LAB FIVE PROTOOLS IN DEPTH

MORE PROTOOLS REFERENCE

Here are some more useful features in ProTools. Use this section (and
sections like it) as references for further rumination. Dont feel that
you need to understand these concepts completely and use them.

DEALING WITH SUCCESSIVELY

PROCESSED FILES
As has been pointed out, ProTools creates new audio files during
AudioSuite processing and gives them somewhat enigmatic names.
The naming process gets even more cumbersome when you begin
processing an already processed file.
For example, using a low pass filter on a region named file
creates a new file named file-DE1A-00 (really!). Because a lot of
energy is lost in the process, normalization has to be used on this file,
and it creates the following file: file-DE1A-00-NORM-00. Wonder
what this new file sounds like backwards? Applying the Reverse
process creates file-DE1A-00-NORM-00-RVRS-00. Confusing?
This naming problem is further complicated by the fact that all
the files remain in the Audio Region List and within the Audio
Files folder of your current session. If you try a process out and
dont like the result, the produced audio files will remain in both
places! Getting rid of these extra and unwanted files will be
discussed in a later lab.
Get into the habit of renaming your files immediately after
you process them, using succinct and descriptive names.
Renaming a Region
Renaming a region in ProTools is easy: just double-click on either
the region itself (within a track) or on the region name in the Audio
Region List. This will bring up the Name dialogue box.

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The Name dialogue box.

The two different options determine whether only the region is

renamed or whether both the region and the audio file itself are
renamed. Note that the second option is available only if the region
is an entire audio file (which was not the case in the first project).
Managing the Audio Region List will be discussed in later labs.

SHUFFLE, SPOT, SLIP,

AND GRID MODES
ProTools offers several modes, or methods, of moving regions
within the Edit window.

The Mode control in the upper left corner of the Edit window.
The modes are Shuffle, Spot, Slip, and Grid, and they
determine what happens when you select a region, or try to move a
region.
Shuffle
Shuffle places the region butt-end to the previous region in the
botrack. If it is the first region in the track, it places it right at the
start of the track (time 0:00.0).
This mode is useful if you are constructing loop-based
material and want one region to follow directly after another.
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Spot
Spot allows you to move the region to a specific spot. Once you
have dragged the region to a new location, the following dialogue
box appears:

Spot region dialogue box.

Enter a time in the Start box to place the region at that location.
If you want to have the region end at a certain time, enter that
time in the End box. Ignore the other information for now.
This mode is useful if you want a region to occur at a specific
time: for example, as a sound effect.
Slip
Slip is the default mode, which allows you to move the region
freely.
Grid
Grid forces regions to align their start points to a grid when they
are moved. The grid in ProTools is identical to those found in
graphics applications; any movement of an object, or region in our
case, will be forced to begin on a grid point.
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This grid is determined in the Grid pop-up menu:

The potential values for grid alignment.

You can find it by clicking on the Grid menu button at the top
right of the Edit window:

This mode is useful if you are creating rhythmic music and

want the regions to be spaced at even start points.

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If you set ProTools to display Bars and Beats using the Display
menu (below), the grid points change to metric units (above).

If you want the Spot mode to work in Bars and Beats display,
you must select Identify Beat from the Edit menu. It tells ProTools
what to consider a beat (a relative measurement of time).

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MAKING A COPY OF A REGION

Using the same audio file two or more times within a session does
not increase the size of the session (at least, not by a noticeable
amount). Thats because ProTools references the audio files (regions)
contained within it rather than copying data into its own document.
Thus, it is very easy to create multiple copies, or references, to
the same audio file.
Copying a Region
The easiest way to copy an existing (unedited) region, is to drag
another version of it from the Audio Region List. When you select a
region in a track, that region becomes highlighted, making it easy
to drag another version into a track.
Another way is to copy a region from within a track. To use
this method, select the region and drag it to a new location while
holding the Option key down. The original region will remain in
its place, and a new region will be created where you dragged it.
You can also duplicate a region by selecting Duplicate from
the Edit menu. The duplicated region will be placed immediately
after the source region in the same track. This is different from the
Duplicate plug-in, found under the AudioSuite menu, which creates
new audio files based upon the selection.

RENAMING A REGION
IN THE REGION LIST
When ProTools creates regions (e.g., during the Separate Region
command), it provides a name, based upon the original region, and
a number. While this name is useful in determining which is the
original region, it may not describe the new region very well
(particularly if you want to use it as an independent region).
For this reason, ProTools allows you to rename regions within
the Region List.

To Rename a Region that Exists within the Region List

Select Rename Selected . . . from the Region Lists Audio pop-up
menu.

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The Name Region dialogue boxes will be presented. Type in a

descriptive name.

The region will be renamed in the Region List.

Note that this process is different from renaming regions
created after an AudioSuite process (it lacks the option to rename
the disk file). The reason is that in the case above, the region was
only a reference to a longer audio file; you cannot change the name
of the audio file on disk unless the file consists of the entire region.
You can tell the difference between regions that are portions of
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longer audio files and regions that are entire audio files by looking
at the Region List: those that are displayed in bold are complete
audio files; those that are not are partial audio files.

MOVING REGIONS TO A SPECIFIC LOCATION

THE SELECTION DISPLAY
Spot mode allows you to move a region to an exact point within a
track. However, sometimes you want to move a region to an exact
point in time without changing modes first; for instance, when you
are in the middle of dragging a region.
The current location of a selected region is displayed in the
Location window within the Edit window.

The Edit windows Location display

Located at the top of the Edit window, to the right of the Tools
Display, a regions current location in terms of start time, end time,
and length is displayed. This information is updated as you drag
the file within the window.
Note that this is simply a method of determining the current
location; the actual resolution of time positions in which you can
place a region will depend upon the current zoom state. Zooming
in will allow for finer resolutions.

SELECTION METHODS
ProTools offers several methods of selecting regions. You are
already familiar with the Selector and Grabber tools.

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ZoomerSelecting this tool and clicking and dragging it over

a portion of a track will cause the display to zoom in to that
location.
TrimmerThis tool allows you to shorten (or lengthen a
shortened) region. Click and drag the cursor over the left or right
portion of the region.
Trimming does not affect the actual audio file; instead, it affects how
this region will play.

Note that trimming a region will create a new region in the

Region List.
SelectorSelect a portion of the region for editing or
playback. To select the same portion in multiple tracks, Shift click
on another track once one selection has been made.
GrabberWith this tool, regions can be selected and moved
according to the current mode (Slip, Shuffle, Spot, or Grid).
ScrubberListen to a region by scrubbing (playing a short
region at a slower speed). To scrub, click and drag over the region.
PencilWhen you zoomed in on a region so that a high level
of detail is displayed, the Pencil tool becomes active. This tool
allows you to alter data destructively within the audio file itself.
This is not advisable! It can also be used to hand draw automation
data, which will be covered in Lab Six.

INDIVIDUAL TRACK CONTROLS

Each audio track has certain controls available that determine
whether the track will play or not, and what is displayed in the
tracks portion of the Edit window.
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1.

Solo buttonIf it is selected, the track is sent directly to the

output.
Any non-soloed tracks are not heard.

Several tracks can be combined through individual solo

button selections.
2.

Mute buttonIf this button is selected, the track is muted and

will not be heard. If both the solo and mute buttons are
depressed, the mute button will override the solo button.

3.

WaveformThis button determines what is displayed in the

track display (see below).

Displaying Blocks
These display the regions without drawing the waveform. The
benefit is that this speeds up screen redrawing.

Track display set to Blocks.

Displaying Waveform
This is the default display, showing the names of the regions and a
graphic representation of their contents.

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The same track display set to Waveform.

Displaying Volume
This display shows the automation envelope for the tracks volume
control. We will discuss this further in Lab Six.

The track display set to show volume information.

Note that the region cannot be moved in this display mode.

Displaying Pan
This display shows the automation envelope for the tracks
panning control. This will also be discussed in Lab Six.

The track display set to display panning information.

Note that the region cannot be moved in the Pan display mode.

Editing volume and panning data will be discussed in next

weeks lab.
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THE TRACK SIZE DISPLAY

Each track within a ProTools session can be displayed at one of five
sizes: mini, small, medium, large, and jumbo.
Changing the Track Size Display
Click and hold on the track size bar, located between the track
controls and the waveform display of the track.

A pop-up menu will appear, allowing you to select one of the

five display sizes.

The Track Size pop-up menu.

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Four tracks, containing the same region, viewed as mini

(Audio 1, blue), small (Audio 2, green), medium (Audio 3, red),
and large (Audio 4, purple).
Notice that the individual track controls are altered in size as
well. The controls are not even visible for the mini view.

THE TIMELINE
The timeline, found at the top of the Edit window, indicates the
time scale currently in use.

Changing the view via the Zoom controls will change how
much of the file is visible and thus change the timeline.

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