Optimizing Pro Tools for Professional Performance

Posted on June 26, 2025 by Dr. Mitchell

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been upgrading my Pro Tools system and studio workflow. If you’re setting up a new system — whether you’re a musician, educator, or audio professional — I want to share the steps I used to tune my rig for professional-level performance.

My system now runs effortlessly — even with large sessions and demanding sample libraries — and I hope this guide helps you do the same.

🎼 My System:

Mac mini (2024) M4 — 24 GB RAM
macOS Sequoia 15.5
Pro Tools Studio
Universal Audio Volt 2 interface
Native Instruments Komplete Standard 15
Kontakt 7, Reaktor 6, Session Strings 2, and more

🚀 Why This Matters:

A lot of musicians and educators ask:

“How can I keep Pro Tools running fast — even when using big Kontakt libraries or mixing large sessions?”

The key: setting up two external SSDs and tuning Pro Tools to use them properly.

🎛️ My Setup:

SSD #1 — Native Instruments Libraries
SSD #2 — Pro Tools Sessions

✅ Tuning Steps I Followed:

1️⃣ Disk Allocation:
Made sure all Pro Tools tracks are recording to Sessions SSD — no stray files going to internal Mac drive.

2️⃣ Disk Cache:
Set Pro Tools Disk Cache to 8 GB (for M4 Mac mini w/ 24 GB RAM).
Result: playback is smooth, no lag — even with big Kontakt instruments loaded.

3️⃣ Libraries Relocation:
Moved my Kontakt Factory Library, Reaktor Factory Library, Session Strings 2, and other key libraries to SSD #1 — and repaired paths in Native Access.

4️⃣ MIDI & Playback Engine:
Playback Engine set to Volt 2
MIDI working smoothly — both USB and 5-pin MIDI cables tested

5️⃣ Pro Tools Preferences:
Auto-backup enabled
Project Cache verified
Disk Allocation pointing 100% to SSD #2

💻 Final Results:

Pro Tools now runs perfectly stable — even with:
🎼 24+ audio tracks
🎼 Multiple Kontakt instances
🎼 Real-time guitar playing through amp sims
🎼 Large virtual instruments and Reaktor patches

🎙️ Why This Works:

When you separate your sample libraries from your session audio — and tune your Disk Cache and Disk Allocation — Pro Tools and Kontakt can both stream without fighting for disk bandwidth.

This is the same strategy you’ll see in commercial studios — and it works beautifully on a compact Mac mini rig.

🎹 Final Takeaway:

If you’re running Pro Tools on an M-series Mac, and working with:

✅ Big Kontakt libraries
✅ Pro Tools sessions with 24+ tracks
✅ Real-time tracking of vocals or instruments

…then two external SSDs + tuned Disk Cache will give you professional-level performance — and peace of mind.

If this helped you — or if you have questions about setting up your own Pro Tools system — feel free to reach out. I love helping musicians and educators make the most of their gear!

— Dr. David Mitchell 🎼

P.S. I’m happy to share my full tuning checklist — just ask!

The Music Composition Blog Ranks #7 in Feedspot’s Top 20 List

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Dr. Mitchell

A Composer’s Inspiration | The Music Composition Blog

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: The Music Composition Blog has been honored by Feedspot as one of the Top 20 Music Composition Blogs & News Websites to Follow in 2025, securing the #7 spot on their prestigious list. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to providing valuable insights and resources to the music composition community.(Feedspot – 20 Best Compositions Blogs)

Feedspot’s list highlights blogs that consistently deliver high-quality content, and being included among such esteemed company is truly humbling. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Anuj Agarwal and the entire Feedspot team for this acknowledgment.

Over the years, The Music Composition Blog has aimed to be a hub for composers, musicians, and enthusiasts alike. We’ve explored topics ranging from the fusion of classical pieces with unconventional instruments, as in my composition “Clair De Lune with Tibetan Bowls” , to discussions on the evolving landscape of music and technology . Our goal has always been to inspire and inform, bridging the gap between traditional composition techniques and modern innovations.(Clair De Lune with Tibetan Bowls)

This recognition motivates us to continue our mission of sharing knowledge, fostering creativity, and supporting the ever-evolving world of music composition. Thank you to all our readers and supporters for being part of this journey.

Warm regards,

Dr. David Mitchell

Composer, Educator, and Director of Education at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media

Founder, The Music Composition Blog

Tips and Tools for the Modern Composer

“Clair De Lune with Tibetan Bowls” by Dr. David Mitchell

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Dr. Mitchell

In the world of music, inspiration can arise from the most unexpected places. “Clair De Lune with Tibetan Bowls” is a captivating musique concrète composition that invites us to challenge our traditional notions of music. Inspired by a serene moment of meditation, Dr. Mitchell blends the soothing sounds of Tibetan bowls with the timeless melodies of Debussy’s “Clair De Lune.”

Dr. Mitchell’s background in music composition, developed during his studies at the University of Georgia under the guidance of Dr. Leonard (Chic) Ball, played a significant role in shaping this composition. His knowledge of tape techniques allowed him to transform ordinary, everyday sounds into something extraordinary.

This composition’s essence lies in its belief that music can extend beyond the confines of conventional instruments and genres. Drawing inspiration from avant-garde composer John Cage, who challenged the boundaries of what can be considered music, “Clair De Lune with Tibetan Bowls” explores the harmony between the symphony of crickets, Debussy’s timeless beauty, and the harmonic vibrations of Tibetan bowls.

As you listen to “Clair De Lune with Tibetan Bowls,” consider the idea that music is all around us, waiting to be uncovered in the most unexpected places. Embark on a journey of sonic exploration and embrace the simple truth that, indeed, all sounds can be music.

The Future of AI and Music: Democratizing Creation While Protecting Rights

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Dr. Mitchell

The rapid advancement of AI has sparked vigorous debate about its impact on the music industry. While some see its generative capabilities as threatening, I believe AI presents opportunities to empower artists and to help them connect with fans in new ways. However, protections must be in place to safeguard artists’ rights.

As an independent artist myself, I’m excited by AI’s potential to democratize music creation. Emergent tools can help artists expand our sound palettes and reach a wider fan base typically only accessible by artists signed to major labels. Rights holders like Universal Music Group (UMG) stand to profit too by licensing their catalogs. But they must ensure fair revenue sharing so independent artists thrive. UMG is working with Google owned YouTube and its new Content ID software to responsibly make its vast catalog available to independent artists through its new text-to-music software, MusicLM.

AI-generated content also exposes risks if platforms don’t protect artists’ rights. Musicians should control where and how their work is used. Services like YouTube must expand copyright protections and give us tools to manage AI use of our catalogs.

I recently shared some of my own experimentation with AI music generators on the Human Driven AI podcast. This conversation includes music samples and the prompts used to create them, as well as discussions around the opportunities and limitations of AI music generators.

The music industry weathered disruption from Napster by ultimately embracing change. With care and vision, AI can fuel a new creative renaissance. As an independent artist, I’m cautiously optimistic about collaborating with AI in ways that are artist-empowering. But we must stay vigilant in safeguarding our rights and artistic intentions.

What opportunities or risks do you see AI presenting for the music industry? I welcome perspectives from fellow artists as we navigate this unfolding technology together. There are challenges ahead but also much potential for creative innovation. By joining in constructive dialogue, we can shape an AI-powered future that serves all artists.

“Vanishing Points” for MAX/Jitter

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Dr. Mitchell

“Vanishing Points” is my latest real-time interactive MAX/Jitter patch. It was inspired by the event horizon associated with black holes in deep space.

This piece is improvised using a MAX patch and Jitter video processing software. Mouse movements control the sine wave glissandi, while the synth sounds are created using a MIDI controller and computer keyboard rewired into Ableton.

The audio texture is created with delay pipes that are controlled via the pitch wheel and computer keyboard. The direction, velocity and tilt of the video pixels is controlled by the velocity and MIDI note information from the MIDI controller and computer keyboard.

Here’s what the presentation mode looks like:

Here’s what the patch itself looks like: