User Manual

Pro Tools Reference Guide14
Signal Routing
Pro Tools provides software-based mixing and
signal routing controls for audio and MIDI. These
controls are located in the Mix window. Some of
these controls can also be accessed from the Edit
window.
A common audio signal routing task is to submix
multiple tracks to a single channel strip (such as an
Auxiliary Input) for shared processing and level
control. The following example shows two audio
tracks submixed to a stereo Auxiliary Input.
Signal Routing Options
Signal routing options include the following:
Track Input and Output (I/O) Controls The most
basic type of signal routing is track input and out-
put. A track needs to have an assigned input path to
record audio, and an assigned mapped output path
in order to be audible through a hardware output.
Signals can also be routed to or from other tracks in
Pro Tools (or hardware inputs and outputs) using
internal busses.
Auxiliary Input and Master Fader Tracks Auxil-
iary Inputs can be used as returns, submixers, and
bus masters. Master Fader tracks are used as bus
and output master level controls. Both Auxiliary
Input and Master Fader tracks can have plug-in and
hardware inserts.
MIDI Tracks MIDI tracks are generally used for
routing MIDI from internal or external sources to
external MIDI devices. MIDI data can also be
routed to plug-ins on Auxiliary Inputs or Instru-
ment tracks.
Instrument Tracks Instrument tracks are the pri-
mary way to route MIDI to an instrument plug-in
and then route the plug-in’s sound to outputs,
sends and busses, or other inserts. Instrument
tracks can also be used to send MIDI to and moni-
tor audio from external MIDI devices.
Sends Sends route audio from tracks to hardware
outputs, or to internal busses that are in turn routed
to other tracks within Pro Tools. MIDI, Master
Fader, and VCA Master tracks do not have sends.
Plug-In and Hardware Inserts Plug-In processing
occurs completely within the Pro Tools system.
Hardware inserts use audio interface inputs and
outputs for traditional insert routing to and from
external effects and other devices. MIDI and VCA
Master tracks do not have inserts.
Submixing to an Auxiliary Input
Input from
stereo
bus path
Outputs to
stereo bus
path
Audio tracks
Inserts
Sends
Auxiliary Input
track