Mix Groups provide a similar function to Edit Groups, in that they allow mirroring of any changes made to one channel onto other channels. This way, we get to enjoy the aesthetic advantage of Clip Groups and can deactivate any Edit Groups, for the mix phase, knowing that if we do need to make any further edits that the Clip Group is likely to be sufficient. We will often begin with Edit Groups, before creating Clip Groups once we have completed editing. However, because Edit Groups can be individually toggled on/off, or suspended globally, at any time, it’s much easier to make an edit to a single channel within a group than it is with Clip Groups. Edits made across channels in an Edit Group are mirrored to all of the other channels, just like with Clip Groups. Group selectionĪ more elegant method for editing multiple channels simultaneously is to use an Edit Group. This is a fairly clumsy way of editing Groups, but can be aesthetically appealing and make it easier to navigate large sessions. Or this can be used across multiple channels, which then enables you to make edits to all of the channels at the same time, maintaining phase coherence throughout the Group. When used on a single channel, you can group multiple edits into a single clip, simply for aesthetic value. This type of Group joins a number of clips together to look as if they are all one individual clip. The first type we’re going to look at is the Clip Group.
There are several types of Group in Pro Tools. In this workshop, we’re going to look at the Group features, which enable you to work on multiple channels at the same time in both the Edit and the Mix window.
Similarly, a good operator will know each of Pro Tools’ features that are designed to speed up your workflow.
This is the reason why you rarely see professional Pro Tools operators reaching for the mouse, as they make use of as many key commands as possible. The key is not just to work hastily, but to work efficiently. In fact, if the outcome isn’t every bit as good as when you work slowly, then there is no advantage at all to working quickly. However, there’s no benefit from simply speeding up if the results end up being shoddy. Once you reach a professional level, working quickly also means you are able to work on more music. This is because keeping a swift workflow enables us to keep our creative ideas fresh in our mind, preventing us from becoming bogged down in the minutiae and not forgetting or losing track of just what you actually want to achieve. We often discuss working quickly when editing and mixing.