User guide

258 Chapter 10 Working With Instruments and Effects
Switching Instruments to Software Instrument Live Mode
When you select a (software) instrument track, it does not immediately switch into live
or performance mode. You must send a MIDI event before live mode is activated, but
this takes around 100 milliseconds to engage, which is more than enough to destroy
the timing of your first played note.
If you require perfect timing for the first played note, you need to send silent MIDI
events in advance; press the sustain pedal, make a small move of the pitch bender or
modulation wheel as examples. This will switch on live mode.
Why Live Mode is Necessary
Live mode instruments need to stay in live mode while the audio engine is running
(when Logic Express is in play or record mode), as switching a software instrument
track out of live mode will create a gap (or noise) in the audio stream. Obviously, this is
unacceptable.
Software instruments that are live (ready for playing) require considerably more CPU
power than those that are merely playing back existing regions. If the act of selecting a
software instrument track automatically activated live mode, switching between
multiple instrument tracks would compound the problem, possibly resulting in CPU
overloads.
The Record button of selected software instrument tracks gives visual feedback of the
current state of a software instrument:
Saving Software Instrument Processing Resources
The Bounce function allows the entire instrument track to be recorded as an audio file.
This bounced audio file can then be used (as an audio region) on a standard audio
track, allowing you to reassign the available processing power for further software
instrument tracks. For details, please refer to Chapter 27, “Bouncing Your Project,” on
page 625.
You can also make use of the Freeze function to capture the output of a software
instrument track, again saving processing power. For details, please refer to “Freezing
Tracks” on page 208.
Instrument in live mode
Selected instrument, not
yet in live mode