Using Built in Sounds on an External Synth

Question

Using Built in Sounds on an External Synth

I am an faithful user of Logic X and when doing Keyboard use it's built in sounds along with UVI falcon. Now my question is as follows:

I just bought a vintage synth (Alesis QS8) and am using it as a controller as it has hammer action keys and I got it for $150, and also like the fact it has midi thru as well. Now I plugged in some headphone into it to check out it's built in sounds and there are a few that I really like. Now what I was wondering is can I use it's built in sounds in Logic via a midi connection, or do I have to go from it's line outs into my audio interface and have the sounds converted to digital audio which takes up more HD space? I do have several audio inputs on the interface (total of 8), but would much prefer to do this via midi. Any help would be appreciated.

Fender Twin

Posted on May 13, 2021 8:10 AM

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Answer 1

May 13, 2021 10:37 AM in response to FenderTwinReverb

You can have your eternal MIDI Sound Modules play "live" in your Logic Project.

- Create an INstrument Track
- On the Instrument SLot select Eternal INstrument ( in the Utilities section of the Plugin Menu)
- For the MIDI destination you select the MIDI port that you have your Alesis connected to
- On the Input selector, you choose the Audio INput channel of your Audio Interface where you send the audio back from your Alesis.
- Now the MIDi Region that you record on that Track is sent to the Alesis and its audio is coming back on the same Track, so you don't have to deal with a separate Aux return.

There are different variations to this setup. For example, bounce the final Track, or route it to an Audio Track and record it, or use the Auto Sample in Logic Pro to sample the Patches of your Alesis to have them available in Logic as a Software Instrument Plugin.

Hope that helps,

Edgar R. (my "UserName")

Author of the best-selling book series "Graphically Enhanced Manuals" (endorsed by Apple)

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Answer 2

Pancenter

Level 6

14,686 points

May 13, 2021 10:41 AM in response to FenderTwinReverb

I have a QS8 as well, some of the sounds are great, very playable and musical.

Look into the External Instrument plugin used on a software Instrument track, you can route the output (audio) of an external instrument and treat it like you would a software instrument, you can include the Instrument in a real-time bounce without recording the audio. However, you are pretty much limited to one sound at a time unless your keyboard is multi-timbrel, has programmable outs and you have a multi input audio interface.

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