Wait for Note

The Wait for Note button, located in the Transport window, determines how Pro Tools begins recording. When enabled, Pro Tools does not start recording until a MIDI event is received. This ensures that recording begins only when you start playing, and that the first note, or other MIDI data, is recorded precisely at the beginning of the set record range (start time).

Wait for Note can be used when recording normally, when punching in, or when loop recording. If pre-roll is enabled, it occurs after the MIDI event is received and before recording begins.

 

Wait for Note and Countoff are mutually exclusive and cannot both be enabled at the same time. If, for instance, Countoff is enabled and you click the Wait for Note button, Countoff is disabled. Furthermore, Wait for Note starts recording immediately, ignoring any specified Pre-roll.

To enable Wait for Note:

1 To view the MIDI controls in the Transport window, select View > Transport > MIDI Controls.

 

Transport window with MIDI Controls

2 In the Transport window, click the Wait for Note button so it becomes highlighted.

 

Wait for Note button, enabled

With the Operation preference for “Use F11 for Wait for Note” enabled, you can press F11 to turn on Wait for Note. (On Mac systems, the Mac “Desktop” keyboard shortcut must be disabled or remapped.)