DigiDesign Digidesign Pro Tools 8.0, Reference Manual

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Chapter 45: Multichannel Tracks and Signal Routing 987
Pro Tools bussing and submixing features are
available for all channel formats, from
mono/stereo through 8-channel. For examples
of multichannel monitoring, effects processing,
and bussing, see “Mixing with Paths and Sub-
Paths” on page 988. For mono and stereo mix
examples, see Chapter 40, “Basic Mixing.”
Multichannel Auxiliary Inputs and
Master Faders
A multichannel Auxiliary Input or Master Fader
is used as a return for the multichannel bus.
Sends are useful when you need to create an ad-
ditional, independent mix simultaneously (per-
haps of a distinct format), requiring dedicated
fader, mute, solo, and automation controls.
You can assign Master Faders to main and sub-
paths. Main paths must match the format of the
Master Fader, and only one Master Fader can be
active and assigned to any single (active) main
or sub-path. A Master Fader cannot be assigned
to a sub-path if its associated main path is al-
ready assigned on another Master Fader. See
“Master Fader Tracks” on page 830.
Multichannel Instrument Tracks
Multichannel tracks can be used to monitor and
route multichannel instrument plug-ins or mul-
tichannel external MIDI instruments.
Mono, Multi-Mono and
Multichannel Plug-ins
Plug-ins can be used in mono, multi-mono, or
multichannel formats.
For information about mono, stereo, and mono-
in/stereo-out plug-ins, see Chapter 41, “Plug-in
and Hardware Inserts.”
Multi-Mono Plug-ins
Are designed for use on ste-
reo or greater-than-stereo multichannel tracks.
Multi-mono plug-ins are useful, or required, in
the following situations:
• When a plug-in does not involve multichan-
nel correlated processing (for example, when
applying EQ to select sides of a multichannel
signal)
• When you need to adjust signals within the
multichannel track independently
• When a plug-in does not support multichan-
nel formats
When a multi-mono plug-in is first inserted on a
multichannel track, the plug-in controls are
linked. You can unlink them for independent
adjustment. See “Linking and Unlinking Con-
trols on Multi-Mono Plug-ins” on page 987 for
more information.
Multi-mono plugs-ins can also be inserted on
stereo tracks, to apply unlinked plug-ins on the
left and right channels.
Multichannel Plug-ins
Are designed for use on
stereo and multichannel tracks that require cor-
related processing, including stereo and multi-
channel limiting, compression, and similar ef-
fects.
Linking and Unlinking Controls on Multi-
Mono Plug-ins
When a multi-mono plug-in is used on a multi-
channel track of more than two channels, the
controls are normally linked. Adjusting the
Gain control on one channel, for example, will
adjust it for all channels.
If necessary, you can unlink plug-in controls on
specific channels of a track and edit them inde-
pendently. You can also selectively link the con-
trols of specific channels.