Slave Sessions – Outgoing

These guidelines are for sessions being prepared to be sent out as Slaves. They are usually reduced track versions of the Master that are satellite sessions used for
overdubbing (e.g. strings, backgrounds) or editing tracks (e.g. vocal comping). The
completed work is then imported back into the Master session. The following are in
addition to applicable Master session guidelines.

The Basics

There may be many Slave sessions.
You may create a Slave session for every overdub or editing session
being done outside of the Master session.

Slave sessions should allow receiving users to playback the elements of
the Master session on substantially fewer tracks.
Consolidating a larger session to fewer tracks allows work to be done on
smaller systems and frees up voices to record additional tracks.

Master session elements should be submixed into similar groups (Drums,
Keys, etc.) or individual tracks (Bass, Lead Vocal), and are often printed
with effects.
The submixed tracks, also known as stems, should give the receiving
engineer a good sounding mix with the ability to re-balance major
elements depending on the work being done.

The receiving users should easily be able to hear the mix of the Slave
tracks exactly the way you hear them.
The stems (submixes) should be printed so when their faders are all set to
the same level (e.g. all set to –5 dB) they can hear your mix. Otherwise,
use a single volume automation breakpoint to show the intended balance.
The level can also be noted in the comments.

The submixes should allow the receiving users to hear the parts blended
so they can make proper musical decisions for overdubs.
If they can't hear the chord changes, rhythm, bass, etc. properly you may
get back parts that will not work in the final mix.

When Creating A New Slave Session

The session should be labeled with the song title, a description of its
purpose, and the word "Slave" (e.g. "Song Title-String Slave").
This communicates that this is not the Master and does not contain all the
original tracks, as well as what job is intended for the session. The same
convention is used with tape.

Consider the receiving system so the Slave will open properly.
By enforcing Mac/PC compatibility and keeping the track count at 24 or
less your session will open on all Pro Tools systems.

Make Sure You Have These Elements From The Master Session

Building a Slave session from a cleaned out Master streamlines the process of keeping
many of these very important items:

The start time and frame rate must be the same as the Master's.
Include the tempo map.
This is very important. It can also be imported from the Master session by
checking the box in the lower left hand corner of the Import Track (PT
5.1x) or Import Session Data (PT 6.x) window.

Include the Click plug-in track, or the audio click track. Keep at top of
session if possible (shown or hidden)
A click should be with every session, especially Slaves.

Include the Memory Location markers.

Include key and modulation information in Get Info...

Include separate reference tracks of the instruments the session is being
sent out to have overdubbed if applicable.
This is so the part being replaced (e.g. synth strings with real strings) can
be referenced and muted during the overdub session.

Slave Sessions – Returning

These guidelines are for sessions being returned to the Master session containing the
completed work to be imported into the Master. These are in addition to applicable
Master session guidelines.

The final results of all work done in the Slave sessions should be
transferred back to the Master session.
This is the key to keeping track of all the final elements of the production
and the same convention used with tape reels.

Return all the tracks that were in the Slave session when you received it.
This is very important to confirm the sync of the new tracks, and so the
new tracks can be heard together with the Slave’s original tracks exactly
as they were when the work was done.

Make sure the session start time and frame rate are the same as when you
received the session, or note in the Session Info Document if not.
Very important when importing the tracks back into the Master.

Clearly label in the comments and list in the Session Info Document all
tracks to import back into the Master session.
To eliminate any questions.

Make note of changes or edits done to the original tracks of the Slave in the
comments, as well as the Session Info Document, so they can be imported
or reproduced in the Master.
While working, changes are sometimes done to individual tracks,
submixes, or the entire song structure of the original Slave tracks that
must be imported or reproduced in the Master when the new tracks are
imported.

Include your name and contact information in the Session Info Document
incase the receiving studio has any questions.


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