Importing Synth Names into Logic and the "environment"

Question

Logic 7.2, OSX.4.something...
I'm brand spanking new to Logic (migrating from Opcode's Vision...) and I have 3 questions:
1) The Environment: I've read the user manual chapter on "The Environment" and I'm totally lost. Is there not a way that Logic can read what's attached to it via your MIDI interface/OSX MidiCore setup and create an environment based on this automatically? This would be a good starting point at least, but there's no mention in the manual of this function and it seems crazy that one would have to create each instrument, define each channel and so on down the line.
2) Once my synthesizer and their channels are defined how do you get synthesizer patch names into logic such that when I pick an instrument from the track or arrange window, I can see a list of all patches available in any given bank for that instrument and pick my sound (ie: send the bank or program change message....) This is not explained anywhere that I could find and I'm curious if there's a way to import via sysex or a universal librarian. I'm an old school Opcode Vision user and I have patch names for all my gear and I can't imgine having to type all the names and even if I did, there's nothing that explains how to do this and assign patch change and bank change commands. Can sombody explain or point me to a resource that explains in laymans terms how to set up ones MIDI environment based on their MIDICore setup and get patch names to come through.
3) Librarian: I can't find anything that talks about a way to manage patches and instruments within Logic and I need some method of being able to manage and get patches into Logic. Does Logic have a librarian or do I need a 3rd party program? If it doesn't have this, can somebody suggest a program that would meet this function and integrate with Logic such that I can import and manage patches?
I hope this makes sense to somebody....
Thanks WAY in advance....
G4800 quicksilver Mac OS X (10.4.7) Dual boot system

Answer 1

Hi and welcome fellow former Vision user. I too came from Vision a couple years ago
to answer
1) Yes, the 1st time you open logic it looks at your audio midi setup (AMS) to make a basic environment from the info there. if there no hardware synths listed there they will not show up in Logic. Unfortunately Logic does not come with any synth device lists to add to your AMS so there is none to choose from. you will have to define them or you can use the MOTU list. you can download a copy here http://www.digicake.com/midnam/ download the MOTU.sit MOTU uses these midnam files for bank and patch change info. Unfortunately Logic does not use the bank and program information in them, it sure would make setting Logic up much easier
2) To Get patch names into logic you can type them in one by one or use a word processor doc to import the names Pages 216 and 217 of the manual explain this
3) Librarian? well sort of... Emagic had one called SoundDiver that I think is still in beta testing for OSX but I am not real familiar with it do a google search and see what you come up with
I am hoping that someday Apple will use .middev and .midnam files to address outboard synths the same way DP does. That is why I use DP when I want to make standard midi files for outboard synths. DP is very similar to Vision in that way. but for everything else Logic rules