Marianne Martinez
Automating panning in Pro Tools is a simple process that can make your songs sound more interesting and spacious. By automating panning, you can change the pan position of a track during a song, allowing you to create dynamic and engaging mixes. This feature gives you a lot of flexibility as you are not limited to hard left, hard right, or central panning; you can pan in small or large amounts, depending on your preferences. This guide will teach you how to automate panning parabolically in Pro Tools, giving you even more control over your mixes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Software | Pro Tools First |
| Panning Automation | Create a more spacious feel in songs |
| Track Position | Not fixed for the whole song |
| Pan Position | Can be altered during the song |
| Pan Automation Curve | Can be dragged between automation points to pan left or right |
| Pan Position | Upper portion of the track represents panning to the left, and the lower portion represents panning to the right |
| Automation | Can be entered into regions using the smart tool |
| Automation Points | Created by holding control+click (Windows) or Command+click (macOS) on the desired locations |
| Pencil Tool | Can be used to draw custom automation moves |
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What You'll Learn
Using the edit window to select 'pan'
To automate panning in Pro Tools, you must first select 'Pan' in the track view selector of the track that you want to automate. This will bring up a line in the centre of the track's regions over the waveform, which represents the pan position of the track. The upper portion of the track height represents panning to the left, while the lower portion represents panning to the right.
You can then use the select tool to highlight the section of the track that you would like to automate. With your section selected, move your cursor to the upper or lower half of the region to change the selection's pan position. Dragging down will pan the selection to the right, while dragging up will pan it to the left.
If you want to create a more gradual change to the pan position, you can use the pencil tool. This allows you to draw your automation directly into the region's panning track view. To enable the pencil tool, simply click on the pencil icon to the right of the edit tools. You can also hold down on the pencil tool to change its shape, allowing you to select options like 'line' or 'triangle' to create different panning changes.
Additionally, you can create multiple automation points to modify the pan automation curve. Hold control+click (Windows) or Command+click (macOS) on the desired locations to create two automation points. Then, click and drag the pan automation curve between these points to adjust the pan position.
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Using the select tool to highlight the section to automate
To automate panning in Pro Tools, you must first select 'pan' in the track view selector of the track you want to automate. This will allow you to see the pan position of the track, with the centre point representing central panning. The upper portion of the track represents panning to the left, and the lower portion represents panning to the right.
Placing the cursor in the lower portion of the region enables the select tool. This tool is essential for highlighting the section of the track that you want to automate. With your desired section selected, move your cursor to the upper half of the region. Here, you can change the pan position of your selection. Drag your selection down to pan it right, or drag up to pan it left.
You can also create a more gradual change to the pan position by using the pencil tool. This tool allows you to draw your automation directly into the region's panning track view. To enable it, simply click on the pencil icon to the right of the edit tools. You can also hold down on the pencil tool to change its shape.
Once you are happy with your mix, you can use the manual write controls in the automation window to "Write Automation to Selection". This command tells Pro Tools to apply the automation to the entire selection. You can also use the preview mode to change and adjust parameters before applying the automation.
Some useful keyboard shortcuts for navigating the Pro Tools interface include Ctrl-click (PC: Start-click) on any track in the Edit window to scroll to that track in the Mix window, and Ctrl+Command-click (PC: Ctrl+Start-click) on a plug-in parameter to switch the track to display automation data.
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Using the pencil tool to draw automation
To automate panning parabolically in Pro Tools, you can use the pencil tool to draw automation. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Enabling the Pencil Tool
To enable the pencil tool in Pro Tools, click on the pencil icon to the right of the edit tools. The pencil tool allows you to draw your automation directly into the region's panning track view, giving you the ability to create custom automation moves.
Understanding the Track Height
In Pro Tools, the upper portion of the track height represents panning to the left, while the lower portion represents panning to the right. This allows you to control changes in the pan position at any point in the song by making adjustments across the timeline.
Drawing Automation
To draw automation, select 'Pan' in the track view selector of the track you want to automate. A line will appear in the centre of the track's regions over the waveform, representing the pan position. You can then use the pencil tool to draw your desired automation. Hold down on the pencil tool to change its shape, allowing you to select options like ''line' for a consistent and even change, or 'triangle' for a unique yet consistent panning change. The speed of the panning follows the current Grid setting.
Playback and Adjustment
During playback, ensure your automation write is set to 'read' for the automation to follow your panning. Make sure your output channels are set to hard left and right if you're using a console, or ensure you're not in mono when using speakers for better panning discernibility. You can also put the track into 'read' mode to hear the automation you've written. If you have a fader controller, it will move according to the volume automation you've drawn.
Tempo Ruler and Curve Adjustment
The Parabolic and S-Curve pencil functions are specifically for use in the Tempo Ruler. To enable the Tempo Ruler, go to the Window menu and ensure it is active in the transport bar. You can then use the Pencil Tool to draw tempo changes that ease in and out. After creating your tempo change, you will enter Curve Adjustment Mode, where you can play with the parabolic and S-curve settings to observe the difference.
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Holding control/command and clicking to create automation points
Understanding Automation Points
Automation points are specific locations in your audio track where you want to make changes to the panning. By holding Control on Windows or Command on macOS and clicking on these desired locations, you create anchor points that lock in the panning adjustments you want to make. This process gives you precise control over how your mix will pan at specific points in the track.
Creating Multiple Automation Points
To create multiple automation points, simply repeat the process of holding Control/Command and clicking at different locations on the track. Each time you do this, you're creating a new reference point for your panning automation. This means you can have as many automation points as needed to achieve complex and dynamic panning effects.
Adjusting Panning Between Automation Points
Once you've created your automation points, you can adjust the panning between them. Click and drag the pan automation curve between the automation points to pan the source to the left or right. This adjustment creates a smooth transition between the different panning positions, ensuring a seamless listening experience.
Advantages of Automation Points
Automation points offer a high level of flexibility in your panning. You can create gradual or abrupt changes in panning by adjusting the curve between the points. Additionally, you can experiment with small or large panning amounts, allowing you to create spacious and engaging mixes. Automation points also enable you to have your track's pan position change in real-time during a song.
Automation Modes
Pro Tools offers various automation modes to suit different needs. Touch Mode writes automation when an enabled control is touched or clicked and returns to the initial level once you release the control. Latch Mode, on the other hand, continues writing automation even after you release the control and will "latch" to that value until you stop playback. These modes provide flexibility depending on your desired level of automation.
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Dragging the pan automation curve to pan left or right
To automate panning in Pro Tools, you must first select 'pan' in the track view selector of the track that you want to automate. A line will appear in the centre of the track's regions over the waveform, representing the pan position of the track. The upper portion of the track represents panning to the left, and the lower portion represents panning to the right.
To automate panning parabolically, you can use two methods: the select tool and the pencil tool. First, create two automation points by holding control+click (Windows) or Command+click (macOS) on the desired locations.
Using the select tool, highlight the section of the track that you would like to automate by placing your cursor in the lower portion of the region. With your section selected, move your cursor to the upper half of the region. From here, you can change the selection's pan position. Drag the selection to the right by dragging down, or to the left by dragging up.
The pencil tool allows you to create a more gradual change to the pan position. Click on the pencil icon to the right of the edit tools to enable the pencil tool. With this tool, you can draw your automation directly into the region's panning track view. Hold down on the pencil tool to change its shape, allowing you to select shapes like 'line' or 'triangle' to create different panning changes.
By dragging the pan automation curve between the automation points, you can pan the source to the left (up) or to the right (down). This will create a more dynamic and engaging mix for your song, with the sound source moving within the sound field.
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Frequently asked questions
In the Pro Tools First edit window, select 'pan' in the track view selector of the track that you want to automate. The line that appears in the center of the track's regions over the waveform represents the pan position of the track.
The center point horizontally represents central panning. The upper portion of the track represents panning to the left, and the lower portion represents panning to the right.
Use the pencil tool to draw your automation directly into the region's panning track view.
Yes, you can automate panning in real-time during your session.
The controls go from -100 to 100. To pan 20% to the right, the left channel (-100) needs to go twice the distance to the right (2*20=40). So, set the left channel to -60 (-100+40) and the right channel to 100.
