Specifications

Pro Tools Reference Guide522
Guidelines for Editing
Waveforms
With the Selector tool in the Edit window, you can
select portions of audio waveforms and divide
them into segments called clips, so that you can re-
arrange and manipulate them in tracks.
While editing musical material, try to create clips
that let you maintain a consistent beat. If you al-
ways define clips so that they contain a whole
number of beats, you will be able to string the clips
together and maintain a smooth, steady rhythm.
It is sometimes useful to have a steady, well-de-
fined reference waveform (such as a drum track or
click track) as a guide when selecting and defining
other clips. If you have played in time with the
beat, it should be easier to create rhythmically ac-
curate clips by referring to the reference wave-
form.
Some important rules to keep in mind when
defining clips:
Whenever possible, begin a clip precisely
before a volume peak, and end it immediately be-
fore another volume peak.
Whenever possible, make sure a clip starts and
ends on exactly the same part of a beat.
Use the following Pro Tools features to help
you edit rhythmic material or audio with clear tran-
sients into precise clips:
Tab to Transients (see “Tabbing to Transients”
on page 576
.)
Editing to a Grid (see “Grid Mode” on page 537)
Beat Detective (see Chapter 30, “Beat Detec-
tive”)
Avoiding Clicks and Pops
If an edited clip begins or ends at a point of high
amplitude, you may hear a click when Pro Tools
plays from one clip to another. In order to avoid
clicks or pops do any of the following:
Make sure that the start and end points of your
selection are as close as possible to the point where
the amplitude of the waveform tapers down to
meet the zero-crossing line (the center line of the
track’s waveform display). If necessary, use the
zooming tools in the Edit window (see “Zooming
Options” on page 540) to display waveforms in
greater detail.
Apply a crossfade between clips where a click
or pop occurs. See “Creating a Crossfade” on
page 621 for details.
With Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools with Com-
plete Production Toolkit, use the AutoFade feature
to apply real-time fade-ins/outs to all clip boundar-
ies that do not touch or overlap other clips. See
“Using AutoFades” on page 622 for details.
Selection that begins and ends at zero crossings