Pro Tools Recording Track Edits: Tips and Tricks for Efficient Editing

When it comes to recording tracks in Pro Tools, there are several ways to go about editing your takes. One of the most effective methods is using the playlist function to group multiple tracks together and make edits more manageable.

To start, let's assume you've recorded a drum take that needs some tweaking. The first step is to change the track view to 'playlists' by clicking on the arrow icon at the bottom left of your edit or mix window. This will allow you to see all your groups and activate or deactivate each one as needed.

Next, press Cmd+G on a Mac or Ctrl+G on PC to set up a group for your drum tracks. To group multiple tracks together, select the tracks in mind and hold down control to add more to your selection. This will make it easy to edit all of your drum tracks at once.

One common scenario is when you're recording drums with multiple microphones. In this case, you'll want to group each microphone track together so that you can make edits easily. For example, if you have a snare drum track with a close and room mic, you can group these two tracks together for editing purposes.

Another useful feature in Pro Tools is the ability to punch in certain sections of a song. This means you'll want to record multiple takes so that you can grab a good section from another take if needed. Even the best musicians make mistakes sometimes!

To experiment with different commit and freeze options, open a copy of your session and choose File>Save Session Copy>check the box to include audio files and save to your recording drive (and maybe rename it 'song_experiment'). As long as you don't choose to delete the original, you always have the option to revisit your edits later.

When you initiate the Commit function, you'll also have options for what happens to the source track. You can select any plugin on a track and select Commit up to this Insert (handy if you want to leave following plugins 'live' for further adjustment). In Pro Tools 12.4 and later, the Commit function creates a new audio file according to how you desire.

By following these tips and tricks, you'll be able to make efficient edits in Pro Tools and achieve the sound you're looking for. Whether you're recording drums or any other instrument, using playlists and committing tracks can help streamline your workflow and save time in the long run.

Pro tools recording track edits