Specifications

Pro Tools Reference Guide424
• Control and automate any submix from a sin-
gle fader and channel strip.
• Apply real-time plug-ins or an external pro-
cessor to the submix, using the Auxiliary In-
put as an effects return.
Audio Input from MIDI Devices and
Other External Sources
You can use an Auxiliary Input to bring external
audio sources such as MIDI devices, tape, micro-
phone inputs, and instruments, into a Pro Tools
mix.
To use Auxiliary Inputs to bring external audio
sources into a mix:
1 Connect the audio outputs of your MIDI and
other external devices to available inputs on
your Pro Tools audio interfaces.
2 If necessary, configure the I/O Setup dialog for
the input paths you plan to utilize. The
I/O Setup dialog configuration determines the
choices available for track sends, inputs, busses,
and hardware inserts. (For more information,
see Chapter 7, “I/O Setup.”)
3 Specify the track type (Aux Input), and mono,
stereo, or any of the supported multichannel
formats for surround mixing.
4 Click Create.
5 Set the input of the Auxiliary Input track to
the appropriate input path.
6 Assign the track output to the appropriate
path, or paths. (See “Multiple Output Assign-
ments” on page 412 for more information.)
7 Adjust the Auxiliary Input fader to control the
track, and any assigned post-fader send levels.
Mixing Audio Input from MIDI Devices
and External Sources
By mixing MIDI and other audio sources
through Pro Tools, you can apply mix automa-
tion to the volume, pan, mute, send level, send
pan, send mute, and plug-in controls of the
Auxiliary Input.
Auxiliary Inputs can be routed to audio tracks
through internal send busses, or using their
track output, to record them to disk.
Using plug-ins, inserts, and sends on Auxiliary
Inputs, you can process instruments and other
inputs with real-time plug-ins, or external de-
vices. See “Send and Return Submixing for Ef-
fects Processing” on page 425.
Creating a Submix
Audio is routed to a submix by assigning any
combination of sends and track outputs to avail-
able bus or output paths.
Auxiliary Inputs can serve as effects returns by
inserting plug-ins or external effects processors.
Submixing with Track Outputs or Sends
You can use both track outputs and sends to
route audio for submixing, depending on
whether you want a discrete or send and return
submix.
Discrete Submix Output
Pro Tools lets you discretely route source audio
through a submix. This is preferred for dither or
other mastering processing, where you do not
want unprocessed audio heard in addition to
the processed signals. Use track outputs (not