Sync Setup - Pro Tools® on the same computer via MTC, MMC & HUI

About DAW Sync

To play video in sync with Pro Tools®, Cue Pro needs a way to follow the Pro Tools® transport - knowing when it plays, stops, and where the playhead is located at any moment. This connection between Cue Pro and Pro Tools® is called DAW sync.

In Pro Tools Integrated Mode, Cue Pro synchronises automatically with Pro Tools® when the Cue Pro Connect plug-in is active when the Cue Pro Connect plug-in is active in the session - no additional setup is required. This is by far the easiest way to sync with Pro Tools® and requires Pro Tools 2025.6 or later.

In Media Mode, Cue Pro requires a sync connection to be configured manually. This chapter covers setting up that connection.

Cue Pro is optimised to work with Pro Tools® and offers features unique to Pro Tools®, such as Pro Tools Integrated Mode and dedicated Pro Tools record control functions (Studio only). For this reason, the DAW sync guides in this manual only cover Pro Tools® configurations. Cue Pro can also sync with other DAWs via MTC/MMC - for setup guides covering other DAWs, refer to the Video Sync 6 manual, available in the knowledge base at https://non-lethal-applications.com/knowledge-base

Note: When following Video Sync guides for use with Cue Pro, be aware that certain references such as virtual MIDI port names will differ. For Cue Pro-specific MIDI port information, refer to the MTC/MMC chapters in this manual.

About This Configuration

This chapter covers syncing Cue Pro in Media Mode with Pro Tools® running on the same computer, using MIDI Timecode (MTC), MIDI Machine Control (MMC), and HUI.

Satellite Link (covered in the previous chapter) is generally the preferred sync method as it provides tighter integration with Pro Tools® and a simpler setup process. However, MTC/MMC sync is also very reliable and may be preferred when Satellite Link is not available, such as with Pro Tools® versions that do not support it.

This configuration works with any version of Pro Tools® and supports full DAW Control functionality since both applications run on the same computer.

Note: While Media Mode supports older Pro Tools versions for MTC/MMC connectivity, Pro Tools 2025.6 or later is recommended to enable use of both Media Mode and Pro Tools Integrated Mode.

Understanding MTC, MMC and HUI

This chapter covers setting up three MIDI-based protocols that work together to provide synchronised playback:

MTC (MIDI Timecode) transmits a continuous stream of timecode on a dedicated MIDI port during playback, allowing Cue Pro to track the current position and play at the correct speed.

MMC (MIDI Machine Control) sends transport commands and locate messages on a separate dedicated MIDI port. When navigating to a specific timecode position in Pro Tools® (such as clicking in the timeline or using memory locations), MMC sends locate commands to update Cue Pro's position without requiring playback.

HUI is a control surface protocol that provides two-way communication between Pro Tools® and Cue Pro. Pro Tools® does not communicate loop status via MTC or MMC, so HUI is required for workflows that need loop playback support. HUI setup is covered later in this chapter.

Setup

Cue Pro features virtual MIDI ports, which removes the need to create network MIDI sessions in Audio MIDI Setup in order to connect to Pro Tools® on the same computer. When Cue Pro is launched, it will create virtual MIDI ports named Cue Pro MTC In (virtual), Cue Pro MMC In (virtual), and four HUI input and output ports named Cue Pro HUI In 1 (virtual) to 4 and Cue Pro HUI Out 1 (virtual) to 4 - which will automatically be pre-selected in Cue Pro and visible in Pro Tools®.

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For this reason, it is advised to always launch Cue Pro before launching Pro Tools®. Failure to do so may cause some of these settings (mostly HUI) to be reset to default, requiring them to be re-configured in Pro Tools® again.

Cue Pro MTC / MMC Setup

To show the MIDI I/O options in Cue Pro, first navigate to the SYNC tab of the Preferences / Settings window.

Set the Sync Source field to Pro Tools.

Set the Sync Method field to MIDI.

Next, make sure that the MTC ports are set to their default values Cue Pro MTC In (virtual) & Cue Pro MMC In (virtual) as per the image below:

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Pro Tools® MTC (MIDI Timecode) Setup

First, ensure Pro Tools® is set to Timecode ruler mode rather than Bars|Beats ruler mode. This can be changed by clicking on the arrow to the right of the timecode value in the grid setting in the Pro Tools® UI.

Next, go to Setup → Peripherals → Synchronization tab.

In the MTC Generator Port dropdown menu, choose Cue Pro MTC In (virtual).

Click OK to close the window.

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To show the Synchronization controls in the Edit window, click the arrow at the top right of the Edit window toolbar and enable Synchronization in the dropdown menu. Click the MTC button in the Synchronization controls area to enable MTC generation.

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Alternatively, the Synchronization controls can be enabled in the Transport window - click the arrow at the top right of the Transport window and enable Synchronization. Click the MTC button in the Synchronization controls area to enable MTC generation.

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Pro Tools® MMC (MIDI Machine Control) Setup

To enable MMC in Pro Tools®, select the Setup → Peripherals → Machine Control tab.

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In the Machine Control Master field, click the Enable checkbox.

Check that the ID field is set to 127.

Select Cue Pro 's default virtual MIDI input, Cue Pro MMC In (virtual).

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Now go to Setup → Preferences / Settings → Synchronization tab.

Make sure that Machine Chases Memory Location and Machine Follows Edit Insertion/Scrub are both enabled:

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When Machine Chases Memory Location  is enabled, Pro Tools® will send a MMC Locate command whenever you navigate to a specific memory location. With the Machine Follows Edit Insertion/Scrub checkbox checked, Pro Tools® will send MMC Locate commands every time the position of the edit insertion is changed.

Cue Pro HUI Setup

If looped playback is required with MTC & MMC sync options, Cue Pro must be enabled as a HUI controller in Pro Tools.

Note: If looped playback is not required, for best performance it is suggested to leave HUI off - in which case this step can be skipped until the Enabling Synchronised playback section of this chapter.

In the SYNC tab in the Preferences / Settings window in Cue Pro, check that the HUI In & HUI Out virtual ports are set to the default values Cue Pro HUI In 1 (virtual) & Cue Pro HUI Out 1 (virtual) respectively.

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Pro Tools HUI Setup

New MIDI Inputs are disabled by Pro Tools® by default until they are manually activated.

To enable the HUI ports, launch Pro Tools®, go to Setup → MIDI → MIDI Input Devices and make sure that the four Cue Pro HUI Out 1-4 (virtual) MIDI Inputs are enabled.

Note: Although only one HUI port is required for loop playback, it may be beneficial to enable all four in case additional HUI ports are required for DAW Control.

Next go to Setup → Peripherals → MIDI Controllers tab.

In the first row, under the Type column, select HUI.

In the adjacent Receive From column, select Predefined → Cue Pro HUI Out 1 (virtual). In the adjacent Send To column, select Predefined → Cue Pro HUI In 1 (virtual).

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Click OK once done.

Note: Although Cue Pro can follow looped playback in Pro Tools®, it is possible that playback can drift out of sync slightly after a few iterations of the loop when using HUI.

Matching Frame Rates

For MTC sync to work correctly, the Pro Tools® session frame rate must match the timeline frame rate in Cue Pro.

In the TIMELINES tab, locate the active timeline and check its frame rate in the summary section. If video is present on the timeline, the frame rate is derived from the video file. If no video is present, the frame rate can be set manually by clicking the pencil icon next to the timeline name and selecting the required frame rate from the TC Frame Rate menu.

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In Pro Tools®, go to Setup → Session and set the Timecode Rate field to match the Cue Pro timeline frame rate.

Enabling Synchronised playback

When hitting play or scrubbing within Pro Tools®, the incoming timecode field should now be seen incrementing, and the timecode rate displayed within the Incoming TC section to the left of the main timecode counter in Cue Pro.

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Click the Sync button to the left of the transport buttons to follow external sync - so that it turns blue.

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Cue Pro MTC/MMC sync is now online & ready to go. Hit play in Pro Tools® and Cue Pro will play back in sync.

High Frame Rate Content

Cue Pro supports timelines running at up to 60 frames per second. However, MTC was designed around SMPTE broadcast standards and only supports frame rates up to 30fps (24, 25, 29.97, and 30). The specification has never been updated to include higher frame rates.

To sync high frame rate timelines via MTC, go to Setup → Session in Pro Tools® and set the Timecode Rate field to half the timeline frame rate. For example:

• 48fps timeline → set Pro Tools® to 24fps
• 50fps timeline → set Pro Tools® to 25fps
• 60fps timeline → set Pro Tools® to 30fps

Cue Pro will automatically match the incoming timecode at half its frame rate.

Troubleshooting

If incoming timecode is not showing in Cue Pro:

• Check that MTC generation is enabled in Pro Tools® (MTC button active in Synchronization controls)
• Check that the correct MTC port (Cue Pro MTC In (virtual)) is selected in Pro Tools® Synchronization preferences
• Ensure Cue Pro was launched before Pro Tools® so the virtual ports are available
• Check that the MTC and MMC ports are not swapped - MTC is configured in Setup → Peripherals → Synchronization tab, MMC in the Machine Control tab

If incoming timecode is showing but playback is not syncing:

• Ensure the Sync button is enabled (blue) in Cue Pro
• Check that frame rates match (see Matching Frame Rates above)
• Check that timecode ranges match - if Pro Tools® starts at 01:00:00:00 but the timeline starts at 10:00:00:00, playback will not begin until Pro Tools® reaches 10:00:00:00

If Cue Pro's position only updates during playback but not when navigating in Pro Tools®:

• This indicates an issue with MMC (MIDI Machine Control) setup
• Check that the correct MMC port (Cue Pro MMC In (virtual)) is selected in Pro Tools® Machine Control settings
• Ensure Machine Chases Memory Location and Machine Follows Edit Insertion/Scrub are enabled in Pro Tools® Synchronization preferences

If playback is jumpy or frames are being skipped:

• This is often caused by mismatched frame rates between Pro Tools® and Cue Pro - ensure both are set to the same frame rate (see Matching Frame Rates above)
• Try increasing the TC Freewheel value in Preferences → MISC. This defines a number of freewheel frames to keep playback running through unexpected timecode values. Note that higher values will make Cue Pro less responsive to external timecode changes.

If the Cue Pro HUI ports are not showing in Pro Tools®:

• Ensure the MIDI input devices have been enabled - go to Setup → MIDI → MIDI Input Enable and check that the Cue Pro HUI ports are enabled

If Pro Tools® loops but Cue Pro continues playing:

• Loop playback requires HUI to be configured - check that the HUI ports are correctly selected in both Cue Pro and Pro Tools® MIDI Controllers settings
• Ensure that one of the HUI Status banks shows activity (lit up) in Cue Pro's SYNC preferences, indicating Pro Tools® is communicating
• If a HUI port is already in use for DAW Control, try selecting a different HUI port (e.g., HUI port 2 instead of HUI port 1)

If synchronised playback still does not work after following these steps, please contact support@non-lethal-applications.com.