Automation
I am sure many of us automate plug-in settings by clicking on the Auto button in the plug-in window, selecting the parameter, adding it to the list and clicking OK, then selecting the correct parameter on the audio track, missing it in the list by mistake and having to try again! For us, there is a really useful shortcut. It turns automation on for your chosen plug-in parameter and switches to the automation data display on the track in two very quick and easy steps…
To turn automation on
Ctrl+Option+Command-click (PC: Ctrl+Start+Alt-click) on the plug-in parameter.
To switch that track to display automation data for a given parameter, Ctrl+Command-click (Ctrl+Start-click) on the plug-in parameter.
That’s it! Now you are ready to edit the automation graphically.
Adding Breakpoints
To add breakpoints (or anchors) in any graphical automation you can click with with the Grabber tool, but there are alternatives. On the Mac, you can use Option+’/', which is really nice, as there is a ‘/’ key above the right-hand Option key on most keyboards (this appears to be an HD only option – See comments). On the PC, you simply right-click.
To access graphical automation data more easily, you can use Ctrl+Command-click (PC: Ctrl+Start-click) in the Edit or Mix window to change the display as follows:
Ctrl+Command-click on the track name changes display to waveform.
Ctrl+Command-click on the text ‘vol’ in the I/O view changes display to volume automation.
Ctrl+Command-click on the text ‘pan’ changes display to pan automation.
Ctrl+Command-click on the mute button changes display to mute automation.
On the Mac, adding the Option key to any of the above will make the change to all tracks. These shortcuts work on both the Mix Window and the I/O section of the Edit window.
Using The Trim Tool To Fill
Have you ever wanted to trim out a region precisely to a preceding one? Well you can: by holding down the Ctrl (PC: Start) key whilst trimming, Pro Tools will stop at the preceding region’s edge. This works with the Trim tool in TC/E mode, too, thus enabling you to precisely fill or stretch to fit a gap. Neat!
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Mike is Pro Tools genius and an award winning ‘audiomeister’, defined as ‘a person of great skill and authority in sound’. His vast array of credits include music (from classical to rock), drama and documentaries across all the BBC Radio networks, as well as audio post production for video and TV, ‘new media’, live sound, commercial CDs, DVDs and podcasts, helping clients tell their stories with sound. He has been described as "an oasis of calm in a stormy creative world"; "quick, creative & easy to work with"; "always going the extra mile"; and "invests himself in the success of your project"’.
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March 28, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Are you this one works:
” On the Mac, you can use Option+’/’, which is really nice, as there is a ‘/’ key above the right-hand Option key on most keyboards. On the PC, you simply right-click.”
I can seem to get to drop a breakpoint with shortcut. I am using the multi-tool, keyboard-focus, and I can’t seem to get it to work. Any thoughts
March 29, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Hi Michael,
I have just checked and with the Smart Tool and Keyboard Focus both on, I click to place the cursor and then use Option + / and an anchor is placed at the cursor position providing the track is showing automation.
Sorry I cannot shed any other light on what isn’t working. I am using Pro Tools HD with 8.0.1 software.
March 30, 2010 at 12:43 am
Must be HD only
April 4, 2010 at 8:47 am
You are right, it is HD only, I tried it on a client’s LE system and nothing happened.
Thanks again for your feedback.
Mike