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Pro Tools Copy Plugin Automation

By Martin Pavey @Martin_Pavey
    2021-06-22 16:26:14.108Z

    Hi There,
    I've been trying to get this to work successfully for some time,
    but because of the useless way Pro Tools implements it it's very hard to do.
    I want to copy one plugin's settings to another.
    You can do this by opening a plugin window with the automation you want to copy. Making a selection of a range which contains the automation and selecting Copy Special/ Plug-In Automation in the Edit menu.
    The caveat is the plugin you're copying the automation from, has to have one of it's automation lanes open in the channel for this to work. Otherwise the option to copy plugin automation is greyed out in the edit menu.
    I've tried making a Soundflow shortcut that ctrl command clicks the bypass button in the frontmost plugin window, to open the bypass automation lane for that plugin, but Soundflow specifies the name of the open plugin in the command.
    I'd like this to be a generic thing, to open the Bypass automation lane of whatever plugin window is frontmost.
    That way you could get any plugin that was open, to be primed for a plugin automation copy.
    Is it possible to do this?
    Thanks
    Martin

    Reply
    • 6 replies
    1. samuel henriques @samuel_henriques
        2021-06-22 17:22:06.248Z2021-06-22 19:04:05.192Z

        On my pt, the "Copy Special/ Plug-In Automation" will be enabled with any automation on "track view selector", I don't need the automation lane to be opened.

        This will change the track view selector of the track, where the focused plug-in window is inserted, to bypass. Then the menu gets active.

        sf.ui.proTools.invalidate().windows.first.buttons.whoseTitle.is("Effect Bypass").first.mouseClickElement({ isCommand: true, isControl: true }, 'Plug-in window not found.')

        Is this it?

        Reply2 Likes
        1. MMartin Pavey @Martin_Pavey
            2021-06-22 18:20:51.240Z

            Ah Ha!
            You are a genius Samuel.
            You've no idea how long I've been messing about to try and get this to work as a shortcut.
            Thank you so much.
            The virtual beers are on me.
            Now to write the rest of the script.

            Reply
            1. MMartin Pavey @Martin_Pavey
                2021-06-22 18:40:33.562Z2021-06-23 14:58:58.478Z

                Here's the full script if anyone else finds it useful.
                Open the plugin with the automation you want to copy, make a selection on its track, use the shortcut, select a clip on the track you want to paste the automation to and use 'Paste to fill Selection'.

                sf.ui.proTools.windows.first.buttons.whoseTitle.is("Effect Bypass").first.mouseClickElement({ isCommand: true, isControl: true }, 'Plug-in window not found.')

sf.ui.proTools.menuClick({
    menuPath: ["Edit","Copy Special","Plug-In Automation"],
});
sf.keyboard.press({
    keys: "minus",
});
                Reply2 Likes
                1. MMartin Pavey @Martin_Pavey
                    2021-06-22 18:48:37.217Z

                    Obviously it only works if your plugins are in the same slots on each track.
                    But you know, they should be. ;-)

                    Reply
                    1. samuel henriques @samuel_henriques
                        2021-06-22 19:07:50.863Z

                        Awesome, really happy it works.
                        I updated the line of code with an invalidade(), this will help soundFlow to correctly get the foremost window if you do this too fast.

                        And in the mean time, watch this post where Kitch explains how to quote code in the forum.
                        Have fun!

                        Reply
                        1. MMartin Pavey @Martin_Pavey
                            2021-06-23 14:59:35.687Z

                            Thanks Samuel,
                            I always forget how to do that, fixed.
                            Cheers
                            Martin

                            Reply
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