Friday, August 28, 2020

Edit Lock One or More Clips - Pro Tools

By TOM BOWSER

Lock separate clips in a track to prevent them from being accidentally edited. Edit locking also prevents a clip from being moved on the time line.

The Pro Tools Reference guide defines a clip as "a segment of audio, MIDI, or video data. A clip could be a drum loop, a guitar riff, a verse of a song, a recording take, a sound effect, some dialog, or an entire sound file."

To Edit Lock one or more clips:

  1. Enable "Commands keyboard Focus" by clicking on the a/z button in the upper right corner of the Pro Tools Edit window.

Track Showing Multiple Clips in Pro Tools

  1. Select the clips you want to time lock. You can select clips on one or multiple tracks.
  • To select one or more clips on a track:
    • Left click and hold down the left mouse button in the upper half of the track at the point you want to begin your selection.
    • Drag the mouse cursor over the clip or clips you want to select.
    • Release your left mouse button when you've finished your selection.
  • To select an entire track and all it's clips:
    • Left click in the upper half of the track.
    • Press and hold down the Ctrl key then the a (A) key on your keyboard.
  1. Press and hold down the Ctrl + the letter l (L) keys.

All Edit Locked clips will show a small closed lock in the bottom left hand corner. (see image below)

Track Showing Multiple Time Locked Clips in Pro Tools

To unlock a Edit Locked clip or clips:

  1. Select the clip or clips you want to unlock.
  2. Press and hold down the Ctrl + the letter l (L) keys.