Example: Playing Back MIDI

To play back MIDI (and monitor the audio):

1 Import, record, or enter MIDI into an Instrument or MIDI track.

2 For an Instrument track, do the following:

Set the Instrument track’s audio Output selector to the main monitoring path.

If you are using an Instrument Plug-In, insert the plug-in on the track. The track’s MIDI Output selector (in Instrument view) should be automatically set to the plug-in.

If you are using an external MIDI device (not an Instrument plug-in), set the MIDI Output selector in Instrument view to the MIDI device (port) and channel you want to play back.

If you are using an external MIDI device (not an Instrument plug-in), set the Instrument track’s audio Input selector to the Input path to which your MIDI device’s audio outputs are connected.

3 For a MIDI track, do the following:

If you are using an Instrument plug-in, create an Auxiliary Input or Instrument track insert the Instrument plug-in on the track.

If you are using an external MIDI device (not an Instrument plug-in), create an Auxiliary Input or Instrument track to monitor the audio from an external MIDI device or Instrument plug-in.

If you are using an external MIDI device (not an Instrument plug-in), set the Auxiliary Input or Instrument track’s audio Input selector to the Input path to which your MIDI device’s audio outputs are connected.

Set the Auxiliary Input or Instrument track’s audio Output selector to the main monitoring path.

Set the MIDI track’s output selector to the Instrument plug-in, or MIDI device (port), and channel you want to play back.

4 To have playback start from the beginning of the session, click Return to Zero in the Transport.

5 Start playback.

6 The MIDI plays the selected MIDI device, and the audio from the MIDI device is monitored through the selected Output Path on the Auxiliary Input or Instrument track. Adjust the MIDI, Auxiliary Input, or Instrument track’s volume and pan faders as necessary.

7 When you are finished, stop playback.

For information about synchronizing external MIDI devices with Pro Tools for playback and recording using MIDI Beat Clock, see MIDI Beat Clock, and for information about using MIDI Timecode, see Generating Timecode.