Deactivate - Activate Plug-ins of Multiple Tracks - Pro Tools

By TOM BOWSER

You can simultaneously either activate or deactivate all the plug-ins assigned to the same insert letter/position of all visible tracks in a session. I'm demonstrating this process in the Pro Tools Mix window. It can also be performed in the Edit window.

Plug-in inserts are assigned letters to uniquely identify them and their position in the Pro Tools signal flow. The image below shows inserts A, B, C, D and E of a single track in the Edit window arranged in a vertical column starting with the "Trim" plug-in installed on insert A.

The following image shows inserts A-E of 5 different tracks in the Pro Tools Mix window. A plug-in has been added to the A position insert of each track (outlined in red).

To disable all of the plug-ins installed in the A position insert:

1. Press and hold down the Ctrl + Windows + Alt keys.
2. Right click on any plug-in button of a horizontal row of track inserts.
3. Left click on "Make Inactive" on the menu that appears to deactivate all plug-ins in the row.

To re-activate the plugins:

1. Press and hold down the Ctrl + Windows + Alt keys.
2. Right click on any plug-in button of a horizontal row of track inserts.
3. Left click on Make Active to activate all plug-ins in the row.

TIP: The version of Pro Tools I was using when I wrote this tutorial had 10 inserts available per track (A-E and F-J).

To change which inserts are visible:

1. Left click on "View" in the Pro Tools menu bar.
2. Hover your mouse over "Mix Window Views" or "Edit Window Views" depending on which Pro Tools window you want to change views for.
3. Left click on Inserts A-E to show or hide these inserts.
4. Left click on Inserts F-J to show or hide these inserts.

Inserts that are currently visible in a window have a check mark to the left in the views menu.