Setting Up External Instruments in Pro Tools

In this guide, we will show you how to set up and configure external instruments in Pro Tools. Follow the instructions below to get started.

1. Configure Pro Tools MIDI settings
2. Setting up the tracks

Configure Pro Tools MIDI settings

For the most part, Pro Tools should automatically work with your connected MIDI devices without needing to configure anything. If you do not see your MIDI device in the lists mentioned below, close Pro Tools, ensure your MIDI devices are connected following the Basic Connections section in our setup guide, then reopen Pro Tools.

How to Set Up External Instruments in Your DAW

Learn more about how to set up external instruments in your DAW.

Setting up the tracks

1. Create an instrument track.
2. Set the instrument track’s audio input to your instrument’s input connected to your audio interface.
3. Set the instrument track’s audio output to the outputs you are using on your audio interface.
4. Open the Mixer window if it is not already open.
5. Click on the Mix View Windows Selector on the bottom left of the Mix window.
6. Check off Instrument in the menu that pops up.
7. Set the instrument track’s MIDI input to the controller you are using. This could be a keyboard or pad MIDI controller.
   • Ensure that the instrument tracks receive MIDI channel matches the MIDI channel on your MIDI controller.
8. Set the Instrument track’s MIDI output to your instrument.
   • Ensure that the instrument tracks send MIDI channel matches the MIDI channel on your instrument.
9. Once this is done, record arm your instrument track. You should now be able to play the instrument with your controller and will be ready to record.
10. After you record your MIDI notes, make the changes you’d like, if any. Once you are ready to commit, you can create an audio track and set the instrument track audio output to a bus.
11. Next, set the audio tracks audio input to the same bus, then record arm just the audio track and start recording right before the MIDI notes to record the audio from the instrument onto the audio track.

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