio interface
typically has analog and digital audio inputs and
outputs, and may be equipped with level meters,
level controls, and other features.
audio clip A clip of an audio file that is defined
nondestructively with pointers. See also clip.
AudioSuite plug-ins Avids proprietary file-

based, non-real-time plug-in format. AudioSuite plug-ins are used to process and modify
audio files on disk, rather than nondestructively
in real time. Depending on how you configure a
non-real-time AudioSuite plug-in, it will either
create an entirely new audio file, or alter the
original source audio file.
audition (verb) To listen to, or to monitor, one
or more tracks or audio files. In Pro Tools, you
can audition files before you load them into the
program. There are also various ways to audition takes from the Clip List, the Takes List popup menu, and from DigiBase browsers.
auto-created clip Automatically created clips are

a by-product of editing and punch recording

over existing clips.
Automation modes Function for recording and

playing changes in volume levels, panning, and

virtually every adjustable parameter (including
plug-in parameters) in Pro Tools. There are several different automation modes in which to
write automation data in Pro Tools.
aux See Auxiliary Inputs.
Auxiliary Inputs (Auxiliary Input Tracks) In
Pro Tools, these input channels are used for
send and bus returns (input only). Sends are
used for output routing.
auxiliary send See send.

Avid Audio Extension The Avid Audio Exten-

sion (AAX) plug-in format provides real-time

plug-in processing using host-based (Native)
processing. It also supports AudioSuite nonreal-time, file-based rendered processing. AAX
plug-in files use the .aax file suffix.
Avid Effects plug-ins Suite of free plug-ins included with Pro Tools. For more information,
see the Audio Plug-ins Guide.pdf.
Avid Virtual Instrument plug-ins Suite of free vir-

tual instrument plug-ins included with

Pro Tools. For more information, see the Audio
Plug-ins Guide.pdf.
Avid Video Peripherals Avid interfaces that in-

tegrate Avid video technology with Pro Tools

systems (such as Avid Mojo ). For more information, see the Avid Video Peripherals
Guide.pdf.
AVoption|V10 Video interface and software that

integrates Avid video technology with

Pro Tools|HD systems.
.AVI (Audio Video Interleave) AVI is a multime-

dia container format introduced by Microsoft as

part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI
files can contain both audio and video data in a
file container that allows synchronous audiowith-video playback.

B
bit depth One of two main specifications that define digital audio quality (the other is sample
rate). Bit depth determines the maximum dynamic range possible in an audio file. Also called
bit-resolution or bit-rate.
black burst See house video reference.
BNC (Bayonet Neill Concelman) Coaxial cable

connectors used for video and synchronizer signals.

Bounce to Disk Mixing a segment of audio (or

an entire session) internally to disk, without

leaving the digital domain. Bit rate, dithering
options, and other parameters are provided by
Pro Tools for bouncing to disk.
breakpoint Step or level on a tracks automation

playlist.
Broadcast WAV File (BWF) A variation of Micro-

softs .WAV audio file format that contains additional data on the title, origination, date, and
creation time of the audio content not included
in the standard .WAV file format. An important
feature of BWFs is their support of time stamping. Time stamping allows files to be moved
from one session to another and easily aligned
to their original point in time.
browser The location where information con-

tained in the databases is displayed and manipulated. With DigiBase, files can be moved on the
volumes and spotted into Pro Tools sessions by
drag and drop.
bus (noun) An internal routing path.
bus (verb) To route one or more signals to one

or more destinations (either internal or external).

C
C|24 A dedicated 24-fader control surface for

Pro Tools systems. Includes 16 premium microphone preamps, a control room monitoring section, and a line submixer. Ideal front-end for
Pro Tools recording, mixing, and editing. For
more information, see the C|24 Guide.pdf.
clip Within Pro Tools, a pointer to a particular
region of a file. Clips can be dragged from the
Clip List or a DigiBase browser to a track. Clips
can be whole-file clips or regions within a
whole file.
clipping, clipping indicator the LED at the top of

each channel meter indicates a level may have

run out of headroom, and is approaching clipping.
clock reference Common speed reference,
which various devices can use to establish synchronization during playback and recording.
Command|8 A dedicated 8-fader control surface
for Pro Tools systems. Includes a control room
monitoring section. Ideal mixing controller for
smaller Pro Tools rooms and facilities. For more
information, see the Command 8 Guide.pdf.
Complete Production Toolkit Software option

that provides some Pro Tools HD features for

music creation and post production for
Pro Tools. For more information, see the Complete Production Toolkit Guide.pdf.
Conductor rulers A ruler that can show session
data. There are three types of Conductor rulers,
called Tempo, Meter, and Markers rulers.
continuous controller data MIDI instructions

that affect MIDI note parameters, including volume, panning, velocity, pitch bend, and modulation. Also, the main type of instructions sent by
MIDI control surfaces.

Pro Tools Glossary

Control|24 A dedicated control surface for

Pro Tools systems. Includes 16 premium microphone preamps, a control room monitoring section, and a line submixer. Ideal front-end for
Pro Tools recording, mixing, and editing.
Core Audio (Mac Only) Apples Core Audio pro-

vides audio stream connectivity between software applications and audio hardware on Mac
OS X. Pro Tools software can use audio interfaces with supported Core Audio drivers for
playback and recording.
CoreAudio Driver (Mac Only) The CoreAudio

Driver is a multichannel sound driver that allows CoreAudio compatible applications to record and play back through Core Audiocompliant audio interfaces.
crossfade Function for fading out from one clip
as you fade in to another clip. Crossfade duration is user-selectable from within the Edit window. As with fades, portions of audio for which
the crossfade function has been applied are
stored in the sessions Fade Files folder.

Digidesign Audio Engine See DAE.

D/A (digital-to-analog) Digital-to-analog con-

Pro Tools HD. DigiTest can be used to ensure

that all Pro Tools|HD cards or an HD Native card
in the system are recognized, installed in the
proper order, and, for Pro Tools|HD systems,
have valid TDM FlexCable connections. For
more information, see the DigiTest Guide.pdf.

verters operate at various bit-rate resolutions

and sampling rates, converting digital audio signals to analog audio signals.
DAE (Digidesign Audio Engine) Avids real-time

operating system that provides the core functionality of hard disk recording, digital signal
processing, mix automation, and MIDI required
by Pro Tools and other Avid products.
database Databasing is a convenient way of
storing, organizing, searching, and displaying
information. A database file is a collection of records that hold data. In Pro Tools, the term database refers to a DigiBase database file.
Pro Tools creates and stores database files on
the system drive as needed.
DB-9 See 9-pin.

DigiTest Diagnostic application included with

dither Noise added to an audio signal when

down-sampling bit rates. Designed to create a
smoother transition at lower amplitudes.
drop frame Refers to a variance of SMPTE/EBU
timecode for NTSC color video (29.97 fps) that
omits two frames (frames 0 and 1) every
minute except for every tenth minute.
DSP (Digital Signal Processing) In audio terms,
DSP refers to manipulation of digital audio
everything from reverberation to changes in
level.

DB-25 25-pin connector format, used for analog

and digital I/O on HD I/O, HD OMNI, and 192series audio interfaces, as well as ICON consoles, C|24 consoles, and other products. Each
DB-25 connector can pass 8 channels of analog
or AES/EBU digital audio.
D-Command A dedicated high-end work surface

for Pro Tools. Includes 8-24 channel strips and a

control room monitoring section. Ideal controller for recording, mixing and editing. For more
information, see the D-Command Guide.pdf.
D-Control A dedicated high-end work surface for

Pro Tools. Includes 1680 channel strips and a

control room monitoring section. Ideal controller for recording, mixing and editing. The highest model in the ICON series of consoles. For
more information, see the D-Control Guide.pdf.
Digi 002 and Digi 002 Rack FireWire-based

Pro Tools systems. The Digi 002 includes an

integrated control surface.

E
edit cursor Flashing line that appears when you
click in a track in the Edit window.
Edit Decision List (EDL) List of edits, or events,
typically with each events respective source in
and out times, source reel number, and record in
and out times.
Edit insertion point Location within a track
where you click (without dragging); also location at which a clips start, end, or synchronization point will be placed.
Edit selection In the Edit window, this is what is

highlighted in the playlist (such as a clip).

Elastic Audio A Pro Tools feature that lets you

quickly and easily transpose, tempo conform,

and beat match audio to the sessions Tempo
ruler.
5

Eleven Rack A guitar effects processor and audio interface that can used stand-alone or with
Pro Tools. For more information, see the Eleven
Rack User Guide.pdf.
EUCON A high-speed Ethernet protocol that en-

ables direct communication between Avid hardware control surfaces (such as MC Control and
MC Mix) and software applications (such as
Pro Tools and Media Composer ).
Event List See MIDI Event List.
expanded systems Pro Tools|HD systems that

have been expanded by adding Pro Tools|HD

cards, either directly in the computer or using
an expansion chassis. Expanded systems provide increased track count, add to the amount of
possible plug-in and mixer processing, and support connecting additional audio interfaces. For
more information, see the Expanded Systems
Guide.pdf.
expansion chassis Expands the capabilities of

Pro Tools|HD systems by adding more external

PCI slots.
ExpressPro-Tools ATTOs hard disk utility for

the preparation of hard drives for Pro Tools. For

Mac OS X, a new version of this utility, ExpressStripe, must be used.

F
fade A selection in which the volume rises or
falls, typically from or to . See also crossfade.
Fibre Channel Fibre Channel can be used to create a network using special hardware interfaces
to provide high speed connections between storage devices and computers. Fibre Channel connections are used for large audio and video production environments because it is possible for
multiple users to access the same physical storage media at speeds high enough to work without having to copy individual files to a local hard
drive. Avid MediaNetwork shared storage systems use Fibre Channel. Local computers connect to the shared storage network using a Fibre
Channel Host Bus adapter and optical cable.
field recorder workflows Pro Tools post-production workflows for importing and using multichannel audio files and metadata recorded by
field recorders. For more information, see the
Pro Tools Reference Guide.pdf.
FireWire A high-speed peripheral standard capable of transferring data. FireWire is commonly
used for digital audio and video devices, as well
as external hard drives and other high-speed peripherals.
frames per second (fps) Number of frames that

elapse per second, as defined by the four

SMPTE/EBU Timecode fps standards. These include:
24 fps (for film applications)
25 fps (the PAL/SECAM video standard)
29.97 fps (the NTSC color video standard)
(see also drop frame)
30 fps (the NTSC black and white video
standard)

Pro Tools Glossary

general preference A preference that affects all

sessions for the same user. This differs from a
global preference, which is the same for all users. See also user preference.

HD Accel PCI or PCIe card with additional DSP

Grid mode Used to align clips in tracks to the

grid or between Grid boundaries. See also

Absolute Grid mode and Relative Grid mode.
Groove Template A template derived from an
audio selection using Beat Detective . Groove
templates contain information on the timing
nuances and dynamics of the selected audio performance. Groove templates can then be used to
conform or impose these performance characteristics on other audio material using Beat Detective, or on other MIDI material using the
Grid/Groove Quantize command.
groups Linked tracks in which an action in one
of the tracks is mirrored in all tracks in the
group. Groups can be created separately or
linked between the Mix and Edit windows.

for Pro Tools|HD systems. For more information, see the Pro Tools|HD User Guide.pdf.
HD Accel Core PCIe core card, which connects
to audio interfaces and contains the DSP, for a
Pro Tools|HD system. For more information,
see the Pro Tools|HD User Guide.pdf.
HD Core PCI core card, which connects to audio
interfaces and contains the DSP, for a
Pro Tools|HD system.
HD I/O A multichannel digital audio interface

designed for use with Pro Tools|HD and HD Native systems. It features top quality 24-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A)
converters, and supports sample rates of up to
192 kHz. For more information, see the HD I/O
Guide.pdf.
HD MADI A 64-channel, digital audio interface

designed for use with Pro Tools|HD and HD Native systems. It supports the Multichannel Audio Digital Interface (MADI) format and sample
rates of up to 192 kHz. For more information,
see the HD MADI Guide.pdf.
HD Native These systems include Pro Tools HD
software and HD Native hardware. For more information, see the HD Native Install Guide.pdf.
HD OMNI A professional digital audio interface

designed for use with Pro Tools|HD and HD Native systems. It provides a compact preamp,
monitoring, and I/O solution for music production and post production studios with support
for sample rates of up to 192 kHz. For more information, see the HD OMNI Guide.pdf.
HD Process PCI card with additional DSP for

Pro Tools|HD systems.

headroom Amount of remaining gain available

Interplay Avid Interplay is an asset manage-

for a given signal before the onset of distortion

in analog systems or clipping in digital systems.

ment system that lets Avid video editors and

Pro Tools editors at a single facility manage and
work with the same media. For more information, see the Pro Tools Avid Interplay.pdf.

HEAT (Harmonically Enhanced Algorithm

Technology) Pro Tools option adds analog-mod-

eled soft-saturated distortion to Pro Tools|HD

systems for mixing and mastering. For more information, see the HEAT Option Guide.pdf.
Help Help is installed automatically during Pro

Tools installation and can be accessed from

within Pro Tools.
HFS+ Disk Support Option Supports recording

and playback of sessions directly from Mac-formatted (HFS+) drives on a Windows system.
The HFS+ Disk Support option is automatically
installed with Pro Tools software by default.
house video reference (black burst) A type of

clock reference signal commonly used to synchronize audio or video devices during playback
or recording.

I
ICON Series of high-end dedicated control consoles for Pro Tools. See D-Control and D-Command.
iLok (iLok USB Smart Key) Portable, cross-plat-

form USB device for authorizing plug-ins and

software options for Pro Tools systems. For
more information, visit www.iLok.com.
inactive Items that have been turned off in
Pro Tools to free up or conserve DSP. for example, when a track, send, or plug-in is inactive, its
name appears in italics and the item is silent.

item In DigiBase, each row of data is referred to

as an item in the Items List. Items include Volumes, Catalogs, Session files, songs, samples
and loops, as well as other types of files.
ISIS Avid ISIS 7000 and 5000 are Ethernet-

based shared storage systems that let users of

Pro Tools and Avid video editing applications
share the same media. For more information,
see the Pro Tools ISIS Guide.pdf.

L
Lanes Multiple tracks of automation and/or

MIDI controller data that can be accessed simultaneously.

latency Typically refers to the time it takes for
an input signal to be passed to the output and
generally controlled by the hardware buffer size.
Legacy I/Os Pro Tools|24 MIX audio interfaces

(such as 888|24 I/O and 882|20 I/O ) that can

be connected to Pro Tools|HD audio interfaces
(such as 192 I/O and 96 I/O) for additional input
and output channels with Pro Tools|HD systems. Legacy interfaces can only be used with
44.1 kHz and 48 kHz sessions and are not supported with Pro Tools|HD Native systems.
Legacy Plug-ins Audio plug-ins that are no longer supported with current Pro Tools systems.
lightpipe See ADAT Lightpipe.

indexing With DigiBase, used to obtain and

Loop Sync A dedicated clock signal for synchro-

maintain the data displayed in browsers. Indexing creates and updates a database with the latest metadata information.

nizing multiple Pro Tools|HD audio interfaces

together. Loop Sync uses a Word Clock signal
based on sampling rates of either 44.1 kHz or

Pro Tools Glossary

48 kHz. As sample rates increase in the system,

Loop Sync continues to operate at a base rate of
44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, depending upon the higher
rate. Loop Sync should be used only to chain
multiple Pro Tools|HD peripherals together.

M
MachineControl Pro Tools option, which pro-

vides many specialized features for post production synchronization tasks including remote
track arming, VTR emulation, serial timecode,
and other capabilities. For more information,
see the MachineControl Guide.pdf.
machine control Pro Tools functions to control

or be controlled by an external transport, typically a VTR or ATR.

Marker Memory Location referenced on a time-

line, typically used to store locations to important points in a session. See also Memory Location.

Media Composer Avids premier video editing

application. Media Composer can also be used as

a video playback, capture, and conversion station that can be synchronised with one or more
Pro Tools|HD systems using the Video Satellite
option. For more information, see the Video Satellite Guide.pdf.
media file A file that contains actual audio,

video, or graphics data. It also contains a variety

of metadata (such as file name and format).
MediaNetwork Avid Unity MediaNetwork is a

Fibre Channel shared storage system that lets

users of Avid video editing applications and
Pro Tools share the same media. For more information, see the Pro Tools Avid MediaNetwork.pdf.
Memory Location Pro Tools supports up to 999

Memory Locations, which can include markers,

Edit selections, record and play ranges, track
settings, and other data. They can be viewed and
sorted in the Memory Locations window, from
which they can also be accessed.

master (device) Lead machine or Pro Tools

system in a synchronized machine arrangement.

Slaves follow masters. There can only be one
master at any given time.
Master Fader track Governs the overall signal
level of one or more audio, auxiliary input, or
instrument tracks.
Mbox 2 Family Portable USB and FireWire-

based Pro Tools systems with varying amounts

of audio and MIDI I/O. The family includes
Mbox 2 Pro, Mbox 2, Mbox 2 Mini, and Mbox 2
Micro.
Mbox Family (Third Generation) Portable USB
and FireWire-based Pro Tools systems with
varying amounts of audio and MIDI I/O. The
family includes Mbox Pro, Mbox, and Mbox
Mini.

metadata Media files, session files, and other

types of files contain their own sets of metadata,

which include general types of data such as file
name, creation date, and file size. Metadata varies with file type, format, and kind.
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) A

communication protocol designed to allow supported devices (such as synthesizers and controllers) to intercommunicate for control and
playback purposes. Information transmitted
over MIDI includes note-ons, note-offs, key velocity, pitch bend, and other performance data.
Connections are made using cables equipped
with 5-pin DIN connectors.
MIDI Editor window Dedicated editor window for

in-depth editing of MIDI notes and controller

data.
9

MIDI Event List Pro Tools window that shows

the contents of a MIDI track in a column, for
easy editing of individual MIDI events.
MIDI I/O A USB-based 10 x 10 MIDI interface
with MIDI timestamping.
MIDI Machine Control (MMC) See machine con-

Nyquist Frequency The highest audio frequency

that can be accurately sampled, equivalent to

one-half of the sampling frequency. The Nyquist
sampling theorem showed that the sampling
rate must be at least twice the highest frequency
present in the sample in order to accurately reconstruct the original signal.

trol.
MIDI Timecode See MTC.

MP3 (MPEG Layer 3) An adjustable-quality au-

offline (media) Not connected to or directly ac-

dio compression format developed by the

Fraunhofer Institute.

cessible by a computer.

MTC (MIDI Timecode) Non-SMPTE form of time-

offline (synchronization) Not under the control

of (or controlling) another device for synchronized playback or recording.

code that is used by some devices (including

Pro Tools) to send and receive timing information.

online (media) Connected to and directly acces-

sible by a computer.

N
nondestructive editing Leaves audio files intact.

As you edit audio within Pro Tools, you are only

editing the clips, or pointers, to audio files
that are stored on the hard drive, unless you explicitly choose destructive modes (during recording, or when using AudioSuite processing).
non-drop frame Timecode that is not in dropframe format. In North America, the standard
format outside of color video production or post
production is typically 29.97 fps non-drop
frame.
Notation Traditional musical transcription, often used to visualize the composition process
and provide written parts for musicians to play.
NTSC Video standards developed by the National Television Standards Committee. NTSC
color video runs at 29.97 frames per second;
NTSC black and white video runs at 30 fps. Used
primarily in North and South America and Japan.
10

Pro Tools Glossary

online (synchronization) Controlled by (or controlling) another device for synchronized playback or recording.

P
peak indicator Indicator light designed to warn

of the possibility of clipping, which illuminates

as a devices input reaches a preset degree of
headroom.
performance volume A storage volume that has

been designated to record and/or play back media files in a Pro Tools session.
PFL (Pre Fader Listen) Sometimes called a
cue, this is a channels level before it is attenuated or boosted by the fader setting. Master
faders are PFL in Pro Tools. See also pre-fader.
playlist A group of clips arranged on an audio or
MIDI track.
positional reference Common reference that

provides location information that various devices can use to establish synchronization during playback and recording. Most commonly,
the information is delivered in the form of
SMPTE/EBU Timecode.
post-fader Output from a track (typically a send)
that is governed by the channels fader setting.
post-roll Adjustable time for playback to continue beyond the current playback or recording
of a selection.
PRE A remote controllable 8-channel microphone preamp. Features eight discrete, matched
transistor hybrid mic-preamp circuits and offers a pristine signal path designed specifically
for the Pro Tools environment, but can also be
utilized as a stand-alone microphone preamp.

pre-fader Output from a track (typically a send)

that is independent of the channels fader setting.
pre-roll Adjustable time that precedes the playback or recording of a selection.
ProControl A dedicated control surface that
communicates with Pro Tools by means of ethernet. Features include touch-sensitive, motorized faders, and a dedicated effects editing section.
Pro Tools software Digital audio workstation
software that lets you record, arrange, compose,
edit, mix, and master professional quality audio
and MIDI for music, video, film, and multimedia.
Pro Tools HD software Digital audio workstation
software for use with qualified Pro Tools|HD
system hardware.
Pro Tools|HD systems These systems include
Pro Tools HD software and Pro Tools|HD system hardware.
Pro Tools systems These systems include
Pro Tools software and an Avid audio interface
(such as Eleven Rack, 003, Mbox Pro, or M-Audio Fast Track). You can also run Pro Tools software with the built-in audio available on Mac
computers (using Core Audio), or running with
third-party audio interfaces that support Core
Audio (Mac) or ASIO (Windows) drivers.
Pro Tools M-Powered systems These systems include Pro Tools M-Powered software for qualified M-Audio interfaces.

preamp In recording studio terminology, a cir-

cuit designed to boost relatively low signal levels, such as a microphone output, up to standard
line levels of 10 dBV or +4 dBu. Many
Pro Tools LE systems are equipped with microphone preamps. See also PRE.
11

Pull Up/Pull Down Refers to the deliberate mis-

calibration of the audio or video sample rate

clock (the audio pitch) in order to compensate
for a speed change elsewhere in the production
chain. The usual situation in which these rates
are encountered is when film footage (at 24 fps)
is transferred to color NTSC-standard video
tape (at 29.97 fps).

Q
quantize To adjust MIDI note locations or dura-

tions to the nearest unit or template structure so

that a particular rhythmic feel is achieved.
QuickTime Apples system extension for control
of time-based events, such as digitized video
movies and digitized sound.

R
RealAudio Audio compression scheme designed
for streaming over the internet.
record Element of a database. A database is a

collection of records. Each record represents a

particular file (such as a media file or session
file). The record contains all of the metadata describing that file, but none of the media. Therefore a record is much smaller than the actual
file, and much easier to parse for information.
Region See clip. In versions of Pro Tools lower
than 10.0, clips are referred to as regions.
Relative Grid mode An editing mode that constrains movement and alignment of clips to precise increments on a user-defined grid while allowing the clip to maintain an offset relative to
that grid point. See also Absolute Grid mode.
resolving The process of synchronizing multiple
devices to a common clock reference.

12

Pro Tools Glossary

RTAS (Real-Time Audio Suite) plug-ins Avids

host-based, real-time effects plug-in format.

S
sample-based Editing mode in which audio and
MIDI clips and MIDI notes are snapped to the
nearest sample. Switchable in Pro Tools on a
per-track basis. See tick-based.
sample rate One of two main specifications that

describe digital audio quality (the other is bit

rate resolution). Sample rate refers to how frequently incoming audio is sampled per second
during conversion from an analog to a digital
signal.
Satellite Link A software option for Pro Tools
HD that lets you link up to 5 Pro Tools systems
(or up to 4 Pro Tools systems and an Avid Media
Composer, Avid Symphony Nitris DX , or
Video Satellite LE system) over an Ethernet network so that you can cue, play, and stop the
transports, make play selections, and solo tracks
across any of the systems from any linked workstation. For more information, see the Satellite
Link Guide.
SCSI HBA (Small Computer System Interface and
Host Bus Adapter) Avids conformed terminol-

ogy for SCSI cards. SCSI is a type of data bus allowing for the high speed transfer of data between a computer and peripheral devices. An
HBA is the card that connects the SCSI bus between the computer and peripheral devices such
as hard drives.
send An adjustable additional track output,

which can be routed to an internal bus for effects processing, monitoring, and submixing.

session file A work file, much like a word processing document or a graphics program file. A
Pro Tools session file contains data describing
how media files are to be played and displayed.
It also contains metadata about the files on
which it depends (audio and MIDI files, and related data such as fades, playlists, and selections). Each separate project worked on should
be stored as its own session.
session template A Pro Tools session file whose

parameters are preset to a users specific preferred state. Any Pro Tools session may be saved
as a template using the Save As command for
convenience of setup.
shortcuts Pro Tools keyboard and Right-click

shortcuts that give you fast access to a wide variety of tasks. For more information, see the
Pro Tools Shortcuts Guide.pdf.
slave Device that follows the master during
synchronization.
Slave Clock (or Super Clock) Avids proprietary

hi-speed Word Clock that runs at 256x (256

times) the sample rate. It is required by
Pro Tools|24 MIX and Pro Tools|24 systems to
synchronize audio interfaces to a single, highlyaccurate clock from SYNC HD , SYNC I/O ,
USD , or HD audio interface. See also Legacy
I/Os.
SIP (Solo-in-Place) Solo mode in which a single
channels AFL signal is sent by itself to the main
L/R bus. A feature on VENUE consoles. See AFL
(After Fader Listen) and VENUE.
S/PDIF Semi-professional version of the
AES/EBU standard. Stands for Sony/Philips
Digital Interface Format. S/PDIF connections
use coaxial (RCA) or TOSlink optical in/out connectors. Most S/PDIF connections carry two
channels of digital audio at a time.

Spot Audio post production process of aligning

audio events to visual events. In Pro Tools, Spot
mode lets you spot clips to particular timecode
events.
Standard MIDI File Universal format that can be
read by virtually any software that reads MIDI.
Type 0 is a single line sequence, type 1 is multitrack.
submix Routing multiple audio sources to an
Auxiliary Input for monitor mixes, bus-master
control over levels, and shared effects processing.
subgroup Refers to a consoles output busses

(stems, cue stems) in standard audio terminology. Also can refer to mix groups in Pro Tools.
See groups.
Super Clock (256x) See Slave Clock.
SYNC HD A multi-format synchronization peripheral for Pro Tools|HD systems that supports
all major industry-standard clock sources and
timecode formats, including HD video reference, frame rates and sync formats. SYNC HD
features near sample-accurate lock to timecode
or bi-phase/tach signals and a 192 kHz capable,
high-fidelity, low-jitter Word Clock.
SYNC I/O A multi-format synchronization pe-

ripheral for Pro Tools|HD systems that supports

all major industry-standard clock sources and
timecode formats. SYNC I/O features near
sample-accurate lock to timecode or bi-phase/
tach signals and a 192 kHz capable, high-fidelity, low-jitter Word Clock.
synchronization Process of having two or more
audio, video, or other devices play and record as
one, at the same speed.
Sysex (System Exclusive) MIDI data specific to
a particular piece of hardware or instrument.

13

T
TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) A technology
that employs a networked bus of DSP chips that
supply the processing power for Pro Tools|HD
and VENUE systems.
TDM plug-in Avids proprietary real-time, non-

transfer volume A storage volume that has been

designated as a Transfer Volume in DigiBase

Workspace will not be used to record or play
media in a Pro Tools session. Volumes that are
not supported by Pro Tools for audio playback,
(such as network share volumes, CDs, or DVDs)
will be designated as transfer volumes by default.

destructive plug-in format for Pro Tools|HD

and VENUE systems.
tick-based Editing mode in which audio and

MIDI clips and MIDI notes are snapped to the

nearest MIDI tick value. Switchable in Pro Tools
on a per-track basis. See sample-based.

Universe window Provides a visual overview of

all tracks in a session, and can be used to quickly
navigate to any location in a session.

timecode address See address.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) A high-speed periph-

timecode generation Process of creating fresh

timecode.
Time Scale Timebase rulers The Main Time
Scale is the Timebase ruler that determines the
time format used for Transport functions, and
Grid and Nudge values. The Sub Time Scale is
the Timebase ruler that provides additional timing reference.
Timebase rulers Up to five discrete strips mea-

suring different units (samples, feet.frames,

minutes:seconds, bars:beats, or timecode) displayed across the top of the Edit window.
Timeline insertion point Location on the timeline corresponding to the cursor point, and the
point from where playback or recording begins.
Timeline selection A selection in any Timebase

ruler that determines the playback or record

range.

14

Pro Tools Glossary

eral standard. USB 1.0 is capable of transferring

data at up to 12 Mb/sec, whereas USB 2.0 is capable of transferring up to 480 Mb/sec. USB is
used for many audio and video peripheral devices.
upgrades New versions of software. For information on new Pro Tools features and enhancements, see the Whats New Guide.
user preference A user-definable state for a spe-

cific Pro Tools parameter or system setup. Mac

has the ability to create separate preferences
files for each user. For Pro Tools database functions, these include Browser views, and parameter and search settings. See also general preference.
user-defined clip Explicitly defined clips that are

created when recording or importing audio or

MIDI; capturing, separating, or consolidating a
selection; trimming a whole-file audio clip; or
renaming an existing clip.

velocity MIDI data parameter that describes

how fast or hard a key is struck and controls the
volume of MIDI note playback.

.WAV Pronounced wave, this is Microsofts

Video Satellite Option A software option for

Pro Tools HD. A dedicated computer running
Avid Media Composer and the Video Satellite
Option can be linked to one or more
Pro Tools|HD or HD Native systems for synchronized video playback, capture and conversion. See Media Composer.

waveform Means of visually representing a

sound. When sound clips are imported into the
Pro Tools Edit window, they can be viewed in
Waveform view. Preview waveforms can also be
viewed in DigiBase browsers.

Video Satellite LE Option A software option for

Pro Tools HD, which uses a separate computer

running Pro Tools software for synchronized
QuickTime HD video playback. For more information, see the Video Satellite LE Guide.
video reference signal Clock information contained in all video signals, which can be used as
a clock reference.
virtual instrument Software-based MIDI instru-

ment, often in plug-in form, that is used to replace or augment hardware-based synthesizers,
samplers and drum machines.

Audio File Format. Can be read by Pro Tools on

both Windows and Mac platforms.

whole-file audio clips These clips are created

when recording or importing audio, consolidating existing clips, and when processing with an
AudioSuite plug-in.
Word Clock Many professional digital audio

productsincluding open-reel multitrack tape

recorders, digital mixing consoles, and digital
recordershave Word Clock (1x sample rate)
connectors.
Word Clock allows Word Clock-compatible devices to send or receive external clock information that controls the sample rate, which in turn
(where applicable) controls the play and record
speed.

voiceable track Previously known as virtual

voicing; total voiceable tracks refers to the maximum number of audio tracks that can share the
available voices on your system.
voices With a Pro Tools system, refers to the

number of channels that can be played back simultaneously.

VTR (Video Tape Recorder) A video tape re-

corder of any format.

Z
zero crossing Point at which a waves amplitude

crosses the center line of the waveform display.

Typically, a good spot to edit a sound file is at
zero crossings, to avoid unwanted artifacts.
Zoom Function used to view waveform displays
within the Edit window with greater detail or
more data.

15

16

Pro Tools Glossary

Avid

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