Setting Up A Virtual Instrument In Pro Tools Isn’t difficult but there are a few things that can go wrong. In another of our Under A Minute videos, Pro Tools Expert team member Julian Rodgers runs through some of the pitfalls.
Instrument Track Not MIDI Track
The inclusion of MIDI tracks in Pro Tools is largely historical. Although they are still useful for use with MIDI hardware and when running virtual instruments in a multi-timbral mode, if you want to run an instrument conventionally on a single track you want an Instrument track.
Default MIDI Thru Preference
If in the Pro Tools Preferences you have your Default Thru Instrument set to Follows First Selected MIDI Track then whichever track you have selected will pass sound when you play your keyboard. If set to None you will have to record enable the MIDI track to get sound to pass.
MIDI Meters
Because an instrument track’s meters are audio meters there is no visual indicator of MIDI activity showing by default in the Mix window. If you display the Instrument section then you will have access to a MIDI meter and to routing controls for your MIDI messages. As this isn’t displayed by default many new users don’t know its there.