Folder tracks

About folder tracks

A folder track

Tracks in the folder

Just as the name implies, a folder track is a folder that contains other tracks. Moving tracks into a folder is a way to structure and organize tracks in the Project window. For example, grouping several tracks in a folder track makes it possible for you to “hide” tracks (thus giving you more working space on the screen). You can solo and mute several tracks in a quicker and easier way and perform editing on several tracks as one entity. Folder tracks can contain any type of track including other folder tracks.

Handling folder tracks

Creating a folder track

Folder tracks are created just like any other track: Select “Add Track” from the Project menu and select “Folder” from the submenu that appears, or right-click in the Track list and select “Add Folder Track” from the context menu.

2. Release the mouse button.

The track is now placed in the folder track, and all parts and events on the track will be represented by a corresponding folder part (see “Working with folder parts” on page 107), which is a graphical representation of all parts and events in the folder.

Since you can move any type of track into a folder track, it is possible to create sub-folders by moving one folder track into another. This is called “nesting”. For example, you could have a folder containing all the vocals in a project, and each vocal part could have a nested folder containing all the takes for easier handling etc.

Removing tracks from a folder

To remove a track from a folder, simply drag it out of the folder and release it in the Track list.

Hiding/showing tracks in a folder

You can hide or show the tracks located in a folder by clicking on the “Expand/Collapse Folder” button (the folder icon). Hidden tracks are still played back as usual.

Moving tracks into a folder

You can move any type of track into a folder by using drag and drop:

1. In the Track list, click on a track that you want to move into a folder and drag it onto a folder track.

A green arrow pointing to a folder appears when you drag the track onto the folder track in the list.

When a folder is “closed” this way, the folder part(s) still give you a graphic representation of the parts and events within the folder.

• In the Track Folding submenu of the Project menu, there are several options for hiding/showing elements inside folders. These are described in detail in the section “Track folding” on page 39.

Muting and soloing folder tracks

One of the main advantages of using folder tracks is that they provide you with a way to mute and solo several tracks as one unit. Muting and soloing a folder track affects all tracks in the folder. You can also solo or mute individual tracks in the folder.

•If there is a gap between parts/events on the tracks, there will be two separate folder parts.

•Parts or events that overlap within the folder may be represented by the same folder part or by two different folder parts – depending on how much they overlap.

If a part/event overlaps by half its length or less, it will be placed in a new folder part.

Muting a folder track

You can mute a folder track (and thereby mute all tracks within it) the same way you mute other tracks by clicking in the Mute (“M”) button in the Track list.

Soloing a folder track

You can solo a folder track (and thereby mute all tracks outside the folder, except those already set to Solo) the same way you solo other tracks, by selecting it and clicking the Solo button.

Soloing or muting tracks within a folder

This can be done by showing the tracks in the folder and using the Mute and Solo buttons in the Track list as usual for any tracks inside the folder.

Working with folder parts

A folder part is a graphic representation of events and parts on the tracks in the folder. Folder parts indicate the position and length of the events and parts, as well as on which track they are (their vertical position). If part colors are used, these are also shown in the folder part.

Folder parts are created automatically when there are parts or events on the tracks within the folder. The following rules apply:

The “snare1” event overlaps the “snare2” event by more than half its length, which means it is included in the same folder part.

The “bass drum” event does not overlap with any of the other events. This means a new folder part is created.

Handling and editing folder parts

Most of the editing you can do in the Project window applies to folder parts as well.

Any Project window editing you perform to a folder part affects all the events and parts it contains (those elements on the track within the folder that are represented by the folder part). You can select several folder parts if you like

– this allows you to handle and edit them together. The editing you can perform includes:

•Moving a folder part. This will move its contained events and parts (possibly resulting in other folder parts, depending on how the parts overlap).

•Using cut, copy and paste.

•Deleting a folder part. This will delete its contained events and parts.

•Splitting a folder part with the Scissors tool (see the example below).

•Gluing folder parts together with the Glue tube tool. This will only work if the adjacent folder parts contain events or parts on the same track.

•Resizing a folder part resizes the contained events and parts according to the selected resizing method. This is set by clicking the Arrow tool icon on the toolbar and selecting “Normal Sizing”, “Sizing Moves Contents” or “Sizing Applies Time Stretch” from the pop-up menu – see “Resizing events” on page 48. Note that if you select “Sizing Applies Time Stretch”, any automation data is not taken into account.

•Muting a folder part. This will mute its contained events and parts.