Automating groups of tracks w/o Mix Group

[posthorn1]

Here is my question - with a somewhat lengthy prelude...

 

I have 16 midi tracks controlling a single Audio Instrument that is loaded outside of Logic (in this case it's an instance of NI Kontakt with a Flute sound where each midi track is a different articulation). I have that AI routed to an Aux audio channel in Logic. Instead of controlling the midi volumes in Kontakt, I would rather use automation to control the volume on the Aux channel in order to change all 16 midi channels together - so I'm using the Aux like a bus. However, I would also like to draw my volume curves on the individual midi track I am changing – as opposed drawing them on the Aux channel that actually controls the volume.

 

I was able to accomplish this by creating a Mix Group of all 16 midi channels plus the Aux they were feeding into. Then, in automation mode, any changes I make to any of the 16 midi tracks are automatically changed on the Aux track. Cool! Here's the problem...Logic maxes out at 32 Mix Groups. I'm working with a full orchestra palette so I need more than that.

 

Finally, the question: Is there a way I can do an Automation Group like I describe above without using the Mix Group feature?

 

Thanks!

[David Nahmani]

Am I understanding that right: you'd like to control the volume automation of an Aux channel by drawing volume automation on one of the MIDI channels that feed an external instance of Kontakt? You could cable the MIDI object into the Aux channel in the environment and then any move you make on one of the external MIDI track will be reflected on the Aux.

 

But won't the MIDI data (MIDI CC#7) on the external MIDI tracks also be interpreted as MIDI Volume automation coming from Logic?

[posthorn1]

Thanks, David. With my set-up I'm not sending any midi volume data to Kontakt. I'd like the Kontakt volumes to stay at a steady level. Rather I am drawing in volume curves in Logic for each midi channel that are matched on the Aux Channel. Using Mix Groups in Automation mode is great for this because I can draw a curve on any of the midi tracks and it is reflected in the aux channel. I'm unfortunately limited by the Mix Group maximum.

[David Nahmani]

If you're happy working with the automation on the individual channels then you could cable the MIDI multi-instrument into the Aux in the environment. Then make sure your external MIDI track AND the Aux are both in Latch mode and any automation recorded or played back by the external MIDI track will move the volume fader on the Aux. However you won't actually get the automation recorded on the Aux track - is that something you'd need?

[posthorn1]

Here is the part that perhaps I didn't make clear: I am drawing volume fades on multiple midi channels all controlling one aux channel. When I have different volume curves routed to same aux (one fading up and the other at zero, for example) there is a conflict of multiple messages being sent. With all of the tracks Grouped and in Automation mode I am able to draw a volume curve on any midi track and change ALL of the tracks (including my aux). Therefore, it doesn't seem that I can accomplish it by cabling the midi object to the Aux.

 

It probably sounds like an odd situation, but each of my Kontakt instances is like an orchestral "player." The flutist will play long, short, trill, and flutter (all different tracks), but never simultaneously. Therefore having a single volume curve for all of those tracks makes sense for me.

 

Thanks! And let me know if you have any other ideas.