Logic Pro 9 change input source

[fdwill]

Need some help. I use a presonus firestudio project when recording multi tracks. No problem with a new project, but when returning to a project I find that I'm unable to change the input source from one channel to another when the interface is again attached. This may come from opening the project for editing with no interface attached and Logic 9.1.8 reverting to a default input. So, I'm having a problem overcoming the default input. I have found that if I open a new track I have the option of selecting any input from the interface. What seems to be my problem and what should I do to get free selection of input sources on pre-recorded tracks?

Thanks in advance for advice.

 

[mt100uk]

Don't know if this is it but if the song is playing and a track is armed it won't let you change inputs. Is the track playing while you're attempting to change the input?

 

[fdwill]

Thanks for the suggestion but the track is not armed or is the project running. Has anybody found that the sequence of opening the project/opening Logic 9/connecting the interface/tuning on the interface or even restarting the computer to be absolutely essential? My hunch is that there is a required sequence for Logic to recognize the interface and allow input channel selection. Anybody have more ideas?

 

[CSeye]

Turn on the audio interface first.
Next turn on your computer.
Then start up Logic.

The above sequence may or may not address your problem, but it's a good workflow habit none the less.

 

[Eli]

What do you see when you look in the Devices section of the audio preferences? What I suspect is happening is this:

• You are assigning tracks with the Presonus interface set as the core audio device.

• You are at some point later opening the project when the device is not connected to your computer.

• Logic then uses the built in core audio drivers as the selected device.

• You later open your project when the Presonus hardware is connected, but Logic is still set to use the built in core audio drivers.

To verify if this is the case, look in the Devices section of the Audio preferences next time you are having this problem. If this is the case, all you need to do is switch devices (back to the Presonus) there and hit the Apply Changes button at the bottom of the window.

 

[fdwill]

CSeye and Eli your responses are most welcome. First, Eli your analysis is exactly on target. Of course, I do check the core audio devises and, if I can, I indicate the Presonus as the input device. With a new project this always works well, but sometimes with an existing project the Presonus is already indicated in the device window and I do not get the normal options to select the input for each channel. This led me to believe that the sequence proposed by CSeye is worth a try. The Presonus is at a different location and I can't test your proposals immediately, but I will within the next few days. If all goes well I'll report back on what solved the problem, if the problem persists I'll let you know there is more to be tested. I think it's important that if I add a new track all my options are there but with the old prerecorded tracks I can't change the input channel and also, the input info on the channel strips is now all default core audio. I wonder if the "Project' selections have been locked in in some way? With a new project I do use a template with 8 tracks and the audio inputs already assigned from the Presonus. I'll do some testing in the next few days.

 

[CSeye]

If the problem is not present with a new project, but sometimes is with an existing project, then it may be that those projects are corrupt.

Try this: Open a new Empty template project. Open the Browser, navigate to an "existing" project with issues, select it, click the Import button at the bottom of the Browser, then click on all of the items you want to import, then click on the Add button at the bottom of the Browser.

This will bring all or any part of the previous project into the new Empty project. If you're able to select Input sources without issues, then it means that the original "existing" project was corrupt.

Save the new project. You can delete the corrupt project once you're certain that the new project contains everything it's supposed to have, and that it functions normally.

 

[fdwill]

Time for me to do some trials over the next few days. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll test them out.

 

[fdwill]

Some additional information: With a new project from a template with audio inputs already assigned to channels, I then record some tracks. If the interface is then disconnected I get a notification that the input device is no longer connected and logic will switch to the core audio(?). I select O.K.

Now when I later reconnect the interface, the audio input device is still set on the Presonus interface (or, I select the Presonus as the input device and select apply changes) I cannot find where I can change the input for a particular prerecorded track such as track #5 from i.e. Presonus input #2 to Presonus input #4 or any other. Clicking on 'input' on a channel strip opens no window to change the input.

It seems to be acting as if my template with particular inputs pre-assigned to particular tracks (after recording) is 'locked in' and cannot be changed afterward.

Any other ideas? I do appreciate your efforts to help.

 

[CSeye]

In the project described above, when input options are not available, can you audition an audio loop in the Loop browser? Clicking on the loop should change Loop icon to a speaker. Do you see and hear the output of the loop?

If the Presonus is selected for both Output and Input device in Logic Preferences>Audio>Devices tab, you can try to uncheck "Enabled" in the upper left of the device tab, next check it on again, then click on Apply changes. This resets the Core Audio driver.

Does that give you back your input options?

 

[fdwill]

First some quick answers to CSeye's suggestions.
An audio loop selection from the browser does change the icon to a speaker and it does play, (and the little volume slider does work) through the Presonus output (that I had selected).
I tried your suggestion to switch off the enabled and apply selection and then re-do enabled and apply selection and it made no difference.

If you are still with me, lets try to walk through the process and see if I'm simply trying to change input selection in the wrong place, or some other elementary step that I've overlooked.

If you have a prerecorded project that you have made with a particular interface and you now are mixing without the interface being attached and you then want to re-record or patch into a track that already exists using a different input. What do you do and where do you go to find and select a different input for that prerecorded track? I'll try following your directions and see if I'm simply overlooking something simple. What I want to find is a window like the 'new track' window with drop down inputs to select from.

Fred

 

[fdwill]

Update!
I've got the Presonus home with me and I've had a lot of time to try things. CSeye, I again tried the off/on of the enabled on the core audio window and this time when I clicked in the input of a selected channel I did get a little window giving me options to select 'no input'/ 'input' /or bus. The arrow with the input and bus options gave me what I wanted, the ability to change input for a particular channel.

I think my problem is solved.

Many thanks to all who helped.

Fred

 

[CSeye]

Update!
I've got the Presonus home with me and I've had a lot of time to try things. CSeye, I again tried the off/on of the enabled on the core audio window and this time when I clicked in the input of a selected channel I did get a little window giving me options to select 'no input'/ 'input' /or bus. The arrow with the input and bus options gave me what I wanted, the ability to change input for a particular channel.

I think my problem is solved.

Many thanks to all who helped.

Fred

Excellent work!!!

One shouldn't routinely need to disable/renable to the Core Audio driver. (It's more common to at times need to select the new inteface in the Audio preferences as Eli previously mentioned above. You could try to select the built-in options, Apply, then reselect your Presonus I/O, then Apply.) But if that's the only way to update your input/outputs in the Mixer, then by all means do so. This all may or may not have something to do with the Presonus drivers.

I opened a Logic project from '08. The audio parts were recorded with an interface that I recently got rid of. I set the I/O to the built-in options. See first attachment.

Next, with the Logic Project still open, I connected a MOTU Track 16. After a few seconds, I was greeted with the message in the second attachment. Clicking Yes updated the input options as seen in the 3rd attachment.