What is the purpose of the ‘Crossfade’ tool in Pro Tools?

The 'Crossfade' tool in Pro Tools is designed specifically to create smooth transitions between two audio clips, effectively reducing abrupt cuts that can disrupt the flow of audio. When applied, a crossfade blends the end of one audio clip with the beginning of another, allowing for a gradual change in volume and tone rather than a sudden switch. This technique is particularly useful in audio editing to ensure a more seamless listening experience, especially in music production, dialogue editing, and sound design, where continuous sound is often essential.

While sharp transitions may have their place in certain artistic contexts, they are not the purpose of the crossfade tool. Aligning audio clips perfectly on the timeline and normalizing volume levels are unrelated functions that do not pertain to the specific role of crossfading in achieving smooth audio dynamics.