User Manual

Chapter 53: Multichannel Tracks and Signal Routing 1211
Chapter 53: Multichannel Tracks and
Signal Routing
Surround sessions typically include a combination
of mono, stereo, and multichannel audio, Auxiliary
Input, Master Fader, and Instrument tracks, and in-
serts and busses.
Once the appropriate I/O Setup has been imported
or configured, audio, Auxiliary Input, Master
Fader, and Instrument tracks can be mixed in mul-
tichannel for surround using Pro Tools mixing fea-
tures.
Multichannel I/O and signal routing is determined
by the paths defined in the I/O Setup dialog.
Multichannel Audio Tracks
(Pro Tools | Ultimate Software Only)
Multichannel audio tracks contain an individual
channel for each signal in the track (for example, a
5.1 track would have six channels for left, center,
right, left surround, right surround, and LFE).
Multichannel audio tracks can be:
• Recorded directly into Pro Tools, using multiple
microphones or microphone arrays, or routed to
appropriate multichannel Pro Tools Input paths
• Imported from other Pro Tools sessions
• Edited, processed, and mixed in combination
with mono and stereo tracks
5.1 format audio files and tracks conform to the
Film track layout standard. Regardless of path as-
signments in the I/O Setup dialog, all 5.1 format
audio tracks and meters follow the Film standard
track layout:
LCRLsRsLFE
Multichannel audio tracks are not required to mix
in multichannel formats. Mono, stereo, and all sup-
ported track formats can be mixed using Pro Tools
track outputs and sends (see “Multichannel Signal
Routing” on page 1214).
Multichannel surround mixing is supported
with Pro Tools Ultimate only.
5.1 format multichannel audio track