Help with Protools & DFHS setup??

[Mr Durden]

My name is Pete, from Detroit Rock City. I'm a musician/song writer who fooled himself into thinking that Protools was going to be easy to learn. What the hell was I thinking??

I just dumped a ton of cash on everything that I needed to get started on my path to digital home recordings. Begining with the Line 6 PODXT Pro, MBox2 with Protools LE, Yamaha studio monitors, a few condenser mics for my singer, M-audio 49-key rig, and to top it all off, I probably chose one of the more complicated drum softwares... DFHS. I built a PC running only WinXP with an Intel quad-core 2.9Ghz Processor - 160Gb internal (C:drive) ;500Gb external (E:drive) Both are SATA hard-drives - 4Gb DD3 RAM.

I installed Protools on my C: according to the manual and optimized my pc as recommended. I then installed DFHS on C: according to its manual. I couldn't properly install the M-Audio midi-controller. Still can't figure out why other than the fact that I'm retarded. Regardless, I think I bit off way more than I can chew because I know absolutely nothing about midi-sequencing or even opening a plug-in for that matter. I need some serious guidance as far as being able to put together a solid drum track.

My original plan was to purchase a Roland V-drum kit and play the parts myself to a click, but the space was limited and I got turned onto the idea of DFH. Haha...even setting up my Line6 interface was a challenge. I figured out how to record the guitar signal, but it didnt sound the same during playback. Some one recommended using S-PDIF, but I couldnt get that to work either. I am so overwhelmed right now, that I'm seconds away from busting out the good ol' Marantz 4-track cassette tape recorder. I have a Protools book, but I just don't understand the lingo. I'm too a.d.d. LOL!!

If anyone has actually made it through this pathetically long, digital cry for assistance, can anyone please help me start from square one?!? I would greatly appreciate any guidance![/

[RoyJeeBiv]

hey man --

well, i guess first off, don't panic. PT can be a little daunting at first, but it'll come naturally the more you use it.

to start off, you may wanna pick up the Pro Tools 101 Guide...
Amazon.com: Pro Tools 101: Official Courseware: Digidesign: Books
this is the first book used in PT Certification -- i'm Operator Certified, so i can speak for its uses. after 101, if you can get your hands on a Pro Tools 110 guide, which it doesn't look like you can buy straight from any book dealer, that will also help in getting the basics of PT down.

i'd also try looking into the Power! Guide...ver 7, no doubt:
Amazon.com: Pro Tools 7 Power!: The Comprehensive Guide (Power!): Colin MacQueen, Steve Albanese: Books
while i can't speak for this book, i've used the Power! Guide for Ableton Live, and it was fantastic.

those might be able to help you just getting the program down.

i dunno why your controller won't work...as i understand the 49key-rig should just install itself via USB...M-Audio should have a support section on their site, maybe you can install a driver from the site?? (are you sure it's not installed, or can you just not access it in PT??)

and i don't know DFH, but i can try to talk you through the process. let me know where you're at, and i can help you from square one. what do you want to accomplish??

(try this -- create a new stereo instrument track, and insert DFH. i assume you can load up a kit or something...then record enable the track by clicking the 'R' -- it should be flashing red now. viewing the track/sequencer, you should be able to click on the piano keys to audition the sounds of the drums -- usually starting on C0 or C1 -- or, if your MIDI controller is working, try using it. if you can't physically play it through the keyboard, you can draw in the MIDI data on the sequencer with the pencil tool.
i dunno if that made any sense, but if it did, awesome...if it didn't, write back and let us know where you're at, we'll talk you through it.)

[Mr Durden]

Hey man, thanks for the advice. I want to try that asap to see where I get, but I'm encountering a new problem. I just started the system up and windows popped the 'found new hardware' wizard for the m-box. I clicked cancel, but is it supposed to that everytime I reboot?

[RoyJeeBiv]

it's funny you mention that...i'm in the process of moving and moved my computer out to my living room, and got the same message from my Mbox. for me, it happens if i plug the USB into a different port than it was originally used on. i'm sure there's a reason for it, but if you can get PT to launch, it's all good...if you launch PT, and it "can't find the hardware" try a different USB port, or just use the Wizard again.

[Mr Durden]

Yup, that's what I figured too, I just moved everything and used a different port. PT recognizes the key rig and I figured out how to open dfh, but I still need to set the path to the samples which doesnt seem like it should be such a pain in the ass.

[RoyJeeBiv]

awesome...good luck with getting everything set up, and again, if you run into any roadblocks, let us know.

have fun!!