How do I set the AW4416 up as a MIDI controller for ProTools?

The Version 2 Operating System software for the AW4416 adds the capability to use the AW4416 as a MIDI controller. With the version 2 software installed the AW4416 has 4 banks of remotes that are completely programmable. As long as the software that is being used can be controlled via MIDI the AW4416 can control common functions such as fader levels, mutes, panning, etc.

In order for the AW4416 to be used with Pro Tools by Digidesign, it will be necessary to program the AW4416 to emulate a JL Cooper CS-10 Professional Control Station ™ which uses the standard MIDI protocol and transmits on MIDI channel 16. This is due to the fact that Pro Tools does not have a dedicated template for the AW4416 but it is configured for the JL Cooper CS10 which is often used with Digidesign professional digital audio editing systems and software.

1) Connect the MIDI Out of the AW4416 to the MIDI In of either the computer’s MIDI card or MIDI interface.

Configuring Pro Tools:

1) Select ‘CS10’ in the MIDI Controller section of Pro Tools under Peripherals.

2) Set the number of channels to 8.

Configuring the AW4416:

1) Press the [MIDI] button repeatedly until the ‘Remote A 1-8’ screen is displayed. Click here to view.

2) Use the , , , and ‘CURSOR’ buttons to select the ‘DISABLE’ button in the LCD for Remote 1-8.

3) Press the [ENTER] button. The ‘DISABLE’ field should change to ‘ENABLE’.
Repeat this for Remote 9-16.

4) Press the [SEL] key above fader 1. In the LCD screen below ‘CH1 VOL’ there is a string of MIDI commands for the fader.

5) Use the , , , and ‘CURSOR’ buttons and the (DATA/JOG) dial to replace the existing MIDI commands in the ‘FADER’ section with the string “BF 40 FAD END”.

NOTE: B specifies that it is a control change message; F specifies MIDI channel 16; 40 specifies the control change number; and FAD specifies that it will send varying values depending upon the fader position.

6) Use the , , , or ‘CURSOR’ buttons and the (DATA/JOG) dial to replace the existing MIDI commands for the ‘ON/OFF’ (Switch) button, located immediately above the ‘FADER’ section, with the string ”BF 00 SW END”.

7) Repeat steps 4-5 for faders 2-8 but you need to change the value following following BF for each channel on both the Fader and the switch. Follow the table below:

Channel Fader Switch
1 BF 40 FAD END BF 00 SW END
2 BF 41 FAD END BF 01 SW END
3 BF 42 FAD END BF 02 SW END
4 BF 43 FAD END BF 03 SW END
5 BF 44 FAD END BF 04 SW END
6 BF 45 FAD END BF 05 SW END
7 BF 46 FAD END BF 06 SW END
8 BF 47 FAD END BF 07 SW END

NOTE: This sets up the AW4416 to control 8 faders and mutes at a time like the CS-10 which also controls 8 faders at a time and switches between fader banks. The On/Off keys of channels 9-10 in Remote A of the AW4416 can be programmed to transmit the MIDI messages that the CS-10 uses for bank up and down messages. The MIDI message for bank down would be ‘BF 1C SW END’. The MIDI message for bank up would be ‘BF 1D SW END’. By programming the On/Off keys, bank up and down commands can be transmitted to as many as 32 channels controlled by the AW4416.

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