DigiDesign Pro Tools Reference Manual page 573

AudioSuite Plug-ins Non-real-time, file-based
processing plug-ins for Pro Tools (see the Digi-
Rack Guide).
Depending on your Pro Tools software, plug-ins
can be used as follows:
Pro Tools HD
• Both TDM and RTAS plug-ins can be used on
audio, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, and In-
strument tracks.
With Pro Tools HD, RTAS plug-ins placed
on Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, and In-
strument tracks will use additional voices
and may introduce extra latency based on
the HW Buffer Size. For more information,
see "Voice Usage and Total Latency for
RTAS Plug-ins" on page 561.
Pro Tools LE and M-Powered
• RTAS plug-ins can be used on audio, Auxiliary
Input, Master Fader, and Instrument tracks.
For tips on maximizing RTAS performance,
see the DigiRack Plug-ins Guide.
Voice Usage and Total Latency for
RTAS Plug-ins
(Pro Tools HD Only)
With Pro Tools HD, the initial insert of an RTAS
plug-in may cause additional latency, and will
take up two additional voices per channel (one
voice for input and one voice for output) in the
following conditions:
• When inserted on an Auxiliary Input or
Master Fader track
• When inserted on an Instrument track that
does not contain an instrument plug-in
• When inserted after a TDM plug-in on any
kind of track
For example, the initial insert of an RTAS plug-
in on a mono Auxiliary Input track uses two
voices (one channel with two voices), while the
initial insert of that plug-in on a stereo Auxiliary
Input track uses four voices (two channels with
two voices each).
Subsequent RTAS plug-ins on the same track do
not take up additional voices unless a TDM
plug-in is inserted between other RTAS plug-ins.
Avoid inserting TDM plug-ins between
RTAS plug-ins on any kind of track—this
causes unnecessary voice usage and may
cause additional latency.
Furthermore, one additional voice is used for
each occurrence of any of the following condi-
tions when using voices for RTAS plug-ins on a
track:
• When you use the external key side-chain
of an RTAS plug-in on that track
• When you select multiple track outputs for
that track (one voice used for each output)
• When you select an AFL/PFL Path output
in the Output tab of the I/O Setup dialog
(one voice used for each channel)
When you use Pro Tools 6.9.x or lower to
open a session originally created with
Pro Tools 7.0, any RTAS plug-ins inserted
on Auxiliary Input or Master Fader tracks—
or after TDM plug-ins on any kind of
track—will become inactive.
Chapter 26: Plug-in and Hardware Inserts 561