Record Enable and Mute Functionality for MIDI vs. Instrument Tracks Explained

[skylar_battles]

MIDI Track

“Main” MUTE button prevents data from clips on the track from being outputted to the chosen MIDI output(s)
RECORD ENABLE enables MIDI data to travel from the selected input to to selected output(s)

Instrument Track

“Main” MUTE button mutes any audio occurring on the track
MIDI MUTE button (Instrument view) prevents data from clips on the track from being outputted to the chosen MIDI output(s)
RECORD ENABLE enables MIDI data to travel from the selected input to to selected output(s)

The confusion for users arises from the fact that from purely a visual perspective, one would expect the “main” mute buttons for MIDI and Instrument tracks to function identically but they perform vastly different functions.

[Darryl Ramm]

MIDI Thu called and was upset it was not mentioned...

[skylar_battles]

Good point! I'll add it but first a question for you:

The main statement from the manual regarding MIDI Thru is:

"To monitor MIDI tracks while recording, enable MIDI Thru. When enabled, Pro Tools routes MIDI from your controllers to the device and channels assigned to the currently record-enabled MIDI track."

Would this be more accurate and more thoroughly explained with the following:

MIDI Thru being checked allows data from the selected input (not data in MIDI clips) to pass to the selected output(s) for record-enabled Instrument and MIDI tracks.

Without MIDI Thru checked, MIDI data can still be recorded, but will only travel to its chosen destination and subsequently produce sound on playback. When the transport is stopped and a track is record enabled, no sound will be heard as data won't pass to it's specified output(s) when playing a controller. During playback with a record enabled track, when playing a controller you also won't hear sound as the data isn't going to it's destination.

[smurfyou]

That MUTE functionality makes sense though because Instrument tracks are vastly different than MIDI tracks.

Which part is confusing?