Nick,
This is the best DA7 tidbit I've encountered! Very informative post! Still, I get the "not communicating with HUI" prompt in PT (5.1.3)

I followed all of your steps (which were written extremely well!) but continue getting the annoying prompt - what did you mean with "housekeeping" in the Finder menu? IN PT I had "MIDI Active in background" already selected on bootup, so wonder should I de-activate, reconfigure, then turn it on? All the other steps were followed, as you had written. Does Baud rate, or the MIDI/toPC selections on the left (DA& Midi screen) need to be configured too? I futzed with all the BaudRate settings and read the pdf. manual to set all according to my studio/MIDI needs, but still need the proper communication between the DA7 and PT... I saw the blue grouped faders in PT, and the DA7 (ch.1-8) were responding to fader moves I made in PT, but still the dreaded prompt

Thanks, and great insights into the workings of the DA7 - I have been very impressed with this machine - I know why all of you are loyal users!

Thanks Nick. Now if I can just right a song or two...
Can't spell and have dyslexic fingers....

Jeff

Thanks Liq.

Plughead, if you're getting that message, it means, well, that MIDI isn't going back and forth between the computer and the DA7. The troubleshooting should be pretty straightforward. Do the faders respond in one direction, i.e. DA7->PT or v.v.?

The baud rate setting is only for the To PC part. You're using the MIDI port.

Active In Background is either on or off. You shouldn't need to toggle it. By 'housekeeping' I just mean that you might want to go copy some files, open a folder, or do anything one does outside Pro Tools - go online, whatever.

Good luck with it.

Thanks Nick,

When I'm back at the studio, I will chip away at getting these kinks ironed out...

Cheers,

great info nick, does this only work with version 2 or will this do anything for version 1 da7. I'm using protools 9 with an Mbox 2 and the only connections are via midi cables to mbox 2. any info is appreciated.

Wow, that was years ago. I think DAW mode was introduced before v.2, in fact v.2 was the one with the blue top with the software that wasn't available to unwashed masses? What I do know is that DAW mode was an update - the original DA7 didn't have it.

I haven't had a DA7 for years, so I'm afraid I really don't remember the exact details.

Someone here will be able to help, though.

And I just had a flash of sadness. I remember Fred Mound, RIP, coming over here to try it out in my rig before it was released.

Oh....and I see the first sentence: DAW Mode was v.2.01.

Also, DAW Mode does work by MIDI, so your MBox' MIDI I/O will work fine.

Nick I appreciate your help, but sadly enough I'm still not clear. on my Da7 midi setup screen I have 2 options: to pc or rs, I know this might sound a bit ignorant but does it have to say DAW Mode to function or can I just download the freemidi program you mentioned on my mac and follow the steps to get my da7 working as a surface control? at least for the faders.

Freemidi and OMS are OS 9 extensions. Ancient history.

Quoting myself under Setting up the DA7:

"DAW Mode uses the DA7 MIDI port, so Remote 1 (meaning Faders 1-8) at the bottom right of the screen must be set to MIDI."

In other words you don't use either To PC or RS, you use the MIDI ports (in both directions) to talk to your computer. DAW Mode appears to your sequencer as a Mackie HUI.

What computer are you using, and what software?

Drop me an email and I'll send you my phone number. It's very easy to set up.

nb at virtual instruments mag dot com