The key is that solved the main problem was that I was insisting on sending the output to M-Audio FastTrack device. As soon as I have eliminated that from the audio chain, I was able to do pretty much what I wanted.
The problem was that
- It was almost impossible to rout the output sound to FastTrack
- M3 can directly play back the sound coming out of Mac.
In my situation, what made possible to monitor both the Logic (samples and software instruments) and M3 to send the output to my keyboard monitor was to send the Output from Mac to the Individual Out 1/2 (or 3/4).
Turn the volume of all your external sound equipment to zero just in case.
To do this, first set the input mode on the M3;
- Press GLOBAL
- Press PAGE SELECT
- Select Basic Setup Page (P0)
- Press the AUDIO tab at the bttom
- On the Top section with a (>) select FireWire
- Then for Input 1 under Bus Select, select 1/2
- For Input 2 select 1/2 also
Do not send the signal to L/R. This will cause the output of Logic to feed back into the input of the Logic.
You are not quite done yet...
- On your Mac, launch the M3 Editor
- When it starts up. Press the GLOBAL button on the M3 Editor window
- Under the Audio Settings
- Audio Driver is set M3 (0164) <- This number may vary for your card
- Audio Output: Individual 1/2
- Buffer Latency (4 ms works for me but experiment with it)
- CPU Load (High setting works for me but experiment with it)
Now connect the external monitor speakers to the Individual Out 1 and 2 then you can hear what Mac is sending out. You can even enable Software Monitoring.
As for the Buffer Latency you need to experiment with it until you do not hear clicks and pops from skipped or missing samples.
Note: I have not quire figured out how to turn off the FireWire MIDI. Even the MIDI setting on the M3 Editor says USB, right now if the USB MIDI is connected the keys double up (i.e., if you press a key the same not appears twice in the Event List). I am using it without USB for the time being which is just fine for my applications.
