How to use playlists to quickly change keys of multiple songs. These steps, when building the session, save you stress and work on the weekend.
Here are the parameters of this example:
- 8 services.
- Saturday PM and Sunday AM are the exact same set and songs are in the same keys.
- For the Sunday PM services, 2 songs will change keys because a different leader will be leading them.
- Select all tracks containing harmonic material (keys, synths, guitars, vocals, bass, etc.); no percussion, click, or count.
- Navigate to the Groups window in the bottom left corner of the screen, press the arrow, and select "New Group". Press command + G on the keyboard as a shortcut for this.
Name the group and click "Ok".
With the group enabled, click the arrow on the right side of the keys track and select "New". This will create a new playlist for the grouped tracks.
- Click the arrow on the left side of the Keys track.
- Select "Track View".
- Select "Playlists".
Your session should now look like the image below.
- Select the playlist arrow again.
- Click your original track name; in this case "Keys".
This will put your original tracks on the top layer.
ProTools automatically names the new playlist tracks (Keys.01, GTRS.01, etc.). We need to name these to apply to our situation.
- In this scenario, we need to name our original tracks "Sat/Sun Keys".
- We will name the new tracks "Sun PM Keys".
Drag the clips to the blank playlist tracks.
Your session should now look like the image below.
Select the Key clip for the first song; this will select all the clips within the group.
- Hold down "option" on the keyboard.
- Click the clip.
- Drag the clip directly into the new playlist track.
Repeat this step for the remaining songs. When completed, all tracks should now have content.
You can now match the fades of the new tracks to the work you've already done on the original tracks. Please double check your work.
- Select view arrow on the left of the track name.
- Select Waveform view.
This will consolidate the session back to the original view.
You can now easily switch between playlists by selecting the playlist arrow on the right of the track name.
Utilizing this tool will save from headaches and stress on the weekend. Setting up your session in these playlists will keep you from scrambling to process key changes before rehearsals or new shifts. Remember that proper preparation leads to success and a stress free environment.