Guide to Pro Tools Digital Audio Recording and Editing

Getting Your Sound Out

Transferring Audio from ProTools to Cassette or Minidisk

• When you have finished, your feature or news report should be just as you want it. You are ready to dub your piece onto tape.
• For cassette, cue your tape so that you start recording after any previous work. Use the PLAY button and make sure the Tape dial on the Mackie console is turned up (clockwise) so you can hear the tape.
• For minidisk, cue it to your first empty track.
• IMPORTANT: Once you're done cueing the tape, make sure the "Tape"/ "Minidisk" dial is turned completely down (counter-clockwise) on the Mackie console to prevent feedback.
• Turn up the "Computer" dial on the Mackie console to hear your finished piece.
• Arm the Tape/Minidisk Deck to record by pressing the small "REC" button on the face of the black tape deck.
• Note that it won't start taping, but instead will remain in "record pause" until you are ready to release it from pause.
• Check your levels! Play some of your story on the computer and watch the level meters on the front of the tape deck.
  1. To cassette, the sound should push the meters to "0" in the middle regularly, and – unlike the digital computer workstation -- can occasionally go into the red zone.
  2. To minidisk, keep your levels high but DO NOT go into the red, or you will end up with distortion (this is a digital medium like the computer, therefore less forgiving). Be sure the signal is strong, but not too strong. Adjust the "Computer" dial on the Mackie console to change the sound strength.
• Place the computer's cursor at the beginning of your piece (or press RETURN on the keyboard to go to zero).
• Release the Tape/Minidisk Deck from "record pause" by pressing the "PAUSE" button.
  1. On the cassette, the tape wheels will start turning and recording begins.
  2. On minidisk, the display will register that your piece is being recorded.
• Press the SPACE bar to start playing your piece on the computer.
• When you are finished and you've captured the entire story, press the SPACE bar on the computer to stop recording, and press the STOP button on the Tape/Minidisk Deck.