How to Send realtime MIDI CC data out of VI's (IAC bus?)

Hello Jordi Torres!

Firstly, i would like to express how happy i am that you replied and give you a huuuge THANKYOU!

You have been VERY helpful and i appreciate your help my friend. 🙂

There is no way i could have worked that out myself! LOL (setting up a transformer in the environment..)

I have just bought Logic again and using it after many years ago from Logic 5 days..

I tried doing what you showed me and it really does work!

Now after what you have taught me about Logic using Fader Events, i am curious to know a few more things about all of this. If you dont mind helping me further with your knowledge of this program that is..

Here is the setup i am trying to achieve to give you a better idea why i am asking this stuff.

I'm using Logic Pro X JUST for its sound production (Virtual Instruments) and i am sequencing these with an EXTERNAL sequencer (Akai MPC).

This is the reason why i am trying to send these knob movements out, so i can record this automation to my external sequencer. I will be buying a midi controller (which sends ONLY CC's ?? ) with lots of knobs to try and control Logics VI parameters and send these to my external sequencer to be recorded. When i press play on my MPC, my goal is to play it back just how i recorded the knob movements.

So my questions are these:

1) Will it be possible to convert the CC Data (my midi controller will send) to Fader Events in order to control the VI's in logic and then using the Transformer to convert the Fader Events back to CC's in order to send to my external sequencer? All at the same time? Will there be latency with all these conversions?

2) When i moved the cuttoff knob in the EXS24 it sent out the data out of my midi port, but the other controls (Envelope ADSR's, LFO's, Tune etc) did not send out anything. Why is this? Does it have to do with the settings in the transformer?

3) In the screenshot you posted, on the right hand side you have another window open which shows your midi output options. Is that window from Audio Midi Settings in OSX?

Thankyou again Jordi i really appreciate your help.

TyreSmoke

Hi Jordi

1-Not sure why you want the data sent back to the MPC. I think it would be easier to simply assign knobs on that MIDI controller you're planning on getting to parameters on the virtual instruments and record the changes as track automation....in Logic.

I would love to be able to record as track automation in Logic, but it simply is not possible if i am not using Logic's sequencer at all.
Only when you press "Play" in logic, the automation data will start working.
In my case, Logic is just acting as a Sound Module and Mixer. My master sequencer (MPC) is running the show (Playing back the VI's).
(** i know you probably think this is stupid/crazy/a waste of a program, but for me PERSONALLY, using a machine like the MPC to lay down/sequence tracks feels better**)

It is very important that i can somehow record these knob movements (automation) into the MPC, in order for me to be able to play back the MPC with all these knob changes in tact throughout the song.

I think i am half way there though! 🙂 My only main problem is this:

- How do i "Transform" the CC's (coming out of my MPC) back into "Fader Events" to control Logics Vi's ??

2-The transformer's set to "Apply operation and filter non-matching events", so anything that doesn't match the condition (Fader 2 25) will not pass through.

Ahh ok. i think i understand it better.. Maybe i will look for an option with no filter in order to transform ALL the fader events. I will try and read the Logic Documentation on it more.
How did you know that Fader 2 25 corresponds with the Cuttoff knob though??

3-What you see to the righ on my screenshot is the free snoize MIDI Monitor:

http://www.snoize.com/MIDIMonitor/

Very nice. Thankyou! And for all your help too.

TyreSmoke

OK, I see. I don't think you can record CC's on the MPC (at least not in the one I'm familar with) and then output those to Logic.

My one records it fine, i tried sending the transformed events out to the MPC and it recorded them no problem. (Im pretty sure all the MPCs do it though, otherwise they wouldnt make for very good sequencers when recording hardware synth tweaks into them with midi)

You don't need to convert CC's to fader events to control Logic's VI's. It can be done with regular CC's.

Very interesting. Sorry but im very new to setting up controllers with software.

Just briefly, how is it done? Which menu/screen in logic can you access this capability?

Will the VI respond to CC's sent from my mpc too, OR will it only respond to the Midi Controller sending the CCs?

This is sounding promising... :>

Connected a monitor object to the channel strip hosting the EXS24 and moved the cutoff knob.

Thanks

TyreSmoke

Firstly, thanks for the Link to the post on assigning controllers. WOW! I didnt think it would be so easy to setup, i thought it would be much more tedious than that!

If your MPC passes the MIDI data it receives at its input through its output, you could connect your keyboard directly to the MPC and make the assignments that way. Logic would learn the assignments with the data coming from the MPC (even if the data is originally coming from the keyboard). The VI's will also respond to the CC's you've recorded in the MPC (as long as these CC's are sent out from the MPC on playback).

Now that there will be no need to be "transforming" CC data to Fader Events (and vice versa), things are looking MUCH more simpler to pull off now! :>:>

You see, i would love to do what you said (above) and plug the Midi controller straight into the MPC and do it that way, but there is a simple problem.. The Midi Controller i want to buy, only sends MIDI out of a USB connection (no physical midi output port) which my MPC will not accept, only Midi cables.

So! Correct me if i am wrong but the simple solution to this would be to:
1) Plug this midi controller into my mac via USB and "Learn" Logic's VI's with the Controller's assignments
2) Somehow, assign the Midi Controller to send to one of my Unitor 8's Midi Out port which will be connected to my MPC.. (This way, all those CC's i transmit will ALSO be sent out to my MPC )
3) When i play back my MPC, its going to play the VI's just how i tweaked the knobs on that Midi controller.

Do you see any problem with me achieving # 2?? (it should be possible to do that in the Environment right?)
If this is all possible, then my question/objective is all solved thanks to you .

Thanks

TyreSmoke

Strange. You intend to use your MPC as your sequencer yet you want buy a MIDI controller that only has a USB port? In your situation I would buy something with both 5pin DIN connectors [i]and[/i] USB. It only makes sense.

Sorry Jordi, to clarify things more. I already do have an 88 note Midi keyboard connected to my MPC via MIDI. :wink:

The midi controller i am talking about getting (Novation Launch Control) has 16 knobs on it and no keys. This is the controller i would like to use to control my VI's parameters..

(Now that i think of it, i actually would prefer it to be connected to my mac directly via USB, because that way, if i am just having a synth programming day - i wont need to turn on the MPC in order to use it )

No, that won't work. Once you make the assignments with the Launch Control, the VI's will only respond to messages coming from the Launch Control.

Daamn. I wasn't expecting you to say that.. :cry:

If i can kindly ask, what is the reason for this?

Is it not possible to have TWO seperate Controllers sending data on one VI ??

A workaround would be to hijack the Launch Control's port using Midipipe (freeware) so that Logic doesn't even see it, then route the Launch Control's data out of Midipipe via one of Unitor's output ports so that it reaches the MPC. The data would then go through the MPC and back to Logic via one of the Unitor's input ports. You would make the assignments with this data (data coming in from that Unitor port).

Very interesting and good lateral thinking there.. (ps: nice vast swiss-army-type knowledge of different Apps! not bad.. lol)

While i dont mind using this solution as a last resort (if i HAVE to), i would prefer not to.

I am scared with all these connections that i might experience some midi latency and might slow it down.

Also how i mentioned above about not having to power up the MPC if having a synth programming day only.

Thankyou

TyreSmoke

Yes im abit tired of it too! haha

I was just continueing to post in here in case somebody (wanting to know this info) didnt read the other forum.

You have pretty much solved all my queries tho. You have been VERY helpful.

We will finish up in the other forum now.

Thanks Alot

TyreSmoke