Best way to use Kontakt in Logic

Yes, it's a bit of a drag one can't automate the multiple Midi channels directly but has to automate the Auxes but that's the way it is with Kontakt. I would suggest you setup the template you mentioned, this way you have your Aux setup always ready and don´t have to do the assignment for each new project. I have several templates with Kontakt and have gotten used to this workflow so it doesn´t really bother me anymore.
If you have a strong enough Computer go for single Kontakt-Instances which will of yourse use up more CPU. Personally I like using Multitimbral instances though...

You´re welcome...

I sure hope Apple eventually fixes the automation limitations for multi-timbral VI's like Kontakt. It's seriously non-Pro IMHO.

What I can't figure out with Kontakt is where's the best place to save my multis and patches -- in Logic's "preset settings" folder, or in the folder with Kontakt's libraries (in my case, on my 'samples' drive). There don't seem to be default settings for this, and I end up with files strewn all over the place in the heat of (artistic) battle. Any suggestions from other Logic/Kontakt users?

The patches I use more often are saved as a Channelstrip in the Logic User Library. All other stuff I save in a folder called "My Library" residing in the same folder as my Kontakt 2/3 Library on one of the external drives. Also in the Kontakt options menue->Load/Import you can set a default Library path but that's only for loading sounds.

You could use this environment template:

http://www.logicprohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=3017&start=0

It allows to use Kontakt basically like a multitimbral hardware device, ie. you get independent MIDI tracks for the subchannels, and the whole aux business can be hidden from the arrange window unless you want individual audio output processing.

Unfortunately the environment cabling is quite complex and hard to understand.

A colleague of mine just gave me a great tip on a way of easily controlling the individual instruments of a Kontakt 3 instant's volume with track-based automation in Logic's Arrange page without having to create Aux channels, etc. Here's the procedure:

- add multi-instrument from Logic’s arrange (using no. of channels you want for that instance of Kontakt 3)
- in Kontakt 3, load instruments you want
- click on “Auto” tab at left
- drag “assigned to” column for #001 to track 1’s volume at right
- drag “assigned to” column for #002 to track 2’s volume at right (and so on)

Back in Arrange, highlight the first Kontakt channel you created. Enable Automation mode by hitting "A". Choose the controller specified above for the associated track and automate THAT to control volume internally on the Kontakt3’s individual patch within a given instance!

I've tried it and it definitely works with a Powermac Dual 2ghz G5 running the latest version of Tiger and Logic 8, and Kontakt 3 (though it doesn't seem to work with Kontakt 2?)
Best and hope this is helpful -
- D.D. Jackson

Interesting solution!

I've just checked: it works also with Kontakt 2.

Yessss - of course - great - superb - thank you - very helpful! Please say thank you to that colleague of yours 🙂

Thanks so much for this. I appreciate the Logic 8/Kontakt combo more every time I use it.
dbb

I just tried this way you mentioned Robert. It seems now that all my instruments are are playing various other tracks than the one they are assigned to. In Logic I have selected "I Kontakt 3" in the pull down menu that allows for Automation. I then select a channel such a3 001 or 016. In Kontakt I then select the same MIDI channel for that particular instrument. For example if I have the Flute MIDI Track in Logic on 001 I will select MIDI Channel 1 in Kontakt.

What have I missed here?

Thanks.

it's no problem to use the kontakt multi timbrally, but you have to set up the individual midi channels as standard midi instruments to use in arrange, and then use a transformer to convert the cc7 messages into (i think cc11) messages that will reach the individual slots within a kontakt instrument.

i don't use auxs at all with kontakt.

there other advantages to doing things this way. it means you get much more control over the midi data flowing to the kontakt instrument.

for example, you could use meta events (such forte, piano, tremelo, trill, stoccato symbols in the score editor) to switch between articulations in your kontakt instance.

it's very easy, although a little fiddly to set up, but once you have done it, obviously that becomes your template.

Is that what I am missing Rohan? I don't know what the transformer is. How do i convert the cc7 messages to cc11?

DO you have a template I could get a hold of?

well i do , but not for this particular situation. i have some orchestral templates over at LPH.

but honestly, it is super easy to do. you literally can either make up an old fashioned midi multi like you would use for external synths and plug them into kontakt via a transformer, or use single channel instances as i do. i like the extra control.

transformers are very easy to use, the signal flows form top to bottom. simply set the transformer to convert control data byte 1, value 7, on the top line, to value 11 on the bottom line.

if you need to automate the master volume for the kontakt instrument you can still do that by bringing the actual kontakt channel strip into arrange, since midi will be sent directly to it and not via the transformers.

honestly, it's no harder than programming a VCR (bad example - they're pretty hard but you know what i mean). just think about the flow of the midi data and cable things together using transformers to make whatever modification you need.

(in majestic tones...) unlock the power of the environment.....!!!

Logic just doesn't handle multitimbral instruments that well. 8 is an improvement, with the ability to create multiple tracks at once and add the auxes with the plus sign. But you are still stuck with two tracks for each instrument.

Logic could definitely update to have the fader for each part of a multitimbral instrument control a separate audio output, that would be a huge improvement. In the meantime, the easiest thing to do seems to be not using instruments as multitimbral and just creating a separate instance for each instrument as with EXS24. Unfortunately, that's not as CPU and RAM efficient with some instruments like Kontakt.