No sound when Roland Fantom G8 hooked up

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Level 1

8 points

No sound when Roland Fantom G8 hooked up

Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 1

Hello all!
I've been trying to hook up a Roland Fantom G8 to Logic Pro 8 all day and I'm having sound issues. Here's what I'm working with:

Logic 8
IMAC 10.5
Roland Fantom G8

I've downloaded the necessary drivers and editors. I've plugged the keyboard into the computer via USB (because apparently that's all you need for the G series).

When opening Logic, I create a new project, select external MIDI, and choose Fantom G - channel 1 (I would like the RF to be the input - Logic as output).

I've been to the environment window and made sure the physical input is connected via SUM to the sequencer input (learned this from youtube today).

I've gone to the Audio Midi Setup and selected the Fantom G as the input device. I've left the output as the built in output. I've also gone to the audio preferences in Logic and clicked on the Roland Fantom as the device. I did assign a sound to channel 1 on the Fantom.

Now, after doing all of that, I get no sound when I play the keyboard (the track is record enabled). I see that Logic is responding in some way when I press the keys on the keyboard ('no input' area hops around and spouts the notes I'm playing).

Any and all advice is welcome, as always.

pixie

Message was edited by: Pixie9

Intel-based iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Logic Pro 8

Posted on May 18, 2010 9:27 AM

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Answer 1

Foxboy71

Level 4

2,378 points

May 18, 2010 10:33 PM in response to Pixie9

Hi,

what do you want to get as "result"? Do you want to record MIDI, trigger the Fantom with Logic's MIDI, record the Fantom's AUDIO with Logic or what?

MIDI is not AUDIO, and if you connect a keyboard via USB to the Mac, this usually means MIDI ONLY, so no sounds are transmitted, but only the MIDI data.

To play a software instrument via you Fantom, you have to load it into the channelstrip.
To record AUDIO of the Fantom, you have to connect it's outputs (not USB!) to an audio interface, which then goes into your mac.

Fox

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Answer 2

Pixie9 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 19, 2010 10:01 AM in response to Foxboy71

Thank you Fox,

Initially I would like to record the Fantom's audio with Logic (but I am interested in the other options as well). I was under the impression (from watching videos and reading manuals), that a MIDI interface was not necessary with this workstation as it has it's own internally - therefore the USB from the keyboard to the computer would work. In fact, I have read comments on a few forums in which Fantom G users hook up their systems via USB right to the computer with no problems (and chastise those who route through a MIDI interface because they say it's redundant). I understand what you are saying and I would have tried that had I not been under the impression that a USB connection was all I needed. Also, having had sound issues with hooking up external devices with Logic in the past, I just assumed it was some sort of weird configuration of audio setups I needed to figure out. Of course I am more than willing to hook up my M-Audio interface to get this thing to work, but I was hoping not to. 🙂

Pixie

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Answer 3

Pixie9 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 19, 2010 12:54 PM in response to Pixie9

Any other ideas out there? 🙂

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Answer 4

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

May 19, 2010 5:33 PM in response to Pixie9

Pixie9 wrote:
Any other ideas out there? 🙂

As mentioned, you want to hear the Fantom sound correct?

The USB MIDI interface is only a MIDI interface and probably transmits system exculsive... patches..etc.

The audio of the Fantom will not be played through Logic until you take one of the audio outputs from the keyboard and go into the audio in of your Mac.

Think of MIDI as an evolved player piano, it's only a few bytes of data that a keypress sends out, how hard (velocity) you played the note, holw long it was held... that's it, no sound. The MIDI recording then plays back your performance, the audio will come from the Fantom. Plug a set of headphones into the Fantom and record a MIDI track.

Now, if youi want to play some of Logic's internal instruments, that's a whole 'nuther story!

pancenter-

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Answer 5

Pixie9 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 19, 2010 8:44 PM in response to Pancenter

Thank you Pancenter,

I understand what you are saying. I guess I'm confused about what I've been reading about the G8. From Roland's website:
"*USB and Streaming Audio*:
Maybe the most powerful aspect of USB on the Fantom-G is its ability to stream audio from the Fantom-G to a computer, and from the computer to the Fantom-G. When the Fantom-G is selected on the computer as its audio input and output, it’s easy to get audio back and forth between them."

And:

"*Streaming Fantom-G Audio Via USB Into a DAW*:
You can stream audio digitally from the Fantom-G via USB into your computer-based DAW in order to capture and record it on DAW audio tracks."

Am I not reading this right or does it state that I just need a USB connection to transmit audio from the G8 to Logic?

Thank you!
Pixie

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Answer 6

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

May 19, 2010 10:06 PM in response to Pixie9

Pixie9 wrote:
Thank you Pancenter,

I understand what you are saying. I guess I'm confused about what I've been reading about the G8. From Roland's website:
"*USB and Streaming Audio*:
Maybe the most powerful aspect of USB on the Fantom-G is its ability to stream audio from the Fantom-G to a computer, and from the computer to the Fantom-G. When the Fantom-G is selected on the computer as its audio input and output, it’s easy to get audio back and forth between them."

And:

"*Streaming Fantom-G Audio Via USB Into a DAW*:
You can stream audio digitally from the Fantom-G via USB into your computer-based DAW in order to capture and record it on DAW audio tracks."

Yes, you are right... I stand corrected! The F8 has an audio interface built in.

First, you will not select a MIDI track to record streaming digital audio from the F8, you would select a stereo audio track which means the F8 would have to
be selected as the audio interface in Logic's Preferences/Audio setup.

This would be easier if you were using Logic 9 as you can set separate audio In and Out.

Go here:

Preferences/Audio

What do you have set for the audio interface? Device:

If your only other audio is built-in, you will have to make an Aggregate Devive (not needed in Logic 9)

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1215

This will combine the F8's audio output with the Mac's built in audio.

This should be enough to get you started and prepare the next round of questions.

The way I would do it is to record and edit the MIDI performance first then record the edited performance as audio.

pancenter-

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Answer 7

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

May 19, 2010 11:38 PM in response to Pancenter

Pixie9 wrote:
I understand what you are saying. I guess I'm confused about what I've been reading about the G8. From Roland's website:
"*USB and Streaming Audio*:
Maybe the most powerful aspect of USB on the Fantom-G is its ability to stream audio from the Fantom-G to a computer, and from the computer to the Fantom-G. When the Fantom-G is selected on the computer as its audio input and output, it’s easy to get audio back and forth between them."

Rereading this, I'm not so sure that "Streaming" is the correct description of what the F8 is doing with USB audio.

Where is this at on the Roland web page.

pancenter-

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Answer 8

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

May 20, 2010 12:13 AM in response to Pancenter

Pancenter wrote:

Rereading this, I'm not so sure that "Streaming" is the correct description of what the F8 is doing with USB audio.

Where is this at on the Roland web page.

Never mind, found it, indeed the Fantom can become a full audio interface.

What a beast that thing is, must weigh a lot!

pancenter-

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Answer 9

Jilles

Level 1

35 points

May 20, 2010 7:55 AM in response to Pixie9

Hi,

I have a Roland Sonic Cell synth module and can almost do the same thing in case of sending midi/audio over USB.
I'm not sure if it is the same procedure for a G8 but you can give it a go:

For MIDI: On the system menu on your G8 select a feature like : Midi usb thru:ON
This makes it possible to output midi via USB.

=> Go to environment in Logic select the input roland.

For AUDIO: On the effect section select OUTPUT to COM instead of OUTPUT 1/2.
This makes the output engine of the sound section of the Roland to output to USB.

=> Go to Logic Create a new audio track and select INPUT 1/2 (roland core driver)

On disadvantage of this procedure that you can only record one stereo ouput at once. And it is not a data dump thing. Just audio/(midi) over USB instead of a audio jack cable.

Maybe this info can get you going.

<PS> If I am correct Yamaha has a plugin-module for the Motif serie to ouput 8 channels of audio at once by mLAN(firewire).

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Answer 10

Pixie9 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 20, 2010 8:35 AM in response to Pancenter

Pancenter -

LOL! Yes, it is quite heavy. In fact I absolutely cannot lift it myself. It's also quite an upgrade from my old Korg M1 (understatement I know!)! I'll follow your directions exactly and let you know if it works!

Thanks again!
Pixie

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Answer 11

Pixie9 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 20, 2010 11:59 AM in response to Jilles

Thank you for your reply, Jilles. It's very helpful to hear your take on this seeing that you have a similar workstation. I have read through your instructions and see how they compare to pancenter's. I'll probably end up trying both methods.

Thanks again!
Pixie

PS: How do you like your Sonic Cell? Do you prefer editing and mixing on your Sonic or on Logic?

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Answer 12

Jilles

Level 1

35 points

May 21, 2010 4:51 AM in response to Pixie9

About your PS; I really like my Sonic Cell, even if it was just for the weight 😉 I perform in multiple bands and in most rehursal-rooms I left some MIDI-Masterkeyboards, like my Roland A33 controller, and just have hook the Sonic Cell on and continue playing instead of buiding an carrying all the stuff all the time. All settings are saved on the Sonic Cell. The sounds are also ok in case of piano/rhodes/strings/brass but I really dislike the hammond sounds. So in that case I use the Sonic Cell as an audio interface with my macbook and play the B4 plugin.

Unlike the G8 there is no real sequencer on board so that's where Logic comes in. But then again I don't use the sounds of the Sonic Cell as Audio because on stage I never do a mix down and play live a midifile from Logic.

For me, it is the best sollution because I mix roland sounds with AU's and in case the Laptop crashes (knock on wood) on stage I still can play piano/strings etc.

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