Specifications

Chapter 12: Basic Audio Recording 165
Loop Recording Audio
Pro Tools provides a loop recording feature that
allows you to record take after take while the
same section of audio repeats over and over.
This is a convenient technique for quickly re-
cording multiple takes of a part without losing
spontaneity.
When loop recording, you must first specify the
start and end points for the loop. Though there
are several ways to set record and play ranges
(see “Setting Punch/Loop Points” on page 168),
perhaps the easiest is to select within the track’s
playlist the material to be looped.
You can listen to track material up to and after
the loop record range by enabling pre- and post-
roll.
The pre-roll setting, if enabled, is used only dur-
ing the first record pass, and the post-roll set-
ting, if enabled, is used only on the last pass.
Pre- and post-roll times are ignored on each suc-
cessive loop. To compensate for this, you may
want to make the loop range slightly longer.
Later, you can trim back the recorded takes to
the proper length with the Trimmer tool (see
“The Trimmer Tool” on page 267).
When loop recording audio, Pro Tools creates a
single audio file that comprises all takes. Takes
appear as individual regions in the Audio Re-
gions List and are numbered sequentially. Once
you stop recording, you can audition any of the
recorded takes.
To loop record an audio track:
1 Select Operations > Loop Record. When Loop
Record mode is enabled, a loop symbol appears
in the Record button.
2 Record enable the audio track by clicking its
Record Enable button.
3 Make sure to select Operations > Link Edit and
Timeline Selection.
4 With the Selector, drag in the track’s playlist
until the selection encompasses the loop range.
For other methods of setting the record range,
see “Setting Punch/Loop Points” on page 168.
5 To hear track material up to the start point of
the loop, enable and set the pre-roll time. For
details, see “Setting Pre- and Post-Roll” on
page 170.
6 Click Record in the Transport window. When
you are ready to begin recording, click Play.
The Record button flashes during the pre-roll.
When the start point is reached, Pro Tools be-
gins recording. When the end point is reached,
Pro Tools loops back to the start time and con-
tinues playing and recording.
7 To cancel all recorded takes while loop record-
ing, press Control+period (Windows) or Com-
mand+period (Macintosh).
8 When you have finished recording, click Stop
in the Transport window.
If you stop recording before you reach the mid-
point of the loop, Pro Tools discards that take. If
you record more than half of the looped take,
Pro Tools will leave the take in the track when
you stop recording.
To set a record or play range by selecting
within a playlist, the Edit and Timeline se-
lections must be linked (select Operations >
Link Edit and Timeline Selection).
Loop Recording enabled