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How Do I Crossfade Chords in Pro-Tools?

Pro Tools is a digital audio software that allows you to record, mix and edit audio. The crossfade feature in Pro Tools lets you seamlessly blend together two different audio files. This makes for a smooth transition between the two audio files, and is especially useful when editing various guitar, piano or keyboard chords together. In order to create a crossfade in Pro Tools, you can utilize the "Selector Tool" or the "Smart Tool."

Instructions

  1. Using the Selector Tool

    • 1

      Open the "Edit" window of Pro Tools.

    • 2

      Click on the "Selector Tool," illustrated by a partially shaded waveform at the top of the "Edit" window.

    • 3

      Scroll to find the chords you wish to crossfade. Make sure that these two chords are adjacent to one another; otherwise, you will not be able to crossfade them.

    • 4

      Click and drag the mouse over the edit point between these two chords to highlight the area. Select a large area surrounding the edit point to create a long crossfade. Select a small area surrounding the edit point to create a short crossfade.

    • 5

      Click "Edit," "Fades" and select "Create Fade." This will create a crossfade between the two chords.

    Using the Smart Tool

    • 6

      Open the "Edit" window of Pro Tools.

    • 7

      Click the bar above the "Trim," "Selector," and "Grabber" tools at the top of the "Edit" window to select the "Smart Tool." After clicking this bar, all three tools below it will turn blue. The "Smart Tool" will allow you to have access to all of these tools at the same time. The tool available for use will simply depend on where you place your mouse on the screen.

    • 8

      Scroll to find the chords you wish to crossfade. Make sure that these two chords are adjacent to one another; otherwise, you will not be able to crossfade them.

    • 9

      Place your mouse cursor at the edit point where these two chords meet.

    • 10

      Move the cursor down to the bottom of this edit point. As you do so, the cursor will change to the "Crossfade Tool," illustrated by a small gray box.

    • 11

      Click the edit point using this tool and drag the cursor to the left or the right. As you do so, you will see lines appear indicating where the crossfade will take place.

    • 12

      Drag this tool a short distance away from the edit point to create a short crossfade. Drag this tool further away from the edit point to create a long crossfade.

    • 13

      Release the mouse button when happy with the crossfade length. This will create the crossfade.

Recording Music

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