User Manual

Chapter 2: Pro Tools Concepts 19
Signal Routing
Pro Tools provides software-based mixing and
signal routing controls for audio and MIDI.
These controls are located in the Mix window.
Some of these controls can also be accessed from
the Edit window.
A common audio signal routing task is to sub-
mix multiple tracks to a single channel strip
(such as an Auxiliary Input) for shared process-
ing and level control.
The following example shows two audio tracks
submixed to a stereo Auxiliary Input.
Signal Routing Options
Signal routing options include the following:
Track Input and Output (I/O) Controls The most
basic type of signal routing is track input and
output. A track needs to have an assigned input
path to record audio, and an assigned mapped
output path in order to be audible through a
hardware output. Signals can also be routed to
or from other tracks in Pro Tools (or hardware
inputs and outputs) using internal busses.
Auxiliary Input and Master Fader Tracks Auxil-
iary Inputs can be used as returns, submixers,
and bus masters. Master Fader tracks are used as
bus and output master level controls. Both Aux-
iliary Input and Master Fader tracks can have
plug-in and hardware inserts.
MIDI Tracks MIDI tracks are generally used for
routing MIDI from internal or external sources
to external MIDI devices. MIDI data can also be
routed to plug-ins on Auxiliary Inputs or Instru-
ment tracks.
Instrument Tracks Instrument tracks are the pri-
mary way to route MIDI to an instrument plug-
in and then route the plug-in’s sound to out-
puts, sends and busses, or other inserts. Instru-
ment tracks can also be used to send MIDI to
and monitor audio from external MIDI devices.
Sends Sends route audio from tracks to hard-
ware outputs, or to internal busses that are in
turn routed to other tracks within Pro Tools.
MIDI, Master Fader, and VCA Master tracks do
not have sends.
Submixing to an Auxiliary Input
Input from
stereo bus
path
Outputs to
stereo bus
path
Audio tracks
Inserts
Sends
Auxiliary
Input
Track