Standard Instrument Objects

Logic Pro provides standard instrument objects to handle MIDI devices that only use one MIDI channel (typically, older synthesizers, MIDI-controlled effect units, or drum machines). Standard instruments transmit MIDI data on a single MIDI channel.

To create a standard instrument

Do one of the following:

Choose New > Instrument (or use the New Standard Instrument key command).
Click the Environment background with the Pencil tool.

The Standard Instrument Parameter Box

When a standard instrument is created, the following parameters are displayed in the Object Parameter box.

Figure. Standard instrument object and its parameter box.

Port: Use to set a direct connection to one of your MIDI output ports. Remember that you can also directly cable an instrument object to (or from) other Environment objects, allowing MIDI processing.
Channel: Sets the MIDI channel for the instrument’s output. If you set this parameter to All, all events are sent with their original channel settings.
Program, Volume, and Pan: The Program, Volume, and Pan parameters transmit program changes, volume controller (#7), and pan controller (#10) data.
No data is sent until you select the corresponding checkbox. If the box is already selected, any value alterations are sent immediately, and the values are also sent whenever the track is selected.
To the left of the program number, directly to the right of the checkbox, is the Bank Select parameter. If your MIDI sound source recognizes bank select messages (check the device manual), you can switch between sound banks. If your sound source responds to the standard Bank Select message (Controller #32), you can use this parameter directly. If not, you can define your own Bank Select commands (see Mapped Instrument Objects).
Transposition: Defines the number of semitones that all note events are transposed by, on output. Negative values transpose downward.
Velocity: Allows you to increase or decrease the note on velocities of all note events, by an amount between –99 and 99.
Key Limit: The two note values of the Key Limit parameter define a pitch range. All notes outside this range are ignored by the instrument when it plays a MIDI region. In other words, this range of notes will not be played.
Vel Limit: The two values of the Vel Lim parameter define a velocity range. All notes with a velocity that falls outside this range are not played by the instrument.
Delay: The Delay parameter causes all MIDI events to be sent early or late. This allows you to compensate for any differences in reaction time between your various MIDI devices. Use the region Delay parameter (in the Inspector’s Track Parameter box shown in the Arrange window) to create rhythmic delay effects, as this allows longer delay times.
No Transpose: If the No Transpose parameter is active, all regions on any tracks played by this instrument object are protected from transposition. In other words, the Transpose Region parameter is ignored. This is very useful for instruments assigned to drum or other samples—mapped across the keyboard on a single MIDI channel—as transposition will trigger different sounds (rather than pitches) in these instruments.
No Reset: If the No Reset parameter is active, no reset messages are sent to the instrument. This can be useful if controllers are being used for nonmusical purposes, such as when using the instrument object for Mixer automation tasks. The Logic Pro > Preferences > MIDI > Reset Messages settings determine what reset messages are sent. These messages are not sent to No Reset instruments.
Style: The Style parameter can be set to any of the available staff styles. Whenever a region is created on one of the instrument’s tracks, it is assigned the staff style displayed here. If the Auto style is chosen (the default), Logic Pro picks an appropriate style based on the pitch range of the notes in the region. For more information on staff styles, see Working with Staff Styles.