What’s New in Pro Tools and

Pro Tools | Ultimate

version 2021.10
Legal Notices

© 2021 Avid Technology, Inc., (“Avid”), all rights reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid.

For a current and complete list of Avid trademarks visit: www.avid.com/legal/trademarks-and-other-notices

This product may be protected by one or more U.S. and non-U.S. patents. Details are available at www.avid.com/patents.
Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice.

Bonjour, the Bonjour logo, and the Bonjour symbol are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Confidential unpublished works. Copyright 2020 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved.
Dolby, Dolby Atmos, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.

Guide Part Number 9329-66301-00 REV A 10/21

Contents

What’s New in Pro Tools 2021.10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

New Features and Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
System Requirements and Compatibility Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Conventions Used in This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Configure Pro Tools for Komplete Kontrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Using Komplete Kontrol with Pro Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Flexible Track Routing (Pro Tools | Ultimate Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Flexible Track Output and Send Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Routing Coefficients Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Fold Down and Fan Out Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Folding Down Ambisonics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Miscellaneous New and Improved Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

New Workspace Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
High Contrast UI and Additional Customization Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Video Dropped Frames Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Pro Tools | Carbon Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Mic Preamp Control from Pro Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Optical S/PDIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

What’s New in Pro Tools 2021.9 iii

What’s New in Pro Tools 2021.10

New Features and Enhancements

Pro Tools® and Pro Tools | Ultimate™ software version 2021.10 provides the following new features and enhancements:

NI Komplete Kontrol Support

• MIDI controller profile for NI Komplete Kontrol provides enhanced control of Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol
systems

Flexible Track Routing

(Pro Tools | Ultimate Only)
• Route track outputs and sends of any channel width to paths with different channel widths
• Preferences for Routing Coefficients: Classic (fixed) and Modern (customizable)

Miscellaneous
• New Workspace Track Presets option
• High Contrast UI and additional customization options
• Dropped Frames indicator on video tracks

Pro Tools | Carbon Enhancements

• Support for optical S/PDIF
• Mic Preamp control from Pro Tools tracks

System Requirements and Compatibility Information

Avid can only assure compatibility and provide support for hardware and software it has tested and approved.

For complete system requirements and a list of qualified computers, operating systems, hard drives, and third-party devices, visit:
www.avid.com/compatibility

What’s New in Pro Tools 2021.10 1

Conventions Used in This Guide
Pro Tools documentation uses the following conventions to indicate menu choices, keyboard commands, and mouse commands:
:

Convention Action

File > Save Choose Save from the File menu

Control+N Hold down the Control key and press the N key

Control-click Hold down the Control key and click the mouse but-
ton

Right-click Click with the right mouse button

The names of Commands, Options, and Settings that appear on-screen are in a different font.

The following symbols are used to highlight important information:

User Tips are helpful hints for getting the most from your Pro Tools system.

Important Notices include information that could affect your Pro Tools project data or the performance of your
Pro Tools system.

Shortcuts show you useful keyboard or mouse shortcuts.

Cross References point to related sections in this guide and other Avid documentation.

How to Use this PDF Guide

This PDF provides the following useful features:
• The Bookmarks on the left serve as a continuously visible table of contents. Click on a subject heading to jump to that page.
• Click a + symbol to expand that heading to show subheadings. Click the – symbol to collapse a subheading.
• The Table of Contents provides active links to their pages. Select the hand cursor, allow it to hover over the heading until it turns
into a finger. Then click to locate to that subject and page.
• All cross references in blue are active links. Click to follow the reference.
• Select Find from the Edit menu to search for a subject.
• When viewing this PDF on an iPad, it is recommended that you open the file using iBooks to take advantage of active links within
the document. When viewing the PDF in Safari, touch the screen, then touch Open in “iBooks”.

What’s New in Pro Tools 2021.10 2

Resources
The Avid website (www.avid.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of Pro Tools.

Account Activation and Product Registration

Activate your product to access downloads in your Avid account (or quickly create an account if you do not have one). Register your
purchase online, download software, updates, documentation, and other resources.
www.avid.com/account

Support and Downloads

Contact Avid Customer Success (technical support), download software updates and the latest online manuals, browse the Compatibil-
ity documents for system requirements, search the online Knowledge Base or join the worldwide Avid user community on the User
Conference.
www.avid.com/support

Training and Education

Study on your own using courses available online, find out how you can learn in a classroom setting at an Avid-certified training center,
or view video tutorials and webinars.
www.avid.com/education

Video Tutorials
The Get Started Fast with Pro Tools series of online videos provide tutorials to help if you are new to Pro Tools. They also provide vid-
eos for the experienced user that introduce new features found in the latest versions of Pro Tools.
www.avidblogs.com/get-started-fast-with-pro-tools/

View Pro Tools Tech Tips on YouTube for the latest tips and tricks with Pro Tools.

Products and Developers

Learn about Avid products, download demo software, or learn about our Development Partners and their plug-ins, applications, and
hardware.
www.avid.com/products

What’s New in Pro Tools 2021.10 3

Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol

Pro Tools provides a MIDI controller profile for Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol. This lets you control the transport and
mixer from any supported Native Instruments MIDI keyboard controller (such as S, M, or A–series Komplete Kontrol keyboards).

For detailed information on Komplete Kontrol keyboards and software, consult the documentation from Native Instruments.

Note that Komplete Kontrol and EUCON controllers (such as S1 or Avid Control) can be used with Pro Tools simultaneously.

Configure Pro Tools for Komplete Kontrol

To configure Pro Tools for use with Complete Control:
1 Connect your Komplete Kontrol keyboard, and install and configure Komplete Kontrol software according to the documentation
provided by Native Instruments.
2 Launch Pro Tools software.
3 Choose Setup > Peripherals, and click the MIDI Controllers tab.
4 Select Komplete Kontrol from the Type selector. Receive From and Send To should be automatically set to Komplete Kontrol
DAW-1 for S-series, Komplete Kontrol M DAW-1 for M-series, or Komplete Kontrol A DAW-1 for A-series keyboards.

If Receive From and Send To are not set to Komplete Kontrol DAW automatically, or if the Komplete Kontrol DAW option is
not available, quit Pro Tools and ensure that Komplete Kontrol software is correctly installed and configured.

Komplete Kontrol MIDI profile selected in the MIDI Controllers page of the Peripherals dialog

5 Click OK.

Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol 4

Using Komplete Kontrol with Pro Tools
Once you have setup Pro Tools for use with Komplete Kontrol, you can use your Komplete Kontrol keyboard for basic control of
the Pro Tools transport and mixer, and plug-ins.

Transport Mode
The Transport controls on your Komplete Control keyboard let you control the Pro Tools transport.

NI Komplete Kontrol Transport controls

If you are coming to Pro Tools from another DAW, you may find that NI Komplete Kontrol works best with Pro Tools in Dynamic
Transport mode.

Play Button

Press the Play button to start playback in Pro Tools. Playback starts from the Playback location (time displayed in the Main counter
and indicated on the Timeline by the Playback Cursor or Play Start Marker). If you press the Play button during playback, playback
restarts from the Playback location.

Record Button

Press the Record button to record-arm (or disarm) the transport.

Stop Button

Press the Stop button to stop playback or recording.

Loop Button

Press the Loop button to enable (or disable) Loop Playback mode.

Metro Button

Press the Metro button to enable (or disable) the Metronome if you have a Click track in your session.

Tempo Button

The Tempo button is not used with Pro Tools at this time.

Enable/Disable Count Off

Press the Shift and Record buttons together to enable or disable Count Off in Pro Tools.

Edit Controls
Undo and Redo

Press the Undo button to undo the last undoable operation. To redo the last undone operation, press the Shift and Undo buttons to-
gether.

NI Komplete Kontrol Shift and Undo buttons

Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol 5

Navigation
Track Selection with 4D Encoder

Move the 4D encoder left or up to select the previous track, and right or down to select the next track.

When selected, MIDI and Instrument tracks are automatically record-enabled. When moving the selection to another track, the pre-
viously selected MIDI or Instrument track is record disabled.

Audio tracks are not automatically record-enabled when selected using Komplete Kontrol.

Moving the 4D encoder to select the previous or next track

Move Playback Location with 4D Encoder

Rotating the 4D encoder to move the Playback location

Rotate the 4D encoder counter clockwise to move the Playback location to the left (earlier) on the Timeline, or clockwise to move
the Playback location to the right (later) on the Timeline incrementally by the current Pro Tools Nudge value.

In Dynamic Transport mode, you can move the Play Start Marker without affecting the Timeline Selection (if there is one). How-
ever if Dynamic Transport mode is disabled, any Timeline Selection is lost when moving the Playback location.

Move Timeline Selection with 4D Encoder

Pressing the Loop button and rotating the 4D encoder to move the Timeline Selection

Press and hold the Loop button while rotating the 4D encoder to move the Timeline Selection (if there is one) incrementally by the
current Pro Tools Nudge value. Rotate counterclockwise to move the selection to the left (earlier) on the Timeline, or clockwise to
move the selection to the right (later) on the Timeline. If the Link Timeline and Edit Selection option is disabled, only the Timeline
Selection moves and the Edit Selection (if there is one) is unaffected. If the Link Timeline and Edit Selection option is enabled,
the Edit Selection moves with the Timeline Selection. Note that when moving the Timeline and Edit Selection together, any clips
or other track data in the selection are unaffected and do not move with the selection.

Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol 6

Mixer Mode
Mixer mode lets you control a bank of 8 tracks with knobs 1–8 and buttons 1–8. The selected bank of tracks are shown in the display
on your Komplete Kontrol keyboard.

To enter Mixer mode:

 Press the Mixer button.

The button illuminates and the first bank of 8 tracks in the session are shown in the display.

NI Komplete Kontrol Mixer button

Select Previous or Next Bank

To select the previous or next bank of tracks:

 If it is lit, press the Previous Bank button or the Next Bank button. If the button is not lit, there are no available tracks to bank to.

NI Komplete Kontrol Previous and Next Bank buttons

Select Track Buttons

In Mixer mode, press any button above the display to select the corresponding track. Only one track at a time can be selected with
Komplete Kontrol. You can also use the 4D Encoder to select the previous or next track. When selected, MIDI and Instrument
tracks are automatically record-enabled. When moving the selection to another track, the previously selected MIDI or Instrument
track is record disabled.

Track Volume Control

Use knobs 1–8 to control the volume of corresponding tracks. To set the knobs to control track volume, press and hold the Shift but-
ton and move the 4D encoder down. You can also turn the 4D encoder to adjust the volume of the selected track.

Setting knobs 1–8 to control track volume

Track Pan Control

Use knobs 1–8 to control the panning of corresponding tracks. To set the knobs to control track panning, press and hold the Shift
button and move the 4D encoder up. You can also turn the 4D encoder to adjust the pan of the selected track.

Setting knobs 1–8 to control track pan

Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol 7

Mute and Solo Tracks

Mute and Solo buttons, S-series shown left, A and M–series shown right

To mute (or unmute) a track:

1 Do one of the following:
• On S-series, press and hold the Mute button.
• On A and M–series, press and hold Shift and the Mute button.
2 Press the button (1–8) corresponding to the track you want to mute (or unmute).
3 Release the Mute button.

To solo (or unsolo) a track:

1 Do one of the following:
• On S-series, press and hold the Solo button.
• On A and M–series, press and hold Shift and the Solo button.
2 Press the button (1–8) corresponding to the track you want to solo (or unsolo).
3 Release the Solo button.

Plug-In Mode
In Plug-In mode, you can control an instance of the Komplete Kontrol plug-in on an Instrument track.

To enter Plug-In mode:

1 Insert the Komplete Kontrol plug-in on an Instrument track.
2 Select that track. (It is record enabled automatically.)
3 Press the Plug-In button.

The Komplete Kontrol display updates to show information for that instance of the Komplete Kontrol Plug-in, knobs 1–8 and but-
tons 1–8 are mapped to control the plug-in, and the multi-color light guides above the keyboard become active.

To exit Plug-In mode, enable a different mode (such as Mixer mode) or select a different track.

MIDI Mode
In MIDI mode, you can send MIDI CC using the eight knobs and buttons to the selected MIDI or Instrument track. This can be used
to control plug-ins or external MIDI devices that can receive MIDI CC data.

To enter MIDI mode:

1 Select a MIDI or Instrument track (it is record enabled automatically).
2 Do one of the following:
• For an Instrument track, insert a plug-in that can receive MIDI CC data.
• For a MIDI or Instrument track, ensure that its MIDI output is assigned to an external MIDI device.
3 Press the MIDI button.

The Komplete Kontrol display shows MIDI CC information for the eight knobs and buttons, which will send MIDI CC data.

To exit MIDI mode, enable a different mode (such as Mixer mode).

Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol 8

Maschine Control
If you have Native Instruments Maschine inserted on a track as a plug-in, Komplete Kontrol can be used to control it.

To switch control from Pro Tools to Maschine:

 Press the Instance button, then on the Komplete Kontrol display select the Maschine instance that you want to control.

To switch control from Maschine to Pro Tools:

 Press the MIDI button.

Pro Tools with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol 9

Flexible Track Routing
(Pro Tools | Ultimate Only)

Flexible Track Output and Send Assignments

Pro Tools now lets you route track outputs and sends to paths of any channel width. When routing a track output or send with a
wider channel width to a path with a narrower channel width (such as from 5.1 to stereo), Pro Tools automatically downmixes
(“folds down”) to the narrower path. Similarly, when routing a track output or send with a narrower channel width to a path with
a wider channel width (such as from 5.1 to 7.1), Pro Tools automatically upmixes (“fans out”) to the wider path. Since Pro Tools
can automatically fan out when routing to wider channel widths, you may not need to use subpaths with large multichannel sur-
round post sessions. Pro Tools uses a built-in set of coefficients that determine what happens to the audio signal level and channel
mapping when routing between different channel widths. Some of these coefficients can be customized in the Mixing Preferences
(see Routing Coefficients Preferences).

Track inputs, object assignments, and hardware inserts still require matching channel widths.

Whenever you make a routing assignment to a path of a different channel width, Pro Tools presents a warning informing you that
the output or send will be fanned or folded, and that the routing assignment will be removed if the session is opened in Pro Tools
2021.7 or earlier. You can choose not to show this warning again.

When opening a session that was created in Pro Tools 2021.10 that uses the Modern Fold Down coefficients in an earlier version
of Pro Tools, a warning dialog appears informing you that the session was saved in a newer version of Pro Tools and may contain
critical data ignored by the currently installed version. Any unsupported routing assignments in the session will be dropped.

Routing Coefficients Preferences

The Routing Coefficients settings are used for all fold down and fan out routing in the session. These settings affect what happens
in the following circumstances:
• Internal routing within the session of an output or send to a bus with a different channel width.
• Mapping a bus to an output with a different channel width.
• Signal sent to the Audition path.
• Signal sent to the AFL/PFL path.

To view and edit the Routing Coefficients settings:

1 Choose Setup > Preferences.

2 Click the Mixing tab.

Routing Coefficients preferences

Flexible Track Routing (Pro Tools | Ultimate Only) 10

New Session Defaults and Current Session Settings

The New Session Defaults settings for Routing Coefficients are only saved with new sessions and new session templates. Sessions
created from existing templates retain the settings used to create the template. Changing the New Session Defaults settings does
not affect the currently open session.

The Current Session Settings show the Routing Coefficients settings saved with the session. Changing the Current Session Set-
tings affects the currently open session and are saved with it.

Fold Down

Classic Uses fixed coefficients based on versions of Pro Tools prior to 2021.10. These coefficients cannot be edited. All sessions
created in versions of Pro Tools prior to 2021.10 default to using the Classic coefficients.
Modern Uses an updated set of coefficients. You can also adjust certain fold down and fan out coefficients to suit your needs.

5.x to 7.x

Select one of the following options to determine what happens to the left and right surround channels of 5.x or Quad signal when
routing to a 7.x path (including 7.1.2).
• Ls/Rs Direct to Lss/Rss — Ls/Rs are sent to Lss/Rss at unity. No signal is sent to Lsr/Rsr.
• Ls/Rs Direct to Lsr/Rsr — Ls/Rs are sent to Lsr/Rsr at unity. No signal is sent to Lss/Rss. This is the default setting.
• Ls/Rs Split to Lss/Rss and Lsr/Rsr — Ls/Rs are sent to both Lss/Rss and Lsr/Rsr at –3 dB.

7.x to 5.x

Select one of the following options to determine what happens to the left and right side surround channels of a 7.x (including 7.1.2)
signal, when routing to a 5.x or Quad path:
• Lss/Rss Downmixed to Ls/Rs — Lss/Rss and Lsr/Rsr are both sent to Ls/Rs at –3 dB. This is the default setting.
• Lss/Rss Split to L/R and Ls/Rs — Lss/Rss is sent to both L/R and Ls/Rs at –3 dB. Lsr/Rsr is sent to Ls/Rs at unity.

Surround to Stereo

Enter the desired gain reduction value for down mixing surround channels to stereo. This also controls the downmix level for height
channels formats such as 7.1.2.

Include LFE When Folding Down

Enable this option to include the LFE channel when folding down. Enter the desired gain reduction value for the LFE signal.

Fold Down and Fan Out Indicators

When a track or send is folded down or fanned out by routing within the session, < (indicating fan out) or > (indicating fold down)
is displayed to the left of the assignment name. If it is folded or fanned at the bus to output level, the indicator appears on the right
side. Indicators are displayed on both sides if both internal routing and output routing assignments are made.

Track output fold down indicator (internal bus)

Flexible Track Routing (Pro Tools | Ultimate Only) 11

Folding Down Ambisonics
You can route ambisonics formats to other formats for monitoring, but not for conversion between formats. When routing between
Ambisonics and other formats, the following conditions apply:
• Ambisonics routed to a channel-based format are summed to mono at –3 dB.
• Channel-based formats routed to ambisonics are summed to channel 0 at –3 dB.
• Ambisonics of a lower order routed to a higher order map to the first channels only.
• Ambisonics of higher order routed to a lower order map the first channels to what is available in the lower order format, but
drop any channels above that.

Flexible Track Routing (Pro Tools | Ultimate Only) 12

Miscellaneous New and Improved Features

New Workspace Options

Pro Tools provides three options when you open a new Workspace browser: Default, Soundbase, or Track Presets. This lets you
focus the new Workspace browser on your immediate needs.

To open a new Workspace browser:

 Choose Window > New Workspace > and one of the following:
• Default

Press Option+I (Mac) or Alt+I (Windows).

• Soundbase

Press Option+Control+I (Mac) or Alt+Start+I (Windows).

• Track Presets

New Workspace browser: Track Presets

Miscellaneous New and Improved Features 13

High Contrast UI and Additional Customization Options
Pro Tools provides the High Contrast UI and additional customization options in the General section of the Color Palette window.
This can improve visibility of the user interface when working in low light conditions, as well as provide greater accessibility if you
have low vision or color blindness. When this option is enabled, the user interface changes to set text and other UI elements in high
contrast to their background. Additional settings let you fine tune the UI to best suit your needs.

Color Palette window, Dark UI Theme: High Contrast UI disabled (left) and enabled (right)

Color Palette window, Classic UI Theme: High Contrast UI disabled (left) and enabled (right)

In addition to Text Brightness and Background Brightness settings, the General section now includes settings for fine tuning
High Contrast UI: Text/Line Color, Text Saturation, Background Color, Background Saturation, and Toolbar Brightness.
Miscellaneous New and Improved Features 14
Additionally, inactive tracks, paths, and inserts are marked with an X. Bypassed plug-ins and sends are marked with a –. These
treatments make it much easier to recognize different states for sends, plug-ins, input and output paths, and tracks.

Bypassed insert and send

Inactive insert and send

Inactive track

Inactive output path

Inactive tracks, paths, and inserts marked with an X and bypassed inserts and sends marked with a –

Video Dropped Frames Indicator

Pro Tools provides an indicator on video tracks to warn you of dropped frames during playback. The Dropped Frames indicator
lights red to indicate dropped frames during playback. If you encounter a warning about dropped frames during playback, a tooltip
for the indicator provides an issue report when you stop playback.

Dropped Frames indicator lights red – Previous playback report in tooltip

Dropped Frames indicator states

Indicator Playback Status Issue

Not lit Stopped No dropped frames or indicator reset

Not lit Playing back No dropped frames detected

Red Playing back Dropped frames detected

Red Stopped Dropped frames detected during the last playback pass; Issues reported in tooltip

If at least 2 dropped frames are detected within a few seconds of each other during playback, the Dropped Frames indicator lights
red. If no additional dropped frames are detected after another few seconds of playback, it dims. It lights red again if additional
dropped frames are detected. If dropped frames were detected at any point during playback, the indicator lights red when playback
is stopped.

To clear the Dropped Frames indicator during or after playback, click it. It clears automatically when you resume playback.

Press Option+C (Mac) or Alt+C (Windows) to clear all clip indicators and also the Dropped Frames indicator.

Miscellaneous New and Improved Features 15

Move the mouse cursor over the indicator to show a tooltip that reports the following information after playback is stopped:
• Playback Duration: <Time in Hr Min Sec>
• Dropped Frames: <sum of skipped, pipeline dropped frames>
• Disk Read Times: <in ms>
• Possible Reason(s) for Dropped Frames

Possible reasons for dropped frames can include:

Disk Too Slow

“Disk may be too slow” is reported if the hard drive could not keep up with the video media during playback. Possible solutions
include:
• Use a faster drive that can handle the bandwidth of the media.
• Use a local drive if the media resides on network storage.
• Use Bounce Mix to create a lower bandwidth MOV file to use in the session.
• Split audio and video media onto separate drives to remove bandwidth contention.

Audio and Video Engines Do Not Have a Common Clock

“Audio and video engines do not have a common clock” is reported if video hardware is connected, but there is no common clock
between the audio and video interfaces. The video engine will drop or duplicate frames to stay in sync with the audio engine. In
some cases this is unavoidable because the hardware does not support video reference. For the best possible synchronization, and
to avoid dropped frames when using video hardware, it is recommended that you apply common video reference to the video hard-
ware using Pro Tools | Sync X or SYNC HD with Pro Tools | Ultimate software.

Codecs Not Optimized

“File may be encoded in a way that is not optimized for use with the Avid Video Engine” is reported if some files are encoded in
a way that is not optimal for playback in Pro Tools. For a list of qualified codecs, visit the Avid Knowledge Base for the article on
Avid-Qualified Video Rates, Rasters, and Codecs for Pro Tools.

CPU/GPU

“CPU/GPU may be underpowered” may be reported if other potential problems are ruled out. Note that playback of certain files
may require a high amount of CPU processing. In particular, long GOP media, such as H.265 and H.264, can be CPU intensive.
You can use Bounce Mix to transcode these types of media to lower bandwidth intra-frame media, such as DNxHD LB or Apple
ProRes Proxy.

The GPU is primarily utilized when resizing the video window to anything other than Actual Size. You can try setting the video
window to Actual Size or turn off the Enable GPU option in the Pro Tools Operation Preferences (Setup > Preferences > Op-
eration). It is less common to see GPU issues on Avid supported configurations, so this should be considered a last resort when
troubleshooting the reasons for dropped frames during playback.

Miscellaneous New and Improved Features 16

Pro Tools | Carbon Enhancements

The following new features are provided in Pro Tools 2021.10 with Pro Tools | Carbon.

Mic Preamp Control from Pro Tools

Pro Tools lets you control Carbon mic preamps from mono and stereo tracks in Pro Tools sessions using Mic Preamps view. Mic
Preamps control for Pro Tools | Carbon is not available with greater-than-stereo tracks (such as LCR or 5.1).

Mic preamp control is compatible with EUCON control surfaces.

Unlike with Pro Tools | PRE, there is no need to configure Mic Preamps settings in the Peripherals dialog or in the I/O Setup
for Pro Tools | Carbon. Pro Tools automatically recognizes Carbon preamps, so you only need to show Mic Preamps view in
either the Mix or Edit windows to control Carbon preamps from Pro Tools.

To show (or hide) Mic Preamps view in the Mix window, do one of the following:

 Select (or deselect) View > Mix Window Views > Mic Preamps.
 Click the Mix Window View selector, and select (or deselect) Mic Preamps.

Mic Preamps view, Mix window

To show (or hide) Mic Preamps view in the Edit window, do one of the following:

 Select (or deselect) View > Edit Window Views > Mic Preamps.
 Click the Edit Window View selector, and select (or deselect) Mic Preamps.

Mic Preamps view, Edit window

Pro Tools | Carbon Enhancements 17

Mic Preamp Controls
Mic Preamps view provides the same set of controls in both the Mix and Edit windows.

Header and Channel indicator

Input Type selector Preamp Window button
Stereo Link button
Variable Z selector Polarity button
Gain control 48V selector

Mic Preamp view controls

Mic Preamp settings are saved with the session file.

To retain the current Mic Pre settings for Pro Tools | Carbon when switching between different sessions, enable the Retain
Mic Pre Settings option in the Hardware Setup (Setup > Hardware).

Carbon preamp control is compatible with Avid PRE. Any Avid PRE assignments to analog inputs 1–8 override Carbon preamp
control on that channel. For example, if you map Avid PRE channels to analog inputs 1–4 then Avid PRE control appears for
tracks with those inputs, and Carbon preamp controls appear only for tracks with inputs 5–8.

Header and Channel Indicator (Mix Window Only)

This indicates which MIC PRE channel on Pro Tools | Carbon is being controlled. This corresponds to the selected input channel
for the track.

Input Type Selector

Select an available Input Type for the preamp on that channel: Mic, Line, or Inst. Note that if there is no instrument cable plugged
into the physical input channel, the Inst option is unavailable.

Preamp Window Button

Indicates the currently selected Input Type (Mic, Line, or Inst). Click to open a floating Mic Preamp window for the channel.

Mic Preamp windows: Mic, Inst, and Line (left to right)

Click the red Target button in the upper right corner of the window to toggle focus on or off. When unfocused, additional Pre-
amp windows can be opened.

Pro Tools | Carbon Enhancements 18

Stereo Link Button

Indicates the current link state for pairs of channels. Click to link or unlink the corresponding stereo pair of channels (1–2, 3–4,
5–6, 7–8). For stereo tracks, each channel can be independently controlled when unlinked.

Preamp controls for a stereo track can be linked or unlinked. When unlinked, a Link button and Channel button appear. Click the
Channel button (such as 1 or 2) to toggle control between odd and even channels. Click the Link button to link channels and display
the Stereo Link button (for example, Link 1–2). The even channel inherits the settings from the odd channel when linked. Click the
Stereo Link button again to disable stereo link and show the Link and Channel buttons.

Variable Z Button

Indicates the current impedance setting. Click to select from the available impedance options for the selected Input Type.

Polarity Button

Indicates the current polarity setting. Click the button to toggle polarity.

Gain Indicator and Mini Fader

The Gain indicator features a mini fader to adjust gain to the input signal. The gain range for each input (Mic, Line, and Instrument)
is +3–60 dB, adjustable in 1 dB increments.

Bypass Line Input Gain

When input type is set to Line, you can right-click on the Gain indicator and select (or deselect) Bypass Line Input Gain. When
bypassed, the gain value text is dimly lit and italicized. This setting is mirrored in the Line I/O page of the Hardware Setup dialog
(Setup > Hardware).

48V Selector (Mic Only)

Click the 48Vbutton and select 48V or Off from the pop-up menu to enable or disable phantom power. The 48V button lights when
phantom power is enabled.

Optical S/PDIF
Pro Tools | Carbon now supports optical S/PDIF at 44.1/48 kHz and 88.2/96 kHz with Pro Tools 2021.10. Using the Optical I/O
page of the Hardware Setup dialog, you can set either optical output port to either ADAT or S/PDIF digital formats. The digital for-
mat for each optical input port is detected automatically and displayed here.

To set the digital format for Carbon optical output ports:

1 In Pro Tools, choose Setup > Hardware.

2 Click the Optical I/O tab.
3 Under Optical Out Format, select the desired format for Port 1 and Port 2: ADAT or S/PDIF.
4 Click OK.

Hardware Setup, Optical I/O page

Pro Tools | Carbon Enhancements 19

Optical In Format (Detected)
Pro Tools | Carbon automatically detects the digital format of the incoming signal on optical ports 1 and 2 (labeled ADAT In 1 and
2 on the back panel). The detected format is displayed for each port: ADAT, S/PDIF, or N/A.

Optical Out Format

Pro Tools | Carbon provides two pairs of optical in and out ports (labeled ADAT Out 1 and 2 on the back panel). The Optical I/O
page of the Hardware Setup lets you set the digital format of each output port to either ADAT or Optical S/PDIF. When set to
ADAT, each port provides up to 8 channels of digital audio depending on the sample rate. When set to Optical S/PDIF, each port
provides up to 2 channels of digital audio up to 96 kHz.
ADAT channel routing by port at different sample rates
Sample Rate ADAT In: Port 1 ADAT In: Port 2 ADAT Out: Port 1 ADAT Out: Port 2 Total Channels
44.1/48 kHz 1–8 1–8 1–8 1–8 16 In, 16 Out

88.2/96 kHz 1–4 1–4 1–4 1–4 8 In, 8 Out

176.4/192 kHz 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 4 In, 4 Out

Optical S/PDIF channel routing by port at different sample rates

Sample Rate ADAT In: Port 1 ADAT In: Port 2 ADAT Out: Port 1 ADAT Out: Port 2 Total Channels
44.1/48 kHz 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 4 In, 4 Out

88.2/96 kHz 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 4 In, 4 Out

The default ADAT 1 and 2 channel names in I/O Setup do not change when the S/PDIF is selected. For example, select ADAT
1–2 In/Out on Pro Tools tracks for routing Optical S/PDIF audio. However, channel names can be edited in I/O Setup to display
“Optical S/PDIF 1–2” when the S/PDIF format is selected, if desired.

Analog Monitoring with Digital Metering

With Pro Tools | Carbon, you can mirror the main stereo analog monitoring output with optical S/PDIF output for hardware me-
tering.

To configure Pro Tools | Carbon for analog monitoring with an external digital metering device:
1 In Hardware Setup (Setup > Hardware), set one of the ADAT ports to Optical S/PDIF.

Hardware Setup, Optical Out Format set to S/PDIF for both ports

2 Click OK to close the Hardware Setup.

3 Connect that ADAT port to your external metering device.

Pro Tools | Carbon Enhancements 20

4 On the Bus page of the I/O Setup (Setup > I/O > Bus), do the following:
• Hold the Control key.
• Click on the assigned monitor output (MON L-R) in the Mapping to Output column.
• Select ADAT 1: 1-2 or ADAT 2: 1-2 (depending on which ADAT port is set to S/PDIF and is connected to your metering de-
vice) to multi-assign the monitor path outputs.

Once assigned, Pro Tools audio output is routed to both pairs of outputs.

I/O Setup Bus page, setting MON L-R bus to both MON L-R and ADAT 1: 1-2 outputs

5 Click OK to close the I/O Setup.

This Pro Tools | Carbon routing configuration only works with Pro Tools software. It is not supported with other CoreAudio
applications using Pro Tools | Carbon.

Pro Tools | Carbon Enhancements 21

Technical Support (USA) Product Information
Visit the Online Support Center For company and product information,
at www.avid.com/support visit us on the web at www.avid.com