HUI ERROR: PT 'unable to communicate' -- suggestions?

Gregg Sartiano · 1st July 2006, 06:11 AM

Here's the error msg:

"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've gotten this msg on 4 different systems -- PT 5, 6, AND 7 -- sometimes sporadically, sometimes so much I just disable it in Peripherals until I actually need it. Sometimes, it actually seems random...

Are there typical MIDI interface conflicts or something which surface -- esp. with the Digidesign "MIDI" box or the MIDISPORT 2x2 or 8x8?

Any suggestions/things to avoid?

All help appreciated.

nukmusic · 1st July 2006, 06:21 AM

what Protools version and interface.

robot gigante · 1st July 2006, 06:32 AM

This is just some basic setup stuff if you haven't already done it- this is for PT6, don't have 7 so I'm not sure if it's different.

Go to Setups --> Edit MIDI Studio Setup- and make sure that the right device/configuration is selected with the proper ports and amount of channels etc.

Then go to MIDI --> Input Devices and make sure that the HUI is enabled.

If you've already done that I think there's more info on the Digi website somewhere, you might have to google for it though.

Assuming you don't have a bad MIDI cable or something. I've been using a Midisport 2x2 with no problems once I got things set up right.

Gregg Sartiano · 1st July 2006, 06:52 AM

O.K., right now I'm referring to 2 systems (make that 3...):

System 1 has PT 6.4.1 -- Mix rig, OS X (10.???) -- and a Midisport 8x8 with a HUI and 2 extenders.

I got a call after I posted that the PT (as opposed to Logic, etc.) control setting had to be changed on the HUI, so the problem wasn't in PT.

System 2 is PT 7.1 -- it seems to get the error msg sporadically after a long day, and then it won't quit until everything (CPU, actually) is power cycled. Weird.

And, for good measure, System 3 is PT 5.1.3 (?) with a Mackie dXb running HUI mode -- the symptoms are much the same as System 2, although it seems a to do the errors a little more -- sometimes I'll leave Setups>Peripherals>MIDI Controllers off.

Gregg Sartiano · 4th November 2006, 11:26 PM

BUMP -- anybody know?

I'm actually referring to >3< systems now -- one's an HD running 7.1 (?) getting a similar error message, although that one cures itself on restart.

e-cue · 5th November 2006, 01:46 AM

Greg, you seem to know your sh¡t so I'll forego the "are your midi cables excessively long" and "Have you done the trash prefs/dae song n dance?"...

1st off...

Have you established that your midi interface is working with ANY midi gear properly? Try that 1st and foremost. That'll narrow down your guess way from the HUI itself. '

2nd off...

What are your buffers set to?

4th off...

I assume you are at firmware 1.3 on the hui? (Should show up on the HUI at boot up)

Is it ever showing signs of seeing the hui at all? Like, do all the faders pop into the fader levels in your mix window, then you get the error?

Gregg Sartiano · 5th November 2006, 01:58 AM

Yeah, on all 3 systems, the HUI will work most of the time. In fact, what I've found is that it works until...well...it doesn't work, and then only a reboot (or successive reboots, in the PT|Mix cases) will solve it.

Dunno the buffer or firmware numbers, but I'll check. Are you referring to DAE buffer or Playback? And would the buffers have anything to do with what appears to be a MIDI bug?

On the OS9/dual boot rig, I have yet to trash prefs/dae, but the setup has been stable in the past (it's not my setup, and I have limited experience with it).

e-cue · 5th November 2006, 03:32 PM

ok... here's a couple stabs to try...

•Trash your DAE prefs... Trash your Pro Tools prefs...Power-cycle HUI and check its connections for the umpteenth time

•Under the midi menu, goto Input Devices... make sure HUI is checked, AGAIN... (I know I've seen this flip out hui's on older versions of PT)...

•Verify your Midi Studio Setup is correct and perhaps up to date... Maybe try other midi devices through your midi interface (Unitor, Studio64XTC, etc)...Double check that you have the drivers installed for your USB MIDI interface...

•Sacrifice virgin to the Studer gods in hopes for divine intervention...

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1st July 2006, 06:11 AM	#1
Gregg Sartiano Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 1,781	HUI ERROR: PT 'unable to communicate' -- suggestions? Here's the error msg: "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've gotten this msg on 4 different systems -- PT 5, 6, AND 7 -- sometimes sporadically, sometimes so much I just disable it in Peripherals until I actually need it. Sometimes, it actually seems random... Are there typical MIDI interface conflicts or something which surface -- esp. with the Digidesign "MIDI" box or the MIDISPORT 2x2 or 8x8? Any suggestions/things to avoid? All help appreciated. __________________ "We need to legitimize peer-to-peer sharing as a business model, because it's already a business. If [the P2P companies] are going to make money on us, we should have a chance to make money along with them." -- Perry Farrell on the failure of national intellectual property policy to keep up with the rapid evolution of online media "Every Internet transmission of a musical work constitutes a public performance of that work. " http://www.ascap.com/weblicense/webfaq.html

1st July 2006, 06:32 AM	#3
robot gigante Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: out west Posts: 2,981	This is just some basic setup stuff if you haven't already done it- this is for PT6, don't have 7 so I'm not sure if it's different. Go to Setups --> Edit MIDI Studio Setup- and make sure that the right device/configuration is selected with the proper ports and amount of channels etc. Then go to MIDI --> Input Devices and make sure that the HUI is enabled. If you've already done that I think there's more info on the Digi website somewhere, you might have to google for it though. Assuming you don't have a bad MIDI cable or something. I've been using a Midisport 2x2 with no problems once I got things set up right. __________________ "Action and contemplation- never one without the other" - Gaston Rebuffat "Ambition feeds on itself; it can never be satisfied; you can only let go of it." - Doug Scott "Fresh air is best" -Chongo

1st July 2006, 06:52 AM	#4
Gregg Sartiano Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 1,781	O.K., right now I'm referring to 2 systems (make that 3...): System 1 has PT 6.4.1 -- Mix rig, OS X (10.???) -- and a Midisport 8x8 with a HUI and 2 extenders. I got a call after I posted that the PT (as opposed to Logic, etc.) control setting had to be changed on the HUI, so the problem wasn't in PT. System 2 is PT 7.1 -- it seems to get the error msg sporadically after a long day, and then it won't quit until everything (CPU, actually) is power cycled. Weird. And, for good measure, System 3 is PT 5.1.3 (?) with a Mackie dXb running HUI mode -- the symptoms are much the same as System 2, although it seems a to do the errors a little more -- sometimes I'll leave Setups>Peripherals>MIDI Controllers off. __________________ "We need to legitimize peer-to-peer sharing as a business model, because it's already a business. If [the P2P companies] are going to make money on us, we should have a chance to make money along with them." -- Perry Farrell on the failure of national intellectual property policy to keep up with the rapid evolution of online media "Every Internet transmission of a musical work constitutes a public performance of that work. " http://www.ascap.com/weblicense/webfaq.html

4th November 2006, 11:26 PM	#5
Gregg Sartiano Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 1,781	BUMP -- anybody know? I'm actually referring to >3< systems now -- one's an HD running 7.1 (?) getting a similar error message, although that one cures itself on restart. __________________ "We need to legitimize peer-to-peer sharing as a business model, because it's already a business. If [the P2P companies] are going to make money on us, we should have a chance to make money along with them." -- Perry Farrell on the failure of national intellectual property policy to keep up with the rapid evolution of online media "Every Internet transmission of a musical work constitutes a public performance of that work. " http://www.ascap.com/weblicense/webfaq.html

5th November 2006, 01:46 AM	#6
e-cue Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 3,882	Greg, you seem to know your sh¡t so I'll forego the "are your midi cables excessively long" and "Have you done the trash prefs/dae song n dance?"... 1st off... Have you established that your midi interface is working with ANY midi gear properly? Try that 1st and foremost. That'll narrow down your guess way from the HUI itself. ' 2nd off... What are your buffers set to? 4th off... I assume you are at firmware 1.3 on the hui? (Should show up on the HUI at boot up) Is it ever showing signs of seeing the hui at all? Like, do all the faders pop into the fader levels in your mix window, then you get the error?

5th November 2006, 01:58 AM	#7
Gregg Sartiano Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 1,781	Yeah, on all 3 systems, the HUI will work most of the time. In fact, what I've found is that it works until...well...it doesn't work, and then only a reboot (or successive reboots, in the PT\|Mix cases) will solve it. Dunno the buffer or firmware numbers, but I'll check. Are you referring to DAE buffer or Playback? And would the buffers have anything to do with what appears to be a MIDI bug? On the OS9/dual boot rig, I have yet to trash prefs/dae, but the setup has been stable in the past (it's not my setup, and I have limited experience with it). __________________ "We need to legitimize peer-to-peer sharing as a business model, because it's already a business. If [the P2P companies] are going to make money on us, we should have a chance to make money along with them." -- Perry Farrell on the failure of national intellectual property policy to keep up with the rapid evolution of online media "Every Internet transmission of a musical work constitutes a public performance of that work. " http://www.ascap.com/weblicense/webfaq.html

5th November 2006, 03:32 PM	#8
e-cue Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 3,882	ok... here's a couple stabs to try... •Trash your DAE prefs... Trash your Pro Tools prefs...Power-cycle HUI and check its connections for the umpteenth time •Under the midi menu, goto Input Devices... make sure HUI is checked, AGAIN... (I know I've seen this flip out hui's on older versions of PT)... •Verify your Midi Studio Setup is correct and perhaps up to date... Maybe try other midi devices through your midi interface (Unitor, Studio64XTC, etc)...Double check that you have the drivers installed for your USB MIDI interface... •Sacrifice virgin to the Studer gods in hopes for divine intervention...

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