Logic Studio 2 & Fantom G8 Help

[ShadowWarrior98]

My question is very simple to ask but difficult for me to answer. I am new to the Roland Fantom G8 so please be kind. Here is a basic portion of my setup.

Mac Pro OS X 10.6
Logic Studio 2
Apogee Symphony 32 w/Rosetta 800
Roland Fantom G8 (connected via USB for Midi)

Ok here is the question. Is there a way to use an environment in Logic with the Fantom G8 rather then that plug-in. For all my other gear (Motif-Rack ES, Mo-Phatt, Roland JV-1080, etc..) in Logic I have midi patches for them and it's extremely easy to use these modules with Logic. I am having the hardest time with the Fantom G8 and Logic. I just want to be able to select what sound I want to use and make music with no problems. I keep having problems with the plug-in. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It takes a long time to load. The midi sometimes gets thrown off, when I choose sounds it switches sounds when I hie record, etc. Please help. I usually get Rack-mount gear so that I don't have a ton of Keyboards in the Studio but getting this keyboard was a bargain that I couldn't pass up.

Remember, Please be kind and be as informative as possible. I love details. Sometimes I get answers that are to general so I am still lost at the end of the answer.

Thank you for your time.

[The Audacity Works]

Hmm... I use the Fantom-G with Logic and don't have any of the problems you seem to be having. The plugin works great here.

Here are the important settings to have in System Mode:

Sound Page > Local Switch > OFF
MIDI Page > Transmit Program Change > OFF
MIDI Page > Transmit Bank Select > OFF
MIDI Page > Transmit Edit Data > ON
MIDI Page > Soft Through > OFF
MIDI Page > Remote Keyboard Switch > OFF

For some dumb reason, even though Apple designed the .midnam and .middev standard (actually, I think Emagic's Gerhard Lengeling may have helped one of the main Opcode guys with it), Logic still doesn't support .midnam patch scripts. ProTools, Cubase/Nuendo, and Digital Performer do, however, and I think Roland even has these patch scripts available on their site. For Logic? Nope. Yes, it's dumb.

[ShadowWarrior98]

Thanks, will try everything you suggested once I get in the studio this afternoon. Is there anything I specifically need to do in Logic. Thanks.

[bonython]

Shadow are you using software tracks over external midi tracks for any main reason If I'm reading you right)? I'm a pretty basic user in Logic and the FG but I gave up with the software track because using the Fantom "VST" software was painful. I use external midi tracks always now. Interested to hear your perspective.

The only time the FG changes patches when I hit record is when the midi layer in the Environment has "program change" pre-selected, which it seems to always for external midi tracks or just the FG as the external instrument (I'm not sure if it's a FG-unique problem as I don't use any other gear).

I'd be interested to learn your thoughts and see if the program change you're describing is the same "problem".

[ensemble]

dear ShadowWarrior,

Did you already find out how to set-up an environment? Your problem is exactly what I am experiencing right now and I don't know if it's Logic or a Fantom G issu.

Before using Logic I worked on my MPC2500 and in order to send prog changes from the MPC I just had to give the MSB/LSB parameters. On the Fantom MSB /LSB 87/64 and continue upwards 87/65,87/66 etc do the job.

Now In Logic when you double click on an external midi track you get into the program change window but Icould not find out how to feed Logic with the correct parameters. Where do I have to feed the 87 and where the 64 etc.

Anyone understands what I mean, this ain't no rocket science but still my Clavia's worked in a minute but my Fantom is still abracadabra..