This Pro Tools tip is so useful but less well known than it should be, if you track a lot in Pro Tools then this is an essential tip.

What is Pre Roll In Pro Tools?

Pre roll, and its counterpart, post roll, is a specified amount of time which will play back the already recorded material - what we often refer to as what is on "tape" before the transport drops into record at the drop-in point (the insertion point or the beginning of the edit selection). This allows the performer being recorded to hear what comes just before (or just after for post roll) the drop in.

This tip shows how rather than dragging the pre roll flag in the timeline ruler, or specifying the pre roll amount by typing it directly into the relevant field in the transport bar, you can just Option+click in the clip to set the pre roll visually - So much easier!

Free Tutorial Video

Watch the short video demonstration to see this technique in action. As an added bonus/penalty you get to hear me play the guitar - you have been warned...