Pro tools 101, 110, 201 etc...

[moose209]

I'm looking at doing the official pro tools courses, and going all the way up to expert level (in music production). Although it would cost a total of £3k - which could be better spent on a nice fat diezel but in the long run maybe the course would be a better investment -

Anyway has anyone done the course or know if it really worth it? I'm hearing a lot of mixed things about it.

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=42&langid=1&categoryid=27

Keep it evil fellas

 

[Razorjack]

I say save your money and buy a decent piece of gear, and I've just come out of 5yrs of education (college and uni) with a degree in Audio Systems.

 

[Amadeus79]

Hey moose209

I`ve taken 101, 201 and 210M. I learned a lot from reading the books and all, but it`s just a computer program. The best thing is to use the program a lot. If it can help you to get jobs in pro studios it might be worth it. I`d buy the Diezel

 

[KeithRT99]

i don't think you need it. pro tools is one of the easiest programs you could learn. i took a class on it for a few months at a community college and it was so easy to learn, if you just sat down with it for a few hours you could figure it out. just get a pro tools book.

 

[Splat88]

Don't waste your money.

 

[moose209]

excellent - I guess I was in that frame of mind already - don't do it unless I wish to become a pro tools engineer - which is about the most unmusical thing you can be in a studio - even the tea boy gets to tap a riddim with his spoon.

cheers guys

 

[KeithRT99]

you don't even need it if you want to be a "pro tools engineer" you just need to know your way around PT quickly. all the people i've talked to in the movie/games industry say that you just need to be able to work quickly and know quick keys in PT to get a job.

 

[sorceron]

i also say save your money and buy something cool.

 

[gumplunger]

Pro Tools is one of the easiest audio programs out there. Learn the shortcuts and use it a lot. There's no need to take any courses on Pro Tools.

 

[JeffTD]

Hell, just buy one of those keyboards with the shortcuts already on the keys, and you're 1/2 there!

 

[greyskull]

hmmmm
i was considering this too.
although i already work in a studio
and know how to use pro tools very very well (at about the advanced level)
but one of the other engineers in the studio did it and got some really cool work from some of the people he met there (the abbey road photos make me wanna cry)

 

[moose209]

That is very true - I know a few people that managed to get jobs they would never have got because they were on the digidesign list of acredited engineers - I know product is superior to qualifacations - but qualifacations and bits of paper do sometimes open doors for you to prove you know your shit. Hmmmm...oh well, after I've mugged 3000 old grannies for £1 each I'll flip a coin to decide deizel or pro tools 301M.

 

[Rick Powell]

DON'T DO IT - Just another way of Digidesign and avid trying to take over the world. I know a couple of Protools tutors and it's ALL Bollocks

 

[Andy Sneap]

better off buying a small rig and a tuition DVD

 

[Amadeus79]

Hey moose

For each course (101, 201 etc.) there is a 400-500 pages book with loads of info and exercises. Maybe it`s possible to get the books without attending the courses? Second hand from people who have attended? You wouldn`t get the title or diploma of course, but it would be a hell of a lot cheaper. Each book cost approx 85-90 GBP new.

 

[greyskull]

this is it!!
i know how to do everything you need to know about pro tools.
But would just like to be able to get a kick start into other jobs!

 

[mrdaniel23]

Greetings, I can't help but notice all the nay-saying about school. Well, I would say this . . . I'm in two year audio engineering program that includes (among numerous other things) 5 classes on Pro Tools software alone. I'm entering the second year of this program and have had straight a's since the beginning. I've scored one internship already and have had to turn down a few offers for similar gigs because I simply don't have the time. I don't think anyone needs to go to school to learn this stuff, but then, you could also spend a lifetime studying the field of acoustics alone. What matters is what you do with it. I'll say this in favor of school... It gives you a lot of connections right off the bat, especially if you're a classic over-achiever like me. And . . . If you're not, you'd better become one, because this is a competitive field!

 

[mrdaniel23]

Getting the courseware books sounds like a great idea to me, whether or not you want to take the courses, it's a win either way! (The books are awesome, by the way, once you get passed the 101 book that is. Pretty much everything in the 101 book is covered in the manual that comes with the software or hardware. )

 

[C_F_H_13]

I wouldn't normally respond to a necrothread bump, but I will say this about the original post....

I would say the only time to ever consider getting these "certifications" is in only one of two case.

1. You're taking an audio engineering course and they are included.

OR

2. You want to work in A-Level post houses. Post houses are the only places now that actually look at these courses as a mandatory or a huge asset. Even the big post houses that use Nuendo or similar, are always still looking for good PT guys to do transfer and whatnot.

Aside from these 2 situations, the certifications mean nothing. They do not equate to more knowledge and in most cases, you actually are being taught in a way that kind of follows a very specific structure in PT. Whereas in real world studio experience you work along side a dozen engineers all with different ways to work. You learn, adapt, modify and then finally perfect your own method which is a combination of all these different skill sets you've seen.

 

[egan.]

The #3 I can think of is if you want to teach. This is the kind of certification that is self-perpetuating in that way.