DigiDesign Digidesign Pro Tools 8.0, Reference Manual

Page: 407 / 1112

Chapter 20: MIDI Recording 389
Chapter 20: MIDI Recording
Although recording MIDI in Pro Tools is similar
to recording audio, there are some important
differences:
‹
Unlike audio, MIDI recording is almost always
destructive. See “Record Modes and MIDI” on
page 355 for details.
‹
Unlike audio tracks, MIDI and Instrument
tracks can be record-enabled on-the-fly during
playback or recording.
‹
MIDI and Instrument tracks have an Input se-
lector that determines which port on your MIDI
interface (devices) and which MIDI channel is
routed and recorded to the track. If the MIDI In-
put selector is set to All, all channels for all de-
vices are routed to the track.
‹
Similar to Auxiliary Inputs, Instrument tracks
have audio Input and Output selectors. These se-
lectors are different than the Instrument track’s
selectors for MIDI Input and Output and are pri-
marily used for monitoring audio from MIDI in-
struments or instrument plug-ins.
‹
It is not necessary to use QuickPunch, Track-
Punch, or DestructivePunch to punch in on-the-
fly with MIDI or Instrument tracks. This capabil-
ity is available both in Normal (Nondestructive)
Record mode and Destructive Record mode.
Recording from MIDI Devices
The MIDI Inputs for record-enabled MIDI and
Instrument tracks determine what MIDI data is
recorded in Pro Tools. MIDI Inputs can be set to
a specific device (port) and channel, or they can
be set to All, where all channels for all devices
are merged to the track.
MIDI and Instrument tracks in Pro Tools do not
contain multiple channels and always play back
on the track’s assigned MIDI output device and
channel. Multiple MIDI devices and channels
can be simultaneously recorded to multiple
tracks.
The following Pro Tools options determine
whether you can record from a MIDI controller
(such as a MIDI keyboard or drum pad):
‹
Devices that are assigned as a MIDI Controller
in the Peripherals dialog (
Setup > Peripherals
) are
ignored when MIDI tracks are recorded. This is
to avoid recording data from MIDI control sur-
faces (such as the Digidesign Command|8).
‹
To record and play MIDI, the device must be
enabled in the MIDI Input Enable dialog. For
more information, see “Enabling Input Devices”
on page 390.