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.)
The icon for the Zoomer tool is a magnifying glass. To zoom out, hold OPTION (Mac) or ALT (Windows) while clicking with the ZOOMER tool.
Which Edit tool is represented by a hand icon? What is this tool used for? (See “Grabber Tool” beginning on page 54.)
The hand icon represents the Grabber Tools commonly used for arranging clips.
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.
What are the four Edit modes in Pro Tools? How can you switch between them? (See “Edit Modes” beginning on page 56.)
The four Edit modes in Pro Tools are: Shuffle, Spot, Slip, and Grid. The Edit mode is selected by clicking the corresponding Edit mode button on the left side of the toolbar are in the Edit window. You can also use function keys F1 (Shuffle), F2 (Slip), F3 (Spot), and F4 (Grid) to set the Edit mode.
Why should you use caution when editing synchronized material in Shuffle mode? When is Shuffle mode useful?
Movements and edits made in Shuffle mode will cause timing changes for the media on affected tracks. This mode should be used with caution when editing material that is synchronized to other tracks or aligned to a timing reference or tempo. You can use Shuffle mode 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 dialog by removing a pause, cough, repeated word, or similar unwanted material.
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.
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.)
You can use Spot mode when you want to control the placement or duration of a clip using precise numeric values or measurements. Grid mode can be useful in making precise edits and to align clips with grid-based time intervals. This is especially useful when using a Bars|Beats grid and editing musical material that is aligned to the session tempo.
What are some ways to set the Main Time Scale in Pro Tools? (See “Main Time Scale” beginning on page 59.)
Select the desired timebase by choosing VIEW > MAIN COUNTER, select the desired timebase from the MAIN TIME SCALE pop-up menu (down arrow next to the Main Counter at the top of the Edit window) or if a Ruler is displayed for the desired timebase, click on its name so it becomes highlighted.
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 which measure time in various ways, and Conductor Rulers which contain events that map out locations, characteristics and changes within a session.
What are some ways to hide Rulers that you do not need displayed in a session? (See “Hiding Rulers” beginning on page 61.)
To remove a ruler from the display you can either choose VIEW > RULERS and click on a checked Ruler to deselect it, or OPTION-CLICK (Mac) or ALT-CLICK (Windows) directly on a Ruler’s name in the Timeline display area. Alternatively, it can be done by holding the Option/Alt key while clicking on the name display of a Ruler.
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 Edit and Transport windows.
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 it controls whether or not the click is audible.
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.)
The two states available are the Tempo Map mode and Manual Tempo mode. Switching between the two is done through the Tempo Ruler Enable button: when activated, the tempo map is used, when deactivated it switches to manual tempo.
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 Tempo field displays the session’s current tempo based on the play location. 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.