Recording from Digital Sources

To record from a digital source with Pro Tools:

1 Connect the digital output of the recording source to the appropriate digital input of your audio hardware.

2 If you want to start a new session with a different sample rate, do the following:

Choose File > New Session

Select the sample rate.

Configure the rest of the New Session dialog accordingly.

Click Save.

3 Specify the format (digital) of the inputs of the audio interface to which the digital recording source is connected:

Choose Setup > Hardware.

Choose the audio interface.

Select the digital format for the appropriate channel pair (such as AES/EBU or S/PDIF).

Some Pro Tools audio interfaces only have two channels that can be set for analog or digital. For example, Mbox (3rd generation) has S/PDIF L–R (Stereo) digital inputs and In 1–2 analog inputs. Mbox (3rd generation) can record through analog and digital inputs simultaneously.

4 For Pro Tools HD, select the appropriate Clock Source in the Session Setup window or Hardware Setup dialog.

5 Create a new stereo audio track.

6 Assign the Input Path selector for the track to the appropriate input. Since this is a digital transfer, you do not need to worry about input levels.

7 Assign the Output Path selector for the track to the appropriate output for monitoring (such as A 1–2).

8 In the Options menu, ensure that the following options are deselected: Destructive Record, Loop Record, QuickPunch, TrackPunch, and DestructivePunch.

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

10 Record enable the new audio track.

11 Click Record in the Transport to arm Pro Tools for recording.

12 Click Play to start recording.

13 Start playback on the recording source.

14 When the material from the source has finished, click Stop in the Transport.

15 Stop playback on the recording source.

After a Digital Transfer

(Avid HDX, HD Native, and Pro Tools|HD Systems Only)

After you have finished recording digitally, set the Clock Source pop-up menu in the Session Setup window back to Internal. Otherwise, Pro Tools will not switch back to its own internal clock and may not record or play audio properly. Failure to switch back to Internal synchronization typically results in pitch problems (fast or slow playback), clicks and pops, or DAE errors, since a DAT machine or CD Recorder that is idle can default to a different sample rate or stop outputting a sample rate clock altogether.