DigiDesign Digidesign Pro Tools 8.0, Reference Manual

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Pro Tools Reference Guide 430
Other sounds, such as vocals or sustained syn-
thesizer pads, produce very different waveforms.
These sounds have less pronounced peaks and
valleys because they generally have softer at-
tacks and longer decays.
Waveform Views
Pro Tools provides a several different Waveform
View options. Depending on the editing task,
you may want display waveforms in any num-
ber 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 one of the
following:
•
Peak
– or –
•
Power
Peak
When selected, the waveform display is
calculated based on the sample-by-sample peak
level. Peak view is traditionally how Pro Tools
calculates the waveform overview and can be
used for normal or rectified views. Peak view
clearly displays 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
rectified views. Power view is useful for better
seeing the characteristics of the audio in the
waveform representation when zoomed out be-
yond the sample level. For mastering applica-
tions 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 sin-
gle positive-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 bot-
tom of the track. Rectified 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 record-
ing. 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.