Pro Tools is unable to communicate with HUI.

[thingfish_mpowered]

I keep getting this error:

"Pro Tools is unable to communicate with HUI. Power-cycle HUI and check its connections. Note, if HUI is not in use, update the Peripherals dialog to prevent further warnings"

I'm using a Mackie Universal Control setup as an HUI. It's worked fine until today. I've even troubleshot this before (power-cycling was the solution), but this time I haven't had any luck.

Here's my system:

Mac Workstation 2x2 dual core intel xeon
OS 10.5.3
Pro Tools M-Powered 7.4.2cs1
6 gb of ram
Mackie UC, M-Audio firewire 410, HP Printer (all present before when it worked)
3 SATA drives onboard

Troubleshooting:

- Attempted to power cycle
- Re-initialized MUC to HUI emulator
- Re-configured settings in PT peripherals menu (just cleared and restored)
- Attempted every combination of restarting computer, rebooting PT and power cycling MUC
- Searched DUC archives and DD support, only to find a few entries:

-Unable to communicate with HUI or Mackie Control.
Make sure transmit and receive channels are activated for the MIDI interface in the Audio MIDI Setup Utility.

-"Pro Tools is unable to communicate with HUI. Please power cycle HUI and check its connections." error in Pro Tools upon closing a session.
This can occur if Run MIDI in Background is unchecked in the OMS MIDI Setup program (found under the Setups Menu in Pro Tools).

OMS?! Wow.. high school memories of Vision DSP troubleshooting..

Anyways, I might add that in addition to this not being a problem but a few days ago, AND that I've successfully dealt with this before, the strange thing is that moving faders in PT still controls the MUC, but the MUC won't transmit information to PT and I keep receiving that error message...

whew. sorry for the long post, just wanted to be thorough.

Thanks,
TF

[Scott Goldberg]

Originally Posted by thingfish_mpowered

I keep getting this error:

"Pro Tools is unable to communicate with HUI. Power-cycle HUI and check its connections. Note, if HUI is not in use, update the Peripherals dialog to prevent further warnings"

I'm using a Mackie Universal Control setup as an HUI. It's worked fine until today. I've even troubleshot this before (power-cycling was the solution), but this time I haven't had any luck.

Here's my system:

Mac Workstation 2x2 dual core intel xeon
OS 10.5.3
Pro Tools M-Powered 7.4.2cs1
6 gb of ram
Mackie UC, M-Audio firewire 410, HP Printer (all present before when it worked)
3 SATA drives onboard

Troubleshooting:

- Attempted to power cycle
- Re-initialized MUC to HUI emulator
- Re-configured settings in PT peripherals menu (just cleared and restored)
- Attempted every combination of restarting computer, rebooting PT and power cycling MUC
- Searched DUC archives and DD support, only to find a few entries:

-Unable to communicate with HUI or Mackie Control.
Make sure transmit and receive channels are activated for the MIDI interface in the Audio MIDI Setup Utility.

-"Pro Tools is unable to communicate with HUI. Please power cycle HUI and check its connections." error in Pro Tools upon closing a session.
This can occur if Run MIDI in Background is unchecked in the OMS MIDI Setup program (found under the Setups Menu in Pro Tools).

OMS?! Wow.. high school memories of Vision DSP troubleshooting..

Anyways, I might add that in addition to this not being a problem but a few days ago, AND that I've successfully dealt with this before, the strange thing is that moving faders in PT still controls the MUC, but the MUC won't transmit information to PT and I keep receiving that error message...

whew. sorry for the long post, just wanted to be thorough.

Thanks,
TF

Hi TF, It sounds like a corrupted database or preference. Please try this application...www.jcdeshaies.com. It's free and it will probably take care of the problem after you use it and reboot.

[CrazyHorseStudios]

Hey TF! Where you ever able to resolve your problem with the communication errors between the Mackie Control Units and Pro Tools? I am having the same issues with a PT LE 7.4 system connected to an MTPAV USB. I tried the PT helper app suggested here and it didnot fix the problem. I'd be very interested in hearing if your how you made out. I am stuck right now.

Thx,

[thingfish_mpowered]

Scott,

Thanks for the link - that utility did seem to grab the attention of the HUI but it didn't solve my problem, unfortunately. Maybe other people may have more luck.

CrazyHorse, as you can see I had the same result as you with this utility. I'm not sure what else to do, but in the meantime enjoy looking at my new paperweight.

Keep us updated with any progress you have, and I'll do the same!

thanks,
TF

[Scott Goldberg]

Hey dude, I think I figured it out, especially if it's an old HUI, UPDATE THE FIRM WARE! I hope that's it.
later gator-Scott
I'll pray that this was it. Also, make sure that you have selected the HUI in the peripherals menu. Plug it in, unplug it and then open up PRo Tools and go to peripherals, and have it search using midi or ethernet, whatever it's using to talk to the other.

[thingfish_mpowered]

hi Scott,

I wish that were the solution - this is a brand spankin' new Mackie Universal Control.

I have a suspicion that my USB router is the culprit. CrazyHorse, are you using a USB router in your setup?

Whenever I turn on my MUC, I lose functionality from the other devices hooked up to the router (keyboard, mouse). It is a power-drawing router, and it seems that the MUC is sucking out the juice (even though the router is plugged in to AC power..

Prior to my new setup (I recently moved my Mac Pro into an adjacent room to limit noise in my listening space), my control surface was running off of the USB ports on the back of my Apple Monitor - and worked just fine.

Now I'm using extended USB cables to feed my devices... could this be affecting my control surfaces performance? Like I noted earlier, moving faders in PT will control my MUC, but not vice-versa..

TF

[CrazyHorseStudios]

Hi Thingfish and Scott,

I have had minor success with the MCUs and Pro Tools. I am running my 3 MCU's off a USB MTPAV. Once I did a hard RESET of the MTPAV and re-mapped my synths & MCU's to the new MTPAV device in AMS. I had to go into Pro Tools and de-select the MCU's in the peripherals/midi controller window & reselect the 3 MCUs.

Now the 3 MCUs are being recognized in Pro Tools and moving unlike in the past but I am still getting the error messages "HUI not communicating ....." so much I really can't rely on it for much of anything Mixing/Tracking etc.

I tried to upgrade the firmware of the 3 MCUs from version 2.1.0 to 2.1.2 but can't for the life of me get any sequencer or utility that will properly send the SYSEX data from the MIDI to the MCU's. Not that this will fix the Pro Tools MCU problem.

OMG when will this end!!!! I really think the MCUs don't really work well with Pro Tools and that you're better off going with something else. I've never had a problem with the Pro Control controllers I have.

BTW: the MCU's work perfectly in Digital Performer 5.13. Go figure !! I'll keep plugging away at it but in the meantime I gotta get some work done with all the gear. I'll keep looking & experiment and update you if I find a fix.

Ciao,

[mswan23]

Hey guys!! To solve your problem disable your BCF2000 back to None in your peripherals settings then exit out of pro tools. Make sure you are in Baby HUI Mode. Then Right click your PRo TOols Desktop Icon and click run as administrator. Then enable your BCF2000 again in the Peripherals and it will work fine! Good Luck!

[miro3]

Hi Everyone
to make your V-Control works , Your Mac & iPad Should be connected to the same Wi-Fi
Enjoy :)

[charlesrickard]

UPDATE!!!!!!

If you have not already, make sure what you are using meets HUI protocol. For me, it was as easy as switching my peripherals back to "none" and simply creating an instrument track and choosing a plugin. Now I am able to play MIDI into ProTools no problem.