Avid has released Pro Tools 2021.3.1, which resolved ‘two critical bugs’ in Pro Tools 2021.3. We have the details.

Avid has released an interim bugfix release to resolve 2 bugs in Pro Tools 2021.3.

• The Parallel Task Optimizations preference is no longer missing from Pro Tools Software (PT-271772)

• Knife-edge automation will once again follow the edge of the clip boundary (PT-271659)

Parallel Task Optimizations Preference

In the 2021.3 Article we said…

“The Parallel Task Optimisation is now available in Pro Tools Standard Software. It was previously only available in Pro Tools Ultimate. The default value of the preference has also been changed from ‘Off’ to ‘High.’ This preference speeds up certain actions by allowing Pro Tools to multi-thread certain tasks that appear in the Task Manager, such as Workspace indexing, waveform calculation, and Elastic Audio rendering.”

However, it was reported in a thread on the DUC by ‘Richard901’…

“Page 127 in the 2021.3 Reference Guide describes the new Parallel Task Optimizations settings in Preferences/Processing/Miscellaneous. They are not in my preferences. Also, X-Form rendering in Elastic Audio seems to take the same time as before.”

Further down Kyle Splittgerber - Senior Principal Product Designer responded…

“Looks like we have a documentation error (which we'll correct). In order to see the speed increase, you need to be processing multiple files at a time. The High setting will process one file per thread, for up to a total of 8 parallel files.”

It seems that Avid has fixed the problem with this Pro Tools 2021.3.1 release by delivering the feature to Pro Tools Standard rather than changing the documentation back to how it was before the 2021.3 release.

What Does The Parallel Task Optimizations Preference Do?

As Damian Kearns explains in our updated article Pro Tools Preferences - Why So Many Choices?

“As far as Preferences go, this one can really reduce the time it takes for multi-threaded background tasks to complete. In its default “on” setting, as many as 8 tasks can happen simultaneously. Depending on how many processors you’ve got in your computer, you might want to consider lowering this to ‘Med’ for 6 tasks, or ‘Low’ for 4 tasks.

It’s a relatively new Preference so on my iMac Pro, I’ve set it to ‘Med’ for now. If you’re running off a server, a slow computer or a very full hard drive, you might want to consider ‘Low or Off.’ “

Knife-edge Automation At Clip Boundaries

Thank you to community member Lawrence for directing us to this thread in the DUC. ‘colinato’ reported…

“Updated to 2021.3 and now having an issue. When trimming out the tail of a clip, the volume automation is not properly going along with the edit, leaving me with a big volume jump. Is this a bug, or there a preference somewhere that has changed on me?”

There are some reports that this bug has been around before Pro Tools 2021.3, with ‘WinstonDeath’ saying…

“Since around 2019.6 automation doesn't follow moving a fade with the Grabber Tool, but now in 2021.3 it also doesn't follow trimming a clip boundary with the Trim Tool.”

‘Frank Kuse’ reported…

“Hm..this bug has been around for ages. I don't think it's new to 21.3. PT will never pull the automation along unless the breakpoints are exactly on the clip borders. Not sure when this started but it's been an annoyance for a long time. I've gotten used to Command+Option+/ (backslash) across any clip trims over the years.”

So with the report from Avid in the 2121.3 release notes that knife-edge automation will once again follow the edge of the clip boundary, hopefully, we can put this one to bed, once and for all.

Where Can I Get The 2021.3.1 Update From?

You should find the installers in your Avid Master Account or using the Avid Link app.