Apple Logic Express 8 - Manual (Page 875)

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Working in the Environment
The Environment controls all MIDI input and output, and also
allows you to integrate and process the data of MIDI and
software instruments.
This chapter will help you to understand how the Environment window works, and
how to use objects to alter MIDI data in real time.
It is not essential to know about—or even open—the Environment window in order to
make music with the instruments of Logic Express or your external MIDI sound
generators and keyboards.
When you create new instrument or external MIDI tracks (as discussed in “ Working
With Instruments ” on page 247), Logic Express automatically generates Mixer channels,
and will also create and configure any Environment objects that are needed for basic
input and output.
Note: This also true of audio tracks (and other audio channel types, such as auxiliaries
and outputs), but you will rarely need to access these objects in the Environment, as
you have full control over them in the Mixer and Arrange channel strips.
If your needs don’t extend further than basic access and control of your external MIDI
devices, then this chapter will be of little interest. As a recommendation, however, it
may be worthwhile exploring the “
Multi Instruments ” section on page 901. Some small
customizations to these objects can make your workflow much easier and faster.
Beyond basic MIDI input and output handling, the Environment can be used to alter
MIDI data in real time, enabling you to create processing machines, such as virtual
rhythm generators and step sequencers, or complex synthesizer editors.
This processing can be done on any MIDI data, which means that you can manipulate
both external MIDI instruments and your software instrument channels.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how to, or indeed if, you use any of the
Environment’s facilities.