Do you have synths, plugins and VST that are not AAX and you would love to use them in Pro Tools? We show you how easy it is to do it on a Mac.

The Problem

Some developers, for one reason or another, sometimes decide not to make AAX versions of plugins, often VIs. This mean Pro Tools users are left out in the cold, often deciding not to use them, or having to use them in another DAW that supports VST or AU.

In Pro Tools 2022.9 Avid has included a cool new feature, Aux I/O. The Aux I/O feature enables you to build complex input and output routings using both hardware and software, even allowing you to mix the I/O coming into Pro Tools. Aux I/O is especially useful for HDX users who have always struggled to route other sources into Pro Tools when using the hardware.

However, with Aux I/O it’s also possible to route software instruments and plugins.

How To Use Non AAX Virtual Instruments And Plugins In Pro Tools

In this video I show you how to route both the audio and the MIDI so you can play and record an instrument in Pro Tools. In this example I use Surge XT, a fantastic free synth, which is sadly not available in an AAX format… not a problem any more.

Watch the video below to see how easy it is to set up.