A guide to using the Pro Tools First grid mode whilst editing

In this Pro Tools First tutorial, we’ll learn how to use the Pro Tools First Grid mode. Using the Pro Tools First Grid mode ensures that when you move a region, or select part of a region, it snaps to the grid. In this article we’ll also learn how to customize the grid as well as how to enter and exit grid mode.

To enter one of the four Pro Tools First edit modes, select the mode that you’d like to enter in the top left corner of the edit window:

By clicking on any of these, you will enter a different edit mode. The different Pro Tools First edit modes are: Shuffle mode, Spot mode, Slip mode and Grid mode. The different Pro Tools First edit modes give you different options for the way that you can move and edit regions on your timeline. To enter Pro Tools First Grid Mode, simply click on the ‘grid’ edit mode button.

Using the Pro Tools First Grid Mode:

When editing in grid mode, you’ll see that there is a grid present in the session. Whilst in grid mode, your regions will always snap to the grid when you move them. Regions can’t be placed in between the grid markers, only in alignment with them. The same is true if you try to select a portion of a region or trim a region. Your selection or trim will snap to the grid. You can toggle between hiding and showing the grid here:

The digits to the right signify the grid’s current setting. Clicking the arrow to the right of these digits reveals more options that you have to customize your grid into shorter or longer segments:

If your session’s timebase is set to mins and secs then these options will be in seconds and milliseconds. If your session’s timebase is set to beats and bars then these options will be in crotchets, quavers, semi quavers etc.

Using this mode allows you to achieve consistent and accurate placements of your regions. Whats more, the grid is totally customisable too. Do you think that using grid mode is something that will come in handy in your sessions? In what ways can you make use of the Pro Tools First Grid mode? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

To download your free copy of Pro Tools First, click here.