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Using Pro Tools' MIDI editor, I'm arranging a strings instrument track.
I'm making use of the "sustain" automation lane, in order to add a sustain effect.
What is the best way to implement an immediate "release/depress" sustain effect, if I am using grid mode?
The only way I can think of is to reduce the grid to 1/64 of a note and reduce the "sustain" value to zero for a duration of 1/64.
Is there a better way?
To answer your question as asked - yes. In it's simplest form, sus pedal on/off consists of two discreet events, cc64 127 & cc64 0, so to switch the pedal off then on again you need to insert these two cc64 values, 0, 127, one after the other. [Many instruments use only 0 & 127 as a binary switch, others can use all values in between - this is often more useful for such as piano, where partial pedalling has a real use-case.]
Practically, as already mentioned, this isn't a great way to do it.
If you were playing this in as a keyboard player trying to achieve smooth transitions, then you would naturally just add the pedal just before a chord change then lift shortly after it. A keyboard player would just 'feel' this transition & be able to modify their playing so the timings came out smoothest.
Conversely, you could just extend the notes to slightly overlap [legato] & not rely on pedal at all.
To really do this 'properly' on a string arrangement you really don't want to be playing block chords. It just never sounds like an orchestra, it sounds like a keyboard player with a 'string machine'.
To achieve realism you need to play each line individually, as each player would play it, with appropriate performance parameters.
This is not 'beginner' territory.
