Auto-Spotting Clips

The Pro Tools Auto-Spot Clips option simplifies the task of spotting clips even further. If you are using VITC with this option enabled, or MachineControl software, you can pause your video at an appropriate SMPTE frame location, click a clip with the Time Grabber tool, and the clip will be automatically spotted to the current timecode location.

You can also use MachineControl’s serial timecode ability to auto-spot by enabling MachineControl and enabling serial timecode in the peripheral.

To Auto-Spot a clip:

1 Choose Options > Auto-Spot Clips.

2 If you are using VITC, identify the SMPTE frame location where you want to trigger playback of your clip by pausing your video deck on that frame.

3 Click the clip with the Time Grabber tool. The clip will be automatically spotted to the current timecode location (or machine location).

Clicking a clip with any of the Trim tools will allow you to trim the clip to the current timecode location.

Auto-spotted clips are spotted by their start times, unless you have identified a Sync Point (see Identifying a Synchronization Point). If the clip contains a Sync Point, the clip is spotted to it.