no problem, check out

secrets of the pros Pro Tools DVD Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, DVD's

http://www.secretsofthepros.com/

John Keane's [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.amazon.c…"]The Musician's Guide To ProTools[/]="http://www.amazon.c…"]The Musician's Guide To ProTools[/] was the one I started with and it got me off the ground pretty quickly. I also have one of the Berkelee books and that has filled in some gaps. I find it helpful to go back to them every once in a while on a rainy evening. You pickup little key commands that you forgot existed.

I've checked out a bunch of books and DVD's over the last couple years. Recently, I came across a series called Multiplatinum Protools. I have yet to see anything as comprehensive and densely packed with information as these. If you need to learn the absolute basics (like creating a track) then I would watch the DVD that came with your protools system (It's called Protools MethodOne). If you're looking for something a little more in-depth, I would definitely check these out.

There are five DVD's and a book. They all contain sessions that you can practice on, and the DVD's are each several hours long. You can buy all five as a package, and they have a couple of smaller bundles for less than that.

If you could only get one, I'd recommend "Ready to Pitch." It covers editing, tuning, pocketing, mixing, and even some mastering basics by going through a real session and following along with the engineer. If you want to spend a bit more, the five pack is a really great deal (I think there's about 26 hours of training).

Even if you end up buying something else, I would check out their website because each of the DVD's has a 15 minute preview that you can get a lot of information from. I did that first, and I really enjoyed them.

Here's the link again:

Multiplatinum Protools

Good luck,

-bryan[/url]

That's interesting. I don't like any of the video lessons I've seen for recording. I like DVD lessons for guitar and bass, other instruments. But I'd much rather read a book (and mix demo tracks) for recording instruction. I guess it's a learning style thing.

The Complete Pro Tools Handbook: Pro Tools/HD, Pro Tools/24 MIX, and Pro Tools LE for Home, Project, and Professional Studios (Paperback)
by Jose Chilitos Valenzuela

The Complete Pro Tools Shortcuts (Paperback)
by Jose Chilitos Valenzuela

Both for $46 at Amazon, these books translate the Protools manual from technical into human language.
A must buy.

I'd also just like to make a plug for your local library system. I've found some great resources there, including books specifically on protools, as well as more general books on music, recording, and other topics. There was even a book that was available as an eBook.

As long as you return the materials on time, you can save a lot of money. If you're looking for beginnner books, it would be better to check them out from the library a few times until you're familiar with PT, and then you could purchase some more advanced materials that might take you longer to work through. (For example, the multiplatinum series is 26 hours of video).

Get ProTools Reference Guide (from Digidesign), skip the middle men...

Hi guys, it's funny, but the comments above are exactly why we made the Multi-Platinum series.

When it comes to simply learning "software", honestly, like several guys said, just using the reference guide or books from the library will net you actually more than most software tutorials.

That's why the Multi-Platinum DVD's don't teach Pro Tools.

You are basically sitting down with the real songs, mixing, editing, tuning, comping, & producing the actual tracks, in real time, with these major producer/engineers.

Of course you'll pick up lots of software techniques in the process, but that's not the focus. The focus is on how, why and when this engineer compresses a bass to fit into the low end, or how to make the vocal pop out of this particular track, or how to micro-pocket the tracks to make them punch harder than ever.

These guys have credits from Lenny Kravitz to Keith Urban, to Megadeth to the BeeGees. They have literally worked on it all and are showing you how they do it on real songs.

Over the 30+ hours of the complete series, you'll produce, mix and master several songs in a variety of genres, and the videos are hi-def, with the included actual sessions, to boot.

All that to say, if you just want to learn PT, use a book, watch the hours of FREE videos on our site, or check out our $10 platinum labs video to get up to speed.

When you're ready to actually start advancing your producing and mixing skills hands on, that's what the rest are for.

Hope thats a helpful clarification.
Nathan
Multi-Platinum Production
multiplatinumprotools.com