14 Post-Production and Soundtracks

This chapter explores some of Pro Tools’ capabilities for film and video soundtracks. Chapter 11 provides a general background on the technical aspects of SMPTE time code and an overview of synchronization methods and peripherals for a Pro Tools configuration. The focus here is on basic production strategies, tips for collaborating with users of nonlinear video-editing systems (Avid Media Composer, Media 100, Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, and others), and basic post-production methods, including a cursory overview of how you can use Pro Tools for surround mixing. This chapter (along with Chapter 11) is merely a primer for using Pro Tools in post-production; the particulars vary immensely according to each production facility and the immediate task at hand. Indeed, entire books are dedicated to the subject of post-production alone.