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86 Chapter 4 Setting Up Your System
MIDI Interface
Your Macintosh computer does not provide MIDI in or outputs. If you want to use MIDI
devices equipped with MIDI ports, a MIDI interface is required for communication with
your computer. MIDI interfaces are generally connected to your Macintosh USB ports.
Some MIDI interfaces require the installation of driver software, and others are
automatically recognized by your Macintosh.
Note: Many modern MIDI devices, particularly keyboards, include a USB or FireWire
connection port that enables MIDI (and audio, in some cases) communication with
your computer. Such devices do not require an additional MIDI (or audio) interface.
Some require the installation of driver software, and others are automatically
recognized by Mac OS X. Check the websites of MIDI device manufacturers for further
information.
Types of MIDI Devices
A vast array of MIDI equipped devices exist. These include MIDI keyboards and sound
modules, control surfaces, effect processors, mixers, lighting controllers, and more.
MIDI Keyboard
The most likely candidate for inclusion in your Logic Express system will be a MIDI
keyboard. MIDI keyboards are used to input note (and controller) information into
Logic Express. Some MIDI keyboards are simply input devices (often called controller
keyboards) and some also include their own synthesis engines (synthesizer and
sampling keyboards). Logic Express can be used to record keyboard performances as
MIDI data, and can play them back through any connected MIDI device or internal
software instrument.
If you don’t have a MIDI keyboard handy, don’t fret! Logic Express offers the Caps Lock
Keyboard, which allows you to use the computer keyboard for MIDI note entry. See
“Using the Caps Lock Keyboard” on page 407.
Control Surfaces
Control surfaces are hardware devices that feature a variety of controls, which can
include faders, rotary knobs, switches, and displays. These controls can be mapped to
functions in Logic Express, allowing you to change parameters with more precision and
speed than is possible when using your mouse and computer keyboard. You can also
control multiple parameters at the same time. Detailed information on the setup and
use of control surfaces can be found in the Control Surfaces Support manual.