Help
Troubleshooting
Quick fixes for the most common problems, and what the menu bar can tell you.
Open this manual from DarkStage at any time: choose Help ▸ DarkStage Manual, or DarkStage Manual in the DarkStage menu bar menu.
Stuck behind a blackout
- Press the display's shortcut again (F16–F19 by default).
- Move the pointer to the top edge of the display. The Menu Peek Strip reveals the menu bar. Open the DarkStage menu and choose Panic Off — Clear All Overlays.
- Pointer missing? Hold Control to see it, or press ⌃⌥⌘Esc to force it back.
The menu bar
Click the DarkStage icon for:
- <Display> — Show/Hide Overlay for each screen, with its settings underneath.
- Blackout All, Restore All, Panic Off — Clear All Overlays and Clear Clip LEDs.
- DAW Sync status: Waiting for DAW, Stopped, Playing, Armed or Recording, with Bridge Diagnostics… underneath.
- Audio status: the source DarkStage is metering right now.
- Show/Hide Settings, DarkStage Remote, Remote Manager, About, DarkStage Manual and Quit.
A Permissions required chip at the top right of the app window means a macOS permission needs attention. Click it to see which one.
Common problems
| Problem | Try this |
|---|---|
| Meters don't move | Check the menu bar's audio status and Settings ▸ Stereo Audio. For Mac System Sound, make sure System Audio Recording is allowed in System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security. For a device, check Microphone access and the channel selection. |
| Meters read lower than the DAW | Check you're comparing the same thing: sample peak vs RMS vs LUFS, and before or after monitor correction. Use the Capture plug-in to meter before correction. |
| Counter or transport doesn't follow | Check DAW Sync status in the menu bar, then the steps for your DAW in Setup. The DAW Sync page also has an If something does not follow card. |
| Pro Tools stopped following after relaunching DarkStage | In Pro Tools: Setup ▸ Peripherals ▸ OK. Pro Tools reconnects to the HUI ports. |
| Cubase counter is blank after launch | Move the playhead once. Cubase only sends the counter when it changes. |
| SMPTE widget is still while REAPER is stopped | Expected. REAPER's timecode generator only runs during playback. |
| Shortcuts don't work | System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security ▸ Accessibility: make sure DarkStage's switch is on, not just listed. |
| Clicking a meter selects it instead of doing anything | That's arranging. On a blacked-out display, a click selects a widget so you can move it. Only Button Panel, Notepad, Cutout, the Hover Panel and a few widget controls (Now Playing's transport buttons, MIDI Piano keys, the BPM reset) respond to clicks. See Widgets you can click. |
| A Button Panel button doesn't fire | Keyboard buttons need Accessibility permission and send keys to the front app (unless the key's Target Application says otherwise). Check you aren't holding Control, which arranges instead, and that Arrange Widgets isn't on for a Transparent display. |
| Cutout shows the wrong window | Click Position Window on the Cutout page. If another window is in front, bring the target app forward first. |
| Can't click something under the overlay | Turn on Mouse Peek, switch the display to Transparent, or add a Cutout over that window. |
| iPad won't connect to Remote | Put the Mac and iPad on the same network, check Remote is enabled, and scan a fresh QR code. Guest networks often block devices from seeing each other. |
| A camera feed is blank or says Camera off | Check the source is on and assigned to that Location in the Cameras tab. See Cameras troubleshooting for certificate, permission and viewer-limit messages. |
| Now Playing says Not playing while music is playing | Only Apple Music and Spotify are supported. macOS asks once per player whether DarkStage may control it; if you clicked Don't Allow, turn DarkStage on for that player in System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security ▸ Automation. Still stuck, or using another player? Start playback, run the Player Compatibility Report, click Copy Report and email it to support. |
| Now Playing shows a placeholder instead of the cover | DarkStage shows a placeholder rather than a cover that might be wrong. For streamed Apple Music tracks, turn on Enhanced Apple Music Artwork in Settings ▸ General ▸ NOW PLAYING. If its status reads denied, allow DarkStage in System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security ▸ Media & Apple Music. Spotify covers come from Spotify and aren't affected. |
| DAW doesn't receive DarkStage MIDI | Check Settings ▸ MIDI reads Available. If it says Waiting for approval, allow DarkStage in System Settings ▸ Login Items. Then enable DarkStage MIDI as an input in your DAW. |
| A key recalls nothing | A Quick Preset key does nothing if its preset was cleared. Pick another in the key's On Press row, or assign it again. |
| BPM or key reading looks wrong | These are estimates. Give the detector a few bars of steady music, or reset it with the ↺ in its corner. |
| A plugin meter froze | Plugin Meters ▸ Engine ▸ Restart. If it keeps happening, email the plug-in's name to support. |
Contacting support
Email support@mydarkstage.com with your version and build from Settings ▸ About, your DAW and macOS version, and a screenshot if you can.