User`s guide

Chapter 21: Automation 299
Thinning Automation
Pro Tools writes a maximum density of au-
tomation data during an automation pass,
in the form of breakpoints. Since Pro Tools
creates ramps between breakpoints, it may
not need all of the captured points to create
a sonically accurate representation of the
automation moves that you have made.
Each breakpoint takes up space in memory
allocated for automation, so thinning data
can allow you to maximize efficiency and
CPU performance.
Pro Tools provides two different ways to
thin automation data and remove un-
needed breakpoints: the “Smooth and Thin
Data After Pass” option and the Thin Auto-
mation command.
Using the “Smooth and Thin
Data After Pass” Option
When this option is selected in the Auto-
mation Preferences, Pro Tools automati-
cally thins the automation breakpoint data
after each automation pass.
In the default settings for new sessions, the
Smooth and Thin Data After Pass option is
selected, with the “Some” setting chosen.
In most cases, this setting yields optimum
performance while providing an accurate
reproduction of your automation moves.
If you choose None, Pro Tools writes the
maximum possible number of breakpoints.
You can still perform thinning at any time
with the Thin Automation command. For
more information on smoothing automa-
tion data, see “About Smoothing” on
page 292.
Using the Thin Automation
Command
The Thin Automation command allows
you to selectively thin areas in a track
where automation data is too dense. You
can use the Undo command to audition
the results of thinning before you apply it
permanently.
To use the Thin Automation command:
1 In the Edit window, click a Track Display
Format button to display the automation
type you want to thin.
2 With the Selector, highlight the automa-
tion data you want to thin. To thin all au-
tomation of the selected type in the track,
click the Selector in the track and choose
the Select All command.
3 Choose Edit > Thin Automation to thin
the selected automation by the amount
you have selected in the Automation Pref-
erences.
The Smooth and Thin Data After Pass Option