Setting up Logic Environment for EWI-EVI / beginner

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Level 1

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Setting up Logic Environment for EWI-EVI / beginner

Greetings - I have a Yamaha EWI-EVI (wind controller, usb midi only - no sound module) that I would like to use as input to my Logic Studio.

The data stream it generates includes standard note on and off messages, to which Logic responds appropriately. The "volume" control is sent as two-byte (cc?) messages, with the second byte encoding the desired volume, 1-127. (Looks like they actually come in pairs of messages - the first message uses '2' as the first byte, and 2nd message has null as the first byte. Both have volume info in the second data byte) If I use a "Transform Op2" fader on the C-press input, I can extract the air pressure data and the fader moves accordingly, but I can't figure out how to mix the fader's 'out' back into the rest of the data stream so that these data control the volume of the sound that the mapped software instrument generates. The pitch and pitchbend (biting pressure) information are handled appropriately without any transformations.

Bonus questions: How can I limit this pitch processing only to the EWI, and not other MIDI instruments? (It's just me, so it's sorta moot, but I'm curious.) Also, how do I map the output of the EWI to a specific software instrument in the Arrange window, rather than whichever one happens to be highlighted?

Quick Product Review: For those interested in a cheap wind controller, I like this device. I played briefly decades ago, and have picked it up pretty quickly again. The Aria software that comes with has samples of many instruments that are very good, but I wouldn't say outstanding. On the whole, it is a very good value to add a tool to your MIDI arsenal, especially if you have experience with any of several wind instruments (e.g., sax, flute, bassoon) - there's no exact match for clarinet mapping. On the downside, modifying the hardware/firmware settings can be extremely unreliable and fussy, as of v.1.0.5 or 6, depending on where you look. Have wasted hours trying to get the device fully responsive again. Once, it's working, it plays well (if you can live without tactile feedback from the keys). Best just to control it with your sequencer software ... which is why I write.

Thanks for the help. Copies of replies directly to logicuser at discountethics (period) com appreciated.

Mac Pro 8 core, Mac Book Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jun 10, 2009 11:49 AM

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Answer 1

Bee Jay

Level 6

10,900 points

Jun 10, 2009 11:56 AM in response to ewi-logic

The "volume" control is sent as two-byte (cc?) messages, with the second byte encoding the desired volume, 1-127. (Looks like they actually come in pairs of messages - the first message uses '2' as the first byte, and 2nd message has null as the first byte.

Can you give example message strings? If' it's just standard CC volume messages, it should have a CC status (I forget what that is offhand), a MIDI channel (0-15), a controller number (6), and a data value (0-127)

but I can't figure out how to mix the fader's 'out' back into the rest of the data stream so that these data control the volume of the sound that the mapped software instrument generates.

Cable all the outputs back to a new instrument object - untick it's icon, make sure it's not channeliseing or changing anything - this dummy object will just merge all the streams back into one before sending it elsewhere. Or am I misunderstanding you?

How can I limit this pitch processing only to the EWI, and not other MIDI instruments?

On the Click & Ports environment layer, instead of taking a feed from the "SUM" output of the physical input object (ie, the sum of all MIDI ports arriving to Logic), just take a feed from the MIDI port the EWI is on. You can use transformers to further choose only a particular channel for procesing on that port, if necessary.

Cabling from one of the other ports removes that stream from the SUM output.

Also, how do I map the output of the EWI to a specific software instrument in the Arrange window, rather than whichever one happens to be highlighted?

This is how Logic is supposed to work - you can choose which instrument to play be selecting it's track. If you always want to play one instrument, in the environment you can cable it there directly - however, as this MIDI stream is bypassing the sequencer, you won't be able to record it.

Quick Product Review: For those interested in a cheap wind controller, I like this device. I played briefly decades ago, and have picked it up pretty quickly again.

Hehe - me too. I played flute for a few years back when I was about 12, and can still roughly play and remember the fingerings (which are fairly adaptable to many wind instruments).

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Answer 2

ewi-logic Author

Level 1

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Jun 10, 2009 1:52 PM in response to Bee Jay

Thanks Bee Jay. I will provide more detail on your other questions when I get home and have access to the device.

How can I limit this pitch processing only to the EWI, and not other MIDI instruments?

On the Click & Ports environment layer, instead of taking a feed from the "SUM" output of the physical input object (ie, the sum of all MIDI ports arriving to Logic), just take a feed from the MIDI port the EWI is on. You can use transformers to further choose only a particular channel for procesing on that port, if necessary.

Yes. That works on the 8 cores, but when I plug it into the Mac Book Pro, the only options are "sum" and "caps lock keyboard". It still plays fine out of the sum, but there's no dedicated EWI channel on the physical input. (I'm pretty sure the Apple MIDI Setup is correct, as there are no obligatory settings or connections to make with a USB-MIDI input device, AFAIK.)

Also, how do I map the output of the EWI to a specific software instrument in the Arrange window, rather than whichever one happens to be highlighted?

This is how Logic is supposed to work - you can choose which instrument to play be selecting it's track. If you always want to play one instrument, in the environment you can cable it there directly - however, as this MIDI stream is bypassing the sequencer, you won't be able to record it.

Hmmm. This presents a conceptual problem for me. Suppose I was recording with a band having multiple MIDI devices, and I wanted to record simultaneously each of the instruments into its respective Software Instrument/Channel. If I read your answer correctly, that's not possible. Seems like an obvious and common application, unlikely to be omitted, so maybe I didn't phrase my question well.

Quick Product Review: For those interested in a cheap wind controller, I like this device. I played briefly decades ago, and have picked it up pretty quickly again.

Hehe - me too. I played flute for a few years back when I was about 12, and can still roughly play and remember the fingerings (which are fairly adaptable to many wind instruments).

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Answer 3

Bee Jay

Level 6

10,900 points

Jun 10, 2009 1:57 PM in response to ewi-logic

but when I plug it into the Mac Book Pro, the only options are "sum" and "caps lock keyboard". It still plays fine out of the sum, but there's no dedicated EWI channel on the physical input.

That indicates that OSX doesn't see any valid MIDI ports. There's something wrong there... The EWI MIDI has to come from somewhere, right? 😉

Hmmm. This presents a conceptual problem for me. Suppose I was recording with a band having multiple MIDI devices, and I wanted to record simultaneously each of the instruments into its respective Software Instrument/Channel

Well that's different, and wasn't mentioned in your first post. Yes, Logic has ways of doing this - check Multiplayer Record mode. This distributes different incoming MIDI channels to different tracks (and therefore instruments) and works fine.

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Answer 4

ewi-logic Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 10, 2009 6:56 PM in response to Bee Jay

Ok. Did some expts. Turns out that USB-MIDI instruments do not appear on the physical input. The data only comes out of the SUM (not even MIDI). If you have more than one USB MIDI instrument (I've currently got my EWI and an Axiom 25), they both identify as channel 1 - no way in AMS to change them. They are indistinguishable by Logic, near as I can tell.

This seems like a shortcoming, if not an outright bug. Maybe I need to do layers and/or multiple instruments filtered by input ports - but like the subject line sez: "beginner".

Returning to my original question about the EWI ... in an unfiltered monitor off the SUM line, it appears that every "pressure" change shows up as 2 events. One with a small circle with a line up top (program?), followed by a "1" (channel?), followed by a "2" (breath?), followed by 1-127, linear w/actual pressure. The next event is a "C", followed by a "1" (channel?), followed by a null (same as previous event, by the MIDI spec?), followed by the identical pressure value.

For purpose of comparison, with the Axiom keyboard, the monophonic "aftertouch" generates similar "C" events, with "1" (channel?), null, then pressure value. Either the pitch bend or the mod wheel generate events that start with the little circle with the line on top (program?), "1" (channel), {0,1,or 127} (no idea), then the value.

With my "Transform Opt2" fader, Input= Program, Ch1 and Output = Control, Ch.1, "-1-" = 2 (Breath), I get on a separate monitor the little circle/vertical line, "1" (ch), "2" (type?), then 7 bits of value proportional to actual air pressure.

Combining this signal with the original (filtering out the control messages with another transformer object) seems to reconstruct the original, unfiltered version. What I'd like to do is take my messages passing through the fader and get them to control the volume of the software instrument.

All suggestions welcome, particularly ones that work.

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Answer 5

ewi-logic Author

Level 1

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Jun 12, 2009 11:22 PM in response to ewi-logic

I'm going to answer my own question.

Basically, I was trying to figure out how to get an EWI-EVI to make natural use of its breath (i.e., pressure or flow, I don't know) as a volume control. Blow harder, louder sound.

The solution is simple - for a beginner like me, it took a lot of head hammering. It was pretty clear that faders would be involved. I eventually picked a vertical fader with mute button. Other types might work as well. The EWI-EVI sends breath messages as "Control" type with the "-1-" (what the **** does this mean anyway?) value = 2 "breath". So set your Input, the lower on the list, section accordingly.

Volume messages, at least continuous ones, are also sent as "Control" type, but the "-1-" value is 7 "volume". The output (higher) section needs to be set to these values. At that point, a fader cabled between the physical input and the sequencer input with these settings produces the desired pressure-to-loudness relationship.

One thing that remains unclear is why my USB-MIDI instruments only show up in the "Sum" section of the physical input. I will re-pose this as a separate query.

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