In this free video tutorial, Pro Tools Expert team member Julian Rodgers demonstrates an alternative to deleting clips or automating mutes in Pro Tools.
Nothing But Bass
Using a session created just for fun by his friend Guy Fletcher in response to a challenge to make a track just using just a bass guitar, Julian demonstrates how easy it is to mute out clips when experimenting with thinning out an arrangement and suggests why it is preferable to automating mutes.
Why Not Delete?
Deleting sections of clips, or whole clips achieves the same thing but, unless the space occupied by the unwanted material is wanted for something else, separating and muting a clip is often preferable because it makes it easier to keep track of what material is available, whether in use or not. Some DAWs can show the "handles" - the material available in the parent clip beyond the in and out points. Pro Tools does not do this but muting helps keep track of unused sections of clips.
Why Not Automate Mutes?
Mutes can of course be muted but muting clips achieves the same thing but in a more visible way as the mute information in waveform view rather having to view the mute automation playlist.
Watch the free video to see this in action, and hear Guy's folk song alternative to Big bottom by Spinal Tap!