Recording MIDI data in Pro Tools is as straightforward as audio: You simply enable the input device, select a destination in the MIDI channel strip, record enable the track and you're ready. (On a Mac, Pro Tools uses OMS to talk to your MIDI modules and interfaces; on a Windows machine, Pro Tools emulates OMS to accomplish the same goal.)

The MIDI output selector in each MIDI track lets you choose the playback MIDI instrument and channel for that track from the contents of your OMS setup file. Actually, you can select multiple outputs that will play the same MIDI data.

The transport window has been redesigned to support metronome, count-off, wait for note, merge/replace, conductor and time signature features. Tempo values can be inserted manually (there's a tap tempo option) or, if the conductor button is activated, the song will follow the value(s) inserted in the Tempo strip.

Pro Tools also supports automated punch-in and -out, as well as punch-in and -out on the fly. Using the merge/replace button in the transport window, you can also choose if punched-in MIDI data is merged with, or replaces the existing data. There are also three loop-recording modes. In the first mode, each take is stored individually in the MIDI region bin (bottom right of the Edit window), as a separate MIDI Region; this method is great for comparing alternate live takes. In the second mode, each pass is merged with the previous one (an Input Quantize option lets you fully emulate this drum machine-style of recording). In the third mode, each take replaces the previous one.

The "real-time" feel of the program has been refined -- you can switch from playback to record mode and back as you like (as long as a MIDI track is record enabled). You can also edit on the fly, tweaking just-recorded MIDI notes without stopping the program or switching to playback.

One disappointment: You can't record on more than one MIDI track at once. Let's hope this significant shortcoming is addressed very soon.

Next page: Tools and Modes