How Professionals Organise Their Screens In Pro Tools | Production Expert (2024)

The Pro Tools user interface has been around a long time and over that time has changed remarkably little. With some long term users contributing to Production Expert we thought it would be interesting to see what differences there are in how users choose to arrange and access that interface.

This article was in part inspired by the new options presented by the recent changes in Pro Tools 2024.3 which introduced the ability to detach the docked editors which were previously only available as tabs along the bottom of the edit window. This is a significant change to the Pro Tools UI. Since Pro Tools 8 there have been two MIDI editors in Pro Tools - A Docked MIDI Editor at the bottom of the Edit Window and a floating version which is a separate floating window which can be placed freely. When it was introduced, the Clip Effects Editor was placed at the top of the Edit Window sharing a space already occupied by the Universe Window. With the introduction of ARA integration of Melodyne the Clip Effects editor was relocated as a tab next to the Docked MIDI Editor and the ARA Melodyne Editor was added there too. This tabbed area for Docked Editors is where we expect future new ARA integrations to be available.

UI Changes In Pro Tools

Personally I have never used the Docked MIDI Editor, preferring the floating window. In fact I used to overlook the Docked Editor to the point of forgetting it was there at all. Likewise with Clip Effects, I used to use them frequently, but in a limited way, principally to quickly fix minor plosives with a high pass filter, but I did this using quick presets which I accessed from the 1-5 keys which I reallocated from zoom to clip effect preset use in the Pro Tools Preferences. When the current crop of AI-driven plugins arrived I moved away from using Clip Effects altogether. There are better ways to fix plosives these days!

However when ARA Melodyne was introduced I had to use it in a docked editor and, while I’m a single screen Pro Tools user, I found the fact that there wasn’t a floating Melodyne Editor inconvenient. You can use the shortcut Ctrl+Opt+8 to set the Melodyne Editor to its maximum height and Opt+8 to toggle it but it still felt restricted to me

This has been rectified in 2024.3 with the option to detach the editor, and for those of us who use multiple screens with Pro Tools a natural choice will be to use a second monitor for Melodyne in those tuning-intensive sessions. Personally I‘ve never used two screens. In our recent survey on mouse and keyboard use I found that I’m not alone. Indeed several of the team favour single screens, the most commonly cited reason, and the reason I have never used a second monitor, is the fact that two widescreen monitors side by side can force your monitor placement out too wide, for this reason use of twin monitors with one screen above the other or using small second monitors or iPads as second screens are popular alternatives to the more common side by side screens.

Pro Tools Used To Be Two Windows

One of the reasons I took to Pro Tools when I first started using it is that it has always been (more or less) a two window application. My first DAW was Cubase and in the mid 90s monitors were 14” CRT affairs running probably 800x600 resolution. Cubase seemed to open a new window for everything and with so little screen space I found it unhelpful, with windows constantly over other windows. Having the Edit and the Mix windows and Command+Equals under my fingers I found I wasn’t fighting the DAW nearly as much.

Many DAWs are basically single window affairs. Studio One for example does nearly everything in a single window but this often necessitates having docked areas which can be revealed or hidden, and tabbed contents within them, exactly like the docked editors in Pro Tools. There are lots of ways in Pro Tools to control what you see on a screen at any given time and preferences differ hugely. For example, I like the Mix Window and use it a lot. Many users mix entirely in the Edit Window.

To get a fuller picture of how many screens are used and how different users control what is on them throughout a project we thought we’d get some opinions from the team and contributors:

Conducting an informal survey of out regular contributors I asked them to comment and asked the following questions to get started:

• Do you work exclusively in the Edit window?

• Do you use screen configurations and memory locations to manage what is there?

• Do you use SoundFlow to manage the UI?

• What about dynamic changes? Do you change things up depending on where in the process you are?

• If you mix Atmos, where do you put the Renderer?

• If you work to picture what about the video window?

Mike Thornton

My default configuration for Pro Tools is working across two screens.

On the left-hand screen, I have the Edit window, with it stretched across to the right-hand screen set so that the Clip List in the Edit window on the left hand side of the right-hand screen. Most of the rest of the right-hand screen is taken up with the Mix window.

Nugen Audio VisLM sits in the bottom right-hand corner of the right-hand screen with any other plugin above, although I rarely leave any other plugins open. Instead, when I open a plugin to work on it, it goes to the top right-hand corner of the right-hand screen.

This way I can do a lot without having any overlapping windows. See above

Do you work exclusively in the Edit window?

No, unless I am working on a laptop with one screen.

Do you use screen configurations and memory locations to manage what is there?

No.

Do you use screenflow to manage the UI

No.

What about dynamic changes? Do you change things up depending on where in the process you are?

Rarely.

If you mix Atmos, where do you put the renderer?

Top right-hand corner of the right-hand screen.

If you work to picture what about the video window or equivalent?

Top right-hand corner of the right-hand screen.

I work with 2 screens, the main screen on my iMac Pro & an external display. The mix & edit windows are on the iMac screen, while I have untargeted plugins from my 2-bus (bus compressor and limiter/loudness meter), the memory location window, and the large counter on my second display. This lets me keep a close eye on on my 2-bus compression and remember which keys I need for each memory location (for the dot # dot shortcut). I’ve also begun putting the internal renderer on this second screen for Atmos mixes.

For Post projects, the second screen also gets the video window.

Do you work exclusively in the Edit window?

No. I tend to be in the edit window for initial mix setup and for editing/comping/tuning. But once I get into the mix, I like to switch to the mixing board layout and stop thinking about the tech.

Do you use screen configurations and memory locations to manage what is there

I use a lot of memory locations and during editing, I also rely a lot on the zoom presets (1-5) and the ‘E’ key. For the Zoom preset I tend to follow this setup. Preset 1 is set fit entire timeline in the window, but a little different than opt-a, as I set this with a specific amount of “white space” on the end of the timeline to avoid any window scroll. Then Presets 2-5 are for fitting each consecutive section to fill the screen/edit window. My first several memory locations all hide/show different group combinations (e.g. drums, vocals, guitars, MIDI instrument, etc.). This way I can quickly Zoom preset to a section and then use a memory location to just give me focus on what I’m working on at that moment.

Do you use SoundFlow to manage the UI?

I tried it, but found I didn’t use it enough to warrant keeping it.
What about dynamic changes? Do you change things up depending on where in the process you are?

Other than switching from edit window to mixer window, not really.
If you mix Atmos, where do you put the renderer?

On my 2nd screen.

If you work to picture what about the video window or equivalent?

On the 2nd screen.

Do you work exclusively in the Edit window?

No! Call me crazy but I mix in the MIX window. (It’s in the name!)

I work on a Slate Raven as one of my monitors so I often , though not always, am mixing on its touch screen faders

Do you use screen configurations and memory locations to manage what is there?

I use a basic screen configuration to align to the Raven but other than that not really.

I’ll often put the Edit window up on my second, more distant monitor that sits up and behind the Raven screen, when I’m mixing.

Do you useSoundFlow to manage the UI?

I use Soundflow quite a bit.

I have a StreamdeckXL that sits on my right side just beyond my mousepad.

I use it for session setup, track colours, group and subgroup assignments. To import my mixing template (with one button push). To instantiate plugins ins and to copy and paste plugin data from one track to another.

And the Scheps Offset Counter and Bounce Factory are also huge time savers.

What about dynamic changes? Do you change things up depending on where in the process you are?

If I’m recording or editing or doing AudioSuite processing or tuning etc., then I’ll have the Edit window closer to me. And I’ll switch between Edit and Mix with the keyboard command

If I’m working on one clip for a time I might keep the AudioSuite window up on the second monitor so that it’s not obscuring the editing timeline for me to select clips.

If you work to picture what about the video window or equivalent?

When I work to picture I definitely put it up on the second screen.

I always use two computer monitors and one dedicated video screen. And I’m a holdout on the now hard-to-find 16:10 WUXGA monitors. These are 16:10/1920 x 1200, instead of the usual 16:9/1920 x 1080, which gives Pro Tools more tracks and the Mix window more info. Whenever I go to another studio, I miss the height of my monitors.

Do you work exclusively in the Edit window?

No. I’ve seen a lot of my colleagues do single-window Pro Tools, but I got in the habit of putting the Edit window on my left and the Mix window on my right. And even if the Mix window is covered with plug-ins, having it there gives me a better mental confirmation of plug-ins, signal flow, delay comp, and object assignments. All that stuff gets too tiny in the Edit window.

Do you use screen configurations and memory locations to manage what is there?

I have Window Configs for everything. In fact, the right panel of softkeys on my Avid S3 is dedicated to Window Configs.

Do you use SoundFlow to manage the UI?

Yes

What about dynamic changes? Do you change things up depending on where in the process you are?

Absolutely. I have unique Window Configs for dialog editing, noise reduction, 5.1 mixing with meters, Atmos mixing, and for live re-recording.

If you mix Atmos, where do you put the renderer?

I wouldn’t call it innovative, but perhaps the most unique way that I use Window Configs is to expose apps underneath Pro Tools. I have a Window Config that exposes the Dolby Atmos Renderer on the second monitor, but puts my master stereo meters around the renderer so I can print Atmos and stereo at the same time (which I don’t recommend doing unless you’re really prepared!). See image above left.

And on the right is a view I use that goes above my S3. This cuts the Edit window in half horizontally and exposes Avid Control Desktop underneath. Seeing less Edit window forces you to listen more and look less during a re-record. I absolutely love the S3, but the thing I miss most from ICON (or S6) are the auto-match arrows on the faders. In this view I get auto-match arrows on Avid Control Desktop, so I have some confidence that I’m not totally screwing up on match-out during a re-record:

If you work to picture what about the video window or equivalent?

I’m a big fan of having a dedicated video interface (i.e. AJA, Avid, Blackmagic). The reasons for this are numerous, but regardless of whether you have a small TV above your speakers, or are in a theater with a projector, having a dedicated video-only screen makes things better.

My default configuration for Pro Tools is working across 4 screens. (One being a 60 inch tv screen). On the left-hand screen, I have the Edit window and Soundminer behind it with just enough overlap (pixels) that I can select either one to bring to front. On the middle screen I have my video window and various plug ins depending on what I'm working on? Their placement is controlled by memory locations that open everything From plugins to panning and the marker and automation windows. My right hand monitor has my email, whatsapp, focusrite control, loudness meters and reverbs. The 60 inch flat screen is the renderer.

Do you work exclusively in the Edit window?

99 percent of the time. I don't really need the mix window as 3 S1's are basically the physical representation of it.

Do you use screen configurations and memory locations to manage what is there?

Big time for everything!

Do you use SoundFlow to manage the UI?

No.

What about dynamic changes? Do you change things up depending on where in the process you are?

Always

If you mix Atmos, where do you put the renderer?

On my 60 inch tv mounted up on the wall in front above the centre speaker

If you work to picture what about the video window or equivalent?

Middle screen as stated

Paul Maunder

I’ve used a dual screen setup before. It’s definitely very useful when working with video in Pro Tools as it means I can have the video window on a screen of its own while working in the Pro Tools edit window on the other. A voiceover studio which I occasionally freelance at even has 3 computer screens plus a fourth monitor which is purely for video. There’s definitely something to be said for running video on a dedicated video monitor rather than a computer screen, especially when frame edge sync is of critical importance.

When working at home though, I can’t practically accommodate more than one screen between my studio monitors. I use a single Apple Pro Display and tend to keep the video window very small most of the time. I do find myself having to move the video window around fairly regularly as I work in the edit window though. A solution which I’d actually tried before but forgot about until Russ mentioned it to me recently is using an iPad as a second screen. Connecting it to my Mac with USB-C, it can easily be set as an extra screen. I’ve only just started using this configuration again in the last couple of weeks but it allows me to keep the edit window free while moving the video window onto the iPad. I haven’t noticed any issues with latency and lip sync, but this probably requires further testing. I don’t use the mix window all that often, but when I do it’s usually fairly briefly, so it doesn’t warrant its own screen. For final mixes on major projects I use a studio with an S6, which again mean that I don’t need to use the mix window much.