Specifications

Chapter 26: Basic Mixing 407
Master Faders provide up to five post-fader in-
serts and no sends. Also, Master Fader tracks do
not have Pan controls, or Mute and Solo but-
tons.
Common Uses for Master Faders
Master Faders can be used to:
• Control and process output mixes
• Monitor and meter an output (such as a bus or
hardware output) to guard against clipping
• Control submix levels
• Control effects sends levels
• Control submaster (bussed tracks) levels
• Apply dither or other inserts to an entire mix
Use Master Faders to control submix levels, send
level masters, and other outputs. Master Faders
do not consume any of your system’s audio pro-
cessing power.
To create a Master Fader:
1 Choose File > New Track.
2 In the New Track dialog, specify the number
of tracks.
3 From the Track Type pop-up menu, select
Master Fader.
4 From the Track Format pop-up menu, select
the number of channels (for example, Stereo).
5 Click Create.
6 In the Mix window, click the Master Fader’s
Output Selector and choose the output that you
want to control. You can choose either audio in-
terface outputs or internal busses. A Stereo Mas-
ter Fader controls the level of a pair of outputs.
To use a Master Fader as a stereo master volume
control:
1 Create a stereo Master Fader track (as de-
scribed above).
2 Set the outputs of all audio tracks in the ses-
sion to the main output path (for example, out-
puts 1–2 of your primary audio interface) and
set the panning of each track.
3 Set the output of the Master Fader to the main
output path.
Master Fader Meters
Meters on Master faders always show post-fader
levels, regardless of the Pre-Fader Metering set-
ting in the Operations menu.
Master Faders and Paths
Master Faders can be assigned to main and sub-
paths. When more than one Master Fader is as-
signed to the same output or bus path, only one
can be active at the same time. If you try to as-
sign a Master Fader to a main or sub-path that is
already actively assigned on another Master
Fader, the new assignment will be assigned, but
be inactive. Master Faders can be assigned to dif-
ferent sub-paths of the same main path, as long
as the sub-paths do not overlap.
Active and Inactive Master Faders
(TDM Systems and Pro Tools LE 6.x Only)
When a Master Fader track is inactive, its associ-
ated plug-ins, I/O assignments, and their re-
sources are made inactive.
When a Master Fader output assignment (path
assignment) is made inactive, the Master Fader
no longer controls the master gain of that path.
When you duplicate a Master Fader track, the
duplicated track’s assignment will be inactive.
If you absolutely must have a pre-fader in-
sert on your Master Fader signal, set up an
Auxiliary Input before the Master Fader.