Using multiple MIDI-in sources - can you now select the incoming MIDI port?

You have to use the Environment Channel Splitter method where the Port is run into the channel splitter and output channels are run directly into Instrument Objects then into the Sequencer Input.. at least I think that's the order. It's been a long time.

Can you explain how to do that step by step mate ?

Would be maybe the solution

Auto demix thing I know, but we are trying to make a setup in environment to not to need it

It's a bit pain in the *** method auto demix .

I think we need to be perfectly clear on Logic's limitations, at least as I understand them.

Since you cannot select different MIDI INPUT ports the best you can hope for will be 16 separate MIDI channels, now these MIDI channels may be either on a single port or possibly split among several ports... I have to experiment and see if this can be done.

Anyway... I'll post back when I have some time to experiment with the Environment.

I don't know if this will help you or not, this is a "simple" method for selecting and recording multiple MIDI channels. (In Logic 9, don't know if it will work in Logic X)

You might want to start with a fresh blank project.

Here's the Environment, I kept it simple, my physical input shows that I have an Oxygen 61 MIDI controller as well as a MIDI Interface with A and B ports.. as well as the Cap Lock Keyboard.

Objects created:

1. Physical Input

2. Channel Splitter (CS) (abbreviation)

3. Sequencer Input

4. Two Software Instrument channel strips.

The Sum cable has been deleted. I've taken the cable from the Oxygen MIDI Controller and run it into the Channel Splitter, then cable from channel 1 of the CS into Software Instrument 18, the out cable of Software Instrument 18 into the Sequencer Input. Channel two cable goes to the Input of Software Instrument 19, output cable to Sequencer input.

Auto Demix must be enabled

In the Arrange page Inspector: Software Instrument 18 is set to MIDI channel 1 (not to All)

Software Instrument 19 is set to MIDI channel 2 " "

The MIDI Controller must be able to have it's MIDI transmission channel set or be able to transmit on multi-channels.

Note: The instruments can be played without the tracks being record enabled. (Even though I had both channels set to record during the screen grab)

It may be possible to have different ports (My A & B ports) working by splitting the 16 available MIDI channels up among the available ports.

Oxygen controller.. MIDI Ch 1-4

MIDI Port A into new channel splitter.. send out only on MIDI Ch 5-8

MIDI Port B into another new channel splitter using only MIDI Ch 9-12... etc.

The limit here being 16 MIDI channels.

Unfortunately doesnt work .

when you put the channels into sequencer input , you have to arm all the software instruments to record the selected channel of your wish .

but than when it is recording, it is also recording the midi data of the other channels too into the channel you want to play .

Wow, it is %1000 hilarious that we have to struggle with a simple task since years and still no result.

Why the **** this is so difficult in logic, i can play whatever i want and i can record what ever spot i want .

How can we contact with a Logic programmer to ask to him or to her ?

I've asked SFLogicNinja, he's the guy you want looking into this as i beleive he works in conjunction with Apple and may be able to provide us with some kind of approved method of achieving it. He's also incredibly handsome and talented (In case he reads!) 😉

I 'think' i know how to achieve it, i'm just busy with work at the moment to post up instructions and it would use the demix method, and it's sooo overly complicated to achieve (as opposed to selecting a port) i can't beleive there isn't a better way.

Not that way here... I don't need to have any of the instruments in "record" mode to play them, all I have to do is switch channels from my MIDI controller and can play any of the instruments I have set up.

You have to have Auto-Demix enabled.

Are you sure you haven't left put a step? It's late, I take a look at your original post tomorrow.

it seems like if you want to record midi data on the channel you want , you have to arm all the tracks and select demix function.

so when it is recording you will see hundreds of midi data coming from all the channels at a time , and when recording finishes logic throws the other midis somewhere and leaving you with the midi data you were planing to record (annoying big time)

if you don't want to record the midi data into Logic but only into your analog sequencer and work on the machine rather than logic, everything is just fine .

to me, this is very ridicilous why we cannot select a simple option like in ableton live (which i think i am going back to that after spending my 8 days and nights trying to achieve that thing.)

thanks for your helps, at least we figured out how you can play different channels from your analog sequencer without arming the channels in Logic (WOOW)

Ok, pulling this back a little and keeping it simple. Let's take all the environment shenanigans out of the equation and blank our minds! 🙂

What is the problem with setting the midi output channels of your hardware, setting the midi channel of each instrument to match that channel, and running with the demix option enabled?

This i know, this works .

In my analog sequencer , i can select any channel and logic play this channel without arming . Thats right .

But if i want to record the midi data coming from my analog sequencer into logic, than i have to arm all the software instruments to address which i have to record.

And when i am in record, i see all the other channels from my sequencer also getting recorded into the specific channel i want to record.

The annoying part is , you have to arm all the softwares instruments to be able to record midi data without getting mix up everything . (Why ? )

Lets say i have 2 channels on my analog sequencer .

Channel A on Port 1 plays Software Instrument A Port 1

Channel B on Port 2 plays Software Instrument B Port 2

When i select Channel A on my sequencer, it plays Software Instrument A and the other plays the B without arming, thats ok .

The problems is ;

If i record Channel A midi data of my analog sequencer into Software Instrument A (where it belogns) , and later if i want to record Channel B midi data to Software Insturment B , previous recorded Channel A midi also starting to play Software Instrument B "unless" you don't arm all of them

What i want is, previously recorded Channel A midi data , SHOULD NOT play Software Instrument B while only Software B is armed for a new recording.

I just want to arm the insturment i want to record, and not the rest .But this doesnt work

As i mentioned.

What you say works when you dont want to record midi data.

But when you want to record the midi data, first you have to arm all the channels .

Than you have to select the channel you want to record on your hardware sequencer.

Than you have to select the channel you want to record on logic .

And when you have 6 or more different software instruments, it is getting bit confusing and not fun to work.

Why ; because in the moment you select an instrument, all the arm buttons getting disarmed again, and you have to arm back

Ableton Live, Pro Tools

You route the midi channels of your analog sequencer to the software instruments once.

And make all of them input monitoring .

Thats it .

- No other channel will be recorded to the channel you want to specially record .

- Other instruments will not get mixed up .

- You play what you select on your analog sequencer.

- You arm what you want to record, the rest can be disarmed.

You make this setup once, and than no brainer.

Why it is not possible to achieve those 4 things above in logic, and need mathematics , this is a bit frustrating .

I love logic, and want to work with its software instruments, but its a bit complicated.

Ahhh, i think i'm understanding your issue now!

The auto demix option will only work when you are in multi-record mode (i.e. have multiple tracks record-enabled), that's the problem you're hitting i think. You want it to auto demix regardless.

Otherwise, as you say, ALL midi data regardless of port will go into a single track recording. And the only other options you're left with is to enable at least a second midi track to force demix mode?

As a test, create a second midi track which is set to channel 16 (Or a channel you're not using) and try record enabling that along with the single track that you want to capture from your sequencer. i.e. use the channel 16 track to force Logic to go into Multirecord mode, which in turn enables demixing.

I know it's a bodge but if that works, i've got it clear in my mind what your issue is and may be able to think of something simple to help.

As an ableton user, i totally understand your frustrations - This is almost prehistoric, and i'm not sure why it's fixed to the 16 channel, no ports rule?! If they changed it i guess it affects legacy users and their Environment setups. But then, they've knocked 32-bit on the head, surely this would've been a more welcomed change? It's sorely lacking!

res4 wrote:

This i know, this works .

In my analog sequencer , i can select any channel and logic play this channel without arming . Thats right .

But if i want to record the midi data coming from my analog sequencer into logic, than i have to arm all the software instruments to address which i have to record.

And when i am in record, i see all the other channels from my sequencer also getting recorded into the specific channel i want to record.

The annoying part is , you have to arm all the softwares instruments to be able to record midi data without getting mix up everything . (Why ? )

Lets say i have 2 channels on my analog sequencer .

Channel A on Port 1 plays Software Instrument A Port 1

Channel B on Port 2 plays Software Instrument B Port 2

As I said in my post, Logic can only work with separate MIDI channels on a single MIDI port. You can possibly use different MIDI ports but the channel numbers cannot be duplicated. Port 1 could use MIDI channels 1-4, Port 2 channels 5-8 (just examples, they can be any division.)

If you are actually using separate ports all bets are off. You cannot duplicate incoming MIDI channels on separate ports. Such as MIDI channel 2 coming in on different MIDI ports.

Like I said, tomorrow when I'm awake I'll check out your original post.. if it hasn't been solved by yhen or you haven't gone back to LIVE!

skijumptoes wrote:

Ahhh, i think i'm understanding your issue now!

The auto demix option will only work when you are in multi-record mode (i.e. have multiple tracks record-enabled), that's the problem you're hitting i think. You want it to auto demix regardless.

As an ableton user, i totally understand your frustrations - This is almost prehistoric, and i'm not sure why it's fixed to the 16 channel, no ports rule?! If they changed it i guess it affects legacy users and their Environment setups. But then, they've knocked 32-bit on the head, surely this would've been a more welcomed change? It's sorely lacking!

Yes, I see the problem he's having as well, I must be leaving out a step in the environment I could swear there is a way to do this.

If they changed the way MIDI is handled it would most likely break all past projects or they would've done it by now. Logic-X is still very much the same animal as previous version with the Environment governing it's base functions.

Either they never read the complains about it or they just don't know

Because this topic running since 2003

I still believe there is a way , but what non sense is they expect everyone to be mathematical logic function experts

This issue wouldn't be there if Emagic would be in charge I know

Yes logic x is %100 same software with no any changes .

Stacking channels , darker color and 2-3 midi functions which already your analog sequencer can provide was not something all those people were waiting for more than 8 years

That's really a shame , but hey, what could you expect from a company which is not specialized for audio , instead making phones .

For example, what is so difficult to achieve to duplicate an audio file by a short cut Apple+D like the other all those other daws

Or why I cannot consolidate an audio file with an empty space .

Those can make the deal of an update to X after 8 years

And what is funny , those functions are really small things and your daily need of audio editing

There are still possible solutions...

After a software instrument has had it's MIDI track recorded you can delete the cable from the software instrument to the sequencer input. The track will still play but the MIDI cannot be recorded on a record enabled track.

You can also use a transformer prior to the sequencer input to filter out unwanted MIDI channels coming in.