Uses for hardware outputs 1 and 2

[Rob0214]

Hi all,

I'm trying to set up a patch bay with my 003. Since outputs 1-2 double as the L/R mix in PT, I'm trying to figure out what I can possibly feed as an input from outputs 1-2 (besides an external mixer/monitor, etc). It also seems like trying to do am external hardware insert on ports 1-2 would just create a feedback loop.

Or, am I missing some sort of I/O setup option to separate them out?

[jhamrick]

Mon and Alt Outputs go to your studio's monitoring system.
Mon and Alt are also routed to Analog 1-2 outputs should you want to mix to an external device, such as a 1/4" tape deck.

[Rob0214]

I was thinking more along the lines of the fact that interface outputs 1 and 2 do not necessarily have to map to physical analog outputs 1 and 2.

Reading the fine manual, monitor outs mirror physical outs 1 and 2. But if I changed interface 1 and 2, to, say, the SPDIF outs, and hooked an external monitoring system there, would that free up outputs 1 and 2 to put hardware inserts there for an additional 2 channels of analog processing?

This is mostly for mixing/bouncing so I was wondering how PT determines what outs are used for bounce (since you can have multiple master faders). I assume it's outputs 1 and 2, but is it physical outs 1 and 2 or interfaces 1 and 2.

Back to RTFMing I guess

[Shawn Simpson]

I'm not sure I follow how you're differentiating between "physical i/o" and "interface i/o." It's actually a physical connection in the box for the d/a converters for channels 1 and 2 to feed both the designated output at full line-level and the monitor outputs with the volume control. In the HD world it's possible to change the hardware/software relationship of paths and i/o's, but the LE systems are pretty much hardwired to behave a certain way.

[Rob0214]

I consider "physical i/o" as a port where you actually plug something in. Interface i/o is when you tell PT what it's output is, you pick an interface (or a bus). By default, Analog 1-2 outputs path map to the ports numbered 1 and 2 on the 003/002/001, but they don't have to (even in LE).

And in answer to my own question, I forgot that when you bounce you pick the bounce source (which can be an interface or a bus). I'm so used to leaving it at the default 1-2 that I just forgot that option was there.

So, in theory, I can change Analog 1-2 out to the SPDIF port, find a 2 channel SPDIF to balanced out converter (somewhere), rum my monitors off that, and have physical inputs/outputs 1 and 2 free to do hardware inserts.

This part of the reference guide (p 51) sort of confuses me, though:

Audio interface names can be customized in the I/O setup dialog. With ProTools HD only the I/O setup dialog then bases default input and output path names on the custom names.

[Shawn Simpson]

Ok, I'm with you. Sounds like you're on the right track.

That part of the manual you referenced is talking about how on HD systems you can name your interfaces in the i/o setup. Since you can have multiple interfaces connected, they default to being named "A", "B", "C", etc. You can change them to "Larry", "Moe", "Curly", or whatever you want. Then if you hit the default button, the paths will be named according to the interface's name. For instance, Larry 1-2, Larry 3-4, Moe 1-2, etc.

Comes in handy, especially if you're using several different interface types.