Nord User Forum

Hi All,
I have an Electro 6 (fantastic) and I want to use it as a MIDI controller with Logic Pro X.

I have its audio outputs going to an audio mixer and mixer output to a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 USB audio interface.

I would like to be able to use the Nord via Scarlet as a normal analogue instrument as well as a Software Instrument with Logic.

Both the Electro 6 and Scarlett USBs are connected to my MacBook Pro.

No problem for Nord as an analogue audio instrument and Software Instrument.

I also have a Nektar Panorama P4 MIDI controller USB connected to the Mac

All three USBs Nord, P4 and Scarlett go to Mac via a powered USB 3 hub.

The P4 is set to MIDI Channel 1 and Nord is set to MIDI Channel 2, I think (Nord Global setting).

Creating a software instrument set to MIDI channel 1 for P4 seems to also sound with Nord 6 even though Nord is on channel 2?

Also Nord does not show in Control Surfaces. Only P4?

Totally confused and any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Luke

I'm no Mac user and no Logic user either. But your description sounds unclear to me.

In my eyes, a software instrument is a sounding unit within your Mac software. So within Logic. So you can't create a Nord software instrument. Yoy only can use your Electro as a controller for your software instrument in Logic. That's the way I would be talking about it. Planning to use your Electro as a MIDI controller means you need to set MIDI-out to the channel Logic is set to receive the control messages for its software instrument (whatever you've called it - maybe Nord, even if it's not the Nord that plays sound). As you don't have an Ext section like on a Stage, you need to use the Global MIDI channel. Set Global MIDI to 2 on in the System menu and make sure you don't have the Channel for ExtKBD set to 1. Make sure that Logic doesn't forward the incoming MIDI data back to your Electro as the Global channel transmits and receives at the same time. OR set Local Control to OFF. Then you'd play everything via Logic, even your Electro.

Thanks for your reply.

Yes sorry if I'm sounding a bit confused. I guess that's because I am with this.

I would have thought that if I had only one Software Instrument track created (new project) and that track set to MIDI channel:1 (P4), then the Nord on MIDI channel:2 should do nothing if played.
However this is not the case and both keyboards cause the track to sound is if the MIDI channels are ignored.

I can see that I need to dig into how Logic handles MIDI much deeper.

Thanks again for your comments.

Cheers,
Luke

If it's not because of the channel for Ext KBD, that you get the Electro sound, Logic might send on all channels.

LukeB wrote:Hi All,
I have an Electro 6 (fantastic) and I want to use it as a MIDI controller with Logic Pro X.

I have its audio outputs going to an audio mixer and mixer output to a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 USB audio interface.

I would like to be able to use the Nord via Scarlet as a normal analogue instrument as well as a Software Instrument with Logic.

Both the Electro 6 and Scarlett USBs are connected to my MacBook Pro.

No problem for Nord as an analogue audio instrument and Software Instrument.

I also have a Nektar Panorama P4 MIDI controller USB connected to the Mac

All three USBs Nord, P4 and Scarlett go to Mac via a powered USB 3 hub.

Ehmmm did you connect your electro with USB to the computer? Because audio outs into scarlett and into your computer via USB is only going to record audio as 2 channels if you're recording stereo, 1 if mono. To use an Electro, you'd have to plug it into the macbook with a USB cable without using an audio interface.

The P4 is set to MIDI Channel 1 and Nord is set to MIDI Channel 2, I think (Nord Global setting).

Creating a software instrument set to MIDI channel 1 for P4 seems to also sound with Nord 6 even though Nord is on channel 2?

Also Nord does not show in Control Surfaces. Only P4?

Totally confused and any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Luke

Fritz Frigursson wrote: Ehmmm did you connect your electro with USB to the computer? Because audio outs into scarlett and into your computer via USB is only going to record audio as 2 channels if you're recording stereo, 1 if mono. To use an Electro, you'd have to plug it into the macbook with a USB cable without using an audio interface.

He wants to be able to record both (midi and audio) as mentioned in the OP.

Hi All and thanks for your helpful comments.

Well I managed to get it working after a fashion following a procedure outlined on the following YouTube video.
It's not perfect because it is still possible for one instrument to sound more than one track if it is nor Record armed. However it is possible to work around this for now until I understand more of the in and outs of Logic Pro.
Following this procedure I can have the Nord as a MIDI instrument as well as an audio instrument via the Scarlett audio interface.



Would be great if someone could shine more light on this.
Cheers.