Whats in the Edit Window?

Overview

The Pro Tools Edit Window displays audio waveform, MIDI data clips, video, and mixer automation for recording, editing and arranging tracks. It is where you will work/edit your “tracks.” Familiarizing yourself with the different sections and buttons will make your experience working in Pro Tools much more efficient.

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Tracks

Edit Modes

There are four different modes that allow you to choose how the clips / regions move on the track.

• Slip - Gives you total control to move and/or edit a clip anywhere on a track. Most precise audio editing will be done in Slip. You can create overlaps or empty spaces.
• Grid - Allows you to move and/or edit a clip to the closest defined point on a grid. It will “snap” to this closest point, allowing you to place clips directly on beat.
• Shuffle - Moves a clip right up against another clip, allowing you to switch clips like a loop or verse/chorus in one movement.
• Spot - Moves a clip/region/file to a specific point. Instead of trying to nudge regions to their required location, this edit mode will allow you to place it with exact precision up to the finest time values.

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Edit Tools

Section of controls for the way you can control and manipulate the clips in your session.

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• Zoomer - Tool Zooms into and out of a track Trim Tool Allows you to “non-­‐destructively” trim off excess audio, MIDI, or video from the beginning or end of a “clip”
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• Selector - Tool Positions the playback cursor or selects an area in a track for playback or editing.
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• Grabber - Tool Selects an entire clip with one mouse click, moves clips along the Timeline, and also between tracks. Scrubber Tool Allows you to “scrub,” or move while hearing, across audio clips. The speed of playback depends on the mouse speed. 
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• Pencil Tool - In advanced audio editing, can destructively “redraw” audio waveform data. It is also very useful for drawing in MIDI data like notes and automation.
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• Smart Tool - Allows you to use the three most important edit tools at the same time. TIn this mode, the tool will change automatically, depending on where you place your mouse. Near an edge, it switches to the Trimmer tool. Close to the bottom edge, it becomes the Grabber tool. Close to the middle and top, it defaults to the Selector tool.
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• Scrubber - Click down at some point in a sound clip, and drag to the left or right. You can scrub quickly or slowly, depending on how you move the mouse.

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Midi Controls

Provides an overview of and access to change a variety of session parameters like tempo, meter, and count off. (Diagram says Midi, also Counts for Audio Signal)

• Midi Wait Note - Start the recording after pro tools revives a midi input. This is very useful when recording MIDI tracks, you can prepare yourself and the recording will start only after you input any MIDI information. The recording will start exactly at the position that you placed the playback head.
• Midi Merge - Record MIDI data over the data that is already on the MIDI track. Add extra notes to the track that you have already recorded.
• Metronome - Activates the click track in the session if you have made a click track in your sessions.
• Count Off - The amount of time / bars that is measured while the system plays before recording begins
• Tempo - Adjust the timing / Beats per Minute of your session
• Meter - Shows the time signature that is set for the session. Double-click on this value to change it to another time signature that you desire.

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Indicators

• Pre-Roll plays the audio a little before the playback position. This gives the artist a bit of time to prepare and get ready for the recording. Set the value here by manually typing the length of time that is required for the artist. The recording will start after the Pre-Roll time has elapsed. 
• Post-Roll plays the track a few more seconds after the recording has stopped. This is very helpful if the sustain of the track that you recorded needs to be adjusted. Adjust the clip length to provide an easier transition.
• Start specifies the position of the selection that you made. By default, this value is the place where the playback head rests. Adjust this value by either typing in the value manually or by dragging the playback head.
• End shows you the value of the end of the selection that you made. Adjust this value by manually typing in the value or dragging the playback head.
• Length specifies the length of the selection. The value here depends on the Main Time Scale that is used. If you are using the Bars & Beats view, you'll see the length in Bars & Beats. If you set the Main Time Scale to Min: Secs, the length of the selection is shown in minutes and seconds.

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Rulers

Various rulers display relevant information for a session. You should hide unneeded rulers as they take up valuable screen real estate.

• Bars|Beats -­‐ Useful for music editing and composition.
• Tempo -­‐ Allows you to set the tempo and insert tempo changes.
• Markers -­‐ Lets you create markers that identify and recall particular points in a session, like 1st verse, chorus, 2nd verse, vocals start, etc.
• Min:Sec -­‐ Shows measurements in minutes and seconds. Very useful for material that has to be a specific length.

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Tracks List

Displays the names of tracks in your session. You can hide tracks (but still hear them) by clicking on the little dot to the left of each track.

Clips List

Shows all the clips (and edits thereof) and type available to your session. They will be named based on their track name or file name, if imported.

Groups List

Displays any groups (such as all drum tracks) created during the editing/mixing processes.