Pencil Tool in Pro Tools
This blog is part of our new series of tutorials based on Avid’s flagship Digital Audio Workstation, Pro Tools.
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Getting started with how to use the Pencil Tool in Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a software that lets you produce, record, edit and mix audio as well as MIDI performances.
After we are done with the recording stage of a production, we will get into the editing stage.
On this stage, we will be using all the Edit Tools from their associated menu.
Today we are going to be learning how to use the Pencil Tool.
The Pencil Tool is a complex edit tool that lets you draw several types of audio data such as:
- Audio Waveforms
- MIDI Data
- Tempo Changes
- Automation
- Create or open a Pro Tools session:
2. Locate the Edit Tools menu:
3. Click on the Pencil Tool icon to engage it:
Once clicked, it will turn blue indicating it is selected as:
This Tool has several different shapes to draw:
- Free Hand
- Line
- Triangle
- Square
- Random
- Parabolic
- S-Curve
These modes can be changed by right-clicking on top of the Pencil Tool icon, so the four modes appear as:
4. Let’s demonstrate how to use the Pencil Tool for audio waveform drawing or correction by zooming in up to the samples level on the audio clip:
Once you get to the samples level of zoom and hover the mouse on top of the waveform, the pencil tool will appear as the cursor.
5. Click and “draw” on the waveform to “correct it”:
As you can see, we have re-drawn the waveform.
If we press play again, the sonic difference will be obvious.
You can use this method to remove discontinuities, clicks and pops.
6. Let’s now demonstrate how to draw MIDI data.
Open the piano roll on a MIDI or Virtual Instrument track:
7. Click and drag to create MIDI notes:
You have created MIDI notes!
If you press play, you will listen to the virtual instrument in action!
8. Let’s now demonstrate how to draw tempo changes.
Open the tempo ruler:
9. Click and drag on the tempo ruler to create tempo changes:
As you can see, the tempo has changed.
If you press play, the click will adapt to those tempo changes.
10. Let’s now demonstrate how to draw automation changes.
Open the volume automation of the audio track:
11. Click and drag to automate the volume of the track:
It can be seen how we created volume automation on the “GUITARS” audio track.
If we press play, the volume will change following that shape that we draw.
If we have a fader controller, the fader will move accordingly!
And that is it!
At this point, we have successfully explained how to use the Pencil Tool in Pro Tools.
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