Making regions from sound file

[BKE]

I am new to ProTools. My background is 20 years with SAW Studio.

I have ProTools 11.1.2.

I know I can record a record a sound file on a track and highlight parts of it to make regions or clips and insert them on other tracks.

Is there a way to double click on the region or clip and open up the original sound file showing the highlighted region...make adjustments to highlighted area and update the region or save as a new region?

It's a pain to try to figure out where the clip originated in the sound file.

BKE

[DC-Choppah]

After selecting, use the separate function to make a new region (clip) that was originally part of the longer one.

[BKE]

Originally Posted by DC-Choppah

After selecting, use the separate function to make a new region (clip) that was originally part of the longer one.

I was hoping I could click on the region (clip) and it go back and open the original sound file where it originated from.

[Carl Kolchak]

Originally Posted by BKE

I was hoping I could click on the region (clip) and it go back and open the original sound file where it originated from.

Depending on what you're trying to do (I'm not sure I completely understand what you're saying, in terms of how it works in other software), just trimming the sides of a region all the way out will return it to it's original state.

Alternatively, if you have the region list / clip list open (on the right hand side of the edit window), any region you have selected on the timeline will be highlighted in the list, and it will be directly below it's parent file (bold text).

You could either choose "Spot" mode, and drag the original file on to the time line, then choose it's original timecode location, when prompted by the pop-up. Or you could drag it on to the timeline in any other mode, and right click for the option of spotting to original timecode location.

Of course, that only works if the material was recorded to the timeline in the first place (or to timecode), and won't work with a file that's just been imported without any timecode reference - unless you take the time to add a user time stamp to every file you put on the timeline.

[mesaone]

I get what you're after. You want to see a waveform overview of the whole file, with a highlight that spans whatever clip you have selected. As in "this clip in the timeline represents this portion of this audio file".

You can select clips and then reveal them in the workspace, which will show you all sorts of info about the parent file, including a small waveform overview. But currently there is nothing in Pro Tools that will show an overview of the parent file with the contents of currently selected clip highlighted.

One thing you can do is use playlists to place whole files, and then select and promote only a portion. But this is obviously a workaround.

[BKE]

Originally Posted by Carl Kolchak

Depending on what you're trying to do (I'm not sure I completely understand what you're saying, in terms of how it works in other software), just trimming the sides of a region all the way out will return it to it's original state.

Alternatively, if you have the region list / clip list open (on the right hand side of the edit window), any region you have selected on the timeline will be highlighted in the list, and it will be directly below it's parent file (bold text).

You could either choose "Spot" mode, and drag the original file on to the time line, then choose it's original timecode location, when prompted by the pop-up. Or you could drag it on to the timeline in any other mode, and right click for the option of spotting to original timecode location.

Of course, that only works if the material was recorded to the timeline in the first place (or to timecode), and won't work with a file that's just been imported without any timecode reference - unless you take the time to add a user time stamp to every file you put on the timeline.

Thank you Carl for taking the time to respond. I benefitted from every part of your answer. Especially trimming the sides all the way out returns to original state. I thought once you trimmed it it was gone forever.

Thank You!

BKE

[BKE]

Originally Posted by mesaone

I get what you're after. You want to see a waveform overview of the whole file, with a highlight that spans whatever clip you have selected. As in "this clip in the timeline represents this portion of this audio file".

You can select clips and then reveal them in the workspace, which will show you all sorts of info about the parent file, including a small waveform overview. But currently there is nothing in Pro Tools that will show an overview of the parent file with the contents of currently selected clip highlighted.

One thing you can do is use playlists to place whole files, and then select and promote only a portion. But this is obviously a workaround.

Hi Mesaone,
Yes! That is what I am after. Thanks for your suggestion. I record and edit for ballet companies. Many times my customer will want me to modify a clip a year later...make it a few seconds longer. In the other software I can double click on the clip, return to the original location in the sound file and then adjust it and re-save it very quickly.

From Carls post I did not realize I could move the edit out wards and regain or see the original parts of the file. I think this will work.

Thanks for your reply as well.

BKE

[mesaone]

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, like Carl explained, the boundaries of clips can be extended forward and backward, to reveal as much or as little of the recording as you would like. Also there is a clip list (it can be revealed on the right-hand side of the edit window) that will show all the files in the session, and any file or clip therein can be dragged into the timeline.