How do I generate a MIDI click track for a controller keyboard in Digidesign Pro Tools for PC/Windows?

Pro Tools LE can generate a click track by triggering a MIDI controller keyboard or sound module. To enable the click track:

1. Connect the MIDI OUT of your controller keyboard to the MIDI IN of the Digi 001 and the MIDI OUT of the Digi 001 to the MIDI IN of the controller keyboard.
2. Choose the MIDI pull-down Menu in Pro Tools LE and verify that MIDI Thru is checked.
3. Choose Click Options from the MIDI menu and select set the click to play during both playback and recording.
4. Select a note for the accented and unaccented beats via your MIDI controller or by typing in a note name with the computer keyboard.
5. Set the Output to Digi 001 and an appropriate channel number.
6. If you are using a General MIDI compatible controller or module use channel 10, as this is the channel that contains all drum and non-pitched percussion sounds.
7. Once you have configured the parameters of the Click Options window to your liking, enable the click by choosing “click” in the MIDI pull-down menu or highlighting the metronome button in the MIDI controls transport window.

If you want to route the audio from the controller keyboard through the Digi 001 monitor outputs:

1. Connect the analog outputs of your MIDI device to any available inputs of the Digi 001 (I.E. inputs 7 and 8).
2. Create a stereo auxiliary track in the Pro Tools mixer and assign the input to reflect the Digi 001 inputs you’ve connected to the keyboard (I.E. inputs 7 and 8).
3. Bring up the auxiliary fader.
4. If configured properly, your keyboard should output a click sound when play is pressed on the transport.

To record and playback a MIDI track:

1. Create a MIDI track.
2. In the Mix window, set the device selector (Top button on the MIDI channel strip) to Digi 001 channel 1. Record enable the track and hit a few notes on your keyboard controller.
3. You should see a Level on the MIDI track meter.
4. If you are not getting a level, check your MIDI cabling / keyboard settings.
5. If you want to route the audio from the keyboard through the Digi 001 monitor outputs you will need to connect the analog outputs of your keyboard to any available inputs of the Digi 001 (i.e. inputs 7 and 8).
6. Create a stereo auxiliary track in the Pro Tools mixer and assign the input to reflect the Digi 001 inputs you’ve connected to the keyboard (i.e. inputs 7 and 8).
7. Bring up the volume on the auxiliary fader. If this is configured properly, you should hear your keyboard in the headphones or powered monitors connected to your Digi 001.
8. Press Record and Play on the Transport.
9. Play a few notes on the keyboard and verify that MIDI information is being drawn on the MIDI track in the Edit window.
10. Press Stop, Rewind and Play on the Transport. Your keyboard will playback the notes you recorded.

Knowledge Base