Trim vs Volume

[Chief Pronto]

Could someone quickly explain to me the differences between volume and trim in Pro Tools? I'm not talking about the Trim automation mode since I'm not on HD and I don't have CPTK, I'm talking about the plugin.

What's the difference between having my volume at -6db and no trim plugin, and having my volume at 0db and a trim plugin at -6db? Thanks.

[Chief Pronto]

To add to this, what would be the difference in using a trim plugin vs say using only the fader on a plugin like SSL Channel?

[albee1952]

No difference you can hear. But I often use the trim plugin to temporarily change something in a mix, so I can lose the plugin and restore the mix instantly.

[daeron80]

Gain is gain. Just a workflow choice. To expand on albee's tip, I use the Trim plug when I have volume automation written to a track, and need to adjust it by a constant amount. Since your eyes often skew your audio perception, I close my eyes and adjust the volume with the Trim plug until I'm confident I've locked it in. Then I open them, trim the volume automation by the amount shown on the Trim plug readout, and ditch the plug.

[DontLetMeDrown]

The difference is that trim happens before your inserts and volume happens after.

[daeron80]

Originally Posted by DontLetMeDrown

The difference is that trim happens before your inserts and volume happens after.

Great point. It can be anywhere in your inserts, of course. If it's in the first slot, it obviously comes before. If it's in the last slot, there's no difference. In between, well, you get idea.

[Chief Pronto]

ok I planned on putting it in the last slot of my inserts. I ask because I have a Behringer BCF2000 control surface with non-touch sensitive faders. I find myself using volume automation early on in the mixing process, making the faders on my control surface entirely useless. I was thinking of creating a session template with all audio tracks having the Trim plugin in the last slot and having it automated. I'd have to get into the habit of working this way, but I'd do all my normal volume automation on the trim plugin instead, thus leaving the actual volume automation lane untouched, so I can use the faders on my control surface again. Does this seem like a reasonable solution?

[daeron80]

Originally Posted by Chief Pronto

I'd do all my normal volume automation on the trim plugin instead, thus leaving the actual volume automation lane untouched, so I can use the faders on my control surface again. Does this seem like a reasonable solution?

Great idea! That's using your tools.

[DontLetMeDrown]

Originally Posted by daeron80

It can be anywhere in your inserts, of course.

Oh ya. When I posted that I thought we were talking about the audiosuite version.

[DJ Hellfire]

Originally Posted by daeron80

To expand on albee's tip, I use the Trim plug when I have volume automation written to a track, and need to adjust it by a constant amount. Since your eyes often skew your audio perception, I close my eyes and adjust the volume with the Trim plug until I'm confident I've locked it in. Then I open them, trim the volume automation by the amount shown on the Trim plug readout, and ditch the plug.

Why don't you save yourself a step and just highlight all the automation data on the said track, and adjust the level with the trim tool?