Specifications

Chapter 22: MIDI Recording 477
Chapter 22: MIDI Recording
Although recording MIDI in Pro Tools is similar
to recording audio, there are some important dif-
ferences:
 Unlike audio, MIDI recording is almost always
destructive. See “Record Modes and MIDI” on
page 443 for details.
 Unlike audio tracks, MIDI and Instrument
tracks can be record-enabled during playback or
recording.
 MIDI and Instrument tracks have an Input se-
lector that determines which port on your MIDI in-
terface (devices) and which MIDI channel is
routed and recorded to the track. If the MIDI Input
selector is set to All, all channels for all devices are
routed to the track.
 Similar to Auxiliary Inputs, Instrument tracks
have audio Input and Output selectors. These se-
lectors are different than the Instrument track’s se-
lectors for MIDI Input and Output and are
primarily used for monitoring audio from MIDI in-
struments or instrument plug-ins.
 It is not necessary to use QuickPunch, Track-
Punch, or DestructivePunch to punch in with MIDI
or Instrument tracks. This capability is available
both in Normal (Nondestructive) Record mode and
Destructive Record mode.
Recording from MIDI Devices
The MIDI Inputs for record-enabled MIDI and In-
strument tracks determine what MIDI data is re-
corded in Pro Tools. MIDI Inputs can be set to a
specific device (port) and channel, or they can be
set to All, where all channels for all devices are
merged to the track.
MIDI and Instrument tracks in Pro Tools do not
contain multiple channels and always play back on
the track’s assigned MIDI output device and chan-
nel. Multiple MIDI devices and channels can be si-
multaneously recorded to multiple tracks.
The following Pro Tools options determine
whether you can record from a MIDI controller
(such as a MIDI keyboard or drum pad):
 Devices that are assigned as a MIDI Controller
in the Peripherals dialog (
Setup > Peripherals) are
ignored when MIDI tracks are recorded. This is to
avoid recording data from MIDI control surfaces
(such as Command|8).
 To record and play MIDI, the device must be
enabled in the MIDI Input Enable dialog. For more
information, see “Enabling Input Devices” on
page 478.