Specifications

Pro Tools Reference Guide252
PFL (Pre Fader Listen) (Pro Tools HD with
Avid HDX, Pro Tools|HD, or HD Native Hardware
only)
The Solo button routes the track’s pre-
fader/pre-pan signal to the AFL/PFL Path output.
The AFL/PFL Path is configured in the Output
page of the I/O Setup dialog (see “AFL/PFL Path”
on page 98).
With PFL, the fader level and pan are ignored, and
the level you hear is dependent on the signal’s re-
corded level. Additionally, there is a separate mas-
ter level setting for PFL that affects the output of
any or all tracks you solo in PFL mode (see
“AFL/PFL Path” on page 98). This level setting is
independent of the AFL level setting.
To select a Solo mode:
1 Choose Options > Solo Mode.
2 Select SIP, AFL, or PFL.
DSP Usage when Using AFL or PFL Mode
AFL and PFL are accomplished by Pro Tools cre-
ating a “behind the scenes” mixer to route the sig-
nal to the chosen AFL/PFL Path. Depending on the
size of your main mixer, Pro Tools will devote a
substantial portion of its available DSP when using
AFL/PFL mode.
Un-declaring the AFL/PFL Path will free up all
DSP resources previously used for AFL/PFL
mode.
Using AFL/PFL on Pro Tools Systems with a
D-Control or D-Command
AFL/PFL is optimized for Pro Tools systems using
a D-Control or D-Command control surface,
where the XMON automatically switches its mon-
itor source between the main output and the
AFL/PFL output from Pro Tools.
Using AFL/PFL on Pro Tools Systems without
D-Control or D-Command
If you are not using a D-Control or D-Command
control surface, your regular Pro Tools output path
is not necessarily muted when you send a signal to
the AFL/PFL Path. If you need the main signal to
automatically mute when an AFL/PFL signal is in-
voked, you need to do the following:
1 Configure the output path for AFL or PFL so-
loed tracks.
2 Select the main output path that will mute when
you solo a track in AFL or PFL mode (see
“AFL/PFL Mutes (Output Path)” on page 99).
3 Set up your hardware to monitor both the main
and AFL/PFL paths simultaneously.
AFL and PFL Solo modes require the
Surround Mixer plug-in.
Custom Pan Depth settings are unavailable
when either AFL or PFL Solo mode is
enabled.
If Mutes Frees Assigned Voice is enabled,
muted tracks will not be audible in PFL
mode.
The Solo mode for all soloed tracks can be
changed from any Solo mode to either SIP or
AFL. Previously soloed tracks will switch
their solo behavior to the new mode.
Switching the Solo mode for all soloed tracks
to PFL clears all previously soloed tracks
before entering PFL mode. This prevents
potentially large boosts in level.
For more information on using XMON and
AFL/PFL, see your control surface guide.