Record Multiple MIDI Controllers With a Single Setting (& a Little Bit of Routing) in Logic Pro (versions 10.6.3 and lower)

 

Despite the many advancements in Logic Pro, MIDI can still at times feel uninviting.

Who knows why? Maybe its because the ghost of the Environment seems to still lurk in the shadows of Logic’s toolkit…

Sure, the team at Apple have crafted a MUCH easier and more intuitive MIDI experience. But once in a while, there’s a wrinkle or two when we need to coax a bit more from Logic’s MIDI tools.

For example, there’s something that’s just easier about recording more than one microphone:

• Plug your microphones into your audio interface
• Create a New Track for each microphone you plan on recording
• Set the Input of each Channel Strip to the corresponding input on your Audio Interface

And from here you Record-Enable your Tracks, and start recording!

But how about recording multiple MIDI controllers? 

Plugging in 3 or 4 USB controllers isn’t quite the same. You may have 3 or 4 software instrument tracks. But the routing can be – well  – confusing!

Ideally you could choose your MIDI controller from an Input drop-down menu just like the inputs for your Audio Interface. Logic could then know that MIDI Controller #1 is for your Vintage Mellotron track. While MIDI Controller #2 is for your Upright Studio Bass track.

And in seconds you’re banging out your next amazing song 🙂

However, recording multiple MIDI controllers is possible. And thankfully, you don’t have to venture into the caves of the Environment to make it happen.

Recording multiple MIDI instruments boils down to:

• Enabling a single Logic Setting, and
• Specifying a MIDI channel for each Controller

So today I’d love to show you how I record a quick riff recording 3 separate controllers to separate Software Instrument tracks.