Logic Studio apps Library Management for LPX and MainStage

[sonnykeyes]

I posted this in the Logic Pro forum, but maybe this is more appropriate...
I use Logic Pro on my Macbook Pro for recording at home, and I keep the full library on an external drive to save boot drive space. A few times a year I'll take my laptop out and use it to play a gig using MainStage, which requires relocating the sound library back to the boot drive. Has anyone found a way to trick Logic into swapping Library locations easily to do this? So far it seems like at a minimum I have to re-download the basic library every single time I switch from one Library to the other one, duplicating data that I've already downloaded countless times. The Library Manager is virtually useless, since it cheerfully informs me that library files already exist on my external drive, so as a consequence it's greyed out as an option when I try to Relocate. It seems like it should be way easier to make a computer app just switch databases!

 

[CSeye]

Hello,

Not an expert on this but the support document linked below, indicates
If you've installed Logic Pro and MainStage on the same Mac, both apps share the same Sound Library. When you move the Sound Library, it moves the Sound Library for both apps.

Move Logic Pro for Mac and MainStage content - Apple Support

To save space on your Mac, relocate the Logic Pro and MainStage Sound Library to an external drive.

support.apple.com

Either application can initiate moving the library for both apps. Elsewhere (not relavent to your situation), I read that two or more Macs can't share a library say on an external HD. Each Mac needs it's own installed library.

In your case, is it possible to have the LPX/Mainstage Library on a dedicated external HD for both studio use and out performing?

Another thought that may not be realistic or too risky is to replace the MBP HD with a larger capacity drive.
The upside is that the Sound Library could remain in one place.

Need help with internal hard drive switch - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

 

[sonnykeyes]

Hello,

Not an expert on this but the support document linked below, indicates
If you've installed Logic Pro and MainStage on the same Mac, both apps share the same Sound Library. When you move the Sound Library, it moves the Sound Library for both apps.

Move Logic Pro for Mac and MainStage content - Apple Support

To save space on your Mac, relocate the Logic Pro and MainStage Sound Library to an external drive.

support.apple.com

Haha bit of a stretch to say you’re ‘not an expert’ since 99% of the time you have the right Logic Pro answer, but ok!
I guess the solution for me is to keep submitting the same feature request to Apple, since it certainly seems plausible that a piece of software can be given a switch to select its database. In the meantime I’ll just have to keep tricking Logic into using the other sound library every single time I switch over again

 

[CSeye]

What about autosampling in Mainstage the instruments you need for a gig? Autosampler places instruments and samples folders inside the Audio Music Apps folder. The question is whether or not Mainstage would be able to access these 'user' instruments if the main sound library is not available.

 

[sonnykeyes]

You might be onto something there! I think the only sampled instrument I use live is the Steinway Grand, so if I could keep a duplicate of that on my laptop drive I might not ever need MainStage to look for the sound library at all! Going to investigate now, thanks!

 

[CSeye]

After autosampling the Vintage B3 (just two notes for testing), I loaded Sampler in Mainstage and loaded the new instrument. Autosampled is a separate category from the Factory and GarageBand libraries. I would be very cool if you can load your autosampled instruments in the absence of the main sound library.