chapter 3

Macintosh Installation

This chapter contains information for Macintosh systems only. If you are installing Pro Tools

on a Windows computer, see Chapter 2, “Windows Installation.”

Before installing this version of Pro Tools, refer to the Read Me information included on the Pro Tools Installer CD.

Installation Overview

Installation of a Pro Tools|HD system on a Macintosh computer includes the following steps:

1 “Macintosh System Optimization” on page 29.

2 “Installing Pro Tools Hardware” on page 31.

3 “Installing Pro Tools HD Software” on page 41.

4 “Connecting Audio Interfaces” on page 37.

5 “Launching and Configuring Pro Tools” on page 43.

6 “Connecting Your Studio” on page 59.

Macintosh System

Optimization

To ensure optimum performance with

Pro Tools, configure your computer before installing Pro Tools hardware and software.

Before configuring your computer, make sure you are logged in as an Administrator for the account where you want to install Pro Tools. For details on Administrator privileges in Mac OS X, refer to your Apple OS X documentation.

Do not use the Mac OS X automatic Software Update feature, as it may upgrade your system to a version of Mac OS that has not yet been qualified for Pro Tools.

For details on qualified versions of Mac OS, refer to the latest compatibility information on the Digidesign Web site

(www.digidesign.com/compato).

Turning Off Software Update

To turn off the Software Update feature:

1 Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and click Software Update.

2 Click Update Software and deselect Check for

Updates.

Chapter 3: Macintosh Installation 29

Turning Off Energy Saver

To turn off the Energy Saver feature:

1 Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and click Energy Saver.

2 Click Sleep and do the following:

• Set the computer sleep setting to Never.

• Set the display sleep setting to Never.

• Deselect “Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible” option.

Setting Processor Performance

(Macintosh G5 Computers Only)

To set the Processor Performance:

1 Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and click Energy Saver.

2 Click Options and set Processor Performance to Highest.

Disabling Spotlight Indexing

The Mac OS X Spotlight feature indexes files and folders in the background, affecting system performance. It is recommended that you disable

Spotlight indexing before using Pro Tools.

To disable Spotlight indexing:

1 Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and click Spotlight.

2 In the Spotlight window, click Privacy.

3 To prevent indexing of a drive, drag its icon from the desktop into the list.

Disabling the Spotlight Shortcuts

The Mac OS X Spotlight feature uses the same key commands Pro Tools uses to start recording

(Command+Spacebar), and to record online

(Command+Option+Spacebar). To retain use of these key commands in Pro Tools, these shortcuts must be disabled.

To disable the Spotlight keyboard shortcut:

1 Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and click Spotlight.

2 Deselect “Spotlight menu keyboard shortcut” and “Spotlight window keyboard shortcut.”

Disabling Dashboard and Exposé

The Mac OS X Dashboard and Exposé features use function keys that are also used by Pro Tools

(F9-F12). To retain use of these keys in

Pro Tools, these features must be disabled.

To disable Dashboard and Exposé:

1 Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and click Dashboard and Exposé.

2 In the pop-up menus for each keyboard shortcut, set the shortcut to “–” to disable it.

Enabling Journaling for Audio Drives

If you plan to use an audio drive that you used with a previous version of Pro Tools for Macintosh, enable journaling.

To enable journaling:

1 Launch the Disk Utility application, located in

Applications/Utilities.

2 Select the volume in the left column of the

Disk Utility window.

3 Click Enable Journaling in the toolbar.

30 Pro Tools|HD Getting Started Guide

Hard Drive Configuration and

Maintenance

It is recommended that you start with a newly initialized audio drive.

Always back up any important data on your drive before initializing it, as initializing will erase all data on the drive.

Avoid Recording to the System Drive

Recording to your system drive is not recommended. Recording and playback on a system drive may result in lower track counts, fewer plug-ins, or disk errors.

Formatting an Audio Drive

For optimum performance, audio drives should be formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

To format an audio drive:

1 Launch the Disk Utility application, located in

Applications/Utilities.

4 Choose the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.

Do not choose the “Case-Sensitive” format option. Pro Tools will not operate properly with case-sensitive formatted drives.

5 Type a name for the new volume.

6 If you plan to connect the drive to a Mac OS 9 computer, select Install Mac OS 9 Drivers.

7 Click Erase.

The drive appears on the Desktop with the new volume name.

Installing Pro Tools Hardware

To install Pro Tools|HD hardware, you first install Pro Tools|HD cards, then for systems with more than one card, connect the cards with a

TDM FlexCable.

Installing Pro Tools|HD Cards

This section shows how to install Pro Tools|HD cards into a Macintosh computer. To install cards into an expansion chassis, see the Ex-

panded Systems Guide.

To install Pro Tools cards:

1 Turn off your computer and any peripherals.

Leave your computer’s power cable plugged in so the computer is grounded.

2 Disconnect all cables attached to the computer (such as hard drives, displays, USB and

FireWire devices) except for the power cable.

3 Open the computer case.

Disk Utility (Mac OS X)

2 Click the Erase tab.

3 Select the drive you want to initialize in the column on the left side of the window.

Chapter 3: Macintosh Installation 31

4 Remove the metal access port cover behind the slot you want to use by removing the screw and sliding the cover out from the access port.

Before handling any card, discharge static electricity from your clothes or body by touching a grounded metal surface, such as the power supply case inside your computer.

5 Install the Accel Core (for PCIe) or HD Core

(for PCI) card into the lowest-numbered slot in the computer. This will be the slot closest to the graphics card, as shown in the following examples:

Power Mac G5 (PCI Express) The PCI Expressequipped Power Mac G5 has three PCI Express

(PCIe) slots (named slots 2, 3, and 4). The PCI

Express slot numbers increase from bottom to top as you face the open computer case from the side. Install the Accel Core (for PCIe) card into

PCI slot 2.

Power Mac G5 (PCI) The PCI-equipped Power

Mac G5 has three PCI slots (named PCI slot 2, 3, and 4). Slot numbers increase from bottom to top as you face the open computer case from the side. Install the HD Core (for PCI) card into PCI slot 2.

PCI slot 4

PCI slot 3

PCI slot 2

AGP slot 1

(video card)

PCIe slot 4

PCIe slot 3

PCIe slot 2

AGP slot 1

(video card)

Figure 3. Power Mac G5 (PCI Express equipped)

Figure 4. Power Mac G5 (PCI equipped)

Power Macintosh “Mirrored Door” G4 The Power

Macintosh “Mirrored Door” G4 has reflective drive bay doors and four holes across the front.

Its PCI slot numbers increase from left to right as you face the open computer case from the front.

Note that the PCI slot numbering in the newer

“Mirrored Door” G4 computer runs in the opposite direction of previous G4 models.

Be very careful when opening or closing the case of a “Mirrored Door” G4 computer.

Any PCI cards installed in the higher-numbered slots may be damaged if they touch the top of the computer case.

32 Pro Tools|HD Getting Started Guide

AGP slot 1 (video card)

PCI slot 2

PCI slot 3

PCI slot 4

PCI slot 5

PCI slot 4

PCI slot 3

PCI slot 2

PCI slot 1 (video card)

Power Macintosh “Mirrored Door” Dual Processor G4

Power Macintosh “QuickSilver” G4 The Power

Macintosh “QuickSilver” and earlier G4 models have a single speaker grille or hole on the front.

Their PCI slot numbers increase from right to left as you face the open computer case from the front.

PCI slot 4

PCI slot 3

PCI slot 2

AGP slot 1 (video card)

Power Macintosh Single Processor G4

6 If you are installing additional Pro Tools|HD cards, skip to the next step. If you have no additional cards to install, do the following:

• Secure the card in place with the screw you removed earlier.

• Close the computer case.

• Skip to “Connecting Audio Interfaces” on page 37.

7 Install the first expansion card (if any) in the second slot (slot 3).

8 Install any remaining expansion cards in the remaining consecutive slots.

9 If you are installing a SCSI host bus adapter

(HBA) card, install it in the highest-numbered remaining slot.

Power Macintosh “QuickSilver” Dual Processor G4

Chapter 3: Macintosh Installation 33

10 Check to be sure that your cards are installed in the proper order for your system, starting with the lowest numeric slot:

Pro Tools|HD (for PCIe) Systems

• Display card for your computer monitor

• Accel Core (for PCIe) card

• HD Accel (for PCIe) cards

• Digidesign-approved video capture card

• SCSI host bus adapter (HBA) card

Pro Tools|HD (for PCI) Systems

• Display card for your computer monitor

• HD Core (for PCI) card

• HD Accel (for PCI) cards

• HD Process (for PCI) cards

• Digidesign-approved video capture card

• SCSI host bus adapter (HBA) card

11 Secure each card in place with the slot access port screws you removed earlier.

Connecting Pro Tools|HD Cards

In systems that include more than one card, you must connect all the Pro Tools|HD cards to each other with TDM FlexCables.

Each Pro Tools|HD card has two ports along the top of the card, labeled Port A and Port B. The

FlexCable has two connectors, also labeled

Port A and Port B, to ensure proper connection.

Data communication across multiple cards is achieved by connecting Port B of the first card to Port A of the next card with a TDM FlexCable.

The first FlexCable always goes from Port B on the core card to Port A on the first expansion card, as described in the following steps.

The slot numbering in your computer determines whether you will be working right-to-left or left-to-right when connecting cards. Refer to the instructions below for your model of computer.

To connect Pro Tools|HD cards in the Power Mac

G5:

1 Shape the FlexCable before installing it on the card by holding the cable with its printed side facing you, and moving the Port B portion of the cable away from you and outwards, as shown below. Do not bend the cable more than you need to, as you may damage the traces in the cable.

Preparing TDM FlexCable for installation

34 Pro Tools|HD Getting Started Guide

2 Turn the cable on its side, so that the connectors are facing downwards, and Port A is the higher side.

Port A

Port B

Orienting the FlexCable

3 Slide the FlexCable into the notch of the sec-

ond card, so that the Port B connector of the

FlexCable can be aligned with Port B of the first card; and the Port A connector of the FlexCable can be aligned with Port A of the second card, as shown below.

Port B connector

Port A connector

Expansion card

5 Verify the connection. Make sure the FlexCable ports seat flat against the sockets on the cards, and are firmly attached.

6 For systems with more than two cards, connect each additional card to its preceding card.

Use FlexCables to connect card pairs together, as described above, until all cards are connected.

(Each expansion card is packaged with a FlexCable.)

7 Close the computer case.

8

Proceed to “Connecting Audio Interfaces” on page 37.

To connect Pro Tools|HD cards in the Power

Macintosh “Mirrored Door” G4:

1 Shape the FlexCable before installing it on the card by holding the cable with its printed side facing you, and moving the Port B portion of the cable straight towards you and inwards, as shown below. Do not bend the cable more than you need to, as you may damage the traces in the cable.

Core card

Inserting TDM FlexCable

4 Connect the Port A connector of the FlexCable to Port A on the second card. Push gently but firmly until the cable is fully connected to the card. Attach the other end of the FlexCable (labeled Port B) to Port B on the first card.

Expansion card in PCI slot 3

Preparing TDM FlexCable for installation

Core card in PCI slot 2

Top view of two cards connected with TDM FlexCable

Chapter 3: Macintosh Installation 35

2 Slide the FlexCable into the notch of the first card, so that the Port B connector of the FlexCable can be aligned with Port B of the first card; and the Port A connector of the FlexCable can be aligned with Port A of the second card, as shown below.

Expansion card

To connect Pro Tools|HD cards in Power

Macintosh “QuickSilver” and earlier G4 computers:

1 Shape the FlexCable before installing it on the card by holding the cable with its printed side facing you, and moving the Port A portion of the cable straight towards you and inwards, as shown below. Do not bend the cable more than you need to, as you may damage the traces in the cable.

PORT A

PORT B

PORT A PORT B

Inserting TDM FlexCable

3 Connect the Port A connector of the FlexCable to Port A on the second card. Push gently but firmly until the cable is fully connected to the card. Attach the other end of the FlexCable (labeled Port B) to Port B on the first card.

Expansion card

Preparing TDM FlexCable for installation

2 Slide the FlexCable into the notch of the sec-

ond card, so that the Port B connector of the

FlexCable can be aligned with Port B of the first card; and the Port A connector of the FlexCable can be aligned with Port A of the second card, as shown below.

Core card

Top view of two cards connected with TDM FlexCable

4 Verify the connection. Make sure the FlexCable ports seat flat against the sockets on the cards, and are firmly attached.

5 For systems with more than two cards, connect each additional card to its preceding card.

Use FlexCables to connect card pairs together, as described above, until all cards are connected.

(Each expansion card is packaged with a FlexCable.)

6 Close the computer case.

7

Proceed to “Connecting Audio Interfaces” on page 37.

PORT B

PORT A

PORT A

PORT A

PORT B

PORT A

PORT B

PORT B

Expansion card

Inserting TDM FlexCable

36 Pro Tools|HD Getting Started Guide

3 Connect the Port A connector of the FlexCable to Port A on the second card. Push down gently but firmly until the cable is fully connected to the card. Next, attach the other end of the FlexCable (labeled Port B) to Port B on the first card.

PORT A PORT B

PORT A

PORT B

Top view of two cards connected with TDM FlexCable

4 Verify the connection. Make sure the FlexCable ports seat flat against the sockets on the cards, and are firmly attached.

5 For systems with more than two cards, connect each additional card to its preceding card.

Use FlexCables to connect card pairs together, as described above, until all cards are connected.

(Each expansion card is packaged with a FlexCable.)

6 Close the computer case.

7

Proceed to “Connecting Audio Interfaces” on page 37.

Connecting Audio Interfaces

Each Pro Tools|HD audio interface (except the

96i I/O) supplies up to 16 channels of input and output to your system. Audio interfaces are connected directly to Pro Tools|HD cards, or through the Expansion ports on other

Pro Tools|HD interfaces.

Each Pro Tools|HD card supports up to 32 channels. To get a full 32 channels of I/O from one card, you can connect, or daisy-chain, a second

16-channel Pro Tools|HD I/O to the first 16channel Pro Tools|HD I/O that is connected directly to the Pro Tools|HD card.

Pro Tools|HD supports up to a maximum of ten

192 I/Os, 192 Digital I/Os, or 96 I/Os. Up to five

96i I/Os can be used simultaneously.

For examples of connecting multiple I/Os, see

Figure 5 and Figure 6 on page 39.

Pro Tools|HD audio interfaces need room at their sides to maintain proper air flow for cooling. Do not block the sides of the unit or disconnect the internal fan. If the units are rack-mounted in a case, remove the case lids or doors before operating the system.

Failure to do so can result in the units overheating very quickly, which can permanently damage sensitive components.

Legacy audio interfaces can also be connected to

Pro Tools|HD interfaces. See “Connecting an

Additional 16 Channels of Audio with Legacy

Audio Interfaces” on page 40.

Chapter 3: Macintosh Installation 37

To connect Pro Tools|HD audio interfaces:

1 If you are using a single 192 I/O,

192 Digital I/O, 96 I/O, or 96i I/O, connect its

Primary Port to the HD Core For PCI) or Accel

Care (for PCIe) card with the DigiLink cable provided with the HD Core (for PCI) or Accel Core

(for PCIe) card. You must attach at least one

192 I/O, 192 Digital I/O, 96 I/O, or 96i I/O to your system in order for Pro Tools to launch.

If you have at least one 192 I/O or

192 Digital I/O in your system configuration, it must be connected to the HD Core

(for PCI) or Accel core (for PCIe) card as the primary interface.

2 Connect additional Pro Tools|HD audio interfaces to subsequent Digidesign audio cards, or daisy-chain the interfaces (by connecting the

Primary Port of the secondary interface to the

Expansion Port of the primary interface).

If you are connecting both 192 I/O (or

192 Digital I/O) and 96 I/O audio interfaces to your system, connect the 192 I/O (or

192 Digital I/O) to your HD Core (for PCI) or Accel Core (for PCIe) card, followed by any additional 192 I/O (or 192 Digital I/O) interfaces connected to subsequent cards. Then connect

96 I/O interfaces to subsequent cards, or to other interfaces, then connect 96i I/O interfaces.

You can also connect a single Pro Tools|HD interface to each Pro Tools|HD card in your system using the provided DigiLink cables. (However, there is no advantage to this configuration over daisy-chaining interfaces.)

Connecting Loop Sync

If you are using two or more Pro Tools|HD audio interfaces or a SYNC I/O peripheral, Loop Sync must be connected to maintain proper clock among the devices.

To make Loop Sync connections:

1 Connect the Loop Sync Out of each interface to the Loop Sync In of the next interface with the BNC cables included in your I/O packaging.

2 Connect the Loop Sync Out of the last interface to the Loop Sync In of the primary interface or SYNC I/O peripheral.

Connecting Legacy Audio Interfaces

If you are connecting a Digidesign Legacy audio

interface, continue with “Connecting an Additional 16 Channels of Audio with Legacy Audio

Interfaces” on page 40. (The 96i I/O does not

support Legacy I/O.)

38 Pro Tools|HD Getting Started Guide

HD Core or

Accel Core card

18-inch DigiLink cable

12-foot DigiLink cable

Loop Sync cables

Figure 5. Two 96 I/Os (32-channel system)

HD Core or

Accel Core card

18-inch DigiLink cable

12-foot DigiLink cable

Loop Sync cables

TDM FlexCable

Loop Sync cables

12-foot DigiLink cable

Figure 6. Three 96 I/Os (48-channel system)

HD Accel card or HD Process card

Chapter 3: Macintosh Installation 39

Connecting an Additional 16 Channels of Audio with Legacy Audio Interfaces

Each 192 I/O, 192 Digital I/O, and 96 I/O can support 16 channels of audio to and from

Digidesign Legacy I/Os. (The 96i I/O does not support Legacy I/O.) Legacy I/Os include the

888|24 I/O, 882|20 I/O, 1622 I/O, and the 24-bit

ADAT Bridge I/O.

The original 888 I/O and 882 I/O interfaces are not supported with Pro Tools|HD.

To connect Digidesign Legacy audio interfaces:

1 Connect the “MIX card” end of the peripheral cable that came with your Legacy audio interface (60-pin side) to the Legacy Port on the primary Pro Tools|HD audio interface. Connect the other end to the Computer Port on the Legacy audio interface.

2 Connect any additional Legacy audio interfaces in the same manner, to Pro Tools|HD audio interfaces connected directly to Pro Tools|HD cards.

– or –

If you are using a Y cable (Legacy 16-channel peripheral cable adapter), connect this to the Legacy port first, then connect the audio interface peripheral cables to Port A and Port B of the Y cable.

“A” to first

Legacy I/O

“B” to second

Legacy I/O

To Legacy Port on

Pro Tools|HD audio interface

3 To properly clock the Legacy audio interface, connect the Ext. Clock output port on the

Pro Tools|HD I/O to the Slave Clock IN on the

Legacy audio interface. The Legacy audio interface will switch to Slave mode once the proper clock is outputting from the Pro Tools|HD I/O.

Always use the Ext. Clock Out port of the same

I/O to which the Legacy audio interface is attached.

If you are using the Y cable to connect multiple

MIX audio interfaces, you must also connect the

Slave Clock Out of the first Legacy interface to the Slave Clock In of the second Legacy interface with the provided BNC cable. You cannot clock more than two MIX audio interfaces from a single Pro Tools|HD audio interface. If you have a third MIX audio interface, supply its

256x clock from the Pro Tools|HD I/O to which its 60-pin cable is attached (either your second audio interface, or directly to an HD Accel or

HD Process card).

To ensure the proper functioning of Legacy audio interfaces (such as an 888|24 I/O or

882|20 I/O), launch Pro Tools and declare the Legacy audio interfaces in the Hardware

Setup dialog before turning them on. Then quit Pro Tools, shut down your computer, turn on your audio interfaces, and turn on your computer.

Before you turn on and configure your Legacy audio interfaces, turn down the volume of output devices. Very loud digital noise may be emitted before the Legacy audio interface is initialized.

Optional 16-channel peripheral cable adapter

40 Pro Tools|HD Getting Started Guide

Installing Pro Tools HD

Software

After your Pro Tools|HD hardware is installed and connected, you are ready to install

Pro Tools software.

Do not install or operate Pro Tools while logged in as a root-level user. File permissions of a root-level user make it possible to perform actions that may conflict with

Pro Tools file management tasks.

To install Pro Tools HD software:

1 Make sure you are logged in as an Administrator for the account where you want to install

Pro Tools. For details on Administrator privileges in Mac OS X, refer to your Apple OS X documentation.

2 Insert the Pro Tools Installer CD in your CD-

ROM drive. Double-click “Install Pro Tools.”

3 Enter your Administrator password and click

OK to authenticate the installation.

4 Follow the on-screen instructions to continue and accept installation.

5 In the Installer window, make sure the Install

Location is on your Startup drive.

6 In the Installer window, choose Custom Install from the pop-up menu, and click Install.

7 Select the Pro Tools Installer. You can also select from a list of optional items to install along with Pro Tools. Click the information button next to each item for a description of its contents.

8 Click Install.

9 Select your work environment. This loads an initial set of Pro Tools Preferences that include some of the more popular settings for post production, audio, or audio with MIDI.

Preference settings can be customized at any time in Pro Tools. See the Pro Tools Reference Guide for more information.

10 Select whether to install the Surround Mixer plug-in. This plug-in is required for mixing, mastering, and monitoring in surround:

• Select “Yes – Monitoring in Standard

Pro Tools (Film Format)” if your monitoring is configured for Film Format surround.

• Select “Yes – Monitoring in ProControl

(DTS Format)” if you are using a ProControl dedicated controller.

• Select “No – Stereo mixing only” if your monitoring is configured for Stereo.

AFL/PFL Solo modes require the Surround

Mixer plug-in. See the Pro Tools Reference

Guide for more information.

11 Click Continue.

12 When installation is complete, click Restart.

– or –

Click Continue to install any additional software or documentation, and restart your computer when you are finished.

Chapter 3: Macintosh Installation 41

Digidesign CoreAudio Driver

The Digidesign CoreAudio Driver is a multi-client, multichannel sound driver that allows

CoreAudio compatible applications to record and play back through Digidesign hardware.

The CoreAudio Driver is installed by default when you install Pro Tools.

For detailed information on configuring the

Digidesign CoreAudio Driver, see the Digidesign CoreAudio Guide .

Optional Software on the

Pro Tools Installer CD

Your Pro Tools Installer CD includes separate installers for the following optional items.

Standalone CoreAudio Driver

The Digidesign CoreAudio Driver can be installed as a standalone driver on Macintosh systems that do not have Pro Tools installed.

For detailed information on installing and configuring CoreAudio Driver, see the

CoreAudio Usage Guide.

Pro Tools Demo Session

The Pro Tools Installer CD includes a demo session that you can use to verify that your system is working.

To install the demo session:

1 Insert the Pro Tools Installer CD in your CD-

ROM drive. Locate and double-click the demo session installer icon.

2 Set the install location to your audio drive, and click Install.

3 When installation is complete, click Quit.

Removing Pro Tools

If you need to remove Pro Tools software from your computer, you can use the Installer CD or the downloaded Installer file.

To remove Pro Tools from your computer:

1 Make sure you are logged in as an Administrator for the account where Pro Tools is installed.

For details on Administrator privileges in

Mac OS X, refer to your Apple OS X documentation.

2 Insert the Pro Tools Installer CD in your CD-

ROM drive or locate the downloaded Installer file.

3 Double-click “Install Pro Tools.”

4 Enter your Administrator password and click

OK.

5 In the Installer window, choose Uninstall from the pop-up menu, and click Uninstall.

6 Follow the on-screen instructions to remove

Pro Tools.

7 When finished, click Quit to close the Installer window.

42 Pro Tools|HD Getting Started Guide