Clip Grouping in Pro Tools
In this tutorial, we will discuss Clip Grouping, one of the many useful Editing and Arrangement features in the Pro Tools environment. In version 10 of Pro Tools, Avid renamed what they call chunks of audio on a track from “Regions” to “Clips”. Due to this change in naming syntax, what was once known as “Region Grouping” is now referred to as “Clip grouping”.
Working with Clip groups-
- First, select one or more Clips on one, or several tracks, in your Session.
NOTE: There are a few things to consider when working Clip Groups:
A. The overall size of the selection you make determines the actual size of the Clip Group you are trying to create.
B. The selection can begin/end anywhere; on a clip boundary, in the middle of a clip, or in empty space.
C. Selections starting or ending within a Clip will separate the Clip at the selection boundary when you create a Clip Group.
D. Clip groups created from object-based selections will include all selected and unselected clips between the first and last selected clip on the track.
To create a Clip Group, take one of the following actions:
- From the Clip drop-down menu, choose: Clip > Group.
- Right-Click the Edit selection and choose: Group.
- Press: Control + Alt + G (Windows), Command + Option + G (Mac) to Group selected Clips.
NOTE: A Clip group appears as one Clip with the Clip groups icon in its lower left corner. Clip groups also appear in the Clip List.
Working with different Time-base Formats
When you create a Clip group it will follow which timebase format is active on it’s track, (either Samples or Ticks). Multitrack clip groups can include both sample-based and tick-based tracks.
Empty Selections
In certain editing situations, such as working in Shuffle mode, you have the ability to
Clip groups from empty selections. This is useful for preserving the gaps between clips.
Multitrack Clip Groups
These are Clip Groups that have been created by selecting across more than one track. These are very useful for grouping tracks such as multi-miked drums or background vocals. They can be created across any combination of audio, MIDI, or Instrument tracks. They can include either Tick, or Sample-based tracks and appear as a single object across adjacent tracks
To create a multi-track Clip group:
- First, select one or more Clips on two, or more tracks, in your Session.
2. To create a Multi-track Clip Group, take one of the following actions:
A. From the Clip drop-down menu, choose: Clip > Group
B. Right-Click the Edit selection and choose: Group.
C. Press: Control + Alt + G (Windows), Command + Option + G (Mac) to Group
selected Clips.