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Avid Pro Tools 2020.12 Released - Enhancements & Bug Fixes

Mike Thornton

Avid has released Pro Tools 2020.12, which is mainly bug fixes with a handful of enhancements including Audio to MIDI Copy From Finder or Workspace, Satellite Administration From Pro Tools Ultimate Software, to be able to generate an ADM BWF Report and more Pro Tools Carbon Track Presets. We have all the details including the full bug fix list.

Pro Tools 2020.12 Enhancements

Audio to MIDI Copy From Finder/Workspace

It is now possible to initiate an Audio to MIDI operation by dragging and dropping an Audio file from the operating system or Workspace Browser onto an instrument or MIDI track in the Pro Tools timeline.

Satellite Administration From Pro Tools Ultimate Software

Pro Tools Ultimate 2020.12 software can now administer one Pro Tools or Media Composer Video Satellite system, allowing video playback to be offloaded to a separate system, even when HD hardware is not present.  This allows Satellite Link to function when Pro Tools Ultimate is used with Dolby Audio Bridge, Pro Tools | Carbon, or any other playback engine device.

Generate ADM BWF Report

With Pro Tools 2020.12 you can now generate a report from within the Bounce Mix window to see exactly which beds and objects will be included in the bounce ADM BWF.

More Pro Tools Carbon Track Presets

Track presets for Pro Tools | Carbon recording workflows are now included including Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Vocals, and Talkback. 

Bug Fixes

Audio to MIDI

  • Consolidate' is no longer always enabled in the Audio to MIDI dialog when performing a MIDI extraction from the clip list.

  • Fixed an assertion that resulted when performing an Audio to MIDI operation from the clips list if the clip was missing.

  • The last used Conversion Type algorithm choice is now remembered in the Audio to MIDI dialog.

  • MIDI notes are no longer dropped when extracted from a tick-based clip group and the song start was different than default.

  • Audio to Midi conversion is now correct if there was a tempo change when initiated from a sample based clip group.

Control Surfaces

  • The "Update Window Config" soft key will now properly update the Pro Tools Windows Configurations.

  • EQ/Dyn cycling no longer puts knobs and switches out of sync with the active insert. 

Crashes and Errors

  • Right-clicking on a MIDI clip in the Clip List that is part of a mixed-type clip group will no longer cause a crash.

  • Fixed a crash when dragging a mixed-type clip group to the timeline from the operating system or the Workspace Browser.

  • Importing Session Data from an ADM BWF file will no longer crash Pro Tools if there is an IAB MXF file in the same folder.

  • Clicking on "Choose A Profile" option in the "Machine Track Arming Profiles" window will no longer crash Pro Tools on macOS.

Dolby Atmos Workflows

  • Object Control Mode must now be set to Master on at least one object track in order for the object to be included in the ADM BWF bounce.

  • Defaulting the I/O setup with "Use Dolby Atmos Renderer" selected will once again default outputs in SMPTE order

  • Importing an ADM file will now result in an SMPTE order output IO Setup.

  • An extraneous Session Notes warning will no longer be presented, after importing session data, if an object results in being mapped to the same renderer input as the source session or ADM file.

  • Improved round trip pan breakpoint accuracy with ADM BWF files by now including the original breakpoints in the bounce, as well as the breakpoints required for the renderer to decode and playback accurately.

  • There is now a Cancel button available during ADM BWF import.

  • Fixed an issue that would cause the Bed / Object Group window to become stuck on Windows OS.

  • Entering 'localhost' in the Peripherals Dolby Atmos RMU Host section will no longer be case sensitive when used in conjunction with Dolby Audio Bridge.

Editing

  • Fixed an issue where video tracks were being separated from clip groups if there were mixed timebases present. 

Export/Bounce

  • Sample Rate and Bit Depth settings are now respected when using the Bounce Mix Window to MOV.

  • DNxHR is no longer listed as an available codec option for 1080i/p and 720p rasters, as it is redundant functionality with DNxHD.

  • DNxHD and DNxHR compression settings now have more descriptive text.

  • 720p MOV files created with the Bounce Mix window can now be created.

  • The Bounce Mix window now defaults the sample rate and bit depth to the session values when used for the first time in a new session.

  • New location options have been added to the previous Bounce QuickTime window.

  • Fixed a case where bounce to MOV would intermittently fail when using the Bounce Mix window.

  • Improved spacing in the Bounce Mix UI to better accommodate multiple languages.

  • Improved Bit Rate slider granularity in the Bounce Mix window when bouncing to MOV H.264.

Import

  • It is once again possible to import an MP4 with multiple audio tracks.

  • Fixed an issue when importing video files that contain multiple audio stems.  If one of those stems was a mono channel, it would force the rest of the multi-channel audio stems to import onto individual mono tracks.  This is no longer the case.

  • "Import Audio From Movie" Clip List command will now function on macOS Catalina, as well as with Windows when QuickTime is not installed.

MIDI

  • MIDI clips now report the correct usage when clearing them after they had been removed from the timeline and the undo queue.

  • Fixed a UI defect with how borders are drawn when dragging a clip from the clips list to the MIDI editor.

Plug-ins

  • Favorite plug-ins no longer disappear from the menu after opening sessions with a different sample rate.

Pro Tools | Carbon

  • Aux Input or Routing Folder tracks receiving audio from a DSP Mode-enabled track are now in low latency.

  • Audio output is no longer lost when deleting a DSP Mode-enabled track during playback.

  • Fixed a case with a small sample offset when performing online Bounce Mix with DSP Mode-enabled tracks assigned to the same output as the Audition Path.

  • Fixed a crash when opening a session containing an active DSP plugin with an assigned key input.

  • Fixed a case where Pro Tools would lock up with heavy automation on DSP Mode-enabled track when playback is stopped.

  • Fixed a case where a DSP Mode-enabled Master Fader track would not properly route audio playing back from disk.

  • Fixed cases where Bounce Mix or Commit of DSP Mode-enabled tracks with Hardware Inserts could result in sample offsets.

  • Fixed a case where online Bounce Mix via MON L-R could result in a small sample offset when Alt monitors and headphone mirroring are enabled.

  • Fixed a crash when enabling DSP Mode on a track with inactive output, no available DSP resources, and AFL/PFL path assigned to LINE or ADAT output.

  • There is no longer an audio interruption when the warning dialog appears after enabling DSP Mode on tracks with Native-only plugins.

  • The correct metering level is now displayed on Master Fader tracks after enabling DSP Mode during playback.

  • The "Enable DSP Mode when Tracks with Hardware Inputs are Record-Armed/Input-Enabled" preference state is now recalled properly after relaunching Pro Tools.

  • Fixed a case where Carbon firmware could crash when powered on with an external clock source connected.

  • Carbon now correctly locks to word clock when sample rate in Audio MIDI Setup is changed to a matching incoming rate.

  • HP chiclet text when Main is unchecked in the Hardware setup is now more visible.

  • Instructional text when a Carbon device is disabled in the Playback Engine is now translated.

Routing and I/O Setup

  • When reopening a session, Input-enabled state is now properly recalled for tracks receiving a signal for Auxillary Output Stem plugins.

  • Fixed an issue that caused repeated dialogs, which were not dismissible in bulk, when Option+clicking the Mapping to Output checkbox when outputs were not available.

User Interface

  • Position and Divergence text are now positioned correctly in the surround panner UI.

Video

The error message "Unable to create index for editor slide files" will no longer be seen, which prevented the video engine from initializing on a non-admin macOS account if the video engine had not first been initialized on an admin account.

Solve Any Problems For You?

There you have it. Did the final update from Avid for Pro Tools of 2020 resolve any issues that you have been struggling with? If so do tell us about it in the comments.

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