Want to use your external MIDI devices with Pro Tools? Record MIDI from a keyboard and then end up with audio tracks of the MIDI sounds? But how does MIDI become audio into Pro Tools? How do you connect everything? Isn’t MIDI a form of digital audio? Ring a bell? This tutorial is for you!
MIDI is NOT audio
Yes. This IS the place to start. Most, if not all of the difficulty that people have with utilizing hardware MIDI devices with Pro Tools has to do with a common misunderstanding of the differences between MIDI Data and Audio Signals.
More specifically, problems are caused by the assumption that somehow audio signal is carried along MIDI cables, when it is not.
MIDI is a command language
Back in the early 80’s, leading synth and keyboard manufacturers (Yamaha, Roland, Sequential Circuits) devised a standardized way to digitally interface electronic musical instruments. They called it MIDI. MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
MIDI made it possible for one MIDI device to send commands, or instructions, to another MIDI device.
For example: if you had a keyboard equipped with a MIDI interface, you could connect it to another MIDI equipped device, say a MIDI Tone Module. Then you’d be able to use the keys on the keyboard to play the sounds in the MIDI Tone Module.
There are a specified set of commands that can be sent and received via MIDI. There are basic MIDI Note Events such as:
- Velocity (how hard the note is played)
- Note Number (what pitch is being played)
- Note On (when the note is hit)
- Note Off (when the note is released)
- Pitch Bend (if you’re using the pitch bend wheel/knob)
There are also commands for adjusting the following parameters via MIDI:
- Volume
- Panning
- Selecting Sounds
- Adjusting a synth filter
- Sustain Pedal On/Off
The more you get into it, the more you’ll realize that MIDI is one of the most important musical inventions ever.
MIDI has completely changed the way we make music. If you want to dig deeper there are some great books written on MIDI and they’re worth reading.
Tutorial
What You Need Before Starting
- Installed MIDI Interface, or Pro Tools interface with MIDI
- Two MIDI Cables
- One External “MIDI Device”, like a synth or sampler
- Audio Cables to connect your MIDI device to your Pro Tools interface
- Basic familiarity with your MIDI device
Step 1: Cable Connections
There are MIDI and audio connections you’ll need to make.
- MIDI Out of your MIDI Device to the MIDI IN of your Pro Tools Interface.
- MIDI Out of your Pro Tools Interface to the MIDI IN of your MIDI Device.
- Connect the LEFT & RIGHT AUDIO OUPUTS of your MIDI sound source to the LINE INPUTS of your Pro Tools audio interface.
If you are using an interface (like the 003, 002,), make sure you’re aware of which line inputs you’re using. You’ll need to know this later in the tutorial.
Step 2: Launch Pro Tools
If you haven’t already, launch your Pro Tools application.
Step 3: Create a New Pro Tools session
In Pro Tools 8, in the session QuickStart screen, select Create a Blank Session and press OK. If you’re using Pro Tools 7, create a New Session.
Step 4: Track Menu
Go to the Track menu → Select “New…”
Step 5: Creating New Tracks
In the New Tracks dialog window, create the following tracks:
- 1 x MIDI Track
- 1 x Stereo Aux Input
- 1 x Stereo Master Fader
Step 6: Viewing the Mix window
Go to the Window menu → Select Mix.
Step 7: New Tracks Look Like This
In your Mix window you should see your three newly created tracks. They should look something like this.
Step 8: Aux Input I/O
Notice the Aux Input Tracks I/O Settings. By default, it’s set to no input.
Step 9
Click on the Input tab of the Aux track. (The input tab is the one that says no input).
Hover your mouse over the word interface to reveal a menu of available interface inputs.
Select whichever Inputs on your Pro Tools interface that you connected to the audio outputs of your MIDI sound source.
Step 10
It’s a good idea to keep things organized when it comes to Pro Tools Inputs and Outputs.
Right-Click on the Aux Track input tab. (The one you just set in step 8). When you do, you’ll get a little context menu.
Select Rename1
If you need more help with Right-Clicking, watch this video
If you’re using an Apple Mighty Mouse and are not sure how to enable it’s right-clicking feature, this post will show you how.
Step 11
In the Rename pop-up dialog, enter something that will make it easy for you to identify this input as the one that your MIDI sound source is connected to.
Step 12
The I/O tab of your Aux track should now show the new name.
Step 13: Assigning MIDI I/O
In my set-up I’m using a Roland XP-50 as the MIDI device. Notice that my MIDI track inputs and outputs display this correctly.
Step 14
We may want to set specific MIDI input and output channels for this track. Especially if we are using a multi-timbral workstation keyboard.
Click on the MIDI track Input tab.
Select All Channels. This will allow you to send MIDI into Pro Tools from whatever channel your controller keyboard / midi device happens to be set to.
Step 15
Click on the MIDI Track Output tab to set the MIDI output channel.
Set it to Channel 1, unless you have a reason to do otherwise.
Step 16
Go to the Options Menu at the top of the Pro Tools screen and select MIDI Thru. If it is already checked, there is no need to select it.
Step 17
Click on the Record enable button on the MIDI track to get it ready to record some MIDI. (Get ready to play something, too!).
Step 18
For the next few steps we’re going to work in the Edit window.
Use the Command+= keyboard shortcut to toggle windows.
Or, go to the Window menu → Select Edit.
Step 19
Click on the Record button on the Pro Tools transport. It will start flashing red.
When you’re ready to start playing your keyboard, press the Play button on the transport.
Pro Tools start recording.
Step 20
Play in something from your keyboard and Pro Tools will record the MIDI data (not audio signal) onto the MIDI track.
Step 21
Click on the Record Enable button on the MIDI track to take it out of record mode.
You should now be able to play back your newly recorded MIDI track and hear the audio from your MIDI sound source through the Aux Track.
Try it out.
Step 22
Go to the Track menu → Select New…
Step 23
In the New Tracks dialog, create a new Stereo Audio track. Then press “Create”.
Step 24
You’re going to be sending the signal from the Aux track into the new Audio track.
You’re going to use a BUS to do this.
Click on the Output tab of the Aux track.
Hover your mouse over the word Bus to reveal a list of available Buses.
From the list of Busses → Select Bus 1-2.
Step 25
Check to make sure the I/O tab of your Aux track looks something like this.
Step 26
Once again, right-click on the Output tab of the Aux track and select rename.
Step 27
Rename Bus 1-2 “Print”
Step 28
Check to make sure the I/O tab of your Aux track looks something like this.
Step 29
Click on the Input tab of the Audio track.
Step 30
Select the Bus called “Print” from the list of available buses.
Step 31
You’ve just assigned the output of the Aux track to the Input of the Audio track.
Now, whenever you want to record the sound of your MIDI device (which is going to the Input of the Aux track), you would just change the output of the Aux track to be set to “Print”, instead of the default “Analog 1-2″.
Step 32
Click on the Record Enable button on the Audio Track to put it in Record mode.
Step 33
Press Record and Play on the transport.
Step 34
Pro Tools will now record the signal from the Aux track, in other words, from your MIDI sound source.
Step 35
There it is! The sound of your external MIDI sound source recorded as an audio track.
- The right-click-renaming is not available in versions earlier than Pro Tools 7.3 ↩
{ 100 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Cris, The tutorial you send to me is helping a lot I don’t sleep good last night almost to ring the bell. I follow the step I saw everything as you tell me. I record I saw green signal but I don’t hear the sounds. I don’t know what I have to do now can you tell me if is something with volume. Cris do you live around here? I wish I know where I will bring you to my house 427 John street in New Bedford Ma to help me for ten minutes. I hope you understand my English. Have good night.
Mateus ~ Thanks. I think I know what I left out.
In some versions of Pro Tools 7 (I think prior to 7.3 o 7.4), the fader of a New Aux Track defaults to being all the way “down”. Naturally, that means – even if you are sending signal into it from your synth, your still not going to hear any output.
Option (Mac) or Alt (WIn) + Click on the fader for the Aux track when you first create it, that will set the fader level to 0db. (Or just turn it up without using a shortcut).
Hi Chris,
This is a fantastic Tutorial for hooking up a Midi instrument. Please can you expand on it slightly as to how you would hook up TWO Midi instruments?
(Specifically, a Yamaha EX7 and a Yamaha QS300).
I’ve purchased 7 different books so far and not one of ‘em shows how to link 2 instruments.
Just discovered this website purely by chance and so glad I did!
Cracking Stuff!
Thanks in advance and very best wishes!
Geepster
Hello, it’s cool site with nice design
I’ve question. Otherwise Everything is fine when you plugged instrument which model are listed on MIDI Studio Setup. I use Yamaha PSR 3000 I had *.ins definition instrument but Pro Tools can’t use them. Whan I can do?
Thanks for help.
Adam
Hello buddy…your advice is awesome…
I have a question…
I am using a DIGI 003 LE RACK + Axiom 61(working fine as midi keyboard) + Motif 7…but the Motif is already in my MIDI Devices Setup and I cannot record as a midi keyboard…Can you help me?
Geepster ~ Thanks!
Adam ~ The instrument definitions can be helpful but they are not essential. MIDI is MIDI regardless or whether it’s being sent into Pro Tools from a Yamaha PSR, a Korg synth, a Roland drum pad, etc. As long as you are able to get MIDI into Pro Tools and recorded onto a MIDI or instrument track you’re doing good.
Paulo ~ Could you be more specific about the details?
Well done mate you should of written the manual.
Been up for weeks tryin to get some easy instructions, without everyone assuming you already know everything.
Brilliant!
My midi keyboard is a radio shack optimus md-1200. It has the 2 midi connections but no audio (rca) type outputs. Is it possible to use the headphone output with a splitter to make the 2 audio outputs? Would this work?
Ken ~ Yes that could work. If you’re able to go and buy a 1/8″ Stereo (trs) to dual mono (ts) 1/4″ connectors. You could also do it by getting this 1/8″ stereo dual RCA and adding some RCA to 1/4″ adapters to it.
Really good work on Pro tools but, im trying to record structure plugin rtas midi to audio; he records the midi fine but i cant see a way to record audio, is there a special way to make it with structure? thanx
Guy ~ No there’s nothing unique about Structure that would make the process any different from other Virtual Instruments. Just make sure that you bus the Structure track out and use the same bus to go into an audio track. Then put Pro Tools into Record mode being sure to record enable the audio track while playing back the MIDI / Structure track.
Thank you for enlightening me
This website explains things in such a clear and precise way unlike the manuals!!
Ciara
Every works just as you say! Now how do I get the nice piano MIDI sound and not the cheesy one?
Hi friends. I have M-Powered Protools 7.4 but I cant use it because its saying no Pro Tools hardware found. Any help? Thanks in advance.
This website is AWESOME! Very informative
hi,
how to add my korg pa50 in midi studio list in pro tools m-powered?
thanks
LOVE YOU MAN!!!
I took a techniques of recording course at school a couple of semesters ago but when Protools was introduced, MIDI wasn’t. I got all Geeked-up and bought the 7.4 MBox2 Factory Bundle Studio and have been struggling over making sense of poor resolution and quick curser movements on the screen and was about to give up. Most YouTube tutorials I came across only showed clearly a few pieces of the puzzle but you’ve really made it plain. I especially like the shadow and spotlight effect in how your site shows where we need to click. I’m not using Mac so things tend to look a bit different, so your simplified frames of reference are really great.
Now the last hurdle: Now that my old Yamaha DX7 II-FD is directly connected to the MBox interface, I need to know how to connect my old sequencer [Yamaha QX-5] and tone generator [Yamaha TG-33] in the loop. I figure I can create some great combinations first on the sequencer stacking from the great library of sound in the TG-33 then (if it’s the only way) bring them into Protools via analog recording (prefer MIDI though) and learn how to set the send/receive channels on each device to get the most flexibility out of them. This is THE REAL REASON I bought Protools; it was hyped up about being able to do all that! I’ve invested a lot of money here; can you help me?
Sid
Sid ~ Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated.
I know exactly what you’re trying to do with the TG33 (great module) and the QX5.
It is possible to integrate everything you have with Pro Tools, as I’m sure you know.
The best I can tell you is that I do plan to cover these MIDI topics and other in my upcoming videos.
How do i control the instr. in Pro tools with an ext. midi controler? …Lets say an MPC 3000
Great site!
I have an “Mbox 2 Mini” with no MIDI interface built in it, so i’ve just bought a “KORG nanoKEY” witch has a buil-in MIDI (In/Out). I run PT LE 7.4 on a MacBook (10.4.11). i can easily record but not hear it in playback. Can enybody help me out, please!
Thanks!
Anonymous ~ You need to connect the MIDI Out from the MPC into your Pro Tools MIDI Interface. Then assign that MIDI device to the Input of the Instrument or MIDI track you want to control in PT. Also, inside the MPC you’ll need to make sure that it is sending MIDI and that the MIDI Note Numbers that you are sending out correspond to the notes you want to trigger in a Pro Tool Instrument.
Daniel ~ What are you sending MIDI into? A Virtual Instrument? Or back to the Korg Nano? It sounds like the problem is just a matter of monitoring and not a MIDI problem. Can you be more specific?
Cheers for the tutorials, they are very helpful. I’m stuck on one thing which is really bugging me – I have midi recorded on a Midi track, have routed it to an Aux Input track which has an insert of Grand Piano to trigger the midi. Signal is all fine in both these channels. The output of the Aux Input track is going to Bus 1-2. I then have a stereo Audio track, with the input as Bus 1-2, output as Out 1-2. And finally a master fader.
My problem is that I cannot get signal from the Aux Input track to the Audio track – record enable does nothing (except when I stop the track, I get a flash of signal and piano sound). I can’t see where I’m going wrong with the routing, and I’ve tried closing Pro Tools AND restarting the computer to no avail. When I set the output of the Aux Input track to Out 1-2 I can hear (and see) signal in the master fader… but can’t hear through the Audio track. Any ideas??!! Help much appreciated!
Neems ~ It sounds like you need to switch Auto Input Monitoring (in the Track Menu) to Input Only Monitoring.
That was it! Thanks so much – I thought it’d be something simple like that as pretty sure my channels/signal routing was correct.
Off to record my midi now!
This site is great, keep up the good work I am sure I am going to need a question answered sooner or later..
Hey, just discovered this website, looks great. Is there a reason why you choose to do the old pro tools MIDI in way despite the fact you are running version 8? I think since version 7 introduced them I have used instrument tracks to do the job that once fell to the combination of midi and aux tracks. Does it eat less processing power/ is there something I am missing? Overall though, I love the site I think its probably the best one I’ve seen dedicated to pro tools.
AW ~Thanks for asking.
No, you’re not missing anything ’secret’ like CPU usage benefits or anything like that.
It comes down to personal preference.
I prefer the MIDI+Aux track method because I find keeping my signal routing and layout of controls consistent is more efficient.
I find the layout of the Instrument View creates an interruption to an otherwise consistent mixer layout.
That said: both MIDI and Instrument tracks work. I say use the one that helps you get your music done while making the technology most transparent in the process.
Hey, thanks for the tutorial.
I have a Yamaha Motif, and I can hear it through pro tools when I play live, but when I try to playback what I recorded, I hear nothing. On my Midi Track, the Input is set to “all” and the output is set to my midi controller. On the Aux track, the input is set to “In 1-2″ which is the only option available to me, and the Output is “Out 1-2″.
Any suggestions?
RJ ~ The fact that you can hear the Motif through PT when you play live means that the Audio connections are all good. But it doesn’t mean your MIDI setup is working. So here’s some quick thoughts about that:
If MIDI data is visible on the MIDI track that you’ve recorded on, then the problem must be with the MIDI output routing in Pro Tools or the MIDI Channel Input settings on the Motif.
If no MIDI data is visible on the MIDI track then the problem is with your MIDI settings altogether. In that case,
It is possible for the Motif to be transmitting MIDI while at the same time not receiving MIDI. Becoming familiar with the Motif Tx and Rx settings is essential in this setup.
Hey great tutorial. I have a question for you though. I don’t know if it was mentioned earlier or not if it was I apologize for that. I record my midi on to a midi track I go to play it back, and the sound has changed for smooth piano to stacato piano any help here would be great!!
Thanks
Mike
Mike ~ Do you mean the actual Patch Assignment within an instrument has changed and a new patch has been selected? Or do you mean the timbre of the same Piano patch is altered when you play it back?
What are you using for your Piano sound?
Is it possible you have inadvertently adjusted the velocity of the performance? Changing from a soft to a hard velocity could definitely cause a smooth sound to become more staccato.
Feel free to post more details and I’ll see if I can help.
Thank you … that sounds good. To be more specific, I have my MPC3000 hooked up to my M-Audio Project I/O Mixer ….. I want to be able to control all of the virtual instruments in REASONS at the same time using the MPC3000 … Let’s say CH 1 NNxt CH 2 Subtractor CH 3 Sampler … Etc. Basically using the virtual instruments in Reasons thru PRO TOOLS , as if they were stand alone outboard sound modules ..How do I assign the channels in REASONS? ..And what is the most efficient way to set up the tracks in PRO TOOLS in doing so? via MIDI , AUX, AUDIO tracks and so on? …Thank you .
Is there an Instrument in PRO TOOLS 7.4 , that is easy to use where I could store all of the new sounds or samples I get or create, and pull them up and use that devise as a virtual instrument. This would make the whole gig worth while for me….. Thanks.
Anonymous ~ There’s a few ways you could approach doing what you want to do, each with their pros and cons. But for now I’ll just mention the highlights.
First, you’ll need to configure AMS or Windows MIDI setup so that the MPC is recognized as Transmitting on 16 channels.
Then assign the MPC sequencer tracks, each with it’s unique MIDI Transmit channel, to the Input of a corresponding Pro Tools → Reason MIDI track.
I would suggest putting all of the MPC-triggered Reason / Pro Tools MIDI tracks into Record and I would record the MIDI data into Pro Tools.
Doing this will save you some headaches when it comes to monitoring live MIDI across multiple MIDI tracks in Pro Tools when recording audio. Not to mention eliminating the need to lock the MPC clock to Pro Tools.
About your Virtual Instrument question. Sure – there’s all kinds of samplers (Kontakt, Structure,) and sample players (Structure Free, Battery) that you can use with Pro Tools 7.4.
However, since you already have Reason (which has the NNXT, ReDRUM, and NN19) you’ve got the tools you need without buying anything else. Just take the time to learn how to save and manage your Reason Sampler files in such a way that they’re easy to find and load with each PT session and you’ll be set.
Im not sure. I can lay it out. I record midi using Akoustik piano plugin. I go back to listen to it and whenever the sustain pedal was used it cuts out. Thats what i ment by smooth piano. So i dont know if it has something to do with my pedal mid board or if there is a setting in protools that I can change. I use a M audio Keystation and a motif 88 key.
Thanks Chris
Mike
Mike ~ Could you try setting the MIDI “Local Control” inside the Motif 8 to OFF? Then enable the MIDI “THRU” in Pro Tools. Then, after you’ve done that try your recording and playback again (ideally on a new track) and let me know if that fixes the problem.
Chris im trying to set up my Axiom61 midi controller using USB and its proving to be impossible to record or simply get sound from it via protools, how does it differ in the settings from Midi in cables?
Mike ~ With the Axiom everything is different because it’s simply a controller and not a sound source. With the Axiom (connected via USB) you will be able to send MIDI data into Pro Tools and to a Virtual Instrument.
USB Controller keyboards sometimes include MIDI Output connectors (as does the Axiom 61). This is useful if you want to trigger a MIDI device that has no USB connection. But since your computer has USB, you’re better off to just connect the Axiom with a USB cable. In fact, doing it this way will be easier as Pro Tools will usually automatically detect any connected USB controllers and let you select it from the PT MIDI Input tab.
Hi there! Thanks for a very infomative site! However, I can’t find any solution for my problem. I guess it’s quite simple, but I can’t make it work.
I have an MBox 2 (the regular one with MIDI) and Pro Tools LE 8. I want to edit my midi recordings and therefore I need to record them as audio, like most of the questions on this page is about. But in my case, its all internal. I cant get any sounds from a MIDI track to work together with a new audio track. Fx If I want to use the Xpand, it all works great, until I try to get some “real” sound. I hope you can help me! Thanks!
Frederik ~ There is nothing on a MIDI track that makes sound. The sound is coming from your instrument plug-in. So, as you say, nothing will happen if you try to get sound from the MIDI track.
What you want to do is route the audio signal from the Output of the Aux Input track that has the Virtual Instrument on it to the Input of your new Audio track.
Once you have that signal path configured you should be able to play the MIDI track. It will play through it’s output which will be routed to the input of the audio track you’re recording on.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for such great work. Truly appreciated!
QUESTION: In using the Axiom 61 with the USB connection will all things hold true with this tutorial with the exception of Pro Tools identifying (input devices) as the “USB Axiom 61 In 1“ and “USB Axiom 61 In 2“?
Thanks again,
Dennis
Dennis ~ Thanks for saying thanks! In this tutorial the focus is on using an external MIDI device that has sounds.
If you use an Axiom 61 as your controller, your MIDI/Instrument track MIDI Input must be assigned to the Axiom 61. The MIDI Output must be assigned to whatever your MIDI destination is; be it an external hardware device or a plug-in.
Hello again
I still can’t make it work. I don’t know what is wrong but here is how I set it all up:
1 Aux set to input 1-2 and output 1-2
1 miditrack set to predefined 1 and xpand 2 (or 1)
1 audio in REC set to either no input or 1-2 and then out 1-2 (no input=no sound, set to 1-2 I had a lot of noise.)
None of it works and I wonder if I missed some other part? Is there anything in the Xpand I need to set up? Is there anything outside ProTools I need to set up?
Thanks again for you great help!
Frederik
Frederik ~ Remember that internal routing of Pro Tools mixer (like when sending a virtual instrument to an audio track’s input) is done using busses, not analog inputs and outputs.
You can see what I mean in Step 29 & 30 of the above tutorial.
Cheers Chris, got it….
Thank you for taking the time to write these brilliant tutorials. I would have never in a million years figured out how to print midi tracks to audio from an external synth or a vst instrument. It was one major problem I’ve had for a long time, but with these tutorials I have finally figured it out. Its very easy to do now.
This is one of the main reasons why I have recently switched to Pro Tools. Its so popular that when you encounter a problem, you will find dozens of tutorials and youtube videos on the net to help you solve these problems.
thanks Chris…
Hi again
That’s great! It works now. I can’t really tell what was wrong before, but it doesn’t matter anyway. Thanks a lot for your help and advice!
Like Gus says, this was really a shortcut for me too. Thanks again.
Hello Chris, I have mbox2 pro PT8 and a Yamaha Motif ES 6 is there an easy way to control Virtual INstruments in Pro Tools using the Motif? Would I use USB, Midi Connection or can i firewire? Thanks for the Help!
Alex
Alex ~ Yes! It’s very easy. I would just use a MIDI cable from the Motif into the MBOX 2 Pro. Then create an Instrument or MIDI track with a Virtual Instrument on it and assign the MBOX 2 Pro’s MIDI Input Port to the Input of that track.
That should do it.
Hi Chris,
Thank you very much for the time you are offering to give us from your knowledge.
My question is somehow the same as many people on this page.. but I will maybe give you more details about it.
I am using a MBox 2 Mini (without any midi ports) and a midi usb cable which connects my laptop to a Yamaha A1000 Synth.
When I use any other program (such as Cakewalk por audio) I am able to record and playback midi.. and the orang led on my midi cable shows midi activity in both directions (when I mlay on the Yamaha and when I playback from PC).
BUT, with protools (after makingevery thing all right : midi track, input set to USB midi device channel 1, output set to the same as input, midi thru checked) I can record what ever I play on the Yamaha, I can see the VU Meter in protools responding to my played notes, and I can see the recorded notes in the MIDI Edi window… HOWEVER I can not play bakck the recorded midi events! nothing is plaed on synth! no activity is shown by the orang led on the midi cable! (I have to remember you that with cakewlak I am able to do it, wich means that the problem is not with the synth nor with the cable…) and it doesn’t work even when I set the interneal control to off…
Is there any general configuration relatred to midi in protools? Do you have any idea about what can be the problem?
Tnank you in advance