User Manual

Pro Tools Reference Guide584
Waveform Views
Pro Tools provides a several different Waveform
View options. Depending on the editing task, you
may want to display waveforms in any number of
different ways.
Calculating Waveform
Overviews
Waveforms can be calculated using Peak or Power
overviews.
To set how the Waveform view is calculated:
 Choose View > Waveforms and select Peak or
Power
Peak When selected, the waveform display is cal-
culated based on the sample-by-sample peak level.
Peak view is traditionally how Pro Tools calcu-
lates the waveform overview and can be used for
normal or rectified views. Peak view clearly dis-
plays any clipping in the waveform.
Power When selected, the wave form display is
calculated according to the Root Mean Square
(RMS). Power view can be used for normal or rec-
tified views. Power view is useful for better seeing
the characteristics of the audio in the waveform
representation when zoomed out beyond the sam-
ple level. For mastering applications in particular,
it can be more revealing of the sonic characteristics
of the audio than Peak view.
Rectified Waveforms
Rectified waveforms are displayed so that their
positive and negative waveform excursions (the
portions that fall above and below the center line)
are summed together and viewed as a single posi-
tive-value signal. This view lets you see more
waveform detail in normal or reduced track height
views. It can be particularly useful when editing
volume automation data, since it depicts waveform
levels as starting at the bottom of the track. Recti-
fied view is available in both Peak and Power
views.
Normal Peak Waveform view with Outlines
When zoomed in to the sample level,
Pro Tools always displays Peak view.
Normal Power Waveform view with Outlines
Peak view is always shown during recording.
Power waveform view is calculated and
shown only after you stop recording.
Power view is not available in Destructive
Punch mode or when zoomed to the sample
level.