Chapter 7: I/O Setup

The I/O Setup provides tools to label, format, and assign Pro Tools input, output, insert, and bus audio sig-
nal paths both for individual sessions as well as for your specific Pro Tools system. I/O Setup also provides
controls for PRE (Mic Preamp) signal paths, and Delay Compensation settings for hardware inserts.

The I/O Setup displays a graphical representation (cross-point matrix) of the signal routing for physical in-
put and output paths for each connected audio interface. Like a virtual patchbay, I/O Setup controls let you
route physical inputs and outputs on audio interfaces to Pro Tools input and output channels. For Avid
HDX and HD Native systems, some of these controls mirror the routing controls found in the Hardware
Setup—changes made to physical routing in one is always reflected in the other. The I/O Setup also in-
cludes controls for creating internal mix busses and for creating and mapping output busses.

Path Type tabs Path Format selector Interface Name label

Path Name column

Input and Output
selectors

Active/Inactive
Status

Channel Grid

Path tools Options

Import/Export Settings

I/O Setup on an Avid HDX system with HD OMNI and HD I/O

Chapter 7: I/O Setup 63

 Opening the I/O Setup
Pro Tools Signal Paths
The I/O Setup can be opened from the application
window (with a session closed), or from within a A signal path is a logical grouping of multiple in-
session (when a session is open). puts, outputs, or busses that has a single name and
(channel) format. The I/O Setup lets you create,
To open the I/O Setup: define and name paths according to the configura-
tion of your studio and the needs of each project.
1 Make sure your audio interfaces are enabled
and configured properly in the Hardware Setup. Main Paths and Sub-Paths
See “Configuring Pro Tools Hardware Set-
tings” on page 53. Paths in Pro Tools tracks and I/O Setup include
main paths and sub-paths.
2 Choose Setup > I/O.
Main Paths Main paths are logical groupings of in-
Closing the I/O Setup puts, inserts, busses, or outputs. For example, a
master stereo output path will include both its left
To close the I/O Setup and save changes: and right channels.
Click OK. Sub-Paths A sub-path represents a signal path
within a main path. For example, a default stereo
Pro Tools checks several settings for routing valid-
output bus path consists of two mono sub-paths,
ity (to prevent feedback loops). If there are any
left and right. Mono tracks and sends can be routed
overlapping or invalid settings, you will be re-
to either mono sub-path of the stereo output bus
quired to correct them (see “Valid Paths and Re-
path.
quirements” on page 89).

To close the I/O Setup without saving changes:

Click Cancel.

Navigating in the I/O Setup

To scroll left or right in the I/O Setup:

Press Option+Page Up/Down (Mac) or

Alt+Page Up/Down (Windows). Main and sub-paths in I/O Setup (Input page)

It is especially useful to define and name

sub-paths for complex mixing setups, such
as a 5.1 Surround mix.

64 Pro Tools Reference Guide

Paths in Sessions When you create a new session, you can specify
which I/O Settings to use. For example, you can
In sessions, signals are routed to and from tracks,
use the factory installed default settings, the “Last
sends, and inserts using track Input, Output, Insert,
Used” setting, or one of any available custom I/O
and Send selectors.
settings files.
When you click a track Input, Output, Insert or
See “Factory I/O Settings” on page 93 and
Send selector, the paths created and defined in the
“I/O Settings Files” on page 94 for more
IO Setup appear in the list of available paths (see
information.
“Assigning Audio Inputs and Outputs to Tracks”
on page 222). Default I/O Settings

Pro Tools comes with default I/O Setup settings to

Path Configurations and
get you started (see “Factory I/O Settings” on
I/O Settings
page 93). You should only need to open the I/O
Each Pro Tools system can have a different path Setup if you want to customize I/O paths or if you
configuration, determined by: change your system hardware (for example, add-
• On Pro Tools systems, the type of audio ing an expansion card to HD I/O, or adding or re-
interface or other physical I/O (including built- moving an audio interface).
in hardware)
You can always return to the default settings for an
• On Avid HDX and HD Native systems, the num- I/O Settings page by clicking the Default button.
ber and types of audio interfaces These paths are available in session tracks and are
reflected in the I/O Setup.
Path configurations in Pro Tools are saved as
I/O settings. You can customize your I/O Setup configuration at
any time, according to the needs of each project
I/O Settings are saved with both the session and
(see “Customizing I/O Settings” on page 76).
with the system. You can choose whether or not
the IO settings saved with the session overwrite the
IO settings saved with the system (see “Sessions
Overwrite Current I/O Setup When Opened” on
page 75).

Unavailable items (including hardware, paths, or

required resources) remain in the session as inac-
tive items (see “Making Paths Active or Inactive”
on page 87).

Chapter 7: I/O Setup 65

 Input Page
I/O Setup Pages
The Input page of the I/O Setup lets you create and
The I/O Setup provides tabs to open pages for con- assign Pro Tools Input channels to receive audio
figuring specific I/O Settings. from the physical inputs of your audio hardware.

Opening an I/O Setup Page Configure input signal path names, formats, and
source channel (analog or digital) on the Input
To open an I/O Setup page: page. Multichannel input paths (stereo or greater)
can have any number of sub-paths. Input channels
Click the corresponding tab at the top of the I/O
can have overlapping input paths. Input names,
Setup.
channel widths, and physical input mappings are
Hold the Command key (Mac) or the saved with the system and the session, and can be
Control key (Windows) and use the Left or recalled from either.
Right Arrow keys to cycle through the
different pages of the I/O Setup.

It is recommended that if you choose to cus-

tomize your I/O Setup, configure the system-
specific options first: Input, Output, Insert,
Mic Preamps, and H/W Insert Delay. Then
configure the Bus page. Once you have con-
figured your system, you should not need to
change it unless you add or remove hardware
(such as audio interfaces) from your system.
See “Customizing I/O Settings” on page 76.

I/O Setup, Input page

66 Pro Tools Reference Guide

Output Page Bus Page
The Output page of the I/O Setup lets you create The Bus page of the I/O Setup lets you create and
and assign Pro Tools Output channels to send au- edit internal mix busses and output busses. The
dio to the physical outputs of your audio hardware. Bus page also lets you map output busses to output
paths (as configured in the Output page of the I/O
Configure output signal path names and formats on Setup).
the Output page. Output channels can have over-
lapping output paths. Output names, channel Configure bus path names and formats, and map
widths, and physical output assignments are saved any main bus path to any available output of the
with the system and the session, and can be re- same width or greater. Multichannel bus paths
called from either. (stereo or greater) can have any number of sub-
paths. Output bus and internal mix bus names and
channel widths are saved with and recalled from
the session.

I/O Setup, Output page

I/O Setup, Bus page

For more information, see “Configuring

Busses” on page 89.

Chapter 7: I/O Setup 67

 Insert Page Mic Preamps Page
The Insert page of the I/O Setup lets you create and On the Mic Preamps page of the I/O Setup,
edit hardware insert signal paths for the Pro Tools signal paths for one or more PRE multi-purpose
mixer. Hardware inserts can route audio through microphone preamplifiers can be mapped to
an external device connected to parallel inputs and audio interfaces. For more information, see the
outputs of a Pro Tools audio interface. This lets PRE Guide.
you process audio on a track with a hardware insert
in real time.

Insert paths require audio interface inputs and out-

puts, and are determined by the configuration of
the Insert page in the I/O Setup for your system.

Mic Preamps page

I/O Setup, Insert page

For more information, see “Using Hard-

ware Inserts” on page 978.

68 Pro Tools Reference Guide