By Clint
Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:39 pm
Using Logic Pro 8 With Your MPC4000
Its been a while since I posted a “How to…” on the forum so hopefully here’s another useful thread for those that have Logic Pro 8 and an MPC4000. Although this is the combination I use, I see no reason why this tip shouldn’t work with other MPC’s or other versions of Logic.
First up, let me start by saying I have seen a couple of videos on YouTube in particular one entitled “How to use Logic as a sound module with a MPC”. While this video may have helped many, it wasn’t helpful to me as it involved messing with the environment.
There is a much easier way to achieve the same results without touching the environment which is why I’ve posted this thread. I also reckon that this tip may be helpful to anyone who has problems tracking out to Logic. This is also a fun way to use your MPC to make beats quickly. Remember when it was fun?
Assumptions:
1. You are able to input midi to your MPC using a keyboard and/ or the pads.
2. You are able to monitor the output of the MPC and Logic together.
3. You know the basics of navigating both the MPC and Logic.
4. The midi out of the MPC is routed into and being received by Logic.
Ok, im gonna break it down into “MPC’s for Dummies” type steps simply to avoid a flood of basic questions coming back. I know you guys aren’t dummies, you have MPC’s right?
1. Launch Logic Pro 8. From the available templates choose COMPOSE and then ELECTRONIC. This should launch the template.
2. In the Logic FILE menu go to PROJECT SETTINGS and then RECORDING. Make sure you tick the box “Auto demix by channel if multitrack recording”. Close the window.
3. Using the INSPECTOR select each of the 15 tracks in the arrange window in turn and assign each to the corresponding midi channel. Track 1= midi channel 1, Track 2 = midi channel 2 and so on. Don’t change any of the instruments yet.
4. Record enable all the instrument tracks. Don’t worry about the CLICK on track 15, this can be changed to another instrument if need be.
5. Open a mixer window either below the arrange page or on a separate monitor. Set it up to mirror whats on the arrange page by highlighting ARRANGE and INSTR. That’s the software sorted, so SAVE as a template and name it “MPC Module”.
6. On the MPC load up a sequence you want to work with or start a new one, set the tempo and loop length if necessary. If you hate tracking out, I suggest starting a new sequence. Tell you why later…
7. In the midi output section of the MPC screen assign OUT1 to the midi port to be used with Logic (Out A,B,C or D). Also select channel 1. I suggest also naming this port by going to the DEVICE field and pressing WINDOW.
8. Ok, so now track 1 on the MPC is ready. Press some keys/ pads. You should hear some drum sounds at the lower note numbers/ octaves. This is the CLASSIC TECHNO KIT loaded into track 1 in Logic. Confirm this by looking at Logic’s mixer. If this doesn’t work, check the four assumptions outlined above and rectify before continuing.
9. Works? Great! Now on the MPC use the thumbwheel to change the midi out channel. Try all the channels to confirm that all are routed to the matching instruments in Logic. As you turn the thumbwheel thru the channels observe the Logic mixer to see which instrument is playing.
That’s the complete set-up. You can now send 16 channels of midi data to 16 different Logic instruments. If you want to use Logic as a pure sound module, there is no need to bother with syncing logic to the MPC. Hate tracking out? Program/ record your (midi) beats into the MPC and make sure everything has its own track. Load your samples/ drumkits/ synths into logic by choosing and using the correct instruments (try the template first to see how it works). Hit record in Logic after setting a loop of 8,16 or 32 bars. All your notes are recorded on the correct Logic tracks. Play it back. All recorded in midi notes, ready to mess with. Your Logic sequence will still have that famous MPC BUMP!!
There are lots you can do when this works. For example set the MPC OUT1 and OUT2 to different midi channels for instant layering. I shall let you guys figure out what else can be done………
Edit: Monday December 1st 2008
In response to questions from forum members I will explain here how you can add rewired Reason instruments to your session and trigger them from your MPC alongside your Logic and AU instruments as previously discussed in this tutorial.
This post is an addition to the original tutorial and continues where that left off.
To keep this simple, I will only create a single rewired instrument to be triggered from the MPC on midi channel 16. You could however use any or all of your MPC midi outputs to trigger any combination of up to 64 (16x4) Logic and rewired Reason instruments.
10. Launch Reason and set-up the instruments you wish to rewire, bypassing the Reason mixer. For this example, I have used Reason 4’s Thor synthesiser. Connect your instrument outputs directly to the Reason Hardware Device.
11. Back in Logic; create a new external midi track. It will appear on the arrange page. The library appears to the right of the arrange page. From the list of available ‘external’ midi ports select Reason, followed by the rewired instrument (Thor) that you want to use on the new track. Record enable the track (all tracks that you want to hear!).
12. Leave all the settings in the ‘inspector’ at their default positions. Change NOTHING. Go to the Logic mixer and create a new ‘auxillary channel strip’ which should then be assigned to the correct rewire channels as your Reason instrument. Raise the aux channel fader to 0.0.
13. In Reason’s ‘Advanced Control’ preferences make sure that the midi output of your MPC/ midi interface is selected in place of ‘No MIDI Input’ for Bus A. Go to the Reason hardware interface and click on the ‘advanced midi device’ button. This is the place to make your external midi settings. Select bus A, the name of your midi port should be displayed above the 16 midi input channel routing slots. Use these slots to route midi from your MPC to any Reason instruments you have created in the Reason rack. I put an instance of Thor on channel 16 where it now responds to midi sent from the MPC on that channel. Any midi activity from your MPC can be monitored here by observing the green lights flashing.
When using rewire, make sure that no instruments are selected (highlighted) to accept midi on the Reason arrange page by clicking on the ‘transport’ icon in the device list. We are controlling the midi routing from the Reason Hardware Device.
From the MPC you can now trigger pre-loaded samples plus any Logic/ AU instruments and any rewired Reason instruments all at the same time, with ease.
Its been a while since I posted a “How to…” on the forum so hopefully here’s another useful thread for those that have Logic Pro 8 and an MPC4000. Although this is the combination I use, I see no reason why this tip shouldn’t work with other MPC’s or other versions of Logic.
First up, let me start by saying I have seen a couple of videos on YouTube in particular one entitled “How to use Logic as a sound module with a MPC”. While this video may have helped many, it wasn’t helpful to me as it involved messing with the environment.
There is a much easier way to achieve the same results without touching the environment which is why I’ve posted this thread. I also reckon that this tip may be helpful to anyone who has problems tracking out to Logic. This is also a fun way to use your MPC to make beats quickly. Remember when it was fun?
Assumptions:
1. You are able to input midi to your MPC using a keyboard and/ or the pads.
2. You are able to monitor the output of the MPC and Logic together.
3. You know the basics of navigating both the MPC and Logic.
4. The midi out of the MPC is routed into and being received by Logic.
Ok, im gonna break it down into “MPC’s for Dummies” type steps simply to avoid a flood of basic questions coming back. I know you guys aren’t dummies, you have MPC’s right?
1. Launch Logic Pro 8. From the available templates choose COMPOSE and then ELECTRONIC. This should launch the template.
2. In the Logic FILE menu go to PROJECT SETTINGS and then RECORDING. Make sure you tick the box “Auto demix by channel if multitrack recording”. Close the window.
3. Using the INSPECTOR select each of the 15 tracks in the arrange window in turn and assign each to the corresponding midi channel. Track 1= midi channel 1, Track 2 = midi channel 2 and so on. Don’t change any of the instruments yet.
4. Record enable all the instrument tracks. Don’t worry about the CLICK on track 15, this can be changed to another instrument if need be.
5. Open a mixer window either below the arrange page or on a separate monitor. Set it up to mirror whats on the arrange page by highlighting ARRANGE and INSTR. That’s the software sorted, so SAVE as a template and name it “MPC Module”.
6. On the MPC load up a sequence you want to work with or start a new one, set the tempo and loop length if necessary. If you hate tracking out, I suggest starting a new sequence. Tell you why later…
7. In the midi output section of the MPC screen assign OUT1 to the midi port to be used with Logic (Out A,B,C or D). Also select channel 1. I suggest also naming this port by going to the DEVICE field and pressing WINDOW.
8. Ok, so now track 1 on the MPC is ready. Press some keys/ pads. You should hear some drum sounds at the lower note numbers/ octaves. This is the CLASSIC TECHNO KIT loaded into track 1 in Logic. Confirm this by looking at Logic’s mixer. If this doesn’t work, check the four assumptions outlined above and rectify before continuing.
9. Works? Great! Now on the MPC use the thumbwheel to change the midi out channel. Try all the channels to confirm that all are routed to the matching instruments in Logic. As you turn the thumbwheel thru the channels observe the Logic mixer to see which instrument is playing.
That’s the complete set-up. You can now send 16 channels of midi data to 16 different Logic instruments. If you want to use Logic as a pure sound module, there is no need to bother with syncing logic to the MPC. Hate tracking out? Program/ record your (midi) beats into the MPC and make sure everything has its own track. Load your samples/ drumkits/ synths into logic by choosing and using the correct instruments (try the template first to see how it works). Hit record in Logic after setting a loop of 8,16 or 32 bars. All your notes are recorded on the correct Logic tracks. Play it back. All recorded in midi notes, ready to mess with. Your Logic sequence will still have that famous MPC BUMP!!
There are lots you can do when this works. For example set the MPC OUT1 and OUT2 to different midi channels for instant layering. I shall let you guys figure out what else can be done………
Edit: Monday December 1st 2008
In response to questions from forum members I will explain here how you can add rewired Reason instruments to your session and trigger them from your MPC alongside your Logic and AU instruments as previously discussed in this tutorial.
This post is an addition to the original tutorial and continues where that left off.
To keep this simple, I will only create a single rewired instrument to be triggered from the MPC on midi channel 16. You could however use any or all of your MPC midi outputs to trigger any combination of up to 64 (16x4) Logic and rewired Reason instruments.
10. Launch Reason and set-up the instruments you wish to rewire, bypassing the Reason mixer. For this example, I have used Reason 4’s Thor synthesiser. Connect your instrument outputs directly to the Reason Hardware Device.
11. Back in Logic; create a new external midi track. It will appear on the arrange page. The library appears to the right of the arrange page. From the list of available ‘external’ midi ports select Reason, followed by the rewired instrument (Thor) that you want to use on the new track. Record enable the track (all tracks that you want to hear!).
12. Leave all the settings in the ‘inspector’ at their default positions. Change NOTHING. Go to the Logic mixer and create a new ‘auxillary channel strip’ which should then be assigned to the correct rewire channels as your Reason instrument. Raise the aux channel fader to 0.0.
13. In Reason’s ‘Advanced Control’ preferences make sure that the midi output of your MPC/ midi interface is selected in place of ‘No MIDI Input’ for Bus A. Go to the Reason hardware interface and click on the ‘advanced midi device’ button. This is the place to make your external midi settings. Select bus A, the name of your midi port should be displayed above the 16 midi input channel routing slots. Use these slots to route midi from your MPC to any Reason instruments you have created in the Reason rack. I put an instance of Thor on channel 16 where it now responds to midi sent from the MPC on that channel. Any midi activity from your MPC can be monitored here by observing the green lights flashing.
When using rewire, make sure that no instruments are selected (highlighted) to accept midi on the Reason arrange page by clicking on the ‘transport’ icon in the device list. We are controlling the midi routing from the Reason Hardware Device.
From the MPC you can now trigger pre-loaded samples plus any Logic/ AU instruments and any rewired Reason instruments all at the same time, with ease.
Last edited by Clint on Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:25 am, edited 3 times in total.
