M-AUDIO Pro Tools Recording Studio - Manual (Page 31)

Chapter 2: Pro Tools Concepts 13
Pro Tools provides multiple types of tracks:
audio, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, VCA Mas-
ter, MIDI, Instrument, and video.
Audio, MIDI, Instrument, and video track data
can be edited into regions or repeated in differ-
ent locations to create loops, re-arrange sections
or entire songs, or to assemble tracks using ma-
terial from multiple takes.
Auxiliary Input tracks can route internal audio
busses or physical inputs to internal busses or
physical outputs. Auxiliary Inputs are typically
used for audio effects busses, audio throughput
(monitoring), and submixing.
Master Fader tracks provide controls for physical
audio output channels, including the volume
level of your mix, panning, and plug-in inserts.
VCA Master tracks (Pro Tools HD only) provide
control of tracks in a Mix Group that has been
assigned to the VCA Master.
Video tracks support QuickTime movies (all
Pro Tools systems) and VC-1 video files (Win-
dows Vista only). Additionally, Avid video is
supported on Pro Tools HD or Pro Tools LE with
DV Toolkit 2 software with an Avid video pe-
ripheral. An individual video track can play back
only one type of video at a time.
Audio, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, and In-
strument tracks can be mono, stereo, or multi-
channel (Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools LE with
the Complete Production Toolkit option only).
When creating a new track, select from the list
of channel formats supported by your system.
Media Files
Pro Tools sessions create, import, export, and
reference media files. Media files are audio,
MIDI, and video files. Audio and video media
files are stored separately from the Pro Tools ses-
sion file. MIDI data is stored in the session file.
Audio Files
When you record audio into a Pro Tools session,
audio files are created.
Audio files for each session are stored in a folder
named “Audio Files.” Audio files are listed in the
Pro Tools Region List and can appear in an au-
dio track. A section of an audio file can be de-
fined as a region. See “Regions” on page 14.
Audio track in the Edit window (stereo track shown)
MIDI track in the Edit window
Video track in Frames view
Audio file icons