Freehand tool

The Freehand tool lets you draw MIDI notes and freehand automation envelopes. You can also create and promote transient markers.

Note: The Freehand tool does not work on audio clips or MIDI clips.

When using the Draw tools to draw note events, use the Value control to specify the duration (whole, half, etc.) of new note events. For details, see Specifying note durations.

Figure 254. Use the Value control to specify the duration of new note events.

A. Note draw duration (note value)

To select the Freehand tool

Do one of the following:

Click the Freehand tool button in the Control Bar.

Press T to display the Tools HUD, then select the Freehand tool.

Press F9.

Note: The F9 shortcut key cycles through all Draw tools (Freehand/Line/Sine/Triangle/Square/Saw/Random). If another Draw tool is selected, press F9 again until the Freehand tool is selected.

Using the Freehand tool on PRV notes

Figure 255. Freehand tool hotspots on PRV notes.

 

Table 47. Using the Freehand tool on PRV notes 

Hotspot	Default action	+CTRL	+ALT	+CTRL+SHIFT	Right-click
A	Glue notes together	Modify velocity (only when velocity is not shown in the Controller pane)		Draw velocity linearly (only when velocity is not shown in the Controller pane)	Click to delete note Drag to delete all touched notes
B	Draw a new note		Insert a new note		Lasso delete notes

Note 1: To glue notes together, click one note, drag to another note of the same pitch, then release the mouse button.

Note 2: To specify the duration for new note events., use the Note Draw Duration buttons in the Piano Roll view, or use the Note Draw Duration control in the Tools module. You can also click an existing Note event to inherit its duration and apply it to new Note events. For details, see Use note duration value from last touched note.

Using the Freehand tool on automation

Figure 256. Freehand tool hotspots on automation.

 

Table 48. Using the Freehand tool on automation 

Hotspot	Default action
A	Draw nodes/segments

 

Note: You can specify how shape smoothing works when using the Freehand tool on envelope shapes. To do so, click the Track view Options menu, point to Freehand Smoothing, then select one of the following options: 4 Smooth. Uses the existing fit-to-curve functionality. This is the default setting. 4 As Drawn (Linear). Joins the nodes up with linear shapes. 4 As Drawn (Jumps). Leaves the nodes as is, making them jump shapes.

You can specify how shape smoothing works when using the Freehand tool on envelope shapes. When Smooth is selected, shape smoothing uses the default fit-to-curve functionality.

Using the Freehand tool on AudioSnap transients

Figure 257. Freehand tool hotspots on AudioSnap transients.

 

Table 49. Using the Freehand tool on AudioSnap transients 

Hotspot	Default action
A	Promote transient marker
B	Insert transient marker

 

See also:

Tools

Smart tool

Select tool

Move tool

Edit tool

Stretch tool

Comping tool

Split tool

Pattern tool

Line tool

Pattern tools

Erase tool

Mute tool

Scrub tool

Zoom tool