DigiDesign Pro Tools

Chapter 33: Multichannel Tracks and Signal Routing (Pro Tools HD Only) 769
Multichannel Signal Routing
To mix in a multichannel format, tracks are as-
signed to multichannel paths.
Tracks can be mixed in surround using the fol-
lowing two methods:
• By setting a track main output to a multichan-
nel path.
• By assigning a multichannel send to route au-
dio to a multichannel path.
Multichannel Track Outputs
Tracks can be routed to multichannel output or
bus paths using the track’s Output Path selector.
This provides a multichannel panner and meter
in the Mix and Edit window I/O View.
Additional output assignments can be added by
Start-clicking (Windows) or Control-clicking
(Mac) the Selector tool and assigning another
path.
Multichannel Sends
All track formats, including mono and stereo, let
you assign one or more multichannel sends.
This provides a multichannel panner in the
Sends View. Sends are also useful to bus tracks
for multichannel plug-in processing.
Figure 39 shows a mono audio track with a 5.1
(6-channel) send (View > Sends A–E > Send A).
Two different ways to configure tracks for multichannel
mixing
This channel’s output path
is multichannel, so the
track provides a multi-
channel panner
This channel’s main out-
put path is mono (“Center
music”). It has a multi-
channel send providing a
multichannel panner
Figure 39. A mono audio track with a mono output
format and a multichannel send
Multichannel send panner
Mono meter
Mono output format