- How can you specify the I/O settings that Pro Tools will use when you create a new session? (See Page 2.)
It can be helpful to select STEREO MIX in the I/O Settings pop-up menu. This is especially true if your I/O settings may have been changes inadvertently at some point. Using the Stereo Mix setting ensures that your session will be created with default input and output paths that match your connected hardware interface.
- What is a signal Path in Pro Tools? (See Page 3)
I/O settings use signal paths for naming and routing purposes. The term signal path is used in pro tools to denote a named group of inputs, outputs, or buses based on a specific channel format. For example, the main stereo outputs for your system may use a signal path called out 1-2, analogue 1-2, or built-in output 1-2, depending on your currently selected playback engine.
- Where are changes to Pro Tools I/O settings saved? Are they stored in the session or on the system? (See Page 3)
Any changes you make are immediately saved on your system as your Last Used I/O settings. This enables you to reuse the changed I/O configuration for the next session you create.
When you save a session, the I/O settings are also stored within the session file. Saving the settings within the session ensures that the next time you open that session, the previously configured settings (added bus paths, customised path names, etc.) will remain available.
- What dialogue box can be used to display Pro Tools’ current I/O signal paths? (See Page 4)
The current signal paths for your system can be viewed by selecting SETUP>I/O and clicking through the INPUT, OUTPUT, BUS and INSERT pages that 9tabs). (For this course, we will focus on the INPUT, OUTPUT, and BUS settings.) In The current I/O settings can be displayed at any time, whether a session is open or not.
- What processes are available for customising the signal paths in a Pro Tools session? What are two methods that you can use to rename signal paths? (See Pages 4 through 8)
The I/O setup dialogue box lets you add or remove busses to use for effects sends, submitting, or other signal routing purposes. At times, you may want to add new busses to use for dedicated purposes; at other times you may want to delete some existing busses to keep the bus menus more manageable.
To add busses to a session:
- In the I/O Setup dialogue box, select the BUS tab.
- Click on the NEW PATH button just below the bus list. The New Paths dialogue box will open.
- In the New Paths dialogue box, specify the number of busses to add, the desired bus format (mono or stereo), and a path name to use fro the bus or busses.
- Click CREATE. The new busses will be added to the bottom of the bus list in I/O Setup. When you add multiple busses with the same path name, the new buses are numbered sequentially.
- When finished adding busses, click OK to close the I/O Setup dialogue box and commit the changes you’ve made.
To delete busses from a session:
- In the I/O Setup dialogue box, select the BUS tab.
- In the bus list, select the busses you wish to delete.
- Click on the DELETE PATH button below the bus list. The selected busses will immediately be removed from the bus list.
- When finished deleting busses, click OK to close the I/O Setup dialogue box and commit the changes you’ve made.
You can rename signal paths at any time to make them more descriptive and to better reflect their use in a given session.
To rename stereo paths in I/O Setup:
- In the I/O Setup dialogue box, select the tab containing the signal paths you wish to rename (INPUT, OUTPUT, OR BUS).
- If needed, click a disclosure triangle next to a stereo path name to display its subpaths (individual mono
- What process can you use to restore the default I/O settings for your current hardware? (See Page 8). What process can you use to restore a session’s previous I/O settings? (See Page 9)
To reapply default I/O settings to an existing session:
- Open the Session and then display the I/O Setup dialogue box (SETUP>I/O)
- Select the tab for the signal paths that you wish to rest (INPUT, OUTPUT, or BUS)
- Click the DEFAULT button under the path list.
To restore the last saved session I/O, do the following:
- Opening the session and then choose SETUP>I/O to open the I/O Setup dialogue box.
- Select the tab for the signal paths that you wish to restore (INPUT, OUTPUT, or INSERT).
- (Optional) To view the previously saved I/O settings before restoring them, click the SHOW LAST SAVED SETUP button at the top of the page. The button will display in blue when active.
- To restore the previously saved settings, click on the RESTORE FROM SESSION button at the bottom of the dialogue box. The path list will update to display the restored I/O path configurations and names.
- When finished, click OK to close the I/O Setup dialogue box and commit the changes you’ve made.
- How can you configure an audition path in Pro Tools?
To change the Audition Path for Pro Tools:
- Choose SETUP>I/O
- Click on the OUTPUT tab
- Click the AUDITION PATH selector toward the bottom of the dialogue box and select an option from the list of your available Output paths.
- When finished, click OK to accept the change and close the I/O Setup dialogue box.
- What dialogue box can you use to configure the available options for your connected audio interface? (See Page 11)
Pro Tools lets you set various options that are unique to your currently connected audio interface, such as the default sample rate, current clock source, and other hardware-specific features. These settings are made via the Hardware Setup dialogue box (SETUP>HARDWARE).
The current audio interface will display in the PERIPHERALS list in the Hardwire Setup. Depending on the audio interface, you will be able to configure the settings either directly in the Hardware Setup dialogue box or in a dedicated control panel using the LAUNCH SETUP APP or LAUNCH CONTROL PANEL button.
- Give some examples of hardware settings available for an Xbox Pro audio interface. (See Pages 11 through 13)
Sample rate: If you specify a Sample Rate in the Hardware Setup dialogue box, this setting will be used as the default sample rate whenever you create a new session. (the sample rate is selectable in the Hardware Setup dialogue box only when no session is open).
Clock Source: The Pro Tools Hardware Setup dialogue box also lets you select the clock source for the system. The clock source will be set to INTERNAL bu default, meaning that the sample clock is derived from the current audio interface. The internal clock setting is appropriate for general-purpose use of your audio interface.
You would need to change this setting, however, if you use your audio interface to receive digital input from a device connected to the available S/PDIF, ADAT or AES/EBU connections on your interface if you synchronise your system with other devices, such as non-linear video systems. In these cases, you will need to select an external clock source.
The options for external clock will vary based on the type of audio interface you are using and the types of digital connections available. The following discussion uses an Xbox Pro as an example, which can receive external clock from the S/PDIF input input or Word Clock connector on the included breakout cable.
To change the cock source:
1. Choose SETUP>HARDWARE. The Hardware Setup dialogue box will open.
2. Select a source from the CLOCK SOURCE drop-down list.
- Internal. Use this setting when recording analogue signals directly into your analogue inputs
- S/PDIF. Use this setting when recording through the S/PDIF inputs from an external digital device. This will synchronise the Pro Tools sample clock to that device.
- Word. Use this setting when synchronising Pro Tools to external equipment using Word Clock.
3. Click OK to close the Hardware Setup dialogue box
Certain Pro Tools interfaces, including the Mbox Pro, include a footswitch jack on their back panels. A connected footswitch can be used to control either record punch-in/out or playback start/stop. You can select the footswitch function using the Hardware Setup dialogue box.
- What dialogue box can you use to optimise Pro Tools’ host-based performance? (See page 14)
Playback Engine
- What kinds of tracks are affected by the H/W Buffer Size eating in the Playback Engine dialogue box? (See page 14)
This setting only affects tracks using the low-latency processing domain, such as tracks that are recording or receiving live input (such as certain Aux Input tracks).
Lowering the H/W Buffer Size is useful to reduce monitoring latency one recording. However, lower settings can also limit the processing power available for plug-in processing and virtual instruments on record-enabled tracks
- What shortcut operations are available for adding individual tracks to your session? (See Page 17)
To add a new track of a specific type, use one of the following double-click shortcuts:
- Audio Track: Command+Double click (Mac) or Control+Double click (Windows)
- Instrument Track: Option+Double click ( Mac) or Alt+Double Click (Windows)
- Auxiliary Input Track: Control+Double click (Mac) or Start+Double click (Windows)
- Master Fader: Shift+Double click (Mac or Windows)
- What options are available for changing the display of the Mix and Edit windows? What are some of the optional views available in each window? (See pages 17 through 20).
Mix Window:
Track Width
Edit Window: Comments (optional) Sends (optional) Inserts (optional) I/O controls (optional)
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- How can you easily show or hide tracks in Pro Tools? What is the difference between hiding a track and deleting a track? (Page 20)
To hide a track list, do the following:
- In the Tack List, lick the TRACK SHOW/HIDE icon (solid black dot next to the track name.) The icon will dim, and the track will disappear from the Edit and Mix windows
To show a hidden track, do the following:
- In the Track List, click the dimmed TRACK SHOW/HIDE icon for the track you want to show. The icon will turn solid black, and the track will reappear in the Edit and Mix windows.
- What are some options available in the Track List pop-up menu?
- Show/hide all tracks, all selected tracks, or tracks of a certain type
- Sort tracks by: name, type, mix group membership, edit group membership or voice assignment.
