Video summary

Advanced Mixing Automation in Pro Tools with Brad Engleking

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas, concepts, and lessons

  • Goal: Mix faster in Pro Tools without a large hardware console by relying on a mouse workflow, quick keys, and automation techniques.
  • Approach: Set up Pro Tools automation behavior to reduce mistakes and speed up writing, then use the automation panel modes effectively to build clean passes.
  • Workflow theme: Start with broad/first-pass automation, then refine using additional automation layers (especially Trim), while using utilities/features to copy, repeat, and smoothly join automation segments.

Setup and preferences (how Brad configures Pro Tools)

  • Open Setup → Preferences → Mixing.
  • Recommended settings Brad uses:
    • Suppress Automation Write to Warnings: ON
      • Prevents disruptive pop-ups when doing automation operations like “write to selected.”
      • Warning rationale: if you don’t have an area selected, Pro Tools may write automation across the entire session, wiping out work.
    • Latch Prime ON and Stop ON
      • Enables writing automation before playback (during “prime”), particularly helpful for Latch automation.
    • Auto match time = 800 ms
      • Helps prevent fader “jumping” when leaving/returning to automation points (useful even when using an on-screen fader).

Track selection + quick keys (speeding up editing)

  • Enable Link Timeline and Edit/Track Selections
    • Clicking a track highlights it in a way that works with quick keys.
  • Quick keys used constantly:
    • Shift+S = Solo
      • Used to solo just-hit tracks while hunting dialogue elements.
      • Brad also mentions setting solo mode to X or (behavior: solo cancels when soloing again), so solo isn’t “sticky.”
    • Shift+M = Mute
      • Mutes selected tracks quickly.
  • Additional keyboard workflow for fades/crossfades and trims:
    • Fades/crossfades/lap offs/trims are positioned near his hands (exact keys mentioned):
      • T/F (zoom in/out for navigating quickly)
      • D/G (fade-related)
      • F = crossfade
      • A and S = lap offs / trims (as described)

Automation modes explained (and when to use them)

Brad describes the main track automation modes you can choose per track:

  • Off
    • Automation is disabled.
  • Read
    • Pro Tools reads existing automation.
  • Touch
    • Automation writes only while the control is touched/moved.
    • After releasing, it returns to the prior automation state.
  • Latch
    • Automation writes starting when you begin, then stays written until automatch or stop.
    • Caution: hitting stop in latch can create a large abrupt automation line (“big bad automation line”) that sounds terrible.
  • Touch Latch (hybrid)
    • Many settings behave like Touch, but fader behavior goes to latch.
    • Useful compromise between control and staying written.
  • Write
    • Remains in writing state the whole time (even if not in play, depending on priming behavior).
  • Trim
    • Special mode for layering automation on top of already-written automation (covered in detail later).

Preview + Punch Preview (setting automation without committing immediately)

Purpose: Set up automation changes in a buffer-like way before committing.

  • Brad uses:
    • Loop playback enabled
    • Preview mode
      • Lets him set up the automation without immediately being in full “write/play” behavior.
    • Adjust plugin parameters (examples given: Noise Reduction, then EQ).
  • Workflow steps (as described):
    1. Select the region where you want the change.
    2. Enter Preview.
    3. Set plugin/processing parameters while monitoring.
    4. Use Punch Preview to commit automation to that selection.
    5. Use Write to All
      • Writes automation to the selected region.
      • If nothing is selected, it can write across the whole session (hence the importance of selection + automation warnings).

Copying and replicating automation/plugins quickly

Brad demonstrates multiple “repeat the same thing elsewhere” methods:

  • Copy/Paste Special
    • Edit → Copy Special → All Automation
    • Then Edit → Paste Special → Repeat to Fill Selection
  • Shift+Command+C / Shift+Command+V
    • Copy a plugin’s setting from where the red target light is active.
    • Paste it to another plugin instance/region.
    • Notably, “paste” can trigger automation mode behavior using his Latch Prime/Stop preferences.
  • Capture automation
    • Capture records what’s currently “in right” writing state.
    • Can capture multiple tracks.
    • Then you can stop and punch capture into place to write that automation quickly.
  • General principle: Avoid repeatedly hand-setting the same plugin automation shapes across different dialogue segments.

Pan automation workflow (example use case)

  • Brad usually avoids panning dialogue, but demonstrates panning anyway to show technique.
  • In Latch (with his preferred priming settings):
    • Starting automation begins writing immediately.
    • He uses Auto match (800 ms) to smoothly return the fader to the previous automation state.
  • Alternative mentioned:
    • Using Touch requires a brief pre-roll adjustment to match back correctly.

Auto Join (smoothing automation joins across time)

Use case: Fix/bridge discontinuities between automation values.

  • Brad typically uses Auto Join for effects automation (example: Reverb).
  • Workflow concept:
    • Identify two automation sections with a gap or abrupt change.
    • Select the time range.
    • Turn Auto Join ON and connect/merge the automation segments.
  • Demonstrated behavior:
    • After hitting stop, a red marker indicates where the “last stop” point is.
    • On playback, automation returns to the previous state after the joined region.
  • Strategy:
    • Use Auto Join on the first pass to avoid fighting automation during playback.
    • Remove Auto Join on later passes to prevent it from unintentionally changing an entire scene when you only wanted to tweak one spot.

Trim mode (layering refinements on top of existing automation)

Purpose: Make small corrections after the first automation is already working.

  • In subsequent passes:
    • Switch to Trim mode to ride “on top of” the existing volume automation rather than overwriting it.
  • What Brad notes about the resulting lines:
    • Main volume automation shows as one line.
    • Trim automation appears as an additional line.
    • The audible result is the combined effect of both.
  • Preferences for Trim behavior:
    • Coalesce Trim Automation set to Manual (Brad’s default).
    • Coalesce options exist (example given):
      • Coalesce when exiting trim or after every pass (but he prefers manual).
  • Workflow steps for trim:
    1. Zoom in on the problem area.
    2. Enter Trim pass and adjust overall level slightly (example: “lower overall 3 dB”).
    3. If desired, right-click → Coalesce automation
      • Merges trim with the main automation so you have a clean updated baseline.

SteerMouse / programmable multi-button mouse (ergonomic automation)

Non-Pro-Tools but workflow-critical tool:

  • Tool: SteerMouse
    • Assigns quick keys to mouse buttons.
  • Brad uses:
    • Different profiles/actions depending on which app is active.
    • Programs buttons for Pro Tools quick keys so he doesn’t reach across the keyboard.
  • Example benefits mentioned:
    • Quick keys are often far to the right on the keyboard, so mapping them to the mouse prevents losing finger placement.
    • He emphasizes cumulative time savings because the action repeats many times per day.

Learning/implementation advice (how to get faster)

  • Quick keys and techniques take time initially.
  • Brad recommends:
    • Pick one or two keys to learn per day (e.g., “fade in/out” when cutting dialogue).
    • Use them all day to integrate into workflow.
    • Add the next key/trick gradually.

Speakers / sources featured

  • Speaker: Brad Engelking (stated at the beginning: “hello this is Brad Engel King…”)

Original video