BadXinton

Q: Loaded Instruments Too Quiet in Logic Pro X

Hi,

 

Firstly here is my setup:

 

Mac

iMac 21.5-inch, Late 2012

3.1GHz Intel Core i7

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 512 MB

OS X 10.9.4

 

Logic

Logic Pro X

Version 10.0.7

 

I use Logic with Kontakt and PLAY for loading different sample libraries.

 

PLAY version 4.1.8

Kontakt version 5.3.1.37

 

(As far as I know; all of this is as up to date as it can be as of the time of writing)

 

 

Now the problem:

 

Very simply put, instruments seem to be loading from either Kontakt or PLAY at low volumes, when they never have before. The reason I have asked this question in a Logic forum is because I have started to notice Logic only instruments doing the same thing. For example, the default software instrument: Classic Electric Piano, nearly always loads quietly. I have to select another instrument, then go back to the Classic Electric Piano for it to load at the correct volume.

 

Now to expand on this issue, I notice that the levels of the track indicated in Logic are still at a reasonable volume - and supposedly as high/loud as other instruments. But when I play notes on the quieter track the output volume through my iMac's builtin speakers is extremely low. In order to counteract this, I have been turning up the volume for these quiet tracks in the mix, as well as adding compression to increase the volume - but the downside of this is that the overall quality of the instrument is lost because it also turns up all the other things in the track (i.e. natural reverb, feedback and fuzziness) that would normally be unheard when the instrument plays at the correct volume.

 

I hope I have explained this well enough. It is hard to describe what happens without you actually hearing the difference. I do not really know what has caused this to happen - is it Logic? PLAY? Kontakt? Or even my builtin speakers? Do I need some external ones? - and it seems to have started quite randomly. It also seems to randomly happen on any instrument in either Logic, PLAY or Kontakt.

 

Hopefully someone will have some idea of what I can do to fix this problem and return my instrument's to their default output volume without the need for compression.

 

Thanks,

and with kind regards,

 

Charles

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Jul 23, 2014 4:05 AM

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Q: Loaded Instruments Too Quiet in Logic Pro X

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  • by BadXinton,

    BadXinton BadXinton Jul 25, 2014 8:00 AM in response to BadXinton
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2014 8:00 AM in response to BadXinton

    Even though no-one has replied yet, I would like to add that I seem to have found the fault and bug:

     

    When I create a new track the default instrument is loaded in Logic: Classic Electric Piano.

    For some unknown reason this will sometimes load at a very low volume. If it does that and I then change instruments to something in PLAY or Kontakt, the volume of that instrument is also low.

    If, however, I change to another instrument in Logic and then back to Classic Electric Piano it will play at the correct volume. Then, if I change to an instrument in PLAY or Kontakt, it will work fine.

     

    As to why the Classic Electric Piano sometimes loads almost inaudibly quiet, I do not know.

  • by Ekstasis,

    Ekstasis Ekstasis Jul 25, 2014 2:25 PM in response to BadXinton
    Level 1 (149 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 25, 2014 2:25 PM in response to BadXinton

    I haven't used Logic  X yet, but previously there was a preference regarding whether a new track would load the default Electric Piano. 

     

    So the way you're describing it, turning that off would fix your problem?  Although I don't know why it's so quiet and perking up after switching instruments.

     

    I have noticed that when I load evp88 (is that what it's called?) into a blank audio inst track, it's really low.  I just assumed that how it was.

     

    If things are buggier than this, you can always check 6. 7. and 8. of the Apple Support Logic troubleshooting list:

     

    Logic Pro X: Troubleshooting basics

     

    good luck!

  • by CCTM,

    CCTM CCTM Jul 27, 2014 1:14 PM in response to BadXinton
    Level 6 (10,939 points)
    Jul 27, 2014 1:14 PM in response to BadXinton

    Hi

     

    Sounds to me like your MIDI controller may well be transmitting MIDI CC7 events to Logic?

     

    These events are (by default in LPX10.0.7) passed through to the plugin, setting their levels low. Re-loading a plugin resets the CC7 level until it receives another (low) CC7 message.

     

    If your controller is transmitting CC7 messages, can you re-configure it to transmit something else ( or nothing)?

     

     

    CCT