One of the best new features in Pro Tools HD 12.6 is the new Clip FX functions. Unlike other DAWs that put a channel strip on each channel in a session, the new Clip FX works at the clip level.
What’s a clip?
A clip is each piece of audio on the horizontal axis of the Edit window in Pro Tools (see image below).
Clip-based processing from the new Clip FX update has many upsides:
1. Does not require additional delay compensation above what the system already has buffered.
What does this mean?
Unlike a plug-in on a channel, Clip FX processing may be applied to each clip on the timeline, on all tracks, and in real-time. This is an astounding amount of processing available in a session and is right at your fingertips at the top of the edit window.
Why is this better?
You can see how easy this is in the quick demonstration video below:
It features a compressor, EQ, and filters – for now.
2. Features a compressor, EQ, and filters – for now.
Avid has released a software developer kit so that third-party developers can port their own processing to the feature.
What does this mean?
Clip FX will grow in capability as more companies jump on board.
Click here to learn about EQing vocals!
3. Processing applied in Pro Tools HD still works if you open the session in Pro Tools 12.6 (non-HD.)
Clip FX processing applied in Pro Tools HD still works if you open the session in Pro Tools 12.6 (non-HD.) Although you won’t have the slick Clip FX interface in a standard Pro Tools session (non-HD), you can choose to keep or not use the processing on a Non-HD system (12.6).
What does this mean?
Although you can’t apply Clip FX in Pro Tools non-HD 12.6 and up, you can still opt-in or out of the Clip FX processing created in a Pro Tools HD session.
Now go check it out for yourself!