Video: Smart tool and Edit Modes in Pro Tools LE March 13, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digital home recording studios , trackbackAfter you’ve watched the Pro Tools video on edit tools, this video will show you the smart tool (which combines the trim, selector, and grabber tools). Then, I show you the different edit modes of Pro Tools and how to apply them (Shuffle, Spot, Slip, Grid, and Relative Grid). When you are done watching this video you will know how to use the smart tool and the different edit modes in Pro Tools.
Transcript
In this video from The Studio Files .com, we are going to talk about the smart tool (also known as the super tool) and we are going to talk about the edit modes in Pro Tools. Let’s talk about the smart tool. You can access it by clicking this button [in the edit window], or by clicking F6+F7+F8 on your keyboard. The smart tool is great because its actually all the tools, all at once. It depends on where you put your mouse. Let’s take this kick drum sample here. If I put my mouse on the edge of the region, the trim tool is selected. And, with that, I can trim the edge. If I put my mouse in the top half of the waveform, I get the selector tool. If I put my mouse in the bottom half of the waveform, I get the grabber tool, which I can move regions with, or if I double-click, I can rename the region. The other feature of the smart tool is that if you put your cursor in the upper corner of either side of a waveform, you can make a fade (without having to highlight or use a hotkey). Its a great tool. You have to get used to it so you know where to put your mouse to get the right tool, but its REALLY fast once you get used to it. Plus, if you are using the single zoom (F5), once you make your zoom, it will switch back automatically to the smart [super] tool. There are four different edit modes, but within Grid mode, there are two options. Shuffle mode “shuffles” the audio. All Pro Tools edit modes pretty much do what they are labeled. In shuffle mode, if I move an audio region, it will shuffle positions with the region after it. Notice how those two switched. I’m going to shuffle them back. Its very useful if you want to keep all your audio waveforms together. Let’s talk about spot mode. Although its mostly used in conjunction with film, its a great feature to be able to specify exactly where you want audio regions placed. Watch what happens when I click on a region. The spot dialog box opens. Now you can tell Pro Tools where to put this region based on mic/sec, bars/beats, or samples. You won’t use this too often if you are tracking bands or composing with virtual instruments, but its a very handy tool. Slip mode is used to move audio around (much like shuffle and grid), but there is no grid and the waveforms don’t shuffle. As I move this, notice there is no grid, and I can move things wherever I want. You will likely end up in slip mode a majority of the time, its probably the most common edit mode. Let’s talk about grid mode. There are actually two types of grid mode. There’s absolute grid and relative grid. First, let’s talk about absolute grid. With grid mode, you need to set a grid amount, which I have here set to a quarter note. Let’s change that to 1/16 note. Notice how the appropriate bars on my grid appeared. When I move this region, the edge of the region locks into the grid mode (moving it from its original orientation). With relative grid, its slightly different. Regions will move with the grid, but they will stay in their relative positions. So take this waveform right here. Notice how this edge is not on the grid line. If I moved it in absolute grid mode, that edge would be moved to the nearest grid marker. But in Relative Grid mode, when you move the region, it keeps its relative position away from the grid. So, that is a quick introduction to the smart tool (aka the super tool) and edit modes in Pro Tools.
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The Studio Files
Comments»
hey whats up connor nice vid i had a question tho?? what mode would be the best mode to be in , or use if im copying and pasting a chorus to the same track but diff time zone up the line thanks, djhess
I’d probably just use grid mode, or relative grid.
Maybe take a screenshot of the problem? That might make it easier to diagnose.
Good luck!
hey connor , will absolute or relative grid effect beat detective editiing or crossfades? , because i am trying to remove pops and clicks from punched in auido/copy and pasted parts of a song , on a bassline copying perfect parts over?? tried everything cant get rid of em =(