Using external keyboard for midi track sounds

[nyisles22]

New to the forums. Filled our a request for some one-to-one help yesterday. Looking to use my Mx88 Yamaha to "sound" midi tracks in Logic Pro X. MX88 connected to new ac Mini via USB (To Host out of Mx88) for Midi and Audio. Importing a purchased Midi file with multiple tracks seems to use the Logic Pro sounds and not the Mx88. Also, the Midi track selects the wrong instruments using the Logic Pro sounds. So , strings where drums should be for example. Would like to be able to use Mx88 sounds and select which ones from Logic Pro and would like to lose the Midi file pieces that selects the Logic Pro sounds and the wrong ones. Thanks. List of other items I'd like to learn as well, but first thing's first.

[enossified]

Did you place the MIDI file into MIDI tracks? It sounds like you placed them into software instrument tracks.

 

Logic does not understand General MIDI/GS/XG program change messages. The MX88 does.

 

Can you upload the Logic file here? How to attach files to your post

[nyisles22]

Thanks for the quick response. I guess I should start with how I am creating the Project. So, in the New - Project wizard, I am choosing External Midi and the Output dropdown is set to the Mx88 Port 1. The Midi files I am working with have from 8 to 14 tracks. I am also adding an Audio track with input 1 and 2 and Output 1 and 2. I assume I need this if I want to record the midi to an audio file. I am not at the Mac where Logic is so I will send the Project a bit later. Thank you.

[nyisles22]

You can see the new project created with 1 Midi track and using the Mx88 Sound and then the imported Midi file with multiple tracks all using the Logic sounds. Thanks.

Test Project..zip

[gacki]

Select the MIDI track.

Hit Option-Command-N.

Create 10 new external MIDI tracks for the Yamaha with consecutive channels (not sure what that's called in the English version) You'll get another track with channel 1; that's fine.

Drag all regions up, starting with your original MIDI track.

That should do it.

The very first (small) region does not contain notes but some XG stuff; that's why it's fine to have two tracks with channel 1. So this region goes on the first channel 1 track and then the one with notes on the second channel 1 track.

 

If you want to be very true to the original MIDI file you could adjust the channels to the original ones:

 

Vocal 4

Backup vocal 2

Backup vocal 3

Bass (+12) 1

and the rest 5 to 10

 

But it should work without this as well as long as the Drums go to channel 10.

[nyisles22]

Thanks so much. Kinda works that way, but I need to remove some of the commands in the Editor as sometimes the wrong voices are selected on the Mx88. Also, having moved over from Cubase, it was easier inside fo Cubase to select voices on the Mx88 for the Midi tracks. I am doing that on the Mx88 now but would rather do it directly inside of Logic Pro. There's a Voice List for Cubase that I had downloaded but didn't see one for Logic. One more thing if I may, how do I take the midi tracks, mix them and record them to audio (single track would be fine). I assume I need to add an audio track that can "hear" the sounds being voiced by the Mx88, so that audio track can record those sounds. So, the voices being sounded by Midi in Logic need to get back to Logic to be recorded. Any of my understanding of this make sense, or am I completely lost?

[gacki]

Thanks so much. Kinda works that way, but I need to remove some of the commands in the Editor as sometimes the wrong voices are selected on the Mx88.

 

Yes, that's normal. MIDI files often have program changes (and other data) "embedded" into them. Those program changes are usually tailored for General MIDI devices. They will call up a "suitable" set of sounds - but if you want to use different sounds you need to change or substitute them.

 

Also, having moved over from Cubase, it was easier inside fo Cubase to select voices on the Mx88 for the Midi tracks. I am doing that on the Mx88 now but would rather do it directly inside of Logic Pro. There's a Voice List for Cubase that I had downloaded but didn't see one for Logic.

 

If you can point me to that list I'll see if something similar could be done in Logic. I used to do this back under MacOS 9.

 

One more thing if I may, how do I take the midi tracks, mix them and record them to audio (single track would be fine). I assume I need to add an audio track that can "hear" the sounds being voiced by the Mx88, so that audio track can record those sounds. So, the voices being sounded by Midi in Logic need to get back to Logic to be recorded. Any of my understanding of this make sense, or am I completely lost?

 

The MX88 is generating the sounds; and you either need to get them somehow back into Logic or you could just record the Audio data on the MX88 if that's possible (some devices allow you to simply record audio to an USB drive). I would have to look this up in the MX88 manual which may take a day or two since I don't know if the MX88 also outputs its audio data over USB.

[nyisles22]

Thanks again for the info. Here is the link to the Downloads page for the Mx that has a Voice List for Cubase. https://usa.yamaha.com/support/updates/58043_en.html And here is a "how to" install and setup link.https://usa.yamaha.com/support/faq/music_production/8524.html

[gacki]

I'll look into this probably on Thursday when I have access to a Cubase system.

In the meantime: https://yamahasynth.com/learn/mx49-mx61-mx88/using-mx49-61-88-with-logic-pro-x

[nyisles22]

Thanks again.

[gacki]

Just a quick update: I'm building a multi instrument for the MX88 right now but it's a bit more time consuming than originally thought because I can't directly transfer the data from either the Cubase instrument nor the manual.

Also I don't think it's possible to implement the categories and subcategories. The multi instrument is structured along the lines of the banks/program changes; hence the basic bank (0) will basically be the standard GM set, bank 1 the keyboard bank, bank 2 mostly guitars and so on.

I don't know if this will be useful for you; if not please drop a note so I don't go further down that rabbit hole.

[enossified]

sometimes the wrong voices are selected on the Mx88

 

If the MIDI file is specifying GM sounds, make sure the program change messages indicate bank 0-0 (MSB/LSB). That's the GM bank.

 

The other presets are in banks 63-0 to 63-7. See the Data List manual Voice List on pages 2-9.

[gacki]

Correct; I think it goes like this (so far only the GM bank and the first two other banks):

 

 

Sadly the voice list in the manual isn't organized by banks so it's a bit of a hassle to copy everything into the right position (I'm using a text editor with line numbering which definitely helps).

It also doesn't help that the "custom bank select" part is a bit buggy.

Ah, the environment! Throwbacks to Logic 7 and older; at least the design doesn't seem to have been updated...

[gacki]

So here's a Logic song with a multi instrument for the MX series. I've input all the regular banks (except drums).

Let me know if this works or if perhaps there is a bug in the bank select code.

 

Yamaha MX.logicx.zip

[nyisles22]

Thank you.