|
I believe I have mentioned on more than one occasion how much I love the speed and grace of the Pro Tools editing workflow. While the process of working with audio in Pro Tools is nearly as intuitive as using a text editor, I find there are always a few amazing features that often go untouched by most users. So to help shake you out of you’re editing comfort zones, this week I want to take a look at two specific timeline/transport features that often go unnoticed; dynamic transport mode and timeline/edit linking.
Linking/Un-linking Timeline and Edit Selections:
By default Pro Tools links the timeline and edit selections, allowing you to make selections or mark insertion points in either space without worrying about where playback will occur when you hit space bar. While it is intuitive to have this option checked, there are a few scenarios where being able to make separate timeline and edit selections can be extremely useful.
To link/unlink the Timeline and Edit Selections: click on the icon  underneath the zoomer tool or use the shortcut: Shift + /
When the Timeline and Edit selections are unlinked, Pro Tools allows you to make separate selections in the timeline and edit space. Notice that the main time counter will always display the timeline selection, and hitting spacebar will start playback from the timeline selection.
To play the timeline selection: Hit space bar or use the shortcut Control + ] (Mac) or Start + ] (PC).
To play the edit selection: Use the shortcut Control + [ (Mac) or Start + [ (PC)
Hint: with single key shortcuts enabled, you can use just [ and ] (left and right brackets) to toggle between edit and timeline selection playback. 
By using this shortcut it is easier to preview edit selections quickly while retaining a master selection in the timeline. For example, you may have a cue already identified by your timeline selection. Using your edit selection you can quickly preview regions and selections all over the session while retaining your original timeline selection. Using the “snap edit to timeline” functions you can quickly take any region selected in the edit space and snap it to the current timeline selection.
To snap the edit selection to the timeline selection:
With the timeline and edit selections unlinked make a separate edit selection and use the shortcut Control + H, J, or K (Start + H, J, or K on PC) to snap the regions start, sync point, or end to the timeline selection start. Again “H” for region start, “J” for sync point, and “K” for end. If the selection is smaller than the region size, the region will automatically be separated and snapped to the timeline position. For a review of region “sync points” please refer to this previous Pro Tools Corner article here.
Using the Dynamic Transport:
Introduced in Pro Tools 7.3, Dynamic Transport mode allows you to decouple the playback starting point from the timeline selection. In other words, you can use the dynamic transport to start playback from anywhere in the session without losing your timeline or edit selections. This is genius when you are trying to audition loop transition points over long selections. For example, say you have a 16 bar section that you want to loop, after carefully making your selection you enable loop playback (options>loop playback) to preview the selection as a loop. Without using Dynamic Transport mode you would have to wait the full 16 bars just to hear whether or not the loop’s end point transitioned correctly. If there were any issues with the transition, you would then have to adjust your selection and start all over again. Using the Dynamic Transport you can easily position the “Play Start Marker” near the end of the loop selection and press play to preview just the loop transition.
To Enable Dynamic Transport:
Choose Options>Dynamic Transport or use the key command: Command+Control+P (Mac) or Control+Start+P (PC) to toggle dynamic transport mode.
Enabling dynamic transport mode will automatically disable Link Timeline and Edit Selection and enable loop playback.
Once Dynamic Transport mode is enabled, you will see an extra lane in your main time ruler holding the “Play Start Marker.” Drag the marker to anywhere inside or outside the timeline or edit selections to start playback from that point. Also notice that while using dynamic transport, the timeline selection can be adjusted without resetting playback to the beginning of the selection, this is super handy when you are working with “off the grid” samples and are looking for the perfect loop points.
By default the play start marker will update to follow the timeline selection, you can uncheck this preference under Setup > Preferences > Operations Tab.
Use the following shortcuts to move the PSM (play start marker) in dynamic transport mode:
To move the PSM to the timeline selection start: Press Period (.) on the numeric keypad then the left arrow.
To move the PSM to the timeline selection end: Press Period (.) on the numeric keypad then the right arrow.
To move the PSM to the edit selection start: Press Period (.) on the numeric keypad then the down arrow.
To move the PSM to the edit selection end: Press Period (.) on the numeric keypad then the up arrow.
Dynamic Transport Tips:
- Use the 1 and 2 keys on your numeric keypad to rewind and fast-forward the playback start marker.
- Record in dynamic transport mode and use the PSM as pre-roll, the recording will start as usual at the timeline selection.
- Although Dynamic Transport mode automatically disables Link Timeline and Edit Selection, you can re-enable it after the fact and continue using the dynamic transport.
Pro Tools Tidbit
- Digidesign released Pro Tools 7.4 CS3 update
- Apple introduced new MacBook and MacBook Pro models (note: Although Digidesign claims that support is eminent, as of this writing Pro Tools 7.4.1 does not officially support Leopard on any system but the 8-core Mac Pro’s.)
Pro Tools Corner on MacMusic:
The fine folks over at MacMusic/440 Network have made me a VIP Moderator of their PC and Mac Pro Tools forums. Come on over and join the community!
PC Pro Tools Forum
Mac Pro Tools Forum
If you have a Pro Tools related question that you would like me to take a shot at answering or have any feedback, please send it to brian@audioMIDI.com. I will do my best to select the questions that seem to stump the most people.
As always, stay tuned to the audioMIDI.com eNews for the latest reviews and new product info.
| 
