Configuring Cue Mixes with Delay Compensation

If you already have a Pro Tools session that uses various plug-in inserts and mixer routing, you will most likely want to have Delay Compensation enabled. However, if you want to record overdubs with a recording artist, “the talent,” you will need to configure monitoring mixes (headphone or “cue” mixes).

Use sends to bus cue mixes to audio output paths for headphone monitoring by the talent. In addition to the main mix, which will monitor in the control room, route track sends to one or more additional audio output paths tracks for cue mix monitoring. Using sends lets you configure different mixes from the main mix for cue mix monitoring. For example, when recording a guitarist, they may want to hear themselves more in the cue mix than you will want to hear in the main mix.

Example configuration using sends for cue mixes:

1 Assign each track’s main output to your main mix outputs.

2 Assign a send (mono or stereo) for each track and set the send outputs to output paths 3 and 4 on your audio interface.

3 Enable the FMP (Follow Main Pan) button on all of the sends so that the cue mix has the same panning as the main mix.

4 Set all of the sends to unity and to post-fader. This lets you use the same mix for the talent, but also lets you boost (or attenuate) the level of the talent’s signal in the cue mix by adjusting the send level as needed.

5 Choose Track > New.

6 Specify the track type (Main Fader) and format (stereo), then click Create.

7 From the Master Fader track’s Output Path selector, select output paths 3 and 4 for monitoring the mix.

8 Adjust the Master Fader track’s fader to control the overall volume for the cue mix.

With Delay Compensation enabled, it is recommended that you do not use any inserts on any Auxiliary Input or Master Fader tracks you may be using to control the cue mix volume. Also, you should avoid using inserts on any record tracks. (Some low latency inserts may be acceptable depending on the talent’s preference.)

9 Repeat the preceding steps for additional cue mixes on additional outputs on your audio interface as necessary.