Best way to import/load MID files

[Gizmo]

Hi all.

 

Does anyone have any advice on the best way to bring existing MIDI files into logic 8. I'm finding several strange things occur either if I import or load them.

 

1. Some tracks get assigned to external MIDI instruments, others get assigned to S/W instruments. I can't figure out how this might happen.

 

2. Sometimes tracks will just not play anything. There is MIDI data there but no sound. If I record enable the track and play my MIDI kbd, the instrument plays the sound but not the MIDI dtata. Even if I move the region to another newly created track...zippo. The only way is to copy the MIDI data (I use the piano roll) and paste into a new region, then its ok.

 

3. Somethimes there seems to be embedded pitch bend data but yet I cannot see it in either the list view or the Hyper editor.

 

So, just what is the best way to load MIDI files?

 

Great site...learning a lot here and from the book.

[PSPartyband]

Logic's way of handling midi files is a little different than most other applications, and there are big differences between importing and opening a midi file.

 

importing should be used when you just want midi track information put into an existing project. when using import, Logic will not import the key signature, markers or the tempo map from the midi file.

 

If you want all info from a midi file, open the file instead of importing. when you use open, Key signature, markers and the tempo map will come into the project.

 

This is from the manual at page 633 and is a new feature of Logic 8:

 

As a default behavior, Logic Pro will automatically create software instrument tracks for each MIDI track, and assign an appropriate GarageBand instrument to each, when you open a MIDI file. If you want to use external MIDI tracks for each MIDI track, press Option while opening the MIDI file.

 

I find this usually works as long as the midi file is a standard midi file using GM program changes. But there has been some problems with Logic finding "appropriate GarageBand instruments" in some cases. There has been some conflict between older versions of Garageband instruments prior to iLife 08. In order for me to load smf correctly I had to dump all my older jam packs in favor of Logic 8 jam packs that are in the new .caf format but are incompatible with the older Garageband

 

So what was happening in my case was that when opening a smf and logic could not find an appropriate GarageBand instrument, it would create an external midi track for those tracks. and of course since they are not assigned to a logic instrument, they have no sound unless you have an external synth hooked up to your system.

 

Take a look at pages 632 & 633 in the manual for more info

 

Don

[Gizmo]

Thanks Don...guess I should have RTFM!

Been working with MIDI for so long I just plain didn't think of that.

 

I think my jam packs are a bit messed up. I did a search and I can find multiple instances, some aifs others cafs..that might explain why some tracks come in as external instrument tracks. I'll have to investigate that one further.

 

But, when I meant no sound, I meant that the region made no sound even if it was attached to either a s/w instrument or to an external instrument (which I could drive quite well with a kbd. This seems to happen mainly on organ sounds.

 

One thing I'm starting to figure out is to have a simple environment.

[PSPartyband]

if you are having problems with the EVB3 organs, it is because in Logic 8, the EVB3 only responds to 3 midi channels (1-3) are they are set to play upper, channel 1, lower, channel 2 and pedals, channel 3

 

here is something real cool I came across http://www.zoom-in.com/apple/music/tutorials/logic_studio_the_evb3_organ

[Gizmo]

if you are having problems with the EVB3 organs, it is because in Logic 8, the EVB3 only responds to 3 midi channels (1-3) are they are set to play upper, channel 1, lower, channel 2 and pedals, channel 3

 

here is something real cool I came across http://www.zoom-in.com/apple/music/tutorials/logic_studio_the_evb3_organ

 

Aha! Didn't know that...sounds like thats it.

Wow, that caused me hours of frustration...Thanks again Don, you've been a big help.

Gizmo

[Gizmo]

....

This is from the manual at page 633 and is a new feature of Logic 8:

 

As a default behavior, Logic Pro will automatically create software instrument tracks for each MIDI track, and assign an appropriate GarageBand instrument to each, when you open a MIDI file. If you want to use external MIDI tracks for each MIDI track, press Option while opening the MIDI file.

 

I find this usually works as long as the midi file is a standard midi file using GM program changes. But there has been some problems with Logic finding "appropriate GarageBand instruments" in some cases. There has been some conflict between older versions of Garageband instruments prior to iLife 08. In order for me to load smf correctly I had to dump all my older jam packs in favor of Logic 8 jam packs that are in the new .caf format but are incompatible with the older Garageband

 

So what was happening in my case was that when opening a smf and logic could not find an appropriate GarageBand instrument, it would create an external midi track for those tracks. and of course since they are not assigned to a logic instrument, they have no sound unless you have an external synth hooked up to your system.

 

Take a look at pages 632 & 633 in the manual for more info

 

Don

 

Hey Don, because of your input I tried something. Looking at Garage Band Guitar instruments in Logic, I noticed I only had one..which is clearly wrong.

Then I ran Garageband (first time on this machine) and saw that I had a few but it also took me to S/W update to download new instruments from Apple.

 

When I went back to Logic, I now saw that I had many more guitars under the Garageband tab. Maybe this will solve some of the problems.

 

It appears that my Garagenband had never been updated because I hadn't run it since installing iLife 08, so there may be others with this same issue.

 

Gizmo

[PSPartyband]

Very good! Thanks for posting that.

Don