Specifications

Pro Tools Reference Guide518
• Process audio with an AudioSuite plug-in
• Automation editing
There are a few things that cannot be changed
while Pro Tools plays, as noted in relevant topics.
Track Material
Each time you record or import audio, video, and
MIDI, Pro Tools creates clips for the new track
data, which not only indicate where the material
begins and ends, but also provides visual feedback
on its general character and content. When you re-
cord additional takes, or “punch in” on a specific
location within a track, Pro Tools creates addi-
tional clips.
Clips are also created by cutting and pasting, resiz-
ing, separating, and re-capturing existing clips.
Clips in a session are listed in the Clip List, where
they can be dragged to existing tracks. A track can
contain any number of clips, in any arrangement.
The order and location of clips in a track define its
playlist.
In addition to audio and MIDI clips, tracks provide
automation playlists of any automation data (such
as volume and pan). Automation can be recorded
and edited in the Mix, Edit, and MIDI Editor win-
dows (see Chapter 44, “Automation”).
Clip Types
There are different types of audio and MIDI clips,
based on how they are created:
Whole-File Audio Clips These audio clips are cre-
ated when recording or importing audio, consoli-
dating existing clips, and when nondestructively
processing with an AudioSuite plug-in. Whole-file
audio clips reference an entire audio file that re-
sides on your hard drive. Whole-file audio clips are
displayed in bold in the Clip List (see Chapter 15,
“The Clip List”). Normal clips often reference
only a portion of the parent audio file and are cre-
ated in the course of editing and, in some instances,
when punch recording or loop recording.
User-Defined Clips These are clips that are explic-
itly defined, such as when you record or import au-
dio or MIDI; capture, separate, or consolidate a se-
lection; trim a whole-file audio clip; or rename an
existing clip.
Auto-Created Clips These clips are automatically
created in the course of editing, and, in some in-
stances, when punch recording over existing clips.
Since these clips can accumulate rapidly in a ses-
sion, you can hide them in the Clip List. Auto-cre-
ated clips can be turned into user-defined clips by
renaming them.
Offline Clips Clips are offline when their parent
files cannot be located, or are not available, when
opening a session or importing a track. Offline
clips appear in the Clip List as italicized and
dimmed; they appear in playlists as light blue clips
with italicized names. Offline clips can be edited
like other clips, but they cannot be processed with
AudioSuite plug-ins.
For information on video clips, see
Chapter 51, “Working with Video in
Pro Tools.”
For more information, see “Naming and Dis-
playing Clips in the Clip List” on page 280.