Problems connecting to Pro Tools First

[r011ingthunder]

Hi all,
First post and total newbie to this world.

When I connect my bass guitar to my PC via the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, I can hear it, albeit with a delay on the sound. However, I cannot get a signal to show up or even hear anything from my bass when I have Pro Tools First running.

Tech details are in my signature.

Connection details are:
Bass Guitar to Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen via 6.35mm jack
Focusrite to PC via USB-C
PC to ears via Xonar soundcard & logitech speakers

My default Windows inputs / outputs are:
Input: Camera mic
Output: Xonar soundcard

My assumption is that I have an incorrect input selected in Pro Tools First. I cannot work out how to select "USB-C" in Pro Tools First, or if that's even the correct thing to do. There are lots of options, and I have tried them all unsuccessfully.

If any further information is required please don't hesitate to ask. I'd appreciate any help at all.

Cheers,
r011in

[junkgear]

Open the Playback engine (Setup->Playback Engine) In PTF and ensure that you have the Scarlett chosen as your audio device. You should not be using the Scarlett As your computers audio device as this can cause issues. You need to go into Windows sound settings first and disable the device so Windows doesn’t use it. Then open PTF and choose it as your audio device.

If that is set up properly, then make sure you have the proper input selected on the audio track you are trying to record. Also make sure you enabled Input Monitoring on the track in order to hear your bass.

[Darryl Ramm]

^^^

and

make sure you have the latest driver installed for the 2i2. Do *not* install ASIO4ALL.

you need to use monitors and/or headphones connected to the 2i2 not your PC.

latency is controlled by IO buffer size. Pro Tools First gives you some limited control of that in the Playback Engine Dialog. With DAWs its often a trade off between latency and stability at lower io buffer sizes. your interface slso has hardware monitoring which you should read up on.

[r011ingthunder]

Thank you so much Will. That worked. I really appreciate it. The only issue remaining now is that I can no longer hear the automated drum sample track when I hit play. Any idea why that might be?

[r011ingthunder]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

^^^

and

make sure you have the latest driver installed for the 2i2. Do *not* install ASIO4ALL.

you need to use monitors and/or headphones connected to the 2i2 not your PC.

latency is controlled by IO buffer size. Pro Tools First gives you some limited control of that in the Playback Engine Dialog. With DAWs its often a trade off between latency and stability at lower io buffer sizes. your interface slso has hardware monitoring which you should read up on.

Thanks Darryl.
Unfortunately I've a few questions:
I had no idea my Scarlett Solo was known as a 2i2! I presume the most up-to-date drivers will be available from the Focusrite website?
I believe ASIO4ALL is installed, I'm sure I've seen it somewhere. Should I remove it?
My interface has hardware monitoring? My interface being the 2i2?

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by r011ingthunder

Thanks Darryl.
Unfortunately I've a few questions:
I had no idea my Scarlett Solo was known as a 2i2! I presume the most up-to-date drivers will be available from the Focusrite website?
I believe ASIO4ALL is installed, I'm sure I've seen it somewhere. Should I remove it?
My interface has hardware monitoring? My interface being the 2i2?

oops my bad... i was confused about what you had with another poster.

Your Solo has a driver from Focusrite. You should download the latetst version off their web site. Make sure you get the driver for the correct generation of Solo you have. That driver provides an ASIO interface to Pro Tools, you should use that and not ASIO4ALL. You are likely better off uninstalling ASIO4ALL.

The Solo had hardware monitoring, its the "direct monitor" feature.

[r011ingthunder]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

oops my bad... i was confused about what you had with another poster.

Your Solo has a driver from Focusrite. You should download the latetst version off their web site. Make sure you get the driver for the correct generation of Solo you have. That driver provides an ASIO interface to Pro Tools, you should use that and not ASIO4ALL. You are likely better off uninstalling ASIO4ALL.

The Solo had hardware monitoring, its the "direct monitor" feature.

No worries, thanks again Darryl.
Ok, I'll sort out the driver issue and buy a set of headphones. I'll also start using the Direct Monitor feature you mentioned.

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by r011ingthunder

No worries, thanks again Darryl.
Ok, I'll sort out the driver issue and buy a set of headphones. I'll also start using the Direct Monitor feature you mentioned.

look at/understand that feature.. it might help, it won't help if you want to monitor through a plugin.

[r011ingthunder]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

look at/understand that feature.. it might help, it won't help if you want to monitor through a plugin.

It's early days Darryl, I haven't got a clue what "monitor through a plugin" means, but as you suggest, I will read up on it. Thanks again for your time.

[Darryl Ramm]

Have a look over YouTube for tutorials that are close to doing what you want and are using a similar version of Pro Tools. This us an excellent way of getting started.

Unfortunately Pro Tools First has poor documentation and is fairly restrictive compared to Pro Tools and other DAWs and its cloud project storage seems very flakey. I would not risk putting any of my work on that. My advice would be to use another DAW. Pro Tools (standard) is great.