Assigning Audio Outputs

(Audio, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, and Instrument Tracks)

To assign an audio output of an audio, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, or Instrument track:

1 In order to assign audio track outputs in the Edit window, select View > Edit Window > I/O.

2 In the Mix or Edit window, click the track’s Output Path selector and choose from the available audio interface channels and busses. Stereo and multichannel surround tracks have outputs available as pairs and multichannel paths.

 

Output Path selector

The Output Path selector lets you route a track to any configured audio output or internal bus. The choices available in this pop-up menu are determined by the Output Bus Path configuration in the I/O Setup. Outputs in use by another track appear bold in the Output Path selector’s pop-up menu.

Command-Option-click (Mac) or Control-Alt-click (Windows) the Output Path selector of the left-most track and select the first Output Path (mono or stereo). All visible tracks are automatically assigned to unique Output Bus Path assignments in ascending order. For example, Track 1 to A1–2, Track 2 to A3–4, Track 3 to A5–6, and so on.

To remove an output assignment:

Select No Output from the Output Path selector. Playlists become dimmed for tracks with no output assignment.

Assigning an audio track, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, or Instrument track to “No Output” will cause its automation data for pan and plug-in controls to be lost.

Create and Assign New Track from Track Output

Pro Tools lets you create a new Auxiliary Input, Audio, or Instrument track from the Output selector and automatically assign the Output of the original track to the Input of the new track using an available internal mix bus.

To create a new track from a track output:

1 On an existing track, click the Output selector for the track and select New Track.

2 In the New Destination dialog, select the Width, Type, and Time Base for the new track.

 

New Destination dialog

3 Type a Name for the new track.

4 Select (or deselect) whether you want the new track to be created next to the current track.

5 Click OK.

Pro Tools creates a new track with the output of the originating track automatically routed to the input of the new track using an available internal mix bus.

When creating a new internal mix bus, the new bus will be named after what you typed for the new track. For example, if you entered the name “Drum Sub,” Pro Tools creates a new Auxiliary Input track named “Drum Sub” and also creates an internal mix bus named “Drum Sub.”

 

New Auxiliary Input track with audio track output automatically assigned to Bus 1–2

Assign Existing Track from a Track Output

Pro Tools lets you assign the Output of a track to the Input of an existing track using an available internal mix bus. Note that the destination track must be set to either an internal mix bus or to No Input in order to be available for assignment.

To assign the output of a track to an available input on an existing track:

1 On an existing track, click the Output selector for a track and select Track.

2 From the Track submenu, select the destination track you want.

 

Assigning a track output to an existing Auxiliary Input track

Pro Tools automatically routes the track or send to the input of the selected track using an available internal mix bus.