Logic instruments do not generate audio when MIDI controller is connected [SOLVED]

[zimlen]

Hi all

I've been using Logic with a Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol SL61 Mk2 MIDI controller for years without issue. Just recently, I have been unable to use Logic's own soft instruments (eg. Alchemy, Drum Kit designer etc) when this keyboard is connected and selected as a MIDI input in Logic's preferences. All other 3rd party plugins work as expected. 

When this controller is connected and selected as a MIDI input, there is no audio coming from Logic software instrument tracks regardless of whether live playing is attempted (including from other controllers), or from MIDI notes entered into Logic's sequencer. This includes Drummer tracks. There is no movement in channel strip meters.

I have attempted the following:

• Full reset of plugins in Logic's Plugin Manager
• Reinstalling Logic (v 10.7.4 running in Rosetta)
• Deleting and re-adding the SL61 as a Control Surface
• Reinstallng the SL61 software

Any help very much appreciated!

[polanoid]

Can you cable the Instrument's channel strip to a Monitor object in the MIDI Environment (as shown below) and check if the Instrument actually receives any MIDI data? If so, what exactly does the Monitor display?

[JakobP]

14 hours ago, zimlen said:

When this controller is connected and selected as a MIDI input, there is no audio coming from Logic software instrument tracks regardless of whether live playing is attempted (including from other controllers), or from MIDI notes entered into Logic's sequencer. This includes Drummer tracks.

So you can have a Drummer track playing perfectly fine, and when you connect your keyboard it goes silent ? Does the playhead continue to move ? Does the drummer region get greyed out ? Does this happen with all Logic instruments ?

[zimlen]

13 hours ago, polanoid said:

Can you cable the Instrument's channel strip to a Monitor object in the MIDI Environment (as shown below) and check if the Instrument actually receives any MIDI data? If so, what exactly does the Monitor display?

 

This is interesting! When the controller is selected as an input, and the project is not playing, the channel strip is receiving a flow of MIDI data like this:

 

[zimlen]

When the project is playing, and I have notes entered into the sequencer, both the MIDI data as above and the sequencer notes are showing in the monitor:

 

 

[zimlen]

6 hours ago, JakobP said:

So you can have a Drummer track playing perfectly fine, and when you connect your keyboard it goes silent ? Does the playhead continue to move ? Does the drummer region get greyed out ? Does this happen with all Logic instruments ?

Yes, that is correct. For example, if I load up a template, and the keyboard is not selected as a MIDI input, the drummer track plays. Once the keyboard is connected selected as MIDI input, the playhead will continue to move, but the track will go silent.

[zimlen]

13 hours ago, polanoid said:

Can you cable the Instrument's channel strip to a Monitor object in the MIDI Environment (as shown below) and check if the Instrument actually receives any MIDI data? If so, what exactly does the Monitor display?

Hey polanoid, I think you've led me to the issue. Thanks so much!

The MIDI keyboard has an expression pedal attached, which is generating all the MIDI data when connected. This seems to be interfering with Logic's instruments. When I disconnect the expression pedal, Logic's instruments work as expected. I'll experiment more when I get the chance later today, but that seems to be the cause.

[zimlen]

Thanks @polanoid and @JakobP for your help.

This issue was the expression pedal connected to my controller sending out CC#11, which is the control change I use to send out to my hardware synth. This control change also changes the track volume on Logic. With the heel down on the expression pedal, it was reducing the track volume to 0% on Logic's native instruments, but not on my 3rd party plugins.

Somehow, perhaps on an update, I had reset Logic's MIDI map so that CC#11 affects track volume again.

Thanks a million for the help. I've only posted a few times, but I've referred to this community many times to troubleshoot issues (almost always user error). I've marked this as "solved".

[polanoid]

Glad I could help