Midi Routing/effects, Trying out Express for the first time Options

[keybie]

I'm considering Logic Express and have played around with the 30 day demo. I've imported the Garageband demo songs so I can get to know it, and also MIDI files, but without a manual and no prior experience with DAW software I'm stuck and need some help:

1) It seems that you can only use 5 effects per track -is this true?
Someone told me that equalizing/tone controls also counts as effects, so 5 seems very limiting to me.

2) I currently don't have any MIDI interface with my Mac, but thought I'd be able to try out the MIDI capabilities of Logic by having it play Quicktime instruments and/or some sort of soft-synth like Garageband has, but I'm not getting any audio output at all. I assume I have to assign instruments/channels somewhere.
Where/how do I do this?

(I'm on a 1.67GHz PowerBook G4 with MacOS 10.4.9)

This post has been edited by keybie: Mon 9 Apr 2007, 18:20

[gdoubleyou]

Five effects slots will quickly eat up the cpu on a powerbook, you will probably have to feed busses with several tracks, to save cpu, or freeze tracks.

I used a Powerbook for several years, got work done but they are underpowered.

The tracks with the instrument icons are for external midi gear.

What you want is an audio instrument track, then you can select an instrument plug, and the proper outputs.

Use the online help to get an understanding of the different types of tracks in Express.

[keybie]

Five effects slots will quickly eat up the cpu on a powerbook, you will probably have to feed busses with several tracks, to save cpu, or freeze tracks.
I used a Powerbook for several years, got work done but they are underpowered.

Which Powerbook was that? I was told by many people prior to buying mine that a 1.67GHz processor with 1GB or more memory would be a great computer for audio.

So are you saying that Logic Express can only give you 5 effects per track, or can it give more (but in your opinion is of no use for my G4 Powerbook)?

As for the playing of Quicktime (or other software synths) instruments from the MIDI file I've imported...
I've tried to figure it out, but although it all looks OK my Mac still doesn't play any audio.
Here's a screenshot I've just made:


I've selected a track which seems to be active ("Audio 5"), and on the left hand side of the screen it says that Core-audio is selected and the MIDI channel is set at 5. I suppose there's another menu somewhere where I can actually choose the MIDI source and patch. In which case I suppose I can select the same soft-synth that plays MIDI files when double-clicked on the desktop, bringing up Quicktime-player, but within Logic Express of course, right?
Logic Express seems like a very complex piece of software, and the built-in help isn't of much help for first time users, but more suited as a reference manual when you already know the basics in my opinion.