DigiDesign Pro Tools Reference Manual page 273

Rectified mode displays more detailed wave-
forms when using track heights of Medium or
Small, and can be particularly useful when edit-
ing volume automation data, since it depicts
waveform "levels" as starting at the bottom of
the track.
Guidelines for Editing Waveforms
With the Selector tool in the Edit window, you
can select portions of audio waveforms and di-
vide them into segments called regions, so that
you can rearrange and manipulate them in
tracks.
While editing, try to create regions that allow
you to maintain a consistent beat. If you always
define regions so that they contain a whole
number of beats, you will be able to string the
regions together and maintain a smooth, steady
rhythm.
It's sometimes useful to have a steady, well-de-
fined waveform (such as a drum track) as a guide
when selecting and defining other regions. If
you have played in time with the beat, it should
be easier to create rhythmically accurate regions
by referring to the drum waveform.
Some important rules to keep in mind when de-
fining regions:
Whenever possible, begin a region precisely
◆
before a volume peak, and end it immediately
before another volume peak.
Whenever possible, make sure a region starts
◆
and ends on exactly the same part of a beat.
Use the following Pro Tools features to help
◆
you edit rhythmic material or audio with clear
transients into precise regions:
• Tab to Transients (see "Tabbing to Tran-
sients" on page 319 . )
• Beat Detective (see Chapter 21, "Beat De-
tective")
• Editing to a Grid (see "Grid" on page 282)
Avoiding Clicks and Pops
If an edited region begins or ends at a point of
high amplitude, you may hear an unpleasant
click when Pro Tools plays from one region to
another. In order to avoid clicks or pops do any
of the following:
Make sure that the start and end points of
◆
your selection are as close as possible to the
point where the amplitude of the waveform
tapers down to meet the zero-crossing line (the
center line of the track's waveform display). If
necessary, use the zooming tools in the Edit
window (see "Using the Zoomer Tools" on
page 284) to display waveforms in greater detail.
Selection that begins and ends at zero crossings
With Pro Tools HD, use the AutoFade feature
◆
to apply real-time fade-ins/outs to all region
boundaries that do not touch or overlap other
regions. See "Using AutoFades" on page 384 for
details.
Apply a crossfade between regions where a
◆
click or pop occurs. See "Creating a Crossfade"
on page 381 for details.
Chapter 15: Editing Basics 261