Chapter 28: Automation. Avid Pro Tools HD 6.9, Pro Tools LE 6.9

Chapter 28: Automation

Pro Tools features dynamic automation of volume, pan, and mute controls for audio tracks,

Auxiliary Inputs, sends, and MIDI tracks, and real-time plug-in controls. Master Fader tracks support volume automation. In Pro Tools, you can write automation moves in real time during playback of your session. You can also edit automation data with the same techniques you use to edit audio and MIDI data.

Automation Accuracy with

Control Surfaces

Digidesign Control Surfaces Digidesign’s D-Control, D-Command, ProControl Control|24, and

Command|8 control surfaces support all automation features in Pro Tools. Digidesign control surfaces provide 10-bit resolution, or 1,024 steps of fader resolution. Pro Tools interpolates this input to 24-bit resolution on playback, resulting in extremely accurate and smooth fader automation.

For details on using Digidesign control surfaces to create mix automation, refer to

your

Digidesign control surface guide

.

MIDI Control Surfaces Most MIDI control surfaces have 7-bit resolution, or 128 steps.

Pro Tools interpolates this input to 24-bit resolution on playback, resulting in extremely accurate and smooth fader automation.

Automation Quick Start

Pro Tools provides many options for recording, replacing, and editing automation data.

The basic steps for automation recording are:

• Enable the automation type that you want to record (volume, pan, mute, send level, send pan, send mute, or plug-in automation).

• Put the appropriate tracks in an automation writing mode (Write, Touch, or Latch, or a

Trim mode).

• If you are automating a plug-in, enable the individual plug-in controls to be automated.

• Automation Safe any plug-ins, outputs, or sends that have existing automation data that you want to protect from being overwritten.

• Begin playback to begin automation recording, and adjust controls as needed. Pro Tools remembers all moves performed on enabled controls.

To edit automation once it has been recorded, you can:

• Repeat the above steps to write new automation over the previous data.

• Graphically edit the automation data in the

Edit window.

• Cut, copy, paste, or delete automation data

(certain restrictions apply).

Chapter 28: Automation 497

Automation Playlists

Each Pro Tools track contains a single automation playlist for each automatable parameter.

On audio tracks, these parameters include:

• Volume

• Pan

• Mute

• Send volume, pan, and mute

• Plug-in controls

On Auxiliary Input tracks, these parameters include:

• Volume

• Mute

• Pan

On Master Faders, these parameters include:

• Volume

On MIDI tracks, these parameters include:

• Volume

• Pan

• Mute

You can display and edit each of these automatable playlists individually from Pro Tools, even during playback.

In addition, you can display and edit other continuous MIDI controller data (such as mod wheel, breath controller, foot controller, or sustain) in a similar manner. For more information

on editing MIDI data, see “Continuous Controller Events” on page 403.

Automation Playlists with Audio and MIDI Regions

Pro Tools handles audio regions and their automation playlists differently from MIDI regions and their automation playlists.

Audio Tracks

On audio tracks, automation data resides on a separate playlist from audio data and regions.

Each edit playlist on an audio track shares the same automation data.

MIDI Tracks

On MIDI tracks, all controller automation data except for Mute data is stored in the MIDI region that contains it. Each edit playlist on a MIDI track is separate, and represents a distinct performance, complete with controller automation.

Mute data is independent of the MIDI data in a MIDI region. This lets you mute playback of individual MIDI tracks in Pro Tools without altering the controller data.

498 Pro Tools Reference Guide

Multiple Edit Playlists and Audio Track

Automation

All edit playlists on a single audio track share the same automation data. When you record or edit automation data in an audio track, the automation data is stored in the track automation playlist so it can be edited with, or independently from, its associated audio regions. (MIDI automation data always follows region editing, with

the exception of mute. See “MIDI Tracks” on page 498 for more information.)

◆ When you copy or cut audio data from a track while it is in Waveform View, the underlying automation data is cut or copied with it.

◆ If you paste audio data from other locations or tracks into an edit playlist, you may change the underlying automation data on the track.

◆ When you trim regions using Edit > Trim, the underlying automation data remains unchanged.

For more information, see “Editing Automation” on page 515.

Duplicating Tracks for Playlist Editing

The Duplicate Selected Track command provides a convenient way to make a working copy of a track to experiment with routing, plug-ins, and automation. This protects the original track and its automation data from being edited or overwritten.

To copy a track for automation:

1 Select the track and choose File > Duplicate

Track. Duplicate Track creates a complete copy of the track, including all routing, plug-ins, and automation.

2 Command-Control-click the Track Type icon, or select that track and choose File > Make Selected Tracks Inactive.

3 Edit automation on the duplicated track.

Automation Modes

Automation modes control how a track’s automation data is written and played back. Each track provides an Automation Mode Selector for selecting the track’s Automation mode.

Off Mode

Off mode turns off automation for all automatable parameters:

• Volume

• Pan

• Mute

• Send volume, pan, and mute

• Plug-in controls

• MIDI volume, pan, and mute

In Off mode, automation data for these parameters is ignored during playback. All other MIDI controller data is sent.

In Pro Tools 6.9, automation can be switched from Off to another Automation mode during playback or record.

Read Mode

Read mode plays the automation that was previously written for a track.


Write Mode

Write mode writes automation from the time playback starts to the time it stops, erasing any previously written automation for the duration of the automation pass. When a Write automation pass stops, it behaves as follows:

Pro Tools LE Systems After an automation pass,

Pro Tools automatically switches from Write mode to Touch mode. This prevents you from accidentally overwriting automation data on later playback.

Pro Tools TDM Systems You can set Write mode to automatically change to Touch mode or

Latch mode (Pro Tools 6.9), or remain in Write

mode. See ““After Write Pass, Switch To” Preference” on page 500 for details.

On Pro Tools TDM 6.9 systems with supported

Digidesign control surfaces, an AutoMatch time can be applied to a Write automation pass. See

“AutoMatch Time” on page 505.

“After Write Pass, Switch To” Preference

In Pro Tools 6.9, the “After Write Pass, Switch

To” preference selects the Automation mode that Pro Tools tracks automatically switch to after an automation pass in Write mode. You can choose to switch to Touch or Latch mode, or stay in Write mode by selecting No Change.

In Pro Tools 6.7.x and lower, this option was called Write Switches to Touch After Pass, and did not support switching to Latch mode.

To configure “After Write Pass, Switch To”

(Pro Tools 6.9):

1 Choose Setups > Preferences and click the

Automation tab.

2 Select an “After Write Pass, Switch To” option

(Touch, Latch, or No Change).

3 Click Done.

Touch Mode

Touch mode writes automation only while a fader or switch is touched or clicked with the mouse. When the fader is released, the writing of automation stops and the fader returns to any previously automated position, at a rate determined by the AutoMatch and Touch Timeout

settings. See “Automation Preferences” on page 504.

In Touch mode, certain control surfaces start writing automation as soon as you touch them.

These include touch-sensitive motorized fader controllers, such as Digidesign’s D-Control, D-

Command, ProControl, Control|24, Digi 002,

Command|8, or the Mackie HUI.

With other control surfaces in Touch mode, writing of automation does not begin until the fader hits the pass-through point , or the previously automated position. Once you reach the pass-through point with the fader, or a nontouch sensitive rotary control, writing of automation begins and continues until you stop moving the fader.


Latch Mode

Latch mode works in the same way as Touch mode, writing automation only if you touch or move a control. However, unlike Touch, writing of automation continues until you stop playback or “punch out” of the automation pass by changing the Automation mode to Read or

Touch.

On Pro Tools TDM 6.9 systems with supported

Digidesign control surfaces, an AutoMatch Time can be applied to a Latch automation pass. See

“AutoMatch Time” on page 505.

Latch mode is particularly useful for automating pan controls and plug-ins on non-touch sensitive rotary controls, since it does not time out and revert to its previous position when you release a control.

See also “Writing Automation to the Start,

End or All of a Selection” on page 524.

AutoJoin with Latch Mode

(Latch Mode with Supported Digidesign

Control Surfaces Only)

Pro Tools provides two different methods to resume writing automation on controls that were active at the point where the transport stopped:

AutoJoin Lets you automatically resume writing automation in Latch mode. AutoJoin can be enabled from a supported Ethernet-based control surface, or from Pro Tools if a supported control surface has been declared.

Join Lets you manually resume writing automation in Latch mode. Join is available only with

Digidesign-supported control surfaces.

To enable AutoJoin from a control surface or manually resume writing with Join, see your control surface guide.

To enable AutoJoin from Pro Tools:

1 Open the Automation Enable window.

2 Click AutoJoin in the Automation Enable window.

AutoJoin button

AutoJoin button in the Automation Enable window

See your control surface guide for details on using Join and AutoJoin with a control surface.

AutoJoin Indicator

After a Latch automation pass with AutoJoin enabled, the AutoJoin indicator appears in the

Pro Tools Edit window.

AutoJoin indicator

AutoJoin indicator in the Edit window


The AutoJoin indicator is a red line that signifies the point where the last automation pass was stopped, and the point where the “join” will automatically occur on all tracks that were writing during that previous pass. When automation writing is resumed from this point, the line disappears.

To use Join or AutoJoin to resume writing on controls that were writing when the transport stopped, restart the transport before the AutoJoin indicator.

Trim Mode

(TDM Systems Only)

Pro Tools TDM systems can adjust (or trim ) existing track volume and send level automation data in real time. Pan and plug-in automation cannot be trimmed in this manner. Trim mode works in combination with the other Automation modes (Read, Touch, Latch, and Write) and is useful when you want to preserve all of your volume automation moves, but need to make levels a bit louder or softer to balance a mix.

When editing automation in Trim mode, fader moves write relative rather than absolute values.

The existing automation data is changed by the amount of increase or decrease (or the delta value) indicated by the faders. When trimming, a track’s Volume indicator or Send Level indicator shows the delta values being written rather than the absolute value.

When Trim mode is enabled, non-trimmable controls behave in the same manner as in the standard Automation modes, with the exception of Write/Trim mode, where non-trimmable controls operate as in Touch mode.

Trim/Off

Trim/Off mode turns off automation and trimming for a track. All automation moves are suspended during playback.

In Pro Tools 6.9, automation can be switched from Trim/Off to another Automation mode during playback or record.

Read/Trim

In Read/Trim mode (Pro Tools 6.9), the volume and send level faders are disengaged from displaying and following existing automation data, so you do not have to chase them during playback. Faders are automatically positioned at

0 dB, where no trimming occurs (they start with a delta value of zero).

In Read/Trim mode (Pro Tools 6.7.x and lower), volume and send faders follow the previously written automation.

In Read/Trim mode, as soon as playback begins, trim moves (delta values) are played back, but are not written to automation data. This lets you audition trim moves without affecting existing automation. Trimming continues until playback stops.

When this mode is enabled, non-trimmable controls (all controls other than track volume and send level) behave as if they are in regular

Read mode—no automation data is written.


Touch/Trim

In Touch/Trim mode (Pro Tools 6.9), when playback begins, the volume and send level faders are disengaged from displaying and following existing automation data, so you do not have to chase them during playback. Faders are automatically positioned at 0 dB, where no trimming occurs (they start with a delta value of zero).

In Touch/Trim mode (Pro Tools 6.7.x and lower), volume and send faders follow the previously written automation.

When one of the faders is touched, real-time trimming begins. Fader moves write delta values

(an increase or decrease in the form of an offset to existing automation data).

When the fader is released, trimming stops and the fader returns to a zero delta or offset value and continues to follow the previously written automation. The rate of the fader’s return to a zero delta value is determined by the Auto-

Match Time specified in the Automation Prefer-

ences page. See “Automation Preferences” on page 504 for more information.

If you apply an AutoMatch Time, the fader will glide out, but the fader position represents the delta being applied to the underlying automation already on the track.


Touch mode—they follow the previously written automation until touched. When they are touched, their absolute positions are written until the control is released or until playback stops.

Latch/Trim

In Latch/Trim mode (Pro Tools 6.9), when playback begins, the volume and send level faders are disengaged from displaying and following existing automation data, so you do not have to chase them during playback. Faders are automatically positioned at 0 dB, where no trimming occurs (they start with a delta value of zero).

In Latch/Trim mode (Pro Tools 6.7.x and lower), volume and send faders follow the previously written automation.

When one of the faders is touched, real-time trimming begins. Any fader moves after trimming begins increase or decrease existing automation data accordingly. Trimming of the touched control continues until playback stops, or until you “punch out” of the record pass by changing the Automation mode to Read or

Touch.



Latch mode—they follow the previously written automation until touched. When they are touched, their absolute positions are written until playback is stopped.


Write/Trim

In Write/Trim mode, the volume and send level faders are disengaged from displaying and following existing automation data, so you do not have to chase them during playback or recording. Faders are automatically positioned at 0 dB, where no trimming occurs (they start with a delta value of zero).

In this mode, as soon as playback begins, delta values are applied to the existing automation data. Trimming continues until playback stops.


When Write/Trim mode is enabled, non-trimmable controls (all controls other than track volume and send level) are not in Write mode, but behave as if they are in regular Touch mode

(no automation is written unless a control is touched). This is to prevent the controls from overwriting all of their automation data on every pass in Trim mode.

In Pro Tools 6.9, “The After Write Pass,

Switch To” setting affects Write/Trim mode. After an automation pass in

Write/Trim mode, Pro Tools tracks automatically switch to the Trim version of the

“After Write Pass, Switch To” setting

(Latch/Trim, Touch/Trim, or Write/Trim).

In Pro Tools 6.7.x and lower, Write

Switches to Touch After Pass does not affect

Trim mode. In Trim mode, tracks do not automatically change from Write/Trim to

Touch/Trim after an automation pass.

Automation Preferences

Pro Tools gives you several options for controlling the writing and playback of automation data.

To display Automation preferences:

■

Choose Setups > Preferences and click the

Automation tab.

Automation Preferences page

For detailed information on Pro Tools Au-

tomation preferences, see “Automation

Preferences” on page 62.

Smoothing

When you perform automation moves with a continuous control, Pro Tools records the move as a series of very small steps, resulting in a staircase pattern with many breakpoints. Smoothing intelligently resolves this staircase pattern into a single, smooth ramp from one breakpoint to the next. (Smoothing does not apply to switched controls such as mutes or plug-in bypasses.)

With smoothing enabled, the resulting automation is often a more accurate representation of actual automation moves.


Thinning

Thinning automatically reduces the overall number of breakpoints in the automation playlist in order to improve system performance.

The amount of thinning applied is determined by the Degree of Thinning setting in the Automation Preferences page. When using high amounts of thinning, the resulting automation may differ noticeably from the original automation moves. Thinning only applies to audio tracks, and does not affect MIDI tracks. For in-

structions, see “Thinning Automation” on page 513.

AutoMatch Indicators

There are triangular AutoMatch indicators at the bottom left of each channel strip in the Mix window. When lit, these indicate the direction the fader will automatically move.

AutoMatch indicator

AutoMatch Time

AutoMatch Time is the amount of time it takes for a fader to return (by ramping up to down) to the level of automation still on the track, as the automation pass ends. This time value is set in

the Automation Preferences page (see “Automation Preferences” on page 504).

An AutoMatch Time is applied to all Touch mode passes.

In Pro Tools 6.9, an AutoMatch Time can also be applied to Latch or Write modes (supported

Digidesign Control Surfaces only). Refer to your control surface guide.

The AutoMatch Time also determines the rate at which delta values written via Trim will return to 0 dB (delta value of zero).

The AutoMatch feature works with continuous controls (such as Volume or Pan) by ramping their values back to previously automated 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.

Triangular AutoMatch indicators on a channel strip

Setting the Automation Buffer

Size

Pro Tools lets you specify the size of the memory buffer used to write automation. If you are working on a large session or writing a very large number of automation moves, you may want to increase this value.

To set the Automation Buffer size:


Automation tab.

2 For the option “Amount of memory to reserve for automation recording,” enter a value between 200 and 20,000K. The default value for a new session is 200K.

3 Relaunch Pro Tools for this change to take effect.


About Processing Bandwidth

Meters in the System Usage window indicate how much of your system’s processing power is being used in processing audio, and when writing and playing back automation. In

Pro Tools LE, these meters show System Activity and CPU Processing Activity; on Pro Tools TDM systems, they show System Activity, PCI Bus Activity, CPU Processing Activity, Disk Activity, and TDM Time Slot usage.

To reduce processing load, try one of the following:

■

Deselect the Faders Move During Playback option in the Automation Preferences page.

■

Reduce the density of automation in places where it shows the most activity. For details, see

“Thinning Automation” on page 513.

■

Turn off Sends View meters, if enabled, in the

Display Preferences page. See “Sends View

Meters” on page 459 for more information.

Processing meters

Automation Safe

Outputs, sends, and plug-ins can be placed in

Automation Safe mode. In Automation Safe mode, any automation associated with an Output window (such as track or send level, panning, or mute), or plug-in on that track, is protected from being overwritten while automating other items on that track.

Meters in the System Usage window (TDM shown)

As these meters approach their limits, recording or playback of automation data may be affected.

If CPU or PCI Activity are high, a System error may occur. If System Activity is high, Pro Tools may miss playback of some of your automation data during particularly dense periods of activity, such as while using the Bounce to Disk command.

For more information, see “Bounce to Disk” on page 536.

Automation Safe enabled

Automation Safe enabled send

Automation Safe mode suspends automation recording for the selected track output, send, or plug-in that is enabled. You can also suspend automation recording and playback sessionwide from the Automation Enable window. See

“Enabling and Suspending Automation” on page 511.


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 View Selector and select from the pop-up menu the automation type you want to view.

2 Make sure the automation type is write-enabled.

Automation Enable window

3 In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector of the track you want to automate, and set the Automation mode. For the initial automation pass, choose Write mode.

Displaying automation data

You can easily toggle between different

Track Views. See “Changing Track Views” on page 216.

Writing Automation

You can write automation for all automatable controls by moving those controls during playback.

To write automation on a track:

1 Choose Windows > Automation Enable.

Setting the Automation mode of a track

You can write automation on more than one track at a time. To do so, set the Automation mode in each track you want to automate.

4 Click Play to begin writing automation.

5 Move the controls you want to automate.

6 When you have finished, click Stop.

After the first automation pass, you can write additional automation to the track without completely erasing the previous pass by choosing Touch mode or Latch mode. These modes add new automation only when you actually

move the control. (See “Automation Modes” on page 499.)


To write additional automation to a previous pass:

1 Enable Operations > Link Edit and Timeline

Selection.

2 In the Edit window, make a selection or place the cursor in the location where you want to start writing automation.

3 In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector of the track you want to automate, and set the Automation mode to

Touch or Latch mode.

You can write additional automation on more than one track at a time. To do so, set the Automation mode in each track you want to automate.




If you write automation in Touch mode with Loop Playback enabled, writing of automation will automatically stop at the end of the looped selection. At the beginning of each successive loop, you can then touch or move the control again to write new data.

Storing an Initial Controller Position

When you create a new audio track, Auxiliary

Input, or MIDI track, it is automatically placed into Read mode. Even though the track is in

Read mode, you can set the initial position of any automatable control, and it is saved with your session.

In this initial state, only a single automation breakpoint appears at the beginning of each automation playlist. If you move the control without writing automation, this breakpoint will move to the new value.

You can permanently store the initial position of an automatable control by doing one of the following:

• Place the track in Write mode and press Play to write a few seconds of automation data to the track

• Manually place a breakpoint on the automation playlist somewhere after the initial break-

point. (See “Graphical Editing of Automation

Data” on page 515 for more information.)

Automating Switched Controls

Pro Tools treats switched controls (such as mutes and plug-in bypasses) as touch sensitive controls. Automation data is written for as long as the switch or button for that control is pressed or touched.

For example, if you have just written a series of mute on/off states on a track in quick succession, the manual method for clearing this automation data would require you to move to the

Edit window, choose automation playlist for

Mute, select the mute automation data, and delete it.

In Pro Tools, it is not necessary to perform all of these steps. Instead, perform another automation pass on the track and hold down the Mute button when it reaches the state you want to remove. For example, when playback gets to the first muted section, the Mute button become highlighted. At this time, press and hold down the Mute button. As long as the button is held down, Pro Tools overwrites the underlying mute data on the track with the current state of the switch (on or off) until playback is stopped.


Automating Sends

Pro Tools provides automation of send level, send mute, and send pan (for stereo and multichannel sends only). This makes it easy to control effects levels and placement during mixdown with great precision.

Send level and mute can also be configured to follow groups.

To automate a send level, mute or pan:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure the automation type is write-enabled (send level, send mute, send pan).

2 In the Mix or Edit window, set the Automation mode for each track containing sends you want to automate. For each track, click the

Automation Mode Selector and set the Automation mode. For the initial automation pass, choose Write mode.

3 To display send controls, do any of the following:

• Select Windows > Mix Window Shows >

Sends View, then click the send to open the

Output window for the send that you want to automate.

• Choose Display > Sends View Shows and select the individual send from the submenu.




Send mutes and levels can also be config-

ured to follow Mix Groups. See “Automation Preferences” on page 504 for informa-

tion.

Copying Track Automation to Sends

(TDM Systems Only)

There may be times where you want a track’s send automation to mirror automation in the track itself, for example, when an effect level needs to follow the levels in a main mix. To do this, you can copy the entire automation playlist for the selected control to the corresponding playlist for the send.

To copy a track’s automation to one of its sends:

1 Select the tracks you want to edit by clicking on the track names to highlight them.

2 Choose Edit > Copy To Send.

Copy To Send dialog

3 In the Copy to Send dialog, select Automation to copy the entire automation playlist for the corresponding controls.


4 Select the controls you want to copy.

5 Select the sends to which to copy the automation, and click OK.

When overwriting automation, Pro Tools presents a confirmation dialog. To suppress this dialog, press Alt (Windows) or Option

(Macintosh) while clicking OK.

You can undo the results of the Copy to Send command (Edit > Undo).

You can also use this keyboard shortcut to open the Plug-In Automation dialog: Control-Alt-Start-click (Windows) or Command-Option-Control-click (Macintosh) any plug-in parameter in the Plug-In window, then choose Open Plug-In Automation dialog from the pop-up menu.

3 Choose the controls to automate and click

Add. If there are multiple plug-ins on the same track, you can select from among these by clicking their buttons in the Inserts section of this dialog.

Automating Plug-Ins

You can automate changes to virtually all controls of the plug-ins included with your

Pro Tools system. Automating a plug-in is slightly different from other automation procedures, because you must enable individual plugin controls for automation.

To enable plug-in controls for automation:

1 Open the Plug-In window for the plug-in you want to automate.

2 Click the Automation Enable button in the

Plug-In window.

Automation Enable

Accessing the Plug-In Automation dialog

– or –

Control-Alt-Start-click (Windows) or Command-Option-Control-click the Track View Selector in the Edit window.

Plug-In automation dialog

4 Click OK to close the Plug-In Automation dialog.

As an alternative to using the Plug-In Automation window, you can enable individual plug-in controls directly from the Plug-In window by Control-Alt-Start-clicking (Windows) or Command-Option-Control-clicking (Macintosh) the control. Refer to the

DigiRack Plug-Ins Guide

or Digidesign Plug-

Ins Guide for more information.


To automate a plug-in:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure plug-in automation is enabled.

2 In the Mix or Edit window, set the Automation mode for each track containing plug-ins you want to automate. For each track, click the

Automation Mode Selector and set the Automation mode. For the initial automation pass, choose Write mode.

3 Click Play to begin writing automation, and move the controls you want to automate.


Record Safing Plug-In Automation

You can protect plug-in automation from being overwritten by using Automation Safe mode.

To enable plug-in safe mode:

1 Open a plug-in.

2 Click the Safe button so that it is highlighted.

Safe enabled

Automation Safe enabled plug-in

Enabling and Suspending

Automation

From the Automation Enable window, you can enable or suspend writing for the following types of automation across all tracks:

• Volume

• Pan

• Mute

• Plug-in

• Send level

• Send pan

• Send mute

Playback of automation can be suspended or unsuspended on-the-fly (without having to stop the transport).

To suspend writing of automation on all tracks:

1 Choose Windows > Show Automation Enable.

2 Do one of the following:

• To suspend writing of all automation on all tracks, click the Auto Suspend button.

• To suspend writing of a specific type of automation on all tracks, click the button for that automation type (volume, mute, pan, plug-in, send level, send mute, or send pan).



Suspending Automation Playback

You can suspend playback of automation for tracks by clicking on the track’s View Selector.

To suspend playback (and writing) of automation for specific controls:

1 In the Edit window, set the Track View Selector to show the automation playlist for the control you want to suspend.


• To suspend writing and playback of automation for only the displayed control,

Control-click (Windows) or Commandclick (Macintosh) the control name in the

Track View Selector.

• To suspend writing and playback of automation for all controls, Control-Shift-click

(Windows) or Command-Shift-click (Macintosh) the name of any control in the

Track View Selector.

• To suspend writing and playback of automation for a specific control on all tracks,

Control-Alt-click (Windows) or Command-

Option-click (Macintosh) the name of the control in the Track View Selector.

Enabling and suspending automation from the Edit window obeys Edit Groups (except for Pan automation). This grouped behavior can be suppressed by Start-clicking

(WIndows) or Control-clicking (Macintosh) the control name.

Automation Enable Guidelines

The following rules determine whether automation is written or played back for a track:

◆ Although Pro Tools shows a single Automation mode for each track, all automatable controls associated with that track are not necessarily in the same Automation mode.

◆ If automation is globally suspended in the Automation Enable window, all automatable controls behave as if they were in Off mode, regardless of the track’s current Automation mode.

◆ If automation for a control is suspended by

Command-clicking (Macintosh) or Controlclicking its name in the Track View Selector, that control behaves as if it were in Off mode, regardless of the track’s current Automation mode.

◆ If automation for a control is suspended in the Automation Enable window, that control behaves as if it is in Read mode when the track is in a recordable Automation mode (Touch,

Latch, or Write mode).

Deleting Automation

Automation data takes the form of a line graph with editable breakpoints. The easiest way to remove automation in a track or selection is to manually delete breakpoints from the automation playlist.

Removing data in this manner is different from using the Cut command, which creates anchor breakpoints at the boundaries of the remaining

data. For details, see “Cutting, Copying, and

Pasting Automation” on page 520

.


To remove automation data, display the automation playlist you want to edit by selecting it from the Track View Selector, and do one of the following:

To remove a single breakpoint:

■

With the Grabber or the Pencil tool, Alt-click

(Windows) or Option-click (Macintosh) the breakpoint.

To remove several breakpoints at once:

■

Use the Selector to select a range that contains the breakpoints, and press Backspace (Windows) or Delete (Macintosh).

To remove all automation data of the displayed type:

■

Click with the Selector in the track and choose Edit > Select All, then press Backspace

(Windows) or Delete (Macintosh).

To remove all automation for all automation playlists on a track:

1 Use the Selector to select a range of data to be removed.

2 Press Control+Backspace (Windows) or Control+Delete (Macintosh).

All automation data within the selection is removed for all automation playlists on that track, regardless of whether automation is write-enabled for those controls.

Thinning Automation

Pro Tools writes a maximum density of automation data during an automation pass, in the form of breakpoints. Since Pro Tools creates ramps between breakpoints, it may not need all of the captured points to create a sonically accurate representation of the automation moves that you have made. Each breakpoint takes up space in memory allocated for automation, so thinning data can maximize efficiency and CPU performance.

Pro Tools provides two different ways to thin automation data and remove unneeded breakpoints: the Smooth and Thin Data After Pass option and the Thin Automation command.

Using Smooth and Thin Data After Pass

When this option is selected in the Automation

Preferences page, Pro Tools automatically thins the automation breakpoint data after each automation pass.

The Smooth and Thin Data After Pass Option

In the default settings for new sessions, the

Smooth and Thin Data After Pass option is selected, with the “Some” setting chosen. In most cases, this setting yields optimum performance while providing an accurate reproduction of your automation moves.

If you choose None, Pro Tools writes the maximum possible number of breakpoints. You can still perform thinning at any time with the Thin

Automation command (Edit > Thin Automation). For more information on smoothing auto-

mation data, see “Smoothing” on page 504.


Using the Thin Automation

Command

The Thin Automation command lets you selectively thin areas in a track where automation data is too dense. You can use the Undo command to audition the results of thinning (comparing thinning and not thinning) before you apply it permanently.

To use the Thin Automation command:

1 In the Edit window, click the Track View Selector to display the automation type you want to thin.

2 With the Selector, highlight the automation data you want to thin. To thin all automation of the selected type in the track, click the Selector in the track and choose the Select All command.

3 Choose Edit > Thin Automation to thin the selected automation by the amount you have selected in the Automation Preferences page.

Drawing Automation

Use the Pencil tool to create automation events for audio and MIDI tracks by drawing in any automation or MIDI controller playlist.

The Pencil tool can be set to draw a series of automation events with the following shapes:

Choosing a Pencil tool shape

Free Hand Draws freely according to the movement of the mouse. In audio tracks, the shape has the number of breakpoints needed to smoothly interpolate and reproduce the automation shape. In MIDI tracks, the shape is reproduced as a series of steps, according to the resolution setting in the MIDI Preferences page.

Line Draws a straight line. In audio tracks, the line has a single breakpoint at either end. In

MIDI tracks, the controller value changes in steps according to the resolution setting in the

MIDI Preferences page.

Triangle Draws a sawtooth pattern that repeats at a rate based on the current Grid value. In audio tracks, the pattern has a single breakpoint at each extreme. In MIDI tracks, the controller value changes in steps according to the resolution setting in the MIDI Preferences page. Amplitude is controlled by vertical movement of the Pencil tool.

Square Draws a square pattern that repeats at a rate based on the current Grid value. Amplitude is controlled by vertical movement of the Pencil tool.


Random Draws a random pattern of levels that change at a rate based on the current Grid value.

Amplitude is controlled by vertical movement of the Pencil tool.

Using Pencil Tool Shapes

You can draw automation for audio as well as

MIDI tracks. For example, use the Triangle pattern to control continuous functions, or the

Square pattern to control switched functions such as Mute or Bypass.

Since the pencil draws these shapes using the current Grid value, you can use it to perform panning in tempo with a music track, or on frame scene changes when working in post production.

For more information on MIDI continuous

controller data, see “Continuous Controller

Events” on page 403.

Resolution of MIDI Controller Data

When using the Pencil tool to draw MIDI automation, the data is drawn as a series of discrete steps. You can control the resolution (or density) of these steps to help manage the amount of MIDI data sent for a given MIDI controller move.

To set the resolution for the Pencil tool:


MIDI tab.

2 Enter a value for “Pencil Tool Resolution

When Drawing Controller Data.” The value can range from 1 to 100 milliseconds.

The illustrations below show the same MIDI controller automation drawn with different

Pencil tools resolution settings.

MIDI Data drawn with resolution of 10 ms

MIDI Data drawn with resolution of 100 ms

For better performance, consider selecting a smaller value for MIDI controls that need higher resolution (such as MIDI volume), and a larger value for controls that may not require a high resolution (such as Pan).

Editing Automation

Pro Tools provides several ways to edit automation data for any track in your session. You can edit automation data graphically, by adjusting breakpoints on the automation playlist of a track. You can also cut, copy, and paste automation data in the same manner as audio and MIDI data.

Graphical Editing of Automation

Data

Automation data takes the form of a line graph with editable breakpoints. By dragging these breakpoints, you can modify the automation data directly in the Edit window. When you drag an automation breakpoint up or down, the


change in value is numerically or textually indicated. Dragging an automation breakpoint to the left or right adjusts the timing of the automation event.

Using the Grabber

The Grabber lets you create new breakpoints by clicking on the graph line, or adjust existing breakpoints by dragging them. Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Macintosh) breakpoints with the Grabber to remove them.

Editing Automation Types

Each automatable control has its own automation playlist, that can be displayed by choosing

it from the Track View Selector. “Viewing Automation” on page 507.

Editing Volume Automation

Drag a breakpoint up or down to change the volume (dB value). Drag a breakpoint to the left or right to adjust the timing of the volume change.

Using the Grabber to create a new breakpoint

Using the Pencil Tool

The Pencil tool lets you create new breakpoints by clicking once on the graph line. Alt-click

(Windows) or Option-click (Macintosh) breakpoints with the Pencil tool to remove them.

Track volume automation

Editing Pan Automation

Drag a breakpoint down to pan right, and up to pan left. Drag a breakpoint to the left or right to adjust the timing of the panning moves.

Using the Pencil to delete a breakpoint

Using the Trimmer

The Trimmer lets you adjust all selected breakpoints up or down by dragging anywhere within that selection.

Track Pan automation

Editing Mute Automation

Drag the breakpoint down to mute a section.

Drag a breakpoint up to unmute the section.

Drag a breakpoint to the left or right to adjust the timing of the mute.

Track mute automation Using the Trimmer to move breakpoints


Editing Stepped Control Automation

Automation for certain controls (such as MIDI controller values or plug-in settings) appears as a stepped pattern on the breakpoint line. Drag a breakpoint up or down to a different step to change to a new control value. Drag a breakpoint to the left or right to adjust the timing of the stepped control change.

Stepped control automation

Editing Automation Breakpoints

To edit automation breakpoints, display the automation playlist for the control you want to edit by selecting it from the Track View Selector, then do one of the following:

To create a new breakpoint:

■

Click with the Grabber (or the Pencil) on the line graph.

To edit one breakpoint:

■

Click an existing point on the line graph with the Grabber and drag it to a new position.

To clear one breakpoint:

■

Alt-click (Windows) or Opt-click (Macintosh) with the Grabber.

To edit several breakpoints at once:

■

Use the Selector to select a range in the automation playlist that contains the breakpoints, and do one of the following:

• To move the breakpoints earlier or later in the track, press the Plus key (+) to nudge them later (to the right) or the Minus key

(–) to move them earlier (to the left). The breakpoints move by the current Nudge value.

• To adjust the breakpoint values, click with the Trimmer in the selection and drag the breakpoints up or down.

When you use the Trimmer to edit a selection containing breakpoints, new anchor breakpoints are created before and after the selected area. To suppress creation of anchor breakpoints, press Alt (Windows) or

Option (Macintosh) while using the Trimmer.

To edit all breakpoint values in a region:

■

Click in the region with the Trimmer and drag the breakpoints up or down.


Constrain New Breakpoints to Next or

Previous Automation Value

(Pro Tools 6.9 Only)

New automation breakpoints can be constrained and written to the same value as the next or previous breakpoint.

Original automation

To write a new breakpoint to the previous automation value:

■

Press and hold Control+Alt (Windows) or

Command+Option (Macintosh) while writing a breakpoint (by clicking with the Grabber in a track’s Automation Playlist).

After write to next breakpoint

After write to previous breakpoint

Constraining and writing new breakpoints (at Marker 1)

Writing a new breakpoint to the next or previous automation value is accomplished using the Grabber, but is not supported with the Smart Tool.

To write a new breakpoint to the next automation value:

■

Press and hold Control (Windows) or Command (Macintosh) while writing a breakpoint

(by clicking with the Grabber in a track’s Automation Playlist).

Editing Automation on Stereo and

Multichannel Tracks

Stereo and multichannel tracks display a single automation playlist per track. Only one playlist for volume and mute is available for the stereo or multichannel track.

For multi-mono plug-ins, automation playlists for each individual channel can be displayed and edited when the plug-in is unlinked, and the track is in Expanded Track Display.

Expanded Track View

By default, a single automation playlist is displayed on stereo and multichannel tracks. The playlist occupies the entire height of the track

(similar to mono automation playlists).

Optionally, you can display an expanded view of the track whereby the same automation playlist is displayed across each channel.

Plug-In Automation Playlists on Stereo and

Multichannel Tracks

Some multichannel plug-ins provide a single set of automatable controls for all channels in a track. Other multichannel plug-ins and all multi-mono plug-ins provide a single set of controls for all channels when linked, or discrete controls for each channel when unlinked. Refer to your plug-in guide for more information.


To view and edit the individual playlists of a multimono plug-in:

1 Unlink the plug-in.

2 Select the required playlist from the Track

View Selector.

Examples

◆ If you create new automation breakpoints on a grouped track (with the Grabber or Pencil), other members of the group have breakpoints placed relative to that track.

◆ If you move volume or send automation on a grouped track (with the Trimmer), other members of the group have their volume or send breakpoints trimmed relative to that track. This lets you trim entire sections of a mix.

multi-mono plug-in unlinked

Selecting an automation playlist for an unlinked multi-mono plug-in

Editing Automation on Grouped

Tracks

When you edit automation on an audio track that is a member of an active Edit Group, the same type of automation (with the exception of audio and MIDI Pan controls) is also edited on all tracks that are part of that group. This occurs even if the playlist for that type of automation is not currently displayed on the other grouped tracks.

However, when you edit automation on a MIDI track that is a member of an active Edit Group, grouping is ignored; the same type (with the exception of audio and MIDI Pan controls) are not edited on all tracks that are part of that group.

To edit all members of a MIDI group, see the steps below.

Trimming automation on an active grouped track

To individually edit a member of a group without affecting the other members:

■

For audio tracks, press the Start key (Windows) or Control (Macintosh) while you perform the edit.

– or –

■

For MIDI tracks, do not press the Start key

(Windows) or Control (Macintosh) while you perform the edit.

To edit all members of a group:

■

For audio tracks, do not press the Start key

(Windows) or Control (Macintosh) while you perform the edit.

– or –

■

For MIDI tracks, press the Start key (Windows) or Control (Macintosh) while you perform the edit.


When editing automation, audio and MIDI

Pan controls work opposite from the way all other controls work.

For audio tracks, when you edit or trim Pan breakpoints, Edit Groups are not obeyed.

For grouped behavior, press the Start key

(Windows) or Control (Macintosh) while trimming.

For MIDI tracks, when you edit or trim Pan breakpoints, Edit Groups are obeyed. For individual behavior, press the Start key (Windows) or Control (Macintosh) while trimming.

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting

Automation

Cutting automation data is different from deleting it, and yields different results (although both change the existing automation data). Copying automation leaves the original automation data intact.

You delete automation data by selecting a range of breakpoints and pressing Backspace (Win-

dows) or Delete (Macintosh). See “Deleting Automation” on page 512 for details.

You cut automation data by selecting a range of breakpoints from an automation playlist and selecting the Cut command.

When you cut automation data and when you paste it into a new location, anchor breakpoints are added to the beginning and end points of the data. This is done to preserve the true slope

(of continuous controls, such as Volume faders or pans) or state (of switched or stepped controls, such as Mutes) of the automation data both inside and outside the selection.

The following illustrations show the difference between cutting and deleting automation data.

In Figure 28, a track is set to display volume au-

tomation, and a range of automation data is selected.

Figure 28. Selecting automation data

If the Cut command is chosen, anchor breakpoints are created at each end of the selection, and the automation slope on either side of the

cut data is preserved, as shown in Figure 29.

Figure 29. After cutting the automation data

If the data is deleted by pressing Backspace

(Windows) or Delete (Macintosh), the automation data is removed, and automation values span the gap between pre-existing breakpoints,

as in Figure 30.

Figure 30. After deleting the automation data


In addition, if cut or copied data is pasted elsewhere in a track, breakpoints are created at the end points of the pasted data to preserve its

“neighboring” (incoming and outgoing) auto-

mation value and slope, as shown in Figure 31.

Figure 31. After pasting the automation data in another location

Editing and Track Views

Audio and MIDI tracks each have a Track View that acts as the main format for purposes of editing. When the main format is displayed, any edits performed on the track apply to all data in the track.

The main view formats are:

• Audio tracks: Blocks and Waveform

• MIDI tracks: Blocks, Regions, and Notes

For example, when an audio track is set to

Waveform or Blocks, cutting, copying and pasting affects the audio data and all types of automation data on that track. If the track is set to show Pan automation, only the Pan data is affected.

When a selection includes multiple tracks, if any of those tracks is in its main view format, all data on all selected tracks is affected.

To edit all automation types on an Auxiliary Input or Master Fader track, do one of the following:

• Make an edit selection that includes at least one audio or MIDI track that is displayed in its main format.

– or –

• Press Control while cutting or copying the automation data.

For additional flexibility, you can use playlists or the Duplicate Track command to work nondestructively on a copy of the edit data.

Tips for Cutting, Copying and Pasting

◆ On audio tracks, when you are in Waveform

View and cut or copy a section of the waveform, any automation data associated with the waveform is also cut or copied.

◆ On audio tracks, when you are in Waveform

View and cut audio data from a track also containing automation data, breakpoints are automatically created at the boundaries of the remaining automation data.

◆ On audio tracks, pasting waveform data also pastes any associated automation data.

◆ On Auxiliary Input or Master Fader tracks, only the displayed automation data is cut or copied. To cut or copy all automation data on these types of tracks, press Control while cutting or copying.

◆ In tracks where an automation playlist contains no data (when there is only a single breakpoint at the very beginning of the track), if you cut data, no new breakpoints are created.

◆ In cases where regions overlap (such as when moving regions in Slip mode) and an overlapping region is removed, any overlapped automation breakpoints are lost.

◆ If cut or copied data contains a type of automation not currently on the target track,

Pro Tools prompts you before allowing you to paste the data.

◆ Cut or copied automation data for plug-ins or sends that do not exist on the target track is ignored when pasted.


Special Paste Function for Automation

Data

Normally, when you copy and paste automation data, it is pasted in an automation playlist of the exact same type (for example, Left Pan data is pasted into the Left Pan playlist).

However, there may be times when you want to paste from one data type to another (for example, pasting Send 1 level data into the Send 2 level playlist, or track mute data into the send mute playlist).

To paste data into a different automation playlist:

■

Press the Start key (Windows) or Control

(Macintosh) when choosing Edit > Paste.

For this special paste mode to function, the following must be true:

• Every track selected for pasting must be currently displayed as automation data.

– and –

• There must be only one automation playlist on the Clipboard for each target track. (The

Special Paste function cannot copy multiple automation playlists for each track.)

You cannot interchange automation data between audio and MIDI tracks, or between continuous controls (such as faders or pans) and switched or stepped controls (such as mute or MIDI controllers).

Glide Automation

The Glide Automation commands let you manually create an automation transition (or glide) from an existing automation value to a new one, over a selected area.

When gliding multiple parameters at the same time, such as with the Surround Panner or plug-ins, use the Glide Automation >

To All Current Parameters option.

To apply a Glide Automation to the current automation parameter type:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure the automation type is write-enabled.

2 Click the Track View Selector to choose the automation type you want to automate.

3 Drag with the Selector in the track to select the area you want to write the glide to.

4 Change the automation parameter to the value desired at the end of the selection. For example, to glide automation volume to –Infinity, move the Volume Fader to –Infinity.

5 Choose Edit > Glide Automation > To Current

Parameter.

You can also press Alt+ Forward Slash (“/”)

(Windows) or Option+Forward Slash (“/”)

(Macintosh).

To do a Glide Automation to all current enabled parameters:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure the automation types are write-enabled.

2 In each track you want to automate, click the

Track View Selector and select from the pop-up menu the automation type you want to automate.


3 With the Selector, click and drag horizontally to include all the tracks you want to automate in a selection (drag vertically to define the time range).

4 In each track you want to automate, change the automation parameter to the value desired at the end of the selection.

5 Choose Edit > Glide Automation > To All Current Parameters.

You can also press Alt+ Shift+Forward

Slash (“/”) (Windows) or Option+Shift+Forward Slash (“/”) (Macintosh).

Glide Automation Considerations

When an Glide Automation is applied to automation data, it behaves as follows:

• When a selection is made, the automation value at the start of the selection is the start point of the Glide Automation and the end of the selection is the end point of the Glide

Automation. The Glide Automation that is created between the two is based on the length of the selection and the end value that is selected.

• If a selection is made and automation data exists before the start of the selection, automation breakpoints are written at the start and end points of the Glide Automation.

• If automation breakpoints follow the selection, they are not changed, but the value selected for the end of the selection is written from the end point up until the next breakpoint.

• If no automation breakpoints follow the selection, the value selected for the end of the selection is written to the end of the track.

• If no selection is made, a breakpoint is written to the current location, and the value selected for the Glide Automation is written to the next breakpoint.

Trimming Automation

(TDM Systems Only)

If you have already written automation, you can modify automation data for track volume and send levels in real time by using Trim mode.

When a track is trim-enabled, you are not recording absolute fader positions, but relative

changes in the existing automation. See “Trim

Mode” on page 502 for more information.

To enable Trim mode:

■

In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector of the track you want to trim automation, and select Trim.

Enabling Trim mode

When Trim mode is enabled for a track, its volume and send level faders turn yellow, and its

Automation Mode Selector is outlined in yellow.

This outline flashes to indicate that the track is trim-enabled, and appears solid whenever trimming is occurring on the track’s volume or send levels.

To trim track volume or send levels in real time:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure the automation type (volume or send level) is write-enabled.


2 In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector of the track you want to trim automation and set the Automation mode:

• Use Touch or Latch mode to have the faders follow existing automation, so you can

“chase” them during the automation pass.

• Use Write mode if you want to disengage the faders from existing automation.

3 In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector of the track you want to trim automation, and select Trim.

4 Click Play to begin trimming automation, and move the volume or send level faders.


Writing Automation to the

Start, End or All of a

Selection

(TDM Systems Only)

Pro Tools lets you write current automation values from any insertion point forward (or backward) to the end (or beginning) of a selection or track, or to an entire selection or track, while performing an automation pass.

Write to Start, End, All

Write to Start, All, End controls in the Automation

Enable window

The standard Write to Start/All/End commands do not operate when the Pro Tools transport is stopped. It only affects automation for those parameters that are currently write-enabled and currently writing automation data.

Optionally, Write to Start, End, and All can be configured to always be applied automatically.

See “Write to Start, End, and All On Stop” on page 525.

Requirements for Write to Start, End, and All

For automation data to be written for a specific parameter, the associated track must be in one of the following Automation modes and meet the following conditions:

Latch Mode The control for the parameter must be changed (touched) during the automation pass.

Touch Mode The control for the parameter must be changed (touched).

Write Mode All controls on that track must be in

Write mode.

This command can be undone (Edit > Undo).

To write current automation values to the start, end, or all of a track or selection:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure that the automation type is write-enabled.

2 Click in a track at an insertion point.

– or –

Drag with the Selector to select a portion of the track.

3 Click Play to begin playback.


4 Make sure you are actively writing on the appropriate track if you are in Latch or Touch mode.

5 When you reach a point in the track or selection that contains the automation data you want to apply, click Write to Start, Write to All, or Write to End in the Automation Enable window.

The current values of all write-enabled automation at that point are written to the corresponding area of the track/selection.

Trim Mode

Using Trim mode, it is also possible to write trim delta values for track volume and send levels to the start (beginning), end or all of a track.

To write current trim delta values to the start, end, or all of a track or selection:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure that the automation type (track volume or send level) is write-enabled.

2 In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector of the track you want to trim automation, and select Trim. The track volume and send level faders turn yellow.


– or –

Drag with the Selector to select a portion of the track.


5 When you reach a point in the track or selection that contains the trim setting (delta value) you want to apply, click the Write to Start, Write to All, or Write to End button in the Automation

Enable window.

The relative changes to the track volume and send levels at that point are written to the corresponding area of the track/selection.

Write to Start, End, and All On

Stop

The Automation Enable window provides options for automatic Write to Start, End, and All

On Stop.

Write On Stop

Write On Stop controls in the Automation Enable window

When any of these options are enabled, automation writing will be performed automatically after a valid automation pass has been per-

formed. See “Requirements for Write to Start,

End, and All” on page 524.

In Pro Tools 6.7.x and lower, Write On Stop modes always remain enabled after a valid automation pass.

In Pro Tools 6.9, Write on Stop modes can be configured to disable or remain enabled after a valid automation pass.

To configure Write on Stop modes (Pro Tools 6.7.x and lower):


2 Click to enable one of the Write On Stop modes (Start, End, or All).

The enabled Write on Stop arrow will appear in blue.


To configure Write on Stop modes to disable after an automation pass (Pro Tools 6.9):


2 Click to enable one of the Write On Stop modes (Start, End, or All).

The enabled Write on Stop arrow will appear in blue.

To configure Write on Stop modes to remain enabled after an automation pass (Pro Tools 6.9):


2 Press Alt (Windows) or Option (Macintosh) and click one of the Write On Stop modes (Start,

End, or All) to enable the Write On Stop mode.

The enabled Write on Stop arrow will appear in red.

Writing Automation to the

Next Breakpoint

(Pro Tools TDM 6.9 Systems Only)

While performing an automation pass,

Pro Tools lets you write current automation values from the current insertion point to the next

(similar) automation breakpoint.

Like the Write to Start, End, and All commands, the standard Write to Next Breakpoint command does not operate when the Pro Tools transport is stopped. It only affects automation for those parameters that are currently write-enabled and currently writing automation data.

Optionally, Write to Next Breakpoint can be configured to be applied automatically after a valid automation pass has been performed.

See“Write to Next Breakpoint On Stop” on page 527

Write to Next Breakpoint has the same requirements as Write to Start, End, and All

commands. See “Writing Automation to the Start, End or All of a Selection” on page 524.

Write to Next Breakpoint remains enabled after a valid automation pass. Unlike Automation

Write to Start, End, and All, it cannot be configured to disable after an automation pass.

To write current automation values to the next breakpoint:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure that the automation type is write-enabled.



4 Make sure you are actively writing on the appropriate track if you are in Latch or Touch mode.

5 When you are satisfied with the controller data you are writing, and you want to apply it, click Write to Next in the Automation Enable window.

Write to Next Breakpoint button

Write to Next Breakpoint on Stop button in the



The current values of all controls being written at that point are written up to the next breakpoint, and the transport will automatically stop.

Trim Mode for Write To Next Breakpoint

Using Trim mode, it is also possible to write trim delta values for track volume and send levels to the next written breakpoint.

To write current trim delta values to the next breakpoint:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure that the automation type (track volume or send level) is write-enabled.

2 In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector and select Trim. The track volume and send level faders turn yellow.


• Click in a track at an insertion point.

– or –

• Drag with the Selector to select a portion of the track.


5 When you are satisfied with the controller data you are writing, and you want to apply it, click the Write to Next Breakpoint button in the

Automation Enable window.

The relative changes to the track volume and send levels at that point are written to the corresponding area of the track/selection.

Write to Next Breakpoint On Stop

The Automation Enable window provides an option for automatic Write to Next Breakpoint on Stop.

Write to Next Breakpoint on Stop remains enabled after a valid automation pass. Unlike

Write on Stop Modes (Write to Start, End, and

All On Stop), it cannot be configured to disable after an automation pass.

Write to Next Breakpoint On Stop button

Write to Next Breakpoint on Stop button in the


To configure Write to Next Breakpoint on Stop:


2 Click to enable Write to Next Breakpoint on

Stop.

When this option is enabled, automation writing will be performed automatically after a valid automation pass has been performed.

Mute Automation

Overwrite/Extend Command

(Pro Tools TDM 6.9 Systems Only)

The Mute Overwrite/Extend command lets you overwrite or extend an existing mute event in real-time, without changing the current mute state.

A mute event can be overwritten when the automation pass begins before the first mute event and ends after the second event. In this case, the current on/off state of the mute is maintained.


Original mute automation

(mute off, mute on, mute off) mute on event overwritten

Overwriting a mute automation event

A mute event can be extended when the automation pass begins before an on or off event and stops before the end of the second event.

Latch Mode Writes the current state until you stop or AutoMatch out (with supported Digidesign control surfaces only).

Mute Overwrite/Extend is supported by

Write To Start/End/All commands. For more information on Write to Start/End/All commands, see the Pro Tools Reference

Guide.

To overwrite a mute state on one or more tracks:


2 Make sure mute is write-enabled.

Mute command enabled

Original mute automation

(mute off, mute on, mute off) mute off event extended (up to automation pass end)

Extending a mute automation event

Mute Overwrite/Extend is supported in Touch and Latch mode, as follows:

Touch Mode Writes the current state as long as the mute button is held.

Mute command in the Automation Enable window

3 In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector of the track you want to overwrite the mute state, and set the Automation mode to Touch or Latch mode.

To overwrite mute states on multiple tracks, set all tracks to the same Automation mode.


Track View Selector and select mute.

5 Place the cursor before the start of the mute event you want to overwrite.


Example: Place cursor here, before start of mute event

Placing the cursor before the start of a mute event

6 Begin playback.

7 Press Control (Windows) or Command (Macintosh) and the track Mute button before the start of the mute event you want to overwrite.

To overwrite mute states on multiple tracks, press Alt+Control (Windows) or Option+Command (Macintosh) and the Mute button on one of the tracks to be automated.

8 After the end of the second mute event, release the key and the Mute button.

With Touch mode, you have to hold the

Mute button for the duration of the write.

To extend a mute state on a track:


2 Make sure mute is write-enabled.

3 In the Mix or Edit window, click the Automation Mode Selector of the track you want to automate, and select Touch or Latch mode.

To extend mute states on multiple tracks, set all the tracks to the same Automation mode.


Track View Selector and select mute.

5 Place the cursor before the start of the mute event you want to extend.

Example: Stop automation pass here, after end of mute event

Stopping automation after the end of a mute event

9 When you have finished the automation pass, click Stop.

Example: Place cursor here, before start of mute event

Placing the cursor before the start of a mute event

6 Begin playback.

7 Press Control (Windows) or Command (Macintosh) and the track Mute button before the start of the mute event you want to extend.

To extend mute states on multiple tracks, press Alt+Control (Windows) or Option+Command (Macintosh) and the Mute button on the track.

8 Before the end of the second mute event, release the key and the Mute button.

If you extend past the subsequent on or off event, the entire event will be changed.

mute on state overwritten

Example of mute state overwritten


Example: Stop automation pass here, before end of mute event

Stopping automation before the end of a mute event

9 When you have finished the automation pass, click Stop.

mute off state extended (up to automation pass end)

Example of mute state extended

Creating Snapshot

Automation

(TDM Systems Only)

Pro Tools lets you write automation data values for multiple parameters in a single step. You can write snapshot automation in two ways:

To a selection Automation data is written to the

Timeline selection (as well as the Edit selection if linked). Anchor breakpoints are placed just before and after the selection so that data outside the selection is not affected.

To a cursor location Automation data is written at the insertion point. After the insertion point, the automation ramps to the next breakpoint value, or if no breakpoints exist, remains at the newly written value for the remainder of the session.

For more information on cutting, copying, and pasting automation data within a session, see

“Writing Automation to the Start, End or All of a Selection” on page 524.

To write snapshot automation:

1 In the Edit window, click the Track View button to show the automation you want to edit.

2 In the Automation Enable window, make sure that the parameters you want to edit are writeenabled. Deselect any parameters whose automation you want to preserve.

3 Select an area in the track’s playlist (or within multiple tracks) where you want to apply the automation.

– or –

Place the cursor at an Edit insertion point.

4 Adjust the controls you want to automate.

You can also change a plug-in preset.

5 Choose Edit > Write Automation and do one of the following:

• To write the current value to only the currently displayed automation parameter, choose To Current Parameter.

– or –

• To write the current settings for all automation parameters enabled in the Automation

Enable window, choose To All Enabled Parameters.

Adding Snapshot Automation to Empty

Automation Playlists

When you use the Write Automation command on an automation playlist with no previously written automation data, the selected value is written to the entire playlist and not just the selected area.


This is because a playlist with no automation data contains only a single automation breakpoint that corresponds to the current position of the control for the parameter. The position of the breakpoint is updated whenever the parameter value is changed.

If you do not want the Write Automation command to write the selected automation value to the entire playlist, you can:

• Anchor the automation data by placing the cursor at the end of the session (or any other endpoint) and choosing Write Automation To

Current Parameter.

– or –

• Click with the Grabber on each side of the selection.

This lets the Write Automation command write only to the selected area.

Writing Snapshot Automation over

Existing Automation Data

When you move the playback cursor, the automated controls in Pro Tools update on the screen to reflect the automation data that is already on the track. To keep the settings you have made for a snapshot, you can suspend automation parameters to prevent them from updating.

To write snapshot automation over existing data:

1 In the Automation Enable window, make sure that the automation parameters you want to edit are write-enabled. Deselect any parameters whose automation you want to preserve.

2 Adjust the controls for the parameters you want to automate.

3 From the Automation Mode pop-up menu, select Off mode for the tracks you want to apply the automation.

4 With the Selector, select the track range you want to apply the automation.

5 Choose Edit > Write Automation and select one of the following from the submenu:

• To write the current value to only the automation parameter currently displayed in the Edit window, choose To Current Parameter.

– or –



6 From the Automation Mode pop-up menu, select Read mode for the tracks you want to play back with automation.

Capturing Automation and Applying it

Elsewhere

The Write Automation command can also be used to capture automation states at specific locations in a session and apply them to other locations. This differs from simply copying and pasting automation data in that you can set any selection length for the application of the captured automation data.

To capture and apply automation:


2 Click with the Selector in the track with the automation you want to capture. All automated controls update to reflect the automation at that location. (If you make a selection, the controls update to reflect the automation at the beginning of the selection.)


3 In each track you want to apply automation, click the track’s Automation Mode Selector and set the Automation mode to Off

4 With the Selector tool, select the location where you want to apply the automation.

5 Enable the automation parameters previously suspended.

6 Choose Edit > Write Automation and select one of the following from the submenu:

• To write the current value to only the automation parameter currently displayed in the Edit window, choose To Current Parameter.

– or –



7 From the Automation Mode pop-up menu, select Read mode for the tracks you want to play back with automation.

To create a snapshot of relative changes in automation data:


2 Select the area of the track you want to edit.

All automated controls update to reflect the automation at the beginning of the selection.

3 Move the controls for the parameter up or down by the amount you want to change the data.

4 Choose Edit > Trim Automation and do one of the following:

• To write the current delta value to only the currently displayed automation parameter, choose To Current Parameter.

– or –

• To write the current delta value for all automation parameters enabled in the Automation Enable window, choose To All

Enabled Parameters.

Snapshot Automation and

Trimming of Automation Data

Pro Tools lets you use trim values as snapshots and apply the relative changes (delta values) to the selected automation by using the Trim Automation command. This works in much the same way as the Write Automation command, except that it writes delta values instead of absolute values to automation data.

You can use trim values in writing snapshot automation to any automatable parameter.


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