PT 101: Lesson 3: Pro Tools Basic Controls: Review and Discussion Questions

  1. What icon is used for the Zoomer tool in the Edit window? How can you use this tool to quickly zoom out, filling the Edit window with the longest track in the session? (See “Zoomer Tool” beginning on page 52.) Magnifying glass. Double click to see ALL (fn+f5 to use Zoomer)
  2. Which Edit tool is represented by a hand icon? What is this tool used for? (See “Grabber Tool” beginning on page 54.)  Grabber Tool. It is commonly used for arranging clips. You can use the grabber tool to select an entire clip with a single mouse click you can also use the gravity movie clip along the timeline, within its current track into movie clips between tracks (fn+f8 to use Grabber)
  3. Which tool is active when the Trim, Selector, and Grabber icons are all selected (highlighted in blue) in the Edit window toolbar? (See “Smart Tool” beginning on page 55.) The Smart Tool
  4. What are the four Edit modes in Pro Tools? How can you switch between them? (See “Edit Modes” beginning on page 56.) Shuffle (fn+f1). Slip (fn+f2). Spot (fn+f3). Grid (fn+f4)
  5. Why should you use caution when editing synchronized material in Shuffle mode? When is Shuffle mode useful? Movements and edits made on shuffle mode will cause timing changes for the media on affected tracks. This mode should be used with caution when editing material that is synchronised to other tracks or are aligned to a timing reference or tempo. It’s useful as a way to make clips line up next to each other without overlapping or leaving silence between them. This can be convenient when you need to shorten a line of dialogue by removing a pause, cough repeated word, or similar unwanted material.
  6. How does editing a clip in Slip mode affect the timing of other clips on the track? (See “Slip Mode” beginning on page 56.)  In Slip mode, you can move, trim, cut, or paste clips freely within a track without affecting the placement of other clips on the track. All selections, clip movements and edit operations at unconstrained
  7. When is it helpful to work in Spot mode? When it is helpful to work in Grid mode? (See “Spot Mode” and “Grid Mode” beginning on page 57.) Spot mode lets you move and trim clips using precise locations or durations specified in a dialogue box. In Grid mode selections, clip movements, and trim operations are constrained by the grid, i.e. it is useful for quantising material.
  8. What are some ways to set the Main Time Scale in Pro Tools? (See “Main Time Scale” beginning on page 59.) VIEW > MAIN COUNTER. Main TimeScale pop-up menu
  9. What are the two types of Rulers available in Pro Tools? What is the difference between them? (See “Ruler Display Options” beginning on page 60.) Timebase rulers and Conductor rulers. Timebase rulers measure time in various ways (they include Bars| Beats, Minutes: seconds, samples, timecode, timecode 2, Feet+Frames). Conductor rulers contain events that map out locations, characteristics and changes within a session (these include Markers, Tempo, Meter, Key, Chords)
  10. What are some ways to hide Rulers that you do not need displayed in a session? (See “Hiding Rulers” beginning on page 61.) VIEW > RULERS. Opt+click directly on a Ruler’s name in the Timeline display area.
  11. Which Pro Tools windows provide access to MIDI controls, such as Wait for Note, Metronome, and MIDI Merge? (See “MIDI Control Features” beginning on page 62.) The MIDI Control section in the Edit and Transport windows
  12. What is the purpose of the Metronome button in the MIDI Controls area? What kind of track must be added to a session for the Metronome button to work? (See “Metronome” beginning on page 62.) The metronome button is used in conjunction with a click track and controls whether or not the click will be audible. When the Metronome button is active, a metronome click will sound during playback and recording, as specified by the settings in the Click/Countoff options dialog box (SET-UP > Click/ Countoff). Metronome playback requires a click track on the click source to be configured for your session.
  13. What are the two states or modes available for controlling the current session tempo? How can you switch between these modes? (See “Tempo Ruler Enable” beginning on page 63.) Tempo Map Mode and Manual Tempo Mode
  14. What is displayed by the Tempo field in the MIDI Controls area? What are some ways to set the session tempo using this field? (See “Tempo Field” beginning on page 64.) The session’s current tempo based on the play selection. In manual tempo mode (or when the session tempo has not yet been defined) you can enter a BPM value directly into this field. In addition when the tempo field is selected, you can tap in a tempo from a midi controller or from the computer keyboard using the T key