Specifications

Chapter 7: I/O Setup 91
Paths in Sessions
In sessions, signals are routed to and from tracks,
sends, and inserts using track Input,
Output, Insert, and Send selectors.
When you click a track Input, Output, Insert or
Send selector, the paths created and defined in the
IO Setup appear in the list of available paths (see
“Assigning Audio Inputs and Outputs to Tracks”
on page 240).
Path Configurations and
I/O Settings
Each Pro Tools system can have a different path
configuration, determined by:
• On Pro Tools systems, the type of audio
interface or other physical I/O (including built-
in hardware)
• On Avid HDX, Pro Tools|HD, and HD
Native systems, the number and types of audio
interfaces
Path configurations in Pro Tools are saved as
I/O settings.
I/O Settings are saved with both the session and
with the system. You can choose whether or not
the IO settings saved with the session overwrite the
IO settings saved with the system (see “Sessions
Overwrite Current I/O Setup When Opened” on
page 100).
Unavailable items (including hardware, paths, or
required resources) remain in the session as inac-
tive items (see “Making Paths Active or Inactive”
on page 112).
When you create a new session, you can specify
which I/O Settings to use. For example, you can
use the factory installed default settings, the “Last
Used” setting, or one of any available custom I/O
settings files.
Default I/O Settings
Pro Tools comes with default I/O Setup settings to
get you started (see “Factory I/O Settings” on
page 118). You should only need to open the I/O
Setup if you want to customize I/O paths or if you
change your system hardware (for example, add-
ing an expansion card to HD I/O, or adding or re-
moving an audio interface).
You can always return to the default settings for an
I/O Settings page by clicking the Default button.
These paths are available in session tracks and are
reflected in the I/O Setup.
You can customize your I/O Setup configuration at
any time, according to the needs of each project
(see “Customizing I/O Settings” on page 100).
Main and sub-paths in I/O Setup
It is especially useful to define and name sub-
paths for complex mixing setups, such as a
5.1 Surround mix.
See “Factory I/O Settings” on page 118
and “I/O Settings Files” on page 119 for
more information.