This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
About Track Controls
Tracks have common controls for recording, playing back, and mixing track material; writing and playing back mix automation; and viewing track attributes. Most controls are available in both the Mix and Edit windows.
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Input and Output path selectors. Audio, Auxiliary Input, and Instrument tracks have Input and Output path selectors for choosing audio paths. Master Fader tracks have Output selectors only. MIDI tracks have Input and Output selectors for choosing MIDI channels.
To view Input and Output path selectors in the Edit window, show the I/O view (Figure 4.17).
Figure 4.17 To view Input and Output selectors in the Edit window, choose the I/O view from the Edit window View selector.
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Automation Mode selector. All track types (except Video tracks) allow controls to be automated so that you can reproduce mix moves in your session. The Automation Mode selector determines how track automation is written and played back.
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Pan controls. Audio, Auxiliary Input, MIDI, and Instrument tracks have Pan controls and indicators to position the track output in the stereo field.
To view Pan controls in the Edit window, show the I/O view and click the Pan indicator (Figure 4.18).
Figure 4.18 To view Pan controls in the Edit window, choose the I/O view from the Edit window View selector, then click the Pan indicator (left) to make the Pan controls appear (right).
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Record Enable button. Audio tracks have a Record Enable button to arm the track for recording audio inputs. MIDI and Instrument tracks have a Record Enable button to arm the track for recording MIDI input.
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Solo button. Audio, Auxiliary Input, MIDI, and Instrument tracks have a Solo button that mutes all other tracks so the soloed track's output can be auditioned independently.
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Mute button. Audio, Auxiliary Input, MIDI, and Instrument tracks have a Mute button that silences the track's output. When a track is soloed, other tracks are implicitly muted.
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Volume fader. All track types (except Video tracks) have a Volume fader that controls the track output level.
To view the Volume fader in the Edit window, show the I/O view and click the Volume indicator (Figure 4.19).
Figure 4.19 To view the Volume fader in the Edit window, choose the I/O view from the Edit window View selector, then click the Volume indicator (left) to make the Volume controls appear (right).
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Level meter. All track types (except Video tracks) have a Level meter. On Audio tracks, the Level meter shows the audio signal coming from the hard drive, not the track output level.
On Auxiliary Input, Instrument, and Master Fader tracks, the Level meter shows the output level of the track.
On MIDI tracks, the Level meter shows the velocity value of MIDI events on the track.
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Volume/Peak/Delay indicator. Audio, Auxiliary Input, Instrument, and Master Fader tracks have indicators that can show the current Volume fader level or the recent peak playback level. In addition, this indicator shows the amount of delay (in samples) incurred by any plug-ins inserted on the track. To toggle display among volume, peak volume, and delay, Command-click (Mac) or Ctrl-click (Windows) the indicator.
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Timebase selector (Edit window only). All track types (except Video tracks) have a timebase selector that lets you change the timebase setting (Samples or Ticks) of the track. See the sidebar "Timebases and Track Display," later in this chapter, for more information.
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Voice selector. Audio tracks have a Voice selector that lets you turn the track's voice assignment on or off. See the sidebar "Track Order and Voice Allocation," later in this chapter, for more information.
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Track Type indicator. In the Mix window, each track has a small icon that indicates the track type. With Audio, Auxiliary Input, Instrument, and Master Fader tracks, you can deactivate the track by clicking the Track Type indicator.
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Track name. You can select a track by clicking its name in the Mix or Edit window. You can rename a track by double-clicking its name.
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