Ableton Link Support
Ableton Link is a synchronisation tool from Ableton that keeps any Link-enabled applications in time over a local network. With Pro Tools 2020.9 Ableton Link is now supported.
In case you haven’t come across Ableton Link, it synchronises musical beat, tempo, and start/stop commands across multiple applications and multiple devices. Applications across a local network can discover each other automatically even on different devices. You can set up a musical session in which each musician can perform independently and together.
Back in 2016, we wrote in an article asking whether we would welcome Ableton Link in Pro Tools:
“If Audio over IP (AoIP) can change working practices and move multitrack audio onto IP networks as quickly as it has then moving MIDI beat clock onto WiFi networks seems trivially simple but so attractive”.
We’re now going to get the opportunity to try it for ourselves in Pro Tools.
New Option For Canceling Track Record-Enables
In Pro Tools 2020.9, record enabling a track can now cancel existing record-enabled tracks regardless of track type.
In the record section of the Operation tab in the Pro Tools Preferences the “Latch Record Enable Buttons” checkbox has been replaced with “Record Enable Buttons”.
With 2020.9 the following options are available…
Latch Audio Tracks - Audio track record enables are latched. MIDI and Instrument tracks are not affected. This follows the behaviour of previous versions of Pro Tools when the “Latch Record Enable Buttons” preference is ON.
Cancel Previous on Audio Tracks - Record enabling an audio track will cancel record enables on all other audio tracks. This follows the behaviour of previous versions of Pro Tools when the “Latch Record Enable Buttons” preference is OFF.
Cancel Previous on All Tracks - Record enabling ANY track type, will cancel record enables on all other tracks regardless of track type.
Tip: Record-enable buttons can be latched at any time by holding the Shift key.
Convert SDII Files To Session File Format On Import
With Pro Tools 2020.9, on the macOS, the DAW now converts SD II files on import when using Import Audio, Import Session Data, or drag and drop from a Workspace browser or macOS Finder. When opening a session containing SDII files, the session file format will automatically be set to BWF, and all SD II files will be converted to BWF.
This has been a challenge ever since Pro Tools stopped supporting Sound Designer 2 files properly with Pro Tools 11. To help, we created an article in 2018 in which we asked How Do I Handle Old Pro Tools Sessions With Sound Designer 2 Files…
“What do you do when you are trying to open a very old Pro Tools session with Sound Designer II files that were saved on a Mac? In this free tutorial, we are going to take a look at a range of possible solutions to help you choose which one is most appropriate for your situation”.
BWF WAV BF64 Audio Import Support
Good news for Pro Tools users who have WAV files larger than 4GB. With Pro Tools 2020.9 there is now support for linking and playing of both RF64 and BW64 audio file formats.
If you haven’t come across these formats before, they are both extensions to the WAV audio file format, which address the 4 Gigabyte size limitation.
If Pro Tools creates or converts a 4GB or greater file to a WAV, the resulting file will be formatted as RF64. Note that while Pro Tools can link and playback a BW64 file, it does not acknowledge the ADM metadata in this format.
Cloud Collaboration
Avid has made two improvements to the Track Collaboration workflow…
The "Avid Link" menu now opens Avid Link functionality right inside of Pro Tools, instead of the stand-alone application.
The look of the Artist Chat window has been updated.
Pro Tools 2020.9 Bug Fixes
Accessibility
Fixed an accessibility issue where the track list show and hide status was incorrect
Showing and hiding the docked MIDI editor is now available via accessibility
Automation
Fixed an issue where coalescing automation on VCA master would crash is the group contained a folder
Cloud Collaboration
Fixed a case where asset download becomes stuck at "Starting"
Fixed a case where revision history would become lost on an offline project
Fixed a permissions issue which caused missing tracks and clips in a cloud collaboration
Fixed an issue which caused upload or download failures between collaborators
Fixed an issue where the Artist Chat window could not be switched from Messages to Pro Tools Projects
Fixed an issue that prevented the uploading of changes on a re-shared track
Import Session Data will now respect the "New Tracks Are Shared" preference
The deletion of automation breakpoints will now cause the track upload light to be triggered, so that changes may be uploaded
Removed the “Auto” buttons from the Collaboration Cluster to improve upload/download stability
Commit / Freeze
Commit up to this insert' with a mono to stereo plug-in will no longer result in a plug-in deletion
Control Surfaces
Improved EUCON surface responsiveness when changing the state of the transport
Fixed a crash that may occur when using the "Scroll to Track" command on Icon surfaces
Fixed an occasional crash that could occur when enabling/disabling EUCON in Peripherals > Ethernet Controllers
Avid Control now updates the folder icon when opening and closing an empty Pro Tools track folder
Routing and mix controls are now appropriately hidden when attentioning a Basic Folder track on the Avid S3
EUCON surfaces will now update when converting an Aux track to a Routing Folder
Track colour is now updated on the Avid S1 when converting an Aux track to a Routing Folder track
MIDI volume is now properly reflected for attentioned instrument tracks on the Avid S1
Crashes and Errors
Fixed multiple cases where a crash may occur if a VCA is assigned to a group that is exclusively an Edit Group. VCA's are no longer allowed to be assigned to an Edit Group unless it is also a Mix Group. Existing exclusive Edit Group assignments will be removed, and a dialog will be posted to inform you of this change when opening a session
Fixed an error that occurred when trying to playback after loop recording with "Send Fully Overlapped Clips to Available Playlists when recording" enabled
Fixed a case where an assertion is thrown after launch and sessions will not open
Fixed a crash that occurred when quitting while launching Pro Tools
Fixed a crash that occurred when quitting while signed into the cloud
Fixed a crash that occurred when importing to a new satellite track
Fixed a crash that occurs when running on dual-core CPUs
Fixed a crash resulting from an assertion in the tracks list
Fixed a crash that resulted from clearing automation across all tracks
Fixed a folder deletion crash when maintaining the child tracks
Fixed a crash that occurred during session close after deactivating/reactivating plug-ins and tracks
Fixed a crash stemming from emoji use within tags in the workspace
Fixed a crash when adding a basic folder to a VCA group that it's already a member of
Fixed a crash when copying an Object-Selected clip, from an alternate playlist to the target playlist
Fixed a crash that resulted from dragging a MIDI and audio clip to a stereo track
Fixed a crash when pasting a mono clip onto an stereo alternate playlist
Fixed a crash resulting from changing Clip Gain on locked clips in a group
Fixed a crash encountered when cancelling task manager tasks while a project is opening
Fixed a crash when closing the session after certain VCA functions were performed
Fixed a crash on macOS Catalina when importing audio and choosing from 'Music' or 'Movie' application Finder locations
Dolby Atmos Workflows
Importing an ADM file will now map objects properly if the ADM file was created using a renderer config that had gaps between input indexes
Importing session data from another session will now properly map tracks to stereo objects
Fixed an issue that was introduced in Pro Tools 2020.3 which caused pan automation ‘stair-stepping’ in certain cases when importing an ADM file
Importing Session Data and matching tracks will no longer remove a track object assignment if the source and destination assignments differ
Editing
Pressing the 'Enter' key, in the start/end/length fields of the transport cluster, will no longer adjust the selection location, if the selection is within the current grid value
The '/' key no longer cancels the previous value entry when moving between start/end/length fields in the transport cluster
M' and '/' keys now nudge by the correct value when using drop frame rates
Using F or command + F in blank space leading to the next audio clip will no longer yield errors
Edits are no longer incorrectly applied to selected but hidden tracks, including cases that occur with object selection and/or "Link Track and Edit Selection"
Drag and drop of edit selections that include a closed folder has been restricted to prevent unpredictable results such as disappearing clips
Clips and edit selection no longer become separated when nudging over tempo changes with Layered Editing enabled
When trimming a multitrack selection in Shuffle mode, clips will now remain time aligned with each other in all cases
Fixed a case where moving crossfades in Shuffle mode with Layered Editing enabled, left gaps between the clips
Fixed a case where fades would be incorrectly altered when using the Grabber tool to move a multitrack selection
Fixed a case where dragging a fade out incorrectly truncated a clip
Fixed a case where moving a fade with Layered Editing would delete part of the automation
Fixed the ability to heal clip separation while Clip Effects window was opened
Fixed a bug where clips could go offline when rendering Clip Gain or Clip Effects on duplicated track
Cancelling a Clip Gain operation on a locked clip will now restore the previous value
Using Shift + T in the comments field will no longer incorrectly toggle 'Link Track and Edit Selection'
Elastic Audio
Fixed an issue that could result in an "End of Stream Encountered" error after undoing and then recording on a track with Elastic Audio
Folder Tracks
Fixed a cosmetic folder track overview bug when files were missing
It's now possible to create a track from the output of the 9th level nested routing folder
Fixed a bug where after track deletion during a commit, a folder track could continue to show member track
Members tracks of a routing folder no longer mute when muting a VCA that is only associated with the routing folder, and not the members
It is no longer possible cause an unsupported number of folders to be nested with importing session data
Import
Matching tracks with Import Session Data, and choosing to not import outputs, sends, or objects, will no longer remove existing assignments
Matching tracks with Import Session Data, and choosing to import outputs or sends, will now warn the user if any automation will be lost, due to an assignment removal or width change
Main outputs are no longer multed when importing session data, matching tracks, having only "Object Assignments & Toggle Settings" set, and have a different main output between source and destination sessions
Import Session Data now imports Heat's enabled state
Installer
Installing Pro Tools will no longer prompt with an analytics question. Instead, the question will be asked upon the first launch. This change is aimed to improve the experience for those who use automated silent installers.
Fixed an issue that prevented the HD Driver from being recognized if installed on a system without an internet connection
All intended plug-ins will be installed when co-installing Pro Tools with Pro Tools | First
Fixed an issue that would cause the following error on the first launch, "An error occurred installing DigiShoe Tool. Try running a build with signed components first to get it installed properly."
MIDI
MIDI notes will no longer sustain indefinitely when editing with the up/down arrow keys
Performance
Fixed a SWOD that occurred if Send Anonymous Pro Tools Usage Data to Avid preference is enabled and communication with servers failed
Zooming on high track and clip count sessions have been optimised to be about seven times faster
Fixed a -7104 error and crash that may occur when activating or duplicating tracks on an HDX system
Fixed a performance issue resulting in multiple SWODs while working
Playlists
Partial selections can now be promoted to the target playlist
Duplicating playlists in playlist view will no longer cause the resulting playlist to be inactive
Fixed a crash when previewing AudioSuite while changing the tempo
A multi-mono plug-in's channel selector setting is once again retained after closing the plug-in
Recording
Fixed a case where noise artefacts could appear at the end of a record pass
After punching out of record, the audio output is no longer muted during post-roll
Remote Workflows
Fixed a case where the wrong username would be seen when using the "Prevent Others from Overwriting Open Session" preference
Fixed an issue where .tmp and .ptmp files were not being created when creating a session from a template file
Routing and I/O Setup
HW Insert paths are no longer deleted when pressing the default button in IO Setup if there is an HW Insert assigned in the session
Video
Fixed a case where the imported video length is half of the intended duration
Fixed an issue where certain MP4 files would encounter errors and black video upon import or session open
Video Play Start Latency' setting is once again properly recalled when relaunching Pro Tools
Fixed several crashes when importing certain QuickTime video files
Workspace
Fixed a graphical issue in the Workspace where "Search Tags" would overlay "Sound Libraries"
Transfer/Playback/Record permissions are once again retained when remounting a volume
Improved scrolling performance in that Workspace Browser when a significant amount of data is displayed
Miscellaneous
Session Start Time is now updated when adjusting the session frame rate by multiples of the current frame rate
The transport counter can now exceed 999.59.99 when the main time scale is set to Mins:Sec
"Enable Video Engine" now has proper Traditional Chinese and Korean translations in the Playback Engine Window
Fixed an issue where VCA members were incorrectly muted if the VCA was inside a soloed Folder Track
Fixed an error that occurred when a chord was added to the Chords ruler
Fixed an issue the was preventing certain characters from being entered on German language keyboards
Fixed an issue where the “Default Automatic Naming to English” preference was not applying in some cases
https://www.avid.com/pro-tools
One thing that I do to save some space is to remove "Mac_Ox" directories from my downloads, as that I only use Windows and have no need for the "mac" side. This helps to reduce the size of the Zip/Rar file
