In Pro Tools, what can cause unwanted distortion during playback?

Unwanted distortion during playback in Pro Tools can arise from multiple factors, notably when there are too many tracks playing simultaneously and when output settings are incorrectly configured.

Having too many tracks active can overwhelm the system resources, including the CPU and available RAM. This overload can result in audio artifacts such as distortion, clicks, or dropouts, as the system struggles to process all the audio in real-time.

Incorrectly configured output settings can also contribute to distortion. If the output sends audio to the wrong destination or if the output levels are set excessively high, clipping can occur, resulting in distorted sound. Properly configuring the I/O settings ensures that audio routes correctly through the appropriate channels and does not exceed level limits.

Recognizing that both excessive track count and misconfigured output settings can independently lead to distortion underscores the importance of maintaining an optimized session environment in Pro Tools to ensure clear and accurate playback.