Pro Tools Express - No PC Playback

[Dave Brannan]

Hi,

I have Pro Tools Express (10.3.3) and track using an Akai EIE Pro. All is working ok except I have no playback via my PC. Even using a blank session with all IO defaults and just a click track, the playback is only through the Akai interface.

If I check Tools - Playback, only the interface is available, there is no dropdown list for me to select a different playback device.

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

[mjslakeridge]

I think what you are describing is the "normal" situation for Pro tools. In fact, one of the Avid recommended optimizations is to disable the computer's on-board sound card.

[Dave Brannan]

Thanks for the reply. I presumed when I watched videos of others using Pro Tools that when they played back audio, it was coming through their PC's.

The other thing that threw me is I can't seem to use Pro Tools without the interface being plugged in. I was trying to process my tracked sessions "offline", surely that's a normal use case?

[mjslakeridge]

For older versions of Pro Tools (like mine), you had to have an Avid (Digidesign) interface attached to the computer and turned on to use PT. I think that changed with PT 9. If you want to use the audio card in your computer, you will need to install the ASIO4all driver. I believe it is a free download-try Googling it, and download the correct version for your version of Windows. Then you wouldn't need your interface plugged in. But I don't know of any advantage to doing that. I am not an expert in audio cards or non-Avid hardware, so maybe someone else with more current knowledge can chime in and correct me if necessary.

[sw rec]

I can't imagine why anybody would WANT to use the onboard audio (read: cheap) unless it's a portable rig and you just don't want to haul around a lot of extra stuff. But I'm saying this with NO info about your particular setup. Is it a laptop?

[Dave Brannan]

Correct :-) I use my laptop in a home studio type setup. My plan was to connect my laptop to the interface, track the instruments I need (currently drums only) and then do all the post-processing "offline". If this is not really possible I'll do it all connected to the interface.

[The Weed]

You need some form of interface to get the sound "out" either a dedicated interface or your onboard soundcard. Somewhere you have to have D to A converters in the chain. If you are using PT 11, your onboard soundcard should not be used for Pro Tools, that should be for Windows audio and a separate interface should be used for PT.

If you want to use your onboard soundcard for Pro Tools you'll need its ASIO driver or, as suggested, ASIO4ALL. Disable you're other interface and use the onboard for PT. Once you go back to your interface, make your onboard soundcard the default again and enable your interface for PT only.

Cheers,