I AM READING BUT NOT COMPREHENDING VERY WELL. HELP!!

Question

Hello everyone!
I am so frustrated! The only way I could get input and output was by using a file from the wonderful book on Logic Pro 7 and Logic Express 7. I have NEVER been able to set up my own input-output setup in LE 7 and the same is true with LE 8. This is such an essential thing that one should know how to do; it is so basic! Yet, I am unable to do this a all. Not with the screen keyboard, my microphone, or my guitar with a nice pickyp system that I know works well because I could record with it in GarageBand (albeit with a very low volume). So, I have also tried using the "template" for the "Songwriter" that is available upon opening LE 8 and I STILL cannot get any input or output from that either.
I am lost, frustrated and embarrassed. I can read, but the manuals are over 1000 pages alone! I wish that they had a beginning tutorial that would guide us through this initial hurdle.
Anyse

Answer 1

Hi,
ehhh.... what exactly do you mean by input and output??? Do you mean audio or midi or both??
Just a couple of hints:
go to Applications > Utilities, and start Audio/Midi Configuration. In this program you can find volume controls for all audio devices, like the built-in mic, and the external mic input and speaker output. If you record something in Logic you should see the VU-meter of the record-enabled audio channel go up and down. By the way, you should select an input source by click-holding the button beneath the label "I/O" in the channel strip of that channel. Otherwise, Logic doesn't know in what connector you put your guitar cable....
Also, you have to arm the track by clicking the "R" button in your track, so that it becomes red.
See page 367 / 368 of the manual (Help > Logic Express 8 User Manual).
Hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Jaap