User`s guide

Chapter 21: Automation 293
About Thinning
Thinning automatically reduces the overall
number of breakpoints in the automation
playlist in order to improve system perfor-
mance. The amount of thinning applied is
determined by the Degree of Thinning set-
ting in the Automation Preferences. When
using high amounts of thinning, the result-
ing automation may differ noticeably from
the original automation moves. Thinning
only applies to audio tracks, and does not
affect MIDI tracks. For more information,
see “Thinning Automation” on page 299.
About AutoMatch
When you write automation in Auto
Touch Mode, if you release a fader during
playback, Pro Tools returns to the level of
any automation still on the track by ramp-
ing up or down over a certain amount of
time, called the AutoMatch Time. This time
value is set in the Automation Preferences.
The AutoMatch feature works with contin-
uous controls (such as Volume or Pan) by
ramping their values back to previously au-
tomated levels. There are some stepped
controls (for example, the EQ type in the 1-
band EQ Plug-In) that provide more than
two discrete steps over their operational
range. AutoMatch has no effect on these
controls.
AutoMatch Indicators
There are triangular AutoMatch indicators
at the bottom left of each channel strip in
the Mix window. These indicate the direc-
tion you need to move a fader in order to
match the original automation level of that
fader.
Viewing Automation
Pro Tools creates a separate Playlist for each
type of automation you write. This data
can be viewed and edited in the same way
as audio and MIDI data.
To show automation data:
■ Click the Track Display Format selector
for a track and choose the type of automa-
tion data to view from the pop-up menu.
Triangular AutoMatch Indicators on a channel strip
Displaying automation data