Supercharge Your Pro Tools Workflow with a Stream Deck

Are you tired of endless menu diving and repetitive mouse clicks in Pro Tools? Do you find yourself wishing for a more intuitive and efficient way to access your most used shortcuts and functions? If so, you're not alone. In today's fast-paced production environment, every second counts, and streamlining your workflow can make a world of difference.

The good news is there's a powerful tool that can revolutionize the way you interact with Pro Tools: the Elgato Stream Deck.

Think of the Stream Deck as your personalized shortcut command center. Gone are the days of fumbling through complex keyboard combinations or relying on those outdated shortcut-laden keyboard overlays (let's be honest, it's not 2007 anymore!). With a Stream Deck, your most frequently used actions are just a single button press away.

Stop Wasting Time on Repetitive Actions

How often do you find yourself navigating through the same menus to find a specific plugin or perform a common task? For many producers, this happens countless times during a session. This constant clicking and menu searching adds up to significant wasted time and breaks your creative flow.

The reality is, most of us tend to use the same core set of plugins and settings repeatedly. Why subject yourself to the same tedious motions over and over again?

Efficiency Redefined: One Action, Multiple Results

True efficiency in audio production means achieving your desired outcome with the fewest possible steps. The Stream Deck takes this concept to the next level. Imagine:

• One press to recall an entire vocal processing chain.

• One button to create a new track, arm it for recording, and enable input monitoring.

• One tap to toggle between two different mixes for quick referencing.

Even better, the Stream Deck allows for "eyes-free" operation for many tasks. By strategically placing and memorizing your button layout, you can execute actions without even looking down, keeping your focus on the creative process.

Getting Started: Stream Deck Setup and Configuration for Pro Tools

Ready to unlock the power of the Stream Deck in your Pro Tools sessions? Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Installing the Stream Deck App:

The first step is to head over to the Elgato website and download the Stream Deck application. Once downloaded, install it on your computer and connect your Stream Deck device.

2. Configuring Your Pro Tools Profile:

Open the Stream Deck app. You'll want to create a new profile specifically for Pro Tools. This ensures that the shortcuts you configure are only active when Pro Tools is the focused application, preventing any conflicts with other software. To do this, navigate through the app's settings and link your new profile to the Pro Tools application.

3. Creating Your First Simple Shortcut:

Now for the fun part: assigning Pro Tools shortcuts to your Stream Deck buttons.

• In the Stream Deck app sidebar, find the "System" category.

• Drag and drop the "Hotkey" action onto one of the virtual buttons on your Stream Deck layout. You'll see the hotkey icon appear on the corresponding button on your physical Stream Deck.

• Click on the newly created hotkey action in the app. This will allow you to assign the desired keyboard shortcut. Simply press the key combination you want to trigger (the same way you would in Pro Tools).

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What Shortcuts Should You Set Up?

The key to an effective Stream Deck setup is to identify the actions you perform most frequently that involve multiple clicks, mouse movements, or taking your hands away from your primary working position (mouse and keyboard).

For many, the fastest workflow involves minimizing the distance and number of movements between the mouse and keyboard. Positioning your Stream Deck on your non-dominant side (for right-handed users, the left) allows it to function as a natural extension of your keyboard, keeping your dominant hand primarily on the mouse.

Basic Transport Shortcut Examples:

Here are a few essential Pro Tools transport controls that are perfect for your initial Stream Deck setup:

• Stop and Play/Spacebar

• Create a New Track (Cmd+Shift+N or Ctrl+Shift+N)

• Enter Punch Mode (Numeric Keypad 6)

• Open the Markers Window (Command+5 or Ctrl+5 on Numeric Keypad)

• Turn On/Off the Click (Numeric Keypad 7)

Remember, Pro Tools allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts to virtually any action within the software (via the Shortcut menu). The possibilities for customization are truly endless!

Taking it to the Next Level with Keyboard Maestro

For those looking to unlock even more complex automations and macros, consider integrating your Stream Deck with a third-party application like Keyboard Maestro (available for macOS).

Combining Keyboard Maestro with your Stream Deck opens up a whole new realm of workflow possibilities. Imagine being able to:

• Assign tracks to specific outputs or buses with a single button press.

• Color-code tracks automatically based on their routing.

• Create custom macros that execute a sequence of Pro Tools actions.

Real-World Examples: How a Stream Deck Can Transform Your Workflow

Here are some concrete examples of how a Stream Deck can dramatically improve your Pro Tools efficiency:

• Mixing: Instantly toggle input monitoring on and off for quick A/B comparisons with your reference tracks.

• Routing: Assign tracks to your go-to effect buses without navigating through endless dropdown menus. Use a dynamic button to automatically cycle through unlabeled numbered buses, streamlining your routing process.

• Session Setup: Recall frequently used effect chains, open essential plugin folders, and load routing templates with a single touch. Color-code tracks and buses instantly according to your preferred system.

The Time and Cost Savings are Real

Think about the time you currently spend setting up a new mixing session, routing tracks, and applying your standard effects. What used to take 30 minutes or more can often be reduced to under 5 minutes with a well-configured Stream Deck and potentially Keyboard Maestro.

This efficiency not only saves you valuable time that can be better spent on the creative aspects of your work but can also translate to significant cost savings if you previously relied on assistants to handle these more tedious setup tasks.

My Go-To Stream Deck Shortcuts:

Here's a glimpse into some of the shortcuts I find indispensable on my main Pro Tools Stream Deck page:

• Frequently Used Effect Chains: Instant recall of my favorite reverb, delay, and compression settings.

• Plugin Folders: Quick access to categorized plugin collections.

• Editing Tools: Buttons for common editing functions like trimming, slipping, and nudging.

• Routing Setups: Pre-configured buttons for my standard bus and output assignments with associated color-coding.

• Dynamic Bus Assignment: A button that automatically assigns a selected track to the next available unlabeled numbered bus, cycling back to the main page after a short delay.

The beauty of the Stream Deck is its adaptability. You can constantly refine your layout and shortcuts as your workflow evolves.

What Are Your Go-To Shortcuts?

The possibilities with a Stream Deck and Pro Tools are truly limitless, especially given Pro Tools' extensive shortcut capabilities. I'm eager to hear about your experiences! What Stream Deck do you use? What shortcuts have you found to be the most time-saving? Share your insights and questions in the comments below – let's learn from each other and further optimize our Pro Tools workflows!

See you on the next one!