Pro Tools with Scarlett Solo

[John Lehrack]

Hi,


I'm new to Pro Tools and am trying to get everything figured out. I've watched a lot of videos, read articles, etc.


My question here is about using an interface.


I have a Scarlett Solo 3rd Generation


Running Windows 11



My keyboard is connected to the interface with a 1/4" cable. The interface is connected to the laptop via USB


I have set up everything as directed and cannot get Pro Tools to recognize any input from the interface, but it does recognize the interface.


When I arm the track to record, it blinks but detects no sound coming in and when I click to record, it records nothing.


Things I have done...


Set the playback to the correct interface.
Selected the correct input channels
Tried hooking up a mic to the interface with an XLR cable (same results)
Adjusted the gain as far as it will go
Deleted the input and output paths and reset them to default
Updated drivers
Uninstalled and reinstalled everything
Swapped out cables





My interface recognizes both the mic and the keyboard and the green light shows up (and yellow & red when the gain is too high)




What have I done wrong or what else do I need to do or check?

[Darryl Ramm]

Hi, Welcome to DUC

Looks like some good troubleshooting steps so far. If you are still stuck after trying stuff I suggest can you reply to this post and inline reply to each question.

First thing is always to start just checking playback works. Create a new session and drag and drop some known good commercial MP3 or similar files onto the edit window. Let Pro Tools create tracks for them and press play and see if you hear that in your monitors or headphones, and make sure you see waveforms in the edit window and that track and master fader meters move.

And you should start troubleshooting by trashing Pro Tools prefs, follow the instructions for Windows 10 under "Help us Help You" up the top of every DUC web page.

Your headphones and/or monitors/speakers are connected to the interface right? Not the computer.

Make sure you are recoding to an audio track. Should typically be a Pro Tools mono audio track, and definitely *not* an Pro Tools instrument track (that's for MIDI and virtual instruments). <-- this is a very common beginner mistake, if it's not clear ask.

If you see track meters move and waveforms created while recording but do not hear anything then uncheck Options>Low Latency Monitoring. (That is disabling Pro Tools software monitoring expecting you to enable hardware aka "Direct" monitoring in the interface).

Make sure you have no plugins/inserts anywhere in your session for now. Solve this problem first. If necessary create a new test session.

When you have a record armed track and then press the transport record and play buttons do they stay engaged? The transport moves?

If it is a audio track do you ever see waveforms drawn on the screen when you recoding? Even if it's a flat line at 0dB or very low level? If not make sure

Is the interface preamp level turned up? (if it has a pad feature make sure it's disengaged). Try turning the respective gain knobs all the way up and see what happens (if you listen carefully do you every hear static noise from the preamps even of nothing from the mic or keyboard).

---

You can test the basic electronics in the interface work OK, and you can test that using hardware monitoring without any DAW. Disconnect the interface from the computer, Enable Direct monitoring, and with the mic connected get direct monitoring working so you can hear yourself speaking into the microphone in headphones connected to the interface. You may need to read the Focusrite manual to explain that if it's not clear. Again for this make sure the mic preamp is turned up

What exact make/model Mic? (tells us if it needs phantom power and also how sensitive it is), esp. if it's a condenser mic make sure you have Phantom power turned on. Check the mic manual if not sure.

When you go back to Pro Tools, for now disable Direct monitoring in the interface (and make sure Pro Tools Options>Low Latency Monitoring is not checked).

---

What *exact* flavor of Pro Tools are you using? Pro Tools Intro? Artist? ... and version 2020.12? something else? (that affects some things like playback engine dialogs).

You have installed the ASIO driver for the interface? (what exact driver did you install/reinstall, give a link to it online).

Make sure you select that ASIO driver as the Playback engine in Pro Tools. Pro Tools may select the wrong device, check *every* time you start up, the damn thing can change on you while you are trying to troubleshoot stuff. You can hold down the 'N' key while Pro Tools is starting and wait for the Playback Engine dialog to appear... do each time you start Pro Tools.

What *exact* keyboard are you using and the 1/4" cable is connected to *exactly* what inputs and output sockets at each end? Is it a balanced TRS cable, TS instrument cable etc.

If all that does not help you please also include a SiSoft Sandra report on your PC. See instructions under that "Help Us Help You" link.

[Basslice]

Great advice above. I remember how frustrating things were in the beginning.


Looks like you have done most things right from your list. Just confirm the following:


**Edit** Added step "0"


0) Power down your system completely. Power it back up and let it churn and load all the drivers, etc. Start PT.



1) Setup==>Hardware = Focusrite ASIO
2) Setup==>Playback Engine = Focusrite
3) Create New Session!
4) Plug your mic into the Solo (make sure you have 48v on if needed)
5) Check levels on Solo (ring around input gain should light up green when getting a good signal
6) In PT create a new track. Make sure you create a Mono Audio track. NOT INSTRUMENT OR MIDI
7) Make sure you are in track view / not mixer
8) In the new track under I/O select the input (probably Channel one), it should match where you have your mic plugged in
9) Record Arm track. You should now see signal coming from Interface into PT

[JFreak]

Record arming in english is "be prepared to record". Only after you press play it starts recording.

[John Lehrack]

Thanks everyone for your help. Today everything is working as it should. I don’t know that I did anything differently from before other than turn things off and back on, exit Pro Tools and start again. In any case, the problem seems to be solved. I really appreciate your time and advice.