Launch Pro Tools and Verify Connection. With your Orchid physically connected to your computer, open Pro Tools and enable it as a MIDI input device.
- Navigate to
Setup → MIDI → MIDI Input Devices. - In the window that appears, find "Orchid" (if using USB-C) or your MIDI interface name (if using the 5-pin DIN cable) and make sure its checkbox is ticked.
- Click OK to confirm. Pro Tools will now listen for incoming MIDI from Orchid.
- Navigate to
- Create a Track. To create a new track, navigate to
Track → Newin the top menu bar (or use the keyboard shortcutCmd + Shift + Non Mac /Ctrl + Shift + Non Windows). In the New Track dialogue, select the type that fits your workflow:- Instrument Track: Select this if you want to load a virtual instrument plugin (such as the Pistil plugin or a third-party synthesizer) and use Orchid as a controller to play those software sounds. An Instrument Track handles both MIDI recording and audio output on a single channel strip, making it the most streamlined option for most workflows.
MIDI Track: Select this if you intend to record raw MIDI data and route it back out to trigger Orchid's internal hardware sounds, or to control a separate piece of external hardware. MIDI Tracks do not produce audio themselves; they carry MIDI data only.
- Configure the Input Details. Before clicking Create in the New Track dialogue, set the number of tracks you need. If you wish to capture all of Orchid's separate MIDI streams simultaneously, set the track count to 3. Once the tracks are created, you'll need to assign the MIDI input on each track. Where you find this depends on the track type:
- For MIDI Tracks: The MIDI input selector is visible in the Mix Window in the same position as the I/O assignment on an audio track, directly above the automation mode setting. If it is not visible, right-click the top of the Mix Window and ensure I/O is checked.
For Instrument Tracks: The MIDI I/O is in a separate view. Go to
View → Mix Window Views → Instrumentsto reveal it at the top of the channel strip.On each track, click the MIDI input selector (which defaults to All) and set it to "Orchid" or your connected MIDI interface to confirm Pro Tools is listening to the correct hardware.
- Isolate Your MIDI Channels
- By default, Orchid separates its MIDI output into three distinct channels. Each track's input selector defaults to All (Omni) in Pro Tools, meaning it will receive data from all channels simultaneously, which will result in a messy overlap of notes if left unconfigured.
- For each of your three tracks, click the MIDI input selector and narrow it from "All" down to a specific device and channel. The default channel configuration for Orchid is:
- Channel 1: Records your Performance notes, like Arpeggios, Strums, and Voicing dial melodies.
- Channel 2: Records the single Bass notes.
Channel 3: Records the raw, sustained Chords
- Arm and Record
- On each track you want to capture, click the Record Enable button in the track header (the red button above the Solo and Mute buttons) so it flashes, indicating the track is armed and actively listening for incoming MIDI data. You can also use
Shift + Rto arm a selected track. - Make sure MIDI Thru is enabled so you can monitor Orchid's output in real time through your armed tracks. Verify this is on under
Options → MIDI Thru. - Press the main Record button in the Transport bar to begin capturing your performance (or use
F12/Cmd + Spaceon Mac, orCtrl + Spaceon Windows).
- On each track you want to capture, click the Record Enable button in the track header (the red button above the Solo and Mute buttons) so it flashes, indicating the track is armed and actively listening for incoming MIDI data. You can also use