Giga instruments -> Logic ?

[MikeShapiro]

My Logic Mac talks to two Giga PC's right now. I manually export the patch lists from Giga and import them into Logic, so I can change patches (via the instrument window, or whatever it's called). This works great, except that if I change any patches over on a PC, I have to manually update the corresponding list in Logic.

 

Given the state of the art right now, is there any cross-platform solution that will let Logic query Gigastudio on a separate PC and automatcially figure out what patches it has loaded?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Mike

[Plowman]

"...is there any cross-platform solution that will let Logic query Gigastudio...?"

 

The short answer is no. (Maybe the real MIDI gurus here -- the SysEx folks -- can explain otherwise.)

 

For we more adventurous commoners, look into the following. Create a text fader in the appropriate Environment layer. Assign its input and output to "Program." Control-double click the text fader object. At the top of the window, you'll see "Behave as menu." Check that. Now, when you select an item from your text menu, it will send a program change.

 

You've got 127 slots for programs. You can cut and paste Giga bank names into them, and that gives you some visual feedback as to which patch has been selected.

 

Be advised: this takes some facility within Environment. The key is to create an object that properly asks for the right bank and program number in conjunction with your Giga template, and outputs it to the right port. It's been a while since I ventured there, but I do remember needing transformers to generate the right bank numbers.

 

Putting Giga into that MIDI view mode is helpful to diagnose how Giga is receiving the text fader messages.

 

By the way, you can put all those text faders in one layer / window and have it on your screensets for a running read-out of which patches are being played in Giga. This cuts down on monitor switching.

 

I think this is as close to querying Giga as we'll get. Apple has little commercial incentive to make the two talk beyond the standard MIDI protocols.

[MikeShapiro]

Thanks very much for the info and tip. I guess I was hoping that ReWire or something along those lines might do the trick. Ah, well.

 

Your solution sounds interesting, though I don't know if it's less work than what I'm currently doing. (I export patchlists from Giga, copy them over to the Mac, run them through a custom perl script I wrote to tweak the formatting, then copy and paste them right into the Logic instrument windows.) But I will give it a looksee.

[Plowman]

" run them through a custom perl script I wrote to tweak the formatting, then copy and paste them right into the Logic instrument windows."

 

I'm a bit uncertain as to the meaning of the "Logic instrument windows." I'm not sure how you could paste text into anything other than a text fader or marker.

 

Indeed, my suggestion may be more trouble than it's worth. Its real strength is the ability to change patches within Logic from a list that represents what's been loaded in Giga.

 

But if you've got some time on your hands, learning text faders can be very helpful when Logic is driving multiple channel externals like Giga.

[David Nahmani]

If the giga instrument track is selected in the Arrange window (so incoming MIDI reaches it) and you change program on Giga, assuming Giga sends program changes, Logic will update to the new program.

[David Nahmani]

I'm a bit uncertain as to the meaning of the "Logic instrument windows." I'm not sure how you could paste text into anything other than a text fader or marker.

Well you could paste text into many other fields in Logic... but I think what he meant was the program name window of a Multi instrument object. That's usually what you use to select a program and have Logic send the corresponding band and program change events.

 

Why would you use a text fader? What are the advantages over using the names of a multi-instrument?

[Plowman]

Multi-Instrument Program lists. Yep. Forget that. I guess that shows how attached I am to text faders.

 

Hopefully the screenshot below shows why I prefer text faders. Here the names reflect instruments from VSL and Garritan loaded in Giga. (LR is my own distinction for low-rammed instruments.)

 

I have these text faders on the global layer so no matter where I am in Environment, I know at a glance what Giga is putting out. And I can click hold any of these, get a list of programs in that particular bank, and select them (like a multi-instrument).

 

David's right about changing programs within Giga and Logic reflecting that. I thought the poster was asking if Logic might automatically query Giga and download the names without manual entry.

[David Nahmani]

I see. Nice little program change table. 8)

[MikeShapiro]

I see. Nice little program change table. 8)

 

Interesting... and that screencap definitely clarifies the idea. I think the multi-instrument window probably makes more sense for me though.

 

David, when you say that Logic will update to a new program if the Giga instrument track is selected in the arrange window, you just mean that Logic will detect a program change command, right? It can't magically figure out the actual patchname, can it?

 

(And I do wonder if there's some kind of SysEx solution.)

[David Nahmani]

you just mean that Logic will detect a program change command, right? It can't magically figure out the actual patchname, can it?

Right. You still have to import your names either manually or by copying and pasting one bank at a time from an electronic voice list.

 

AFAIK there is no SysEx solution.

[ging]

Kind of an aside from this post. I saw this today and thought it would be kinda cool.

 

 

 

TASCAM GVI GigaStudio Plug-in for

Mac and PC

GVI is a new plug-in sampler instrument “powered by Giga”

that shares many of the specs of the full GigaStudio 3: up to

96kHz/24-bit sample support, unlimited polyphony, and embed-

ded GigaPulse convolution. The 16-part multitimbral V.I. will ini-

tially be in VSTi and RTAS formats for PC, but they’re also devel-

oping—get this—a Mac version.

Furthermore, there’s going to be a “player” GVI version for

third-party license. The first library announced is Sonic Implants

MUSE, a 30GB “V.I. of mythological proportions.” MUSE includes

orchestral instruments based on their Complete Symphonic

Collection (reviewed last issue), as well as everything else: ethnic

instruments, guitars, basses, pads, drums, and so on. General

MIDI is supported.

www.TASCAM.com www.SonicImplants.com

[MikeShapiro]

GVI has been vaporware for months. But if they do release a Mac version, and eventually offer Logic integration, it could well be the holy grail of sample engines as far as I'm concerned.

[Plowman]

Agreed on both the vaporware and Holy Grail. I wonder if Tascam is waiting for Jaguar's premiere before they play their cards. It seems a bit mis-timed to unveil a "Mac Giga" while Apple announces what may be the ability to run Mac and Windows simultaneously.

 

Personally I'd be very interested in a GVI on a completely native Mac boot -- particularly if it sees and safeguards its own RAM memory. That, EXS, and VI would be a remarkable trinity on one Mac if it worked.

 

BTW, above I meant "forgot that." "Forget that" would have been poor advice. Multi-instruments are fine for most purposes.

[David Nahmani]

BTW, above I meant "forgot that." "Forget that" would have been poor advice. Multi-instruments are fine for most purposes.

Oh ok. I thought you meant that feature was unusable for your purposes. Makes sense now.

[redbone777]

I have Logic 8 running on a iMAC.

 

RE: GVI 4 for mac. Does anyone know if you will be able to run Logic 8 and GVI 4 on the same iMAC computer, or does the design of GVI platform require you to run on separate machines. I'm not too familiar with GVI but would love to have some of the instruments they are claiming to propose to offer on GVI 4.