Using the Smart Tool for quick edits

Getting to know the Tool Bar and all its functions is important for anyone working with Pro Tools. However, with the introduction of the Smart Tool, the vast majority of your work can be completed with one context-sensitive tool. The tool’s actions change according to where it’s positioned, and knowing how and when those different actions appear—and their effect—will help you edit faster and more effectively.

Getting ready

This recipe requires a Pro Tools session with at least one audio clip placed into a track.

How to do it…

For this recipe, we’ll explore all the different ways a clip can be manipulated using the Smart Tool. Follow along with these steps:

1. In the Tool Bar, click on the bar above Trim Tool, Select Tool, and Grabber Tool to activate the Smart Tool:

Figure 3.1: The Smart Tool

2. Position the cursor over the middle of a clip.
3. Move the...