In this article and video, Paul Maunder demonstrates how he regularly uses Pro Tools Clip Effects for his post production projects, particularly when working with dialogue.

Way back in version 12.6, Avid introduced a feature called Clip Effects into their flagship Pro Tools version, then called Pro Tools HD. Clip Effects appear at the top of the edit window and provide clip based processing in the form of filters, EQ and dynamics. For many years this feature remained only available in the premium version of Pro Tools, which of course was later rebranded Pro Tools Ultimate. Users of the standard version of Pro Tools could open a session created on Ultimate and hear the clip effects but not edit, copy or paste them. You could either keep them or remove them but that was it. Since the release of Pro Tools 2022.4 and the rebranding of the product line, Clip Effects have also been available in the standard version of Pro Tools, Pro Tools Studio.

If you’re new to Clip Effects, they’re non-destructive and operate in real time, similar to a plug-in. Unlike a plug-in on an insert point though, Clip Effects are clip based and so if you move, copy or paste a clip, the effects follow it, even to different tracks. If you’re working on a project where you need to apply different EQ, filtering, gating or compression to different clips, it’s a very handy feature and in many cases can be more practical than automating plug-ins. There’s also a gain control offering +/- 36dB of adjustment and a polarity button.

In post production, I find myself using Clip Effects all the time, particular when working on dialogue because I can apply basic EQ settings from one clip to another very quickly. Also, the 5 preset buttons within the Clip Effects window mean that you can save and recall settings with a single click. This can be triggered using the numeric keys at the top of your keyboard for even greater efficiency. Take a look at the video below to see it in action.