Why is it possible to insert an instrument into an audio track?

[Richard901]

An instrument can be inserted into an audio track, but MIDI cannot be inserted/edited.
After experimenting, I have linked a MIDI track to an audio track for recording - without using an AUX track.

Stereo Audio Track
Insert a stereo instrument e.g. Mini Grand.
Input - BUS 1+2
Send - BUS 1+2 (set slider to 0)

MIDI Track
Output set to Mini Grand 1, Channel 1.

Playback
The MIDI track will play through the audio track.

Record
Record enable the audio track
Record the audio track - the Mini Grand will be recorded to the Audio track.

Playback of recorded audio
DISABLE the Mini Grand instrument.
Cancel the Record Enable button
The recorded audio track will playback.
The MIDI track can be muted as a test.

Any effects on the audio track will be recorded, unless they are disabled before recording.
I'm not sure why the BUS is needed for recording to work - I just found it worked by trial and error.

Apologies if this is well known method.

Any comments/improvements would be appreciated.
Thanks for your help.

[janmuths]

Nice idea. I usually bus the output to a new audio track, but this seems to be even quicker. Good idea.

J

[zedhed]

There are many ways to configure types of tracks but each type exists for a reason so depending on what one is doing in a session, routing will be different.

For instance, your method wouldn't be appropriate for recording multiple patches through one instrument plugin simultaneously. In this instance you would need multiple Midi tracks, an Instrument track and an Audio track (if you want to record the instrument to 'tape').

If you don't want to record an Instrument, then all you need is an Instrument track since Midi data can be recorded on that track.

Aux tracks are often used on buses providing FX, Sub Mixes, external routing etc.

So your setup could just as easily look like an Instrument Track bused to an Audio Track which would do exactly the same.

"Why is it possible to insert an instrument into an audio track?" If you want to record a live performance and not keep any Midi data, then you can go directly to an Audio Track. However if you want to record Midi then you need an Instrument track (single midi channel output) or separate Midi tracks for multiple channel options.

[Top Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Richard901

Stereo Audio Track
Insert a stereo instrument e.g. Mini Grand.
Input - BUS 1+2
Send - BUS 1+2 (set slider to 0)

See Osman Kent's tutorials here. http://www.songphonic.com/ProToolsTutorials

He documented this a few years ago. It's a trick I use fairly often.

The reason it works in your instance is because the VI blocks what would normally be a feedback loop.

[panamajack]

Originally Posted by Richard901

...Any comments/improvements would be appreciated...

After listening to the PT7 TDM procedure from the Osman Kent video, I am wondering if the resulting audio track in your method (per post no. 1) will need to be "slipped" by the record delay -- so that it will be "lined up" -- resulting in a recording which would be sample accurate across all the tracks.

Also, there have been recent threads concerning whether or not the automatic delay compensation in PT9 and PT10 is indeed functioning as documented in prior PT releases.

Which begs the question, does Osman Kent's method still apply in PT9 and PT10? And further, whether the behaviour will be different between HD and HDX systems, requiring a modified procedure.

[Richard901]

Thanks very much for all the excellent feedback.

I've found that an effects send before or after the BUS 1+2 send is not recorded to the audio. This speeds up the process because - to record dry - effects sends do not have to be disabled before recording - unlike effect inserts.