DAW Setup
DarkStage follows your DAW's transport and timeline position, so the Counter, SMPTE, Transport Status, Border and Metronome widgets move with your session. These guides show how to configure each DAW.
Choose your DAW
Pro ToolsHUI, with MTC and MMC for timecode
Logic ProHUI, with MTC and MMC for timecode
CubaseSteinberg MIDI Remote — no control surface
Ableton LiveRemote Script — no MIDI port
FL StudioController script on its own MIDI ports
REAPERBuilt-in OSC control surface
Before you begin
- Install and launch DarkStage.
- Open DAW Sync in DarkStage (Settings ▸ DAW Sync) and choose your DAW.
- Confirm that DAW Sync is running — the menu-bar icon shows its status.
- Leave DarkStage open while you configure your DAW.
Changing the DAW in DAW Sync restarts DarkStage, so its MIDI ports rebuild correctly.
Counter and timecode are two separate paths
Most DAWs give DarkStage two independent streams, and you can set up either or both:
| Path | Drives |
|---|---|
| The DAW connection (HUI, MIDI Remote, Remote Script, controller script or OSC) | The main Counter, and Play / Stop / Record for Transport Status, Border and Status Text |
| MIDI Time Code (MTC) | The separate SMPTE / MTC widget |
Pro Tools and Logic Pro set both up in one pass. Cubase, FL Studio and REAPER have a separate MTC section in their guide. Ableton Live has no MTC path.
Not sure whether it's working? The DarkStage menu-bar icon shows DAW Sync status — Waiting for DAW, Stopped, Playing, Armed or Recording. Check there before changing settings in your DAW.
If something doesn't follow
Each guide ends with troubleshooting for that DAW. The Troubleshooting page covers the rest, and DAW Sync ▸ Bridge Diagnostics… in DarkStage names the live sources separately.
Still stuck? Email support@mydarkstage.com and we'll help you get set up.