External Midi Setup

Hi

Step 1 would be to check that the basic Environment object etc work correctly with the Korg.

In the Template project, make a New External Instrument track (with "Open Library" checked), select the required MIDI channel for the Korg from the Library.

Play your keyboard controller and make sure that the Korg is responding.

Try changing sounds on the Korg by 2x clicking on the Track Name: this should open the "Patch List", and you should be able to select different sounds on the Korg if you have correctly configured it all.

Once you have all that working properly, we can address what to do with the MIDI files

CCT

Hi

No screenshot posted?

I'm guessing that you mean this Logic setup for the Korg?

http://www.korgpa.com/en/support/products/arrangers/pa3x/pa3x-software.html

In that Logic template some of the tracks are hidden (Orange H at the top of the Tracklist) and Muted. I'd guess this may be because of the 'AutoArranger' functions of the Korg?

The Tracklist is configured to show 2 names: you need to 2x click here to get the Patch List to show up:

CCT

Hi

Koffee1 wrote:

how do I import a midi file and edit it?

Should I save this project as a template the the basis of future projects?

Most of the info you need is here:

http://documentation.apple.com/en/logicpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=32%26se ction=4

In summary, if you want to include all the tempo, time signature info and such from the MIDI file, you will need to Open it, NOT Import it.

Either way, by default, Logic will make Software Instrument tracks for the MIDI data (as you have found). Hold down Option while opening the file to use external MIDI tracks.

What happens next depends, you may well end up having to manually re-assigning the tracks to your Korg (Simple enough to do using the Library to select the correct Channel/Port, and in your case, the particular object for the various banks of sounds.

You would need to have all those Environment objects included in you default template to make this process quicker.

Koffee1 wrote:

Question: What is the coloured line that runs down the right edge of the track name? Blocks of tracks appear to be associated to colours ....?

Those are "Track Color Bars" (Control click on the Track Header and choose 'Configure...). You can change the colors in the Inspector, the Mixer or for whole Multi-Instrument objects or individual channels in the Environment

CCT

Hi

Some changes in the procedure since the manual was written?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5010

Try this:

1 Open your Korg Template

2 File Open (MIDI File) (Don't close)

3 Select the MIDI File + hold down Command when you 'Open"

4 Continue to hold down Command whilst "Don't Close" and "Copy"

You should now have a new project based on the MIDI File with the Korg setup. You may need to 2x click on teh Track Icon (not the Name) to select your sounds, and you may need to re-assign via the Library to get to the other banks etc.

CCT

Hi

Koffee1 wrote:

While I can 2 x click on the icon and open the patch list the instrument names are now just numbers so I can't see what instruments are there. This is the same when accessing various banks in the library.

This sounds like Logic has not 'picked up' the correct objects for the tracks. You should be able to select a track in the Arrange Tracklist, then choose a new 'object' in the Library (choose the Korg with the appropriate MIDI channel).

CCT

Right beneath the tempo indicator in your transport bar there is a number: that's the song end point. The Playhead (as that thin white line is known) will automatically stop there. You can readjust the end point by changing the number, or by dragging the little square in the timeline. Note that when recording, the end point will shift if you get to it, Logic will not stop; the end marker only 'works' in Playback mode.

http://documentation.apple.com/en/logicpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=7%26sec tion=8%26tasks=true

Hi

Koffee1 wrote:

Grasping at straws I tried importing a midi file whilst holding the command key and this works. All the instruments are there and its set up the way I would expect.

Yep... works here too. Not sure when the functionality changed.

Koffee1 wrote:

What is the difference between import and open?

Importing a MIDI File into an existing project will bring in all the MIDI data, but NOT tempo, Time Signatures etc. Opening a MIDI File will give you a new project with all that information. All this is explained in the manual:

http://documentation.apple.com/en/logicpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=32%26se ction=4

Koffee1 wrote:

There are a couple of things I'm not understanding:

1. There are literally hundreds of instruments sitting in the environment yet in the library window there are just 16 choices (see image below). I know this must be some correlation to the number of midi tracks.

The Logic 'fundamentals' are that a track in the Arrange is assigned to an Environment Object. You should have several Multi-Instrument objects from the Korg template. Each of these has the 16 MIDI channels available. With the Korg items, there are several Multis because the Korg has more Banks of sounds than a Logic multi can accomodate.

You need to select the appropriate "Bank Multi" from the Library window, then the appropriate MIDI channel, for each track.

Koffee1 wrote:

2. Changing instruments will change the instrument name at the track header but not on the track itself (the green data carriage)

These things are "Regions". Changing the Instrument or Patch will NOT re-name the Regions. You can do this manually using the Text tool, or by selecting a Region, and 2x clicking the name in the Region Parameters in the Inspector.

Koffee1 wrote:

3. At the end of the song the music stops but the song timer/counter continues counting in the transport panel and I guess the thin white line that travels over the tracks continues moving along ad infinitum

Your screenshot is very small so I cannot make out the info you have, but:

A project will play until the Playhead reaches the "Project End Marker. You can adjust this in the Bar Ruler by dragging it to wherever you want, or by changing the numerical display in the Transport (below the Tempo)

CCT

Hi

Koffee1 wrote:

. So, the actual instrument selection is not made in the library.

With External MIDI tracks, yes

Koffee1 wrote:

This is what was confusing as there were only 16 instruments in the channel list yet I knew there were 127 in the 'bank multi'. Can you advise if I'm on the right track?

You are confusing the basic concepts of MIDI & Logic:

Generally, Multi-Timbral MIDI Synthesisers such as your Korg can receive MIDI on multiple channels (up to 16). These would be the 16 Library "instruments" that you are referring to.

Typically, each MIDI Channel (or "Part") can play one of a multitude of sounds (Patches). These generally are called up using Program Change (& Bank Select) messages. These are the messages that are shown when you 2x click on the External Instrument track. Typically, there are up to 128 sounds per Bank, and nowadays, depending on the particular hardware synth, many banks. This is why the Logic Environment that you have for the Korg has several Multis, so that it can accomodate all the sounds within the Korg.

CCT