Hi guys, I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving.

I am now the proud owner of a MOXF8 and it is indeed a fine machine!

I’m ready to record to Logic Pro X (LPX) from the built in Interface on the MOXF and here’s what I want to do.

Prior to purchasing the MOXF, I had recorded my original songs by using Software Tracks for Drums and Bass Guitar (Addictive Drums and Trilian Bass) and Audio Tracks for my keyboard, horn, strings, etc (going out the Main Outs of the keyboard),

But on my next song I want to use all the Internal Voices of the MOXF and I want to output the Voices to LPX via the MOXF usb output.

I have a Performance that has:
1) A TR808 Kit, playing an ARP, on Part One.
2) A Synth Bass, playing an ARP, on Part Two.
3) A Mono Synth sound, playing an ARP, on Part Three.
4) A EP on Part Four.

I know that the MOXF will only output a total of 4 channels and I can live with that.

So I want to assign the drums to output on channels 1 & 2 (Stereo) and the Synth Bass to output on channel 3 (Mono).

What I’m hoping by doing the above is having the drums on track one (a stereo track) on LPX and the bass on track two (a mono track) on LPX.

As I’m recording the drums and bass to LPX, I will comp the keyboard part.

Once I have the drums and bass recorded, I will assign a Stereo EP (Sweetness) to output on channels 1 & 2 of the MOXF and will record it to track three (a stereo track) on LPX.

How, step by step, do I assign each voice to output (over usb) to LPX as I have described above?

My next question pertains to LPX.

I assume that I have to setup LPX to create a new Project using external MIDI Tracks, and that I know how to do.

But once I assign the MOXF to output the channels as I want, will I also have to assign each of the MOXF Voices a separate MIDI output channel, and if so, will I have to assign the same MIDI channel as the MIDI receive channel on each LPX track?

If so, do any of you know how to do that?

Logic Pro X, in case anyone else wondered what LPX is/was!

MM

PS Jerry, you might also consider posting this in the Logic forum.

Hi MM!

I kind of figured that to have the Logic Pro X question answered that I’d have to go to one of their Forums, so I planned to do that any way.

But can you or anyone else answer the MOXF question of how to set up the MOXF to transmit my above mentioned/any Performance, with my desired output routing (through the MOXF built in usb/audio Interface) to any DAW?

Thanks!

Jerry

Jerry, a suggestion:
Why not take a few days and learn the basic operations of the MOXF before diving into a project with specific desires - why not learn about how it works before diving into the deeper end of the pool.

At least go through the basic routing tutorials and see if you can, after going through them figure it out on your on. Yes, I could easily write out the steps for you and you may or may not actually understand what you did or why. But if you go through the basic tutorials I think you will be better prepared to figure out everything you want on your own from that point on.

Just a suggestion. You can throw it out or heed it.

In general, all the internal synth PARTS are routed to USB 3/4 by default. The danger in thinking and calling the output scheme “4 CHANNEL” is that you don’t recognize that it is dual Stereo Outputs. There are two pairs of stereo output.

When you route something as mono, you are going to use the ODD numbered bus - as the stereo pairs are ODD/EVEN in nature 1/2 and 3/4.

You can see where the PARTS are routed to OUTPUTS:
Press [EDIT]
Press [COMMON]
Press [F4] USB I/O
Here you can see each PART and that it is routed to USB 3/4, but each can be changed to 1/2 as necessary.

When recording to your DAW, you need to setup a STEREO or MONO input to receive signal from the MOXF with this in mind.

Second suggestion:
From the way you ask the question you are going to record the MOXF as audio to your DAW, correct? Because USB 1/2 and 3/4 have nothing whatever to do with MIDI routing.

If you plan on recording MIDI data - please recognize that the MOXF is not multi-timbral in PERFORMANCE mode. While it can transmit data on 4 MIDI Channels - it can only receive on a single MIDI channel.

If you are going to record MIDI data, we highly recommend, that you record the PERFORMANCE to the MOXF’s internal sequencer. Then transfer that to your DAW - by synchronizing the two by MIDI clock.

Attempting to record MIDI data from a PERFORMANCE to a DAW is about the most complex thing you can do. And I would strongly recommend that you do not attempt this without thorough knowledge of the MOXF modes, and a thorough knowledge of Logic Pro. (Seriously).

Bad_Mister - 03 December 2013 10:57 AM

Jerry, a suggestion:
Why not take a few days and learn the basic operations of the MOXF before diving into a project with specific desires - why not learn about how it works before diving into the deeper end of the pool.

At least go through the basic routing tutorials and see if you can, after going through them figure it out on your on. Yes, I could easily write out the steps for you and you may or may not actually understand what you did or why. But if you go through the basic tutorials I think you will be better prepared to figure out everything you want on your own from that point on.

Just a suggestion. You can throw it out or heed it.

Second suggestion:
From the way you ask the question you are going to record the MOXF as audio to your DAW, correct? Because USB 1/2 and 3/4 have nothing whatever to do with MIDI routing. quote]

Phil,

1) Of course I will heed your suggestions!
2) My Guitar Player/Partner is DYING for me to record my new song at home tonight (so I can bring it to him on a usb drive) and I wanted to record all the Parts from the MOXF8 through it’s built in interface (first time for me doing that though a XF/MOXF)to Logic Pro X when I get home tonight.

That’s why the apparent “rush/diving in” from me.

Regardless, yes, you hit the nail on the head when you figured out that I wanted to record audio to my DAW.

You know me well enough to know that I usually struggle in expressing what I want/already know how to do, in the proper terminology.

But you just answered what I asked about how/whether I set up the Tracks on LPX as External or Audio Tracks.

It is my ignorance (again) in trying to figure out if I send the drums out channel 1 & 2, and the bass out on channel 3 (all out the same time), how will LPX know what instrument to record on which track?

Thanks!

Jerry

I mite misunderstand but if you send out drums in stereo on channel 1-2.
Make an stereo audio track and select channel 1-2 from the MOXF as input.

Then you do an Mono audio track for the bass, set it to channel 3 as an input.

REC enable both the tracks, hit record in the DAW then hit play on the MOXF.

MeMyselfAndI64 - 03 December 2013 12:09 PM

I mite misunderstand but if you send out drums in stereo on channel 1-2.
Make an stereo audio track and select channel 1-2 from the MOXF as input.

Then you do an Mono audio track for the bass, set it to channel 3 as an input.

REC enable both the tracks, hit record in the DAW then hit play on the MOXF.

MeMyselfAndI64,

Now you’re pointing me in the direction I need to go/know!

1) I now know how to send out the drums on channel 1-2.
2) I know how to make a stereo audio track on LPX.

But what do you mean when you say to select channel 1-2 from the MOXF as input(same question for when you say to do an Mono audio track for the bass and set it to channel 3 as an input)?

I don’t understand what you mean when you reference selecting channels from the MOXF as inputs.

Something tells me that’s the missing link that I haven’t discovered yet!

Thanks,

Jerry

PS

As soon as I replied, I figured out that you mean that I have to select channel 1-2 from the MOXF as input ON the LPX track.

Correct?

Yes!!

it,s nothing strange really....
you send something out on channel 1-2
And You send something out on channel 3

Now Logic has to be set up to receive it.

I myself is on Cubase, I have not done this yet with the MOFX.

I’m almost there!

I have the drums going to track one on LPX and bass going to track two on LPX.

As I’m recording tracks one (drums) and two (bass), I’d like to play the EP (part 4) in unison, but I don’t want the EP recorded (yet).

But before I enable the record button, I notice that when I’m playing the EP, it’s showing me that I am sending it to track one (usb output select 1 & 2).

If I change the usb output select of part 4 to 3 & 4, the EP is now sent to track two (which is set to usb output select 3 & 4).

So my first question is how do I send the bass to output 3 only (not 3 & 4)?

Second, how do I keep the comping EP from being sent to track one or two (I’ll eventually record it to track three)?

I don`t think you can do that since the bass goes out on Channel 3-4.
You only receive it in Logic in MONO, on Channel 3!

And now you want to send another voice at channel 3-4 at the same time?

You could try this Channel 3-4 is an Stereo output
IE Channel 3 = Left , Channel 4 = Right.

Set the EP to channel 3-4 in MOXF.
Then PAN the Bass left and the EP to the right in the MOFX.
Make another track (MONO) in Logic for the EP set the input as channel 4 from the MOXF.
I don`t think it will work any good but TRY!!:)

If that does not work! You have settle for bass and drums and record the EP after instead of live?

Sorry that I can`t help more I use my External Sound card with my MOFX.

And I have not tried this...It will work! but you want to much at the same time?:)

A bus is a vehicle for carrying passengers from point A to point B along a specific route.
In audio, a bus is a way to carry signal from point A to point B along a signal path.

The bus analogy works because one or more signals can get on the bus. Just like multiple passengers can ride a bus through town.

In your MOXF you have two stereo buses. In this case think of a stereo bus as a double-decker bus, where left-handed people sit on one level and right handed folks on the other, but they travel together to the same destination along the same route.
:-)

Normally, all your internal MOXF PARTS are on the 3/4 bus (by default)… Please realize all the Parts are on this bus. When you connect this stereo bus to your DAW (to a stereo input)… Then you create a Stereo Track to receive from that input… Following this? That’s how you route it from start to finish… From the MOXF to an Audio Track.

If you place that Track in record, everyone on that bus is recorded!!!
Please, you have to understand this concept in order to proceed. Bus 3/4 is connected to an input, the input feeds a track, if that track is set to RECORD - simple: Everyone on the bus is recorded.

Now say you take one of the MOXF Parts and route it on the other stereo bus, alone… (Let’s use the Drums as an example). Say you assign the Drum Part to 1/2, you then create another input in your DAW to receive this stereo input… And then you create another Stereo audio track connected to this latest stereo input…

If you were to put this latest Stereo Track in record, only the Drums would be recorded. Make sense?

You would still hear all the passengers on the 3/4 bus playing along—the only difference is only the Drums are now being recorded - because the bus carrying everyone else is connected thru a track NOT in record. It will not sound any different as you do it. It’s just that the Track receiving 1/2 was rendered as Audio, the other Parts traveling on bus 3/4 were “monitored” but not recorded.

Playback:
You must now MUTE the internal Drum Part.  If you ask “I wonder why?” Please start over again… You’re missing the most important thing here.

Once you print the Drums as Audio, you no longer need the MOXF to generate the sound, it has been documented as AUDIO in your DAW. It now “plays back” from the DAW as audio, and arrives in the MOXF through the DAW LEVEL fader on the front panel. Raise it so you can hear what you have recorded.

Making sense?

So when you ask, how can you hear yourself playing the electric piano, while recording the Drums on 1/2, and everyone else on 3/4… I think you realize ... YOU CAN’T. You only have these two stereo vehicles in your bus company.

But now that you have transferred the Drums, they are now audio… The drums can de-board the bus.
Bus 1/2 is ready to carry another isolated signal to the destination… See how this works, yet.

The crowd travels on bus 3/4 (monitor)
The isolated individual travels on bus 1/2 (recorded)
Once the first trip (called a ‘pass’ in audio circles) is completed, the drums can get off. The bus 1/2 becomes available to carry some one else.

Ok, let’s take the bass next. The bass is mono… He will only sit on one level of our double-decker vehicle. We’ll place him on the left level (always the ODD number) ... So we route him from the MOXF on 1/2 but we pan his signal fully LEFT.

In your DAW, create a MONO input - setting it to receive the LEFT or ODD numbered input. And attach it to a mono track. Don’t worry about the other half of our bus being empty, not a concern at all. The bus will travel route even with no passengers on board.

Hoping that makes sense to you…

Thanks for the great lesson Phil!

What I take from it (hopefully :-) ) is that:

1) I’ll send Part One (Drums) as 3 and 4 to a Stereo Input (3 and 4) on my DAW, and enable record on that track.
2) I’ll send Part Two (Bass panned to the left on my MOXF) as 1 and 2, to a Mono Input (1) on my DAW and enable record on that track.
3) I’ll send Part Three (the EP that I want to hear while I’m recording the Drums and Bass, panned to the right) as 1 and 2 to a Mono Input (2) on my DAW, and don’t enable record on that track.

As a side question, if I wanted to record the EP in Mono (as described above), I could do so at the same time I’m recording Parts One and Two.

True or false?

Thanks!

Jerry

jerrydpi - 04 December 2013 08:38 AM

As a side question, if I wanted to record the EP in Mono (as described above), I could do so at the same time I’m recording Parts One and Two.

True or false?

Thanks!

Jerry

True!! should not be any problem!
only thing that limits how many channels you can record at the same time are your hardware!

but if I was you I would only record the drums and bass this way.

And then add the EP in stereo, and other parts if needed.

I agree, I need to/will only record the EP in Stereo.

Regardless, if I do what I said in my last reply, and only record the Drums and Bass (while playing along with a Mono EP to help with the feel of the song as I’m playing/recording the Drums and Bass lines), will that accomplish my goal of recording Tracks One and Two on my DAW while playing along with an EP (and not having the EP recorded at the same time as it was before all of you helped me)?

Thanks!

I agree with MeMyselfI64 completely.

You gain nothing by doing it at the same time as the bass. You’re not taking advantage of building your audio tracks in multiple passes. In fact, your results will definitely improve when you transfer your parts one at a time, you’ll have to trust me on this. You may not think so now, but when you a little more time doing this, you’ll see.

Recording your EP in mono???? Why? Just so you can do it at the same time as the bass? You’d sacrifice great sound for speed? Instead of putting it off until the next pass, when it could ride the 1/2 bus in full stereo. But hey, if you’re in a big hurry, there is nothing wrong with your method.

It just a questionable “production decision” ... Is what I guess we both are saying.

When it comes to production, I try never to be in that big of a hurry. I transfer tracks to audio one at a time on the MOX / MOXF.

I’ll say it again:

USB 3/4 is group bus (monitor)
USB 1/2 is the isolation bus (record)

As I record a Part, I then mute it in the MOXF and use the audio track to monitor
Finally all Parts will be transferred as audio, this entirely frees my MOXF hardware to create new musical parts!