Plus/minus key no longer increments midi program selection?

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Plus/minus key no longer increments midi program selection?

Hi guys,

New to Logic X and discovered a weird thing. One of my common operations when selecting sounds is to use the plus/minus keys on the numeric keyboard to increment or decrement through the programs on attached midi external instruments. Been doing it since Logic 2.5. (Yeah, I'm that old!)

Seems this fundamental bit of navigation doesn't work, or is hidden in Logic Pro X.

Any ideas?

Logic Pro X, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), Apogee Symphony 32/16

Posted on Apr 20, 2014 12:25 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 21, 2014 12:30 AM in response to errorflex

Hi,

Working fine here. Make sure you click the the "Program" track parameter first? The actual commands ae called "Increase Last Clicked Parameter by 1" and "Decrease Last Clicked Parameter by 1"

J.

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Answer 2

errorflex Author

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Apr 22, 2014 3:27 PM in response to Jordi Torres

Nope. Doesn't work. I hit the plus key and get that weird semi-whiteout thing that says "no sorry, you've been a bad boy...wake up to yourself" for a keyboard command that has worked by default from day one. (Before Logic on the mac, I used it on an Atari, and before that–C-Lab Creator, right back to version 1 of that program!).

The "[" or "]" commands work brilliantly for Logic's internal instruments, but not for (say) my TDW-20 Roland kit, which is connected via midi. For those, I've always incremented or decremented through programs using the plus/minus keys.

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Answer 3

Apr 22, 2014 3:35 PM in response to errorflex

What exact version of Logic Pro X are you using there? I vaguely remember an issue with this in earlier versions of Logic 10. Either that or something's funny with your key commands (that's what the screen flashes mean).

J.

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Answer 4

errorflex Author

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Apr 22, 2014 8:57 PM in response to Jordi Torres

Thanks for looking Jordi.

Version I'm using is 10.0.6.

I have a funny feeling I may have to do a complete rejig of my autoload. This one has been getting modified with each update since version 6 or so. And has worked perfectly in that mode until now.

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Answer 5

CCTM

Level 6

13,045 points

Apr 22, 2014 11:56 PM in response to errorflex

Hi

errorflex wrote:

I have a funny feeling I may have to do a complete rejig of my autoload. This one has been getting modified with each update since version 6 or so. And has worked perfectly in that mode until now.

So, does the key +/- work in a new empty project rather than in your 'autoload'?

CCT

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Answer 6

errorflex Author

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Apr 23, 2014 12:21 AM in response to CCTM

I was just going to post about this. Been doing some diagnostics.

I set up a brand new blank song, created a track for my Nord Drum 2 and sent it a program change. Then hit the plus key to get the next program up and got the "you can't do that whiteout thing."

Also tried pulling in just the midi layer environment from my Default song (sorry, shouldn't call it an "autoload"...very old Logic terminology!). Same thing. Plus/minus...she no work, mate!

So it's really got me scratching what's left of my hair!

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Answer 7

errorflex Author

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May 13, 2014 11:18 PM in response to errorflex

I'm wondering CCT,

What would happen if I trashed my Logic prefs? It's not something I've ever needed to do in nearly 20 years of using the program, so I don't know what I'd lose.

And is it likely to solve the problem anyway?

Thanks heaps in advance...

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Answer 8

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,416 points

May 14, 2014 2:15 AM in response to errorflex

If you trash the prefs, all Preferences will reset to default. These are basically all settings you make in any Logic Pro>Preferences... field.

What you can do instead of trashing, is to just move the prefs file(s) from the folder. To Logic that is as if they've been trashed, so a new pref .plist will be created. IF that doesn't solve your issue, you can then move back the original .plists (replacing the newer ones), so you do not have to set all prefs to how you had them again.

Remember Logic must be quit when moving those .plist files.

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Answer 9

errorflex Author

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May 15, 2014 12:24 AM in response to Eriksimon

Well, that got ugly for a little while! Discovered there are two other prefs files other than the .plist and Logic gets REALLY confused if you don't move them all.

Sorted that problem with a little use of "Go to folder" and then restoring all three prefs from this time yesterday via TM. Phew...back to what passes for normal round here!

While I was in brand new prefs land, however, I did try to see if my original problem was solved.

Short answer...NOPE.

Sigh...

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Answer 10

May 15, 2014 1:35 AM in response to errorflex

Hello,

errorflex wrote:

Well, that got ugly for a little while! Discovered there are two other prefs files other than the .plist and Logic gets REALLY confused if you don't move them all.

There are basically 2 preference files that could play a role in causing problems in Logic. The "main" preferences file (the one that stores eveyrything you see in Logic's preference window) "com.apple.logic10.plist", and the control surfaces preferences file "coma.apple.logic.pro.cs". The other file you're seeing is probably the "com.apple.logic10LSSharedFileList.plist" one. This one only saves infor about recent (project) files Logic has used. These files are independent from each other and Logic wil not get "confused" if you move one and not the other.

errorflex wrote:

While I was in brand new prefs land, however, I did try to see if my original problem was solved.

Short answer...NOPE.

Sigh...

OK, so your preference files are not corrupted. Must be a key commands problem then. Try switching to a different key commands preset in the Key Commands window. You could also try reassigning those commands to something else (other than +/-) and see what happens.

J.

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Answer 11

errorflex Author

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May 16, 2014 10:16 PM in response to Jordi Torres

Good idea, Jordi,

Switched to the French keyboard set, tried the -/+ to decrement/increment. Got the "no no" message again.

But then thought...the plus/minus keys appear in more than spot on the keyboard, and no, it couldn't be...

Fixed it...dammit...I fixed it...

Plus/minus keys on the numeric keyboard section of the extended Apple keyboard don't work.

BUT. The plus/minus keys below and between the F10 to F12 keys do exactly what I want.

I have to say though, guys...really...c'mon?

The plus/minus keys in one part of the keyboard work, but not in the other part of the keyboard????

You're kidding?

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Answer 12

May 17, 2014 5:35 AM in response to errorflex

The keys are mapped differently..... There is a difference between the two sets of keys because some keyboards don't have a keypad.... and so dont have the keypad +/- keys...

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Answer 13

errorflex Author

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May 19, 2014 10:57 PM in response to The Art Of Sound

Which, of course, makes perfect sense when explained like that!

Thanks heaps for the help guys!

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