If you want to use a MIDI instrument to trigger a software instrument, cable the MIDI instrument to the software instrument and use the MIDI instrument in the Arrange Window.
Okay, apparently there are two ways to cable a MIDI instrument to a software instrument in Logic 7.2's environment. One works; the other doesn't:
1) Open a new project, and create two new tracks in the arrange window. Open an environment window, and, if necessary, create a new layer. Create a MIDI instrument, set its channel to ALL, name it, and drag it to one of the new tracks. Create an audio object and insert a software instrument (Channel Strip Setting). Drag this new channel strip to the other track in the arrange window. Cable the MIDI instrument to the audio object/audio instrument/software instrument/channel strip, with its new channel strip setting (or, as we used to call it, program or program change) designating a new instrument sound: piano or strings, for example. A dialogue box will appear saying, "Cable and Channel Port is set! Do you want to remove the channel's port setting?" Remove the port setting. Then click on the MIDI instument track in the arrange window. The record button will turn red. Play your MIDI controller.
If your version of Logic is anything like mine, you will hear NO SOUND. As in, NADA. ZIP. El zippo. Zilch. Or, to be more specific: Zero. Zed. Or, not even a peep.
In other words (for those who are deaf to slang):
The traveling waves of oscillating pressure transmitted through surrounding solids, liquids, and gases are not composed of frequencies within the range of human hearing, and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, due to the fact that the normal organs of human hearing are not sufficiently stimulated by these vibrations.
On the other hand, I can click on any of the default instrument (audio instrument/software instrument) tracks, insert a software instrument, and play it, no problem. (Thanks Eli, for cluing me in about the difference between MIDI instruments and audio instruments.)
So, what's going on here?
Well, for one thing, I notice that there is a huge difference between the menu options for default audio instruments and audio instruments that are newly created in the environment.
The insert menu for default audio instruments lists, for example, a Choir & Voice section. There a 10 different options in the Choir & Voice submenu. All but one (Female Vocal Shouts) is a choir sound. There are NO sounds emulating solo vocalists. This is a problem for me because I want to be able to play chords made up of individual vocalists. Chords where each note is an entire choir quickly become murky, unclear, and indistinct.
By contrast, one of the menu options, for a newly created audio object/audio instrument in the environment, is a Voice menu with seven submenus, each with a sub sub menu. Among the submenus are male and female vocals, each with 13 options in their sub sub menus.
Unfortunately none of these options appears to be available to me. None of them work; they are all unplayable. No sound. Nada. El zippo. Zilch. Zero. And for those who are deaf to slang: No MIDI signals are converted to audio signals.
Please show me that I'm doing something wrong because I would love to be able to play "Female Ambient Lead Vocal, Female Backing harmonics, Female Ballad Lead Vocal, Close-Up lead Vocals, Creamy Lead Vocal, Pop Vocals, Rock Vocals, Whisper Vocals, etc. etc.
2) The second method for using a MIDI instrument to trigger one or more software instruments (as explained by Mr. Krantzberg) is to create a new MIDI instrument on the Audio layer and cable it to one or more of the default audio object/audio instrument/software instrument/channel strips (with their channel strip settings, formerly known as programs or program changes).
This IS working for me. Thank you.
Nevertheless, is there some way to access and play the other software instruments listed in the menus, sub menus, and sub sub menus of newly created environment audio objects/channel strips?
Also, I'm wondering: Is there an easier way to audition software instruments, without having to drill down through menus, sub menus, and sub sub menus that disappear the moment you make a choice... or plod sequentially through unnamed channel strip settings via the "Next Channel Strip Setting" function? I'm thinking of the always-open menus in Garage Band. Does Logic 8 have always-open menus? Or Logic 9? Maybe it's time for an upgrade.
Thanks again for all your help,
Troubadour
Song of Songs
songofsongs.com
song-of-songs.net