Import mix settings to a specific time in the session

[[email protected]]

Hi guys, I'm mixing a live show and need to import some settings from a previous mix, but only want them applied to a specific time range and not to the whole session (inserts, aux-sends, levels, the whole shebang)
You know- like you'd do on an SSL.
How does that work in PT?

[Drew Mazurek]

The only way I am aware of doing this directly is with an ICON using Snapshots and Punch Capture.

You could import as new tracks and then copy paste just the auto, but it's not nearly as straight forward.

Maybe someone will chime in with a creative solution?? Paging Rich Breen!!

[[email protected]]

Thanks Drew. Let's hear some input guys!
A la 'join to mix' from point x to point y on SSL...

[Rich Breen]

Hi Drew - I heard my name... ;-)

Yes, 'join to...' would be a nice feature. In Pro Tools you can map the import data to a specific start location (import dialog "Timecode Mapping Options"), so you could prep your source session so the automation info you're interested in is moved to the session start, then import the data from that session into your destination session mapping it to the location you'd like; of course, you will then have the new automation from that point on, so if there's something *later* in the session from the destination session that you need to keep, you'd need to have another 'source b' session prepped to pull that info from.

Not particularly elegant, but I think after one did it a couple times you'd get it down to a pretty quick workflow.

Drew's workflow could also work well and might be more efficient, depending on the particulars; you'd import in all the source tracks *without* the audio (so you're not adding a bunch of unnecessary clips), group the imported tracks so you can easily select and de-activate, or get rid of them when done, then copy and paste all automation to the desired location. I think I might de-activate the imported tracks immediately if there's any resource issues; you can still copy all automation from an inactive track.

best,
rich