User guide

Tracktion 4 Reference Manual
91
3.6 : The Transport Section
The Main Transport Section Controls
The horizontal bar that runs across the top of the transport
section (Fig. 3.6.1) is called the tempo and timecode bar.
The top-left-hand corner of the transport section contains
the ext mtc button. When this button is activated, Tracktion will
begin chasing MIDI Timecode from an external MIDI device.
Timecode chasing is detailed in Chapter Six.
To the right of the ext mtc button, you will see the current
tempo, time signature, key, and nally, the play-head cursor
position. You can manually alter the play-head cursor position
by editing these values.
Clicking on the tempo, time signature, or key will display
its properties in the properties panel. These functions are de-
scribed in Chapter Six.
The two “A” buttons below the tempo, toggle automation read mode and automation record mode re-
spectively. Automation is detailed in Chapter Seven.
Automation read: When this button is active, Tracktion will play automation curves, otherwise they will
be ignored.
Keyboard shortcut: H.
Automation record: When this button is active, any changes made to automatable parameters while
playback is active will be recorded.
Keyboard shortcut: Y.
The next ve buttons provide standard tape-deck style play, record, rewind, backward, and forward
functions.
Play: This buttons toggles whether playback is active.
Keyboard shortcut: SPACE.
Record: This button starts recording from all armed input devices.
Keyboard shortcut: R.
Rewind to zero: This button moves the play-cursor back to the start of the selected clip, or the start of
the edit (whichever comes rst).
Keyboard shortcut: HOME.
Rewind/fast-forward: These two buttons move the play-head cursor backwards or forwards through
the edit. A single click moves the play-head to the next snapping location. Holding either of these but-
tons down causes Tracktion to scroll through the edit until the button is released.
The next series of buttons control various aspects related to playback and record:
Loop: When this option is active, playback will cycle through the region set by the in and out markers. If
loop mode is active when recording, the record behaviour be dependent on the current recording mode.
Chapter 5.3 discusses the recording modes, including looped recording mode.
Keyboard shortcut: L.
Punch: When in punch mode, recording is only active during the time that the play-head cursor is
between the in and out markers. Note, punch mode cannot be used at the same time as loop mode.
Chapter 5.3 discusses the recording modes, including punched recording mode.
Keyboard shortcut: P.
Figure 3.6.1