Insert (plugins) order and Undo?

[PortWill]

Hi! I have decided to learn Pro Tools as I need it for mixing and I REALLY like how stable and fast it is, however I cannot solve an issue. I am playing around in the mix window and when I create an insert chain with a few plugins I can't find an option to rearrange the order of the plugins on a track other than pulling them one by one to another slot. If I drag a plugin over another, it just replaces that plugin.

Also, when I accidentally replace a plugin by dragging and dropping another one, there is no Undo option so I have to go back to a saved version of the session and start over.

What am I missing here?

[albee1952]

Not missing a thing. That's just how it works in Pro Tools(and it is a popular request). Some things to remember:
1-If you really can't pay attention enough to avoid dropping on top of a plugin you want to keep, you might think about working the changes in a different order.
2-you can use the track next door(so to speak) as a place keeper(if its got plugins, you could also create a new blank track and then delete it later. Just make sure that track is the same "width"(as in mono, stereo, 5.1, etc)
3-you can leave empty slots anywhere you like(I almost always leave slot A open for Melodyne, just in case).
4-if you are putting reverb or delay plugins directly on audio tracks, consider putting them on separate AUX tracks and use sends to "feed" those effects. This is often a more efficient way to use those effects, and would be fewer plugins that you might need to move

[PortWill]

Thank you for the detailed answer. I think the best solution will be to have another track as you mentioned and drag plugins for A/B-ing.

This is obviously not an issue when it comes to live channels but becomes more of a hassle when it comes to mastering and trying out different chains with EQs, saturators and various compressors all doing slightly different tasks. It is not hard to accidentally drag & drop when you are used to this kind of workflow in literally any other DAW It means I will need to have a slightly different workflow now.

I appreciate the tip about the empty slots, that makes so much sense!! Thanks a ton!

[noah330]

I agree with Albee. It's a good idea to leave the A insert empty.

If you decide to swap effect order or to add something like a tape simulator, that may introduce latency when tracking, its nice to have an empty slot instead of having to move everything around.

I tend to insert a channel strip (like SSL) onto each channel (hold down option when selecting the plugin). I'll do this on the second or third slot and that way I have a good starting point as well as some room to expand either way.

Enjoy ProTools!

[albee1952]

Another thing to think about is to get into a habit of putting certain types of plugins in certain slots across all your tracks such as:
Slot A-open
Slot B-EQ
Slot C-compressor
etc. based on what plugins you use. There's also no problem with leaving an empty slot anywhere else either(which gives you a little buffer for moving things around)

[PortWill]

Thank you so much for the tips, the option+select trick is also very neat. I have already started using the slots as "placeholders" for different types of plugins.

Man, Pro Tools looked like a dinasour at first and the more I learn about it the more I feel like I was missing features that could have sped up my process recording and mixing. It is very well thought out. Also, what surprises me is the stability and speed.

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by PortWill

Thank you so much for the tips, the option+select trick is also very neat.

If you add 'shift', it will happen on all selected tracks.

Option = happens on all tracks
Option-shift = happens on all selected tracks

This applies to inserts, sends, I/O, solo, mute, almost anything you do to tracks.

[its2loud]

There are 10 slots for inserts on tracks. Is this not enough room to move things around in?

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by its2loud

There are 10 slots for inserts on tracks. Is this not enough room to move things around in?

I think the OP's issue was that you can't pull a plugin out from say insert one and drop it between slot three and four if they're occupied. You have to move them around to free up the slot. I think it's a good idea.

[smurfyou]

Originally Posted by its2loud

There are 10 slots for inserts on tracks. Is this not enough room to move things around in?

Yes but if you accidentally move one on top of another and blow it away it would be nice to undo it.