Logic Pro User Guide for iPad
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- What is Logic Pro?
- Working areas
- Work with function buttons
- Work with numeric values
- Undo and redo edits in Logic Pro for iPad
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- Intro to tracks
- Create tracks
- Create tracks using drag and drop
- Choose the default region type for a software instrument track
- Select tracks
- Duplicate tracks
- Reorder tracks
- Rename tracks
- Change track icons
- Change track colors
- Use the tuner on an audio track
- Show the output track in the Tracks area
- Delete tracks
- Edit track parameters
- Start a Logic Pro subscription
- How to get help
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- Intro to recording
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- Before recording software instruments
- Record software instruments
- Record additional software instrument takes
- Record to multiple software instrument tracks
- Record multiple MIDI devices to multiple tracks
- Record software instruments and audio simultaneously
- Merge software instrument recordings
- Spot erase software instrument recordings
- Replace software instrument recordings
- Capture your most recent MIDI performance
- Route MIDI internally to software instrument tracks
- Record with Low Latency Monitoring mode
- Use the metronome
- Use the count-in
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- Intro to arranging
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- Intro to regions
- Select regions
- Cut, copy, and paste regions
- Move regions
- Remove gaps between regions
- Delay region playback
- Trim regions
- Loop regions
- Repeat regions
- Mute regions
- Split and join regions
- Stretch regions
- Separate a MIDI region by note pitch
- Bounce regions in place
- Change the gain of audio regions
- Create regions in the Tracks area
- Convert a MIDI region to a Session Player region or a pattern region
- Replace a MIDI region with a Session Player region in Logic Pro for iPad
- Rename regions
- Change the color of regions
- Delete regions
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- Intro to chords
- Add and delete chords
- Select chords
- Cut, copy, and paste chords
- Move and resize chords
- Loop chords on the Chord track
- Color chords on the Chord track
- Edit chords
- Work with chord groups
- Use chord progressions
- Change the chord rhythm
- Choose which chords a Session Player region follows
- Analyze the key signature of a range of chords
- Create fades on audio regions
- Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter
- Access mixing functions using the Fader
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- Intro to Step Sequencer
- Use Step Sequencer with Drum Machine Designer
- Record Step Sequencer patterns live
- Step record Step Sequencer patterns
- Load and save patterns
- Modify pattern playback
- Edit steps
- Edit rows
- Edit Step Sequencer pattern, row, and step settings in the inspector
- Customize Step Sequencer
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- Intro to mixing
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- Channel strip types
- Channel strip controls
- Peak level display and clipping
- Set channel strip volume
- Set channel strip input format
- Set the output for a channel strip
- Set channel strip pan position
- Mute and solo channel strips
- Reorder channel strips in the Mixer in Logic Pro for iPad
- Replace a patch on a channel strip using drag and drop
- Work with plug-ins in the Mixer
- Search for plug-ins in the Mixer in Logic Pro for iPad
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- Effect plug-ins overview
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- Instrument plug-ins overview
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- ES2 overview
- Interface overview
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- Modulation overview
- Use the Mod Pad
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- Vector Envelope overview
- Use Vector Envelope points
- Use Vector Envelope solo and sustain points
- Set Vector Envelope segment times
- Vector Envelope XY pad controls
- Vector Envelope Actions menu
- Vector Envelope loop controls
- Vector Envelope point transition shapes
- Vector Envelope release phase behavior
- Use Vector Envelope time scaling
- Modulation source reference
- Via modulation source reference
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- Sample Alchemy overview
- Interface overview
- Add source material
- Save a preset
- Edit mode
- Play modes
- Source overview
- Synthesis modes
- Granular controls
- Additive effects
- Additive effect controls
- Spectral effect
- Spectral effect controls
- Filter module
- Low, bandpass, and highpass filters
- Comb PM filter
- Downsampler filter
- FM filter
- Envelope generators
- Mod Matrix
- Modulation routing
- Motion mode
- Trim mode
- More menu
- Sampler
- Studio Piano
- Copyright
Drum Machine Designer Play Surface in Logic Pro for iPad
The Drum Machine Designer Play Surface in Logic Pro for iPad is an enhanced version of the Drum Pads Play Surface. It is accessible when the Drum Pads Play Surface is selected on a Drum Machine Designer main track. With the Drum Machine Designer Play Surface, you can play back and edit Drum Machine Designer kits.
Note: You can use other Play Surfaces, but the Drum Machine Designer Play Surface gives you access to features specific to Drum Machine Designer. For more information about the Drum Pads, see Intro to Play Surfaces and Use the Drum Pads Play Surface.
The Drum Machine Designer Play Surface features six columns and eight rows of playable pads in a drum grid. Drum and percussion kit pieces assigned to pads can be either synthetically generated or sample based. In fact, you can assign any supported instrument or Audio Unit Extension you have at your disposal to a pad. You can mute, solo, reorder, replace, and change the sound of each kit piece you have assigned to each pad. You can also assign each pad to different input and output notes and to different groups, and you can put kit pieces in exclusive (choke) groups.
Above the drum grid are the different function buttons you can use to switch between Play, Scroll, and Edit modes. In Edit mode, you can access and edit pad settings. You can also edit the surface settings.
Note: The Drum Machine Designer Play Surface shares many functionalities with the Drum Pads Play Surface (and the same icon in the Surface Types menu) but offers more features and flexibility.
Play a drum pad
In the Drum Machine Designer menu bar in Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Tap the Play button
or Scroll button 
, then tap a pad to trigger it.Tap the Edit button
, then tap a pad with two fingers to trigger it.
Note: By default, the velocity is determined by the vertical tap position on the pad. To change this, see surface settings.
Mute or solo a drum pad using the Fader
In the Drum Machine Designer menu bar in Logic Pro, do one of the following to select a kit piece:
Tap the Edit button
, then tap a pad.Tap the Selection pop-up menu, then choose the drum kit or a kit piece.
Tap the Fader button
on the left side of the view control bar.Tap the Mute button
or the Solo button 
in the second Fader to mute the subtrack and pad.Note: If you cannot see the Mute button in the Fader, resize or close the Play Surface to create more space.
You can also mute and solo pads in the subtrack header for a pad. See Mute and solo tracks. For more information about the Fader, see Access mixing functions using the Fader.
Adjust the volume of a drum pad
You can set the volume of a pad by dragging the volume slider in the pad’s subtrack header. You can also adjust the volume using the second Fader by doing the following:
In Logic Pro, with the main track focused, tap the Edit button
in the Drum Machine Designer menu bar, then tap a pad to select it.Tap the Fader button
on the left side of the view control bar to show the Fader.Drag the handle of the Volume fader up or down in the second Fader to change the volume level.
For more information about the Fader, see Access mixing functions using the Fader.
Scroll the drum grid
You can scroll the Play Surface vertically. You can also scroll horizontally, depending on the screen size and orientation of your iPad.
In Logic Pro, tap the Scroll button
in the Drum Machine Designer menu bar, then scroll the drum grid.
Add kit pieces to unassigned drum pads
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
In any mode in the Drum Machine Designer Play Surface drag a kit piece from the Browser to an unassigned pad.
Tap the Edit button
in the Drum Machine Designer menu bar, tap an unassigned pad, then tap Create DMD Subtrack.
Add your own samples or audio files
You can quickly add your own samples or audio files from the Samples Folder in the Browser or the Files app in Split View.
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
At the top level of the Browser, tap Sample Folders, then navigate to the folder containing the samples you want to add. To add your own samples to the Browser, see Add your own sample folders to the Browser.
Tap the Multitasking button
at the top of the screen, tap Split View, the Files app on your Home Screen.
Touch and hold the sample you want to add.
Tip: You can add multiple samples at once using the Files app. To select multiple samples, touch and hold one, drag it slightly, then continue to hold it while you tap additional samples with another finger. A badge indicates the number of selected items.
In any mode in Drum Machine Designer in Logic Pro, drag the sample from the Browser or Files app to the Play Surface.
Replace kit pieces using drum pads
In any mode in the Drum Machine Designer Play Surface in Logic Pro, drag a kit piece from the Browser to an assigned pad.
Replace kit pieces using subtracks
In Logic Pro, with a Drum Machine Designer track stack expanded, do one of the following:
Drag a kit piece from the Browser to the track header of a subtrack in the Drum Machine Designer track stack.
In the Browser, activate the Replace Mode button
, tap a subtrack in the Drum Machine Designer track stack to select it, then tap a kit piece in the Browser.
Reorder kit pieces
In Logic Pro, you can reorder kit pieces in the following ways:
Drag a pad to an unassigned pad in the drum grid to swap their positions.
Drag a pad between two pads in the drum grid. A vertical line is shown to indicate the target location. The pad is placed between the target pads. Adjacent (and other) pads move to accommodate the dropped pad.
Drag a pad to an assigned pad in the drum grid to swap their positions.
Note: Dragging behavior is affected by the option you chose in the Reorder Pads menu in surface settings.
Change Sounds: Changing the pad layout moves the pads and also modifies the MIDI input note of all of the pads moved. The sounds appear in a different order on the grid, and are also triggered by different keys on an external MIDI keyboard or a region on the main track.
Visual Only: Changing the pad layout moves the pads but does not modify the MIDI routing, so reordering will only have a visual effect. Moved pads appear in a different order, but assigned sounds are still played by the same MIDI notes.
Neither option modifies the MIDI output notes.
Play a kit piece chromatically and polyphonically
In the Logic Pro Tracks area, tap the disclosure arrow in the track header of a track stack, then tap a subtrack.
The Keyboard Play Surface appears. You can also choose to use a different Play Surface.
Tap the keys on the Keyboard Play Surface to play the kit piece chromatically and polyphonically.
To show the Drum Machine Designer Play Surface again, tap the main track of the track stack to select it.
Change the sound of a kit or kit piece
In Logic Pro, tap the Plug-ins button
in the center of the view control bar.Do one of the following:
In the Drum Machine Designer menu bar, tap the Selection pop-up menu, then choose the drum kit or a kit piece.
In the Drum Machine Designer menu bar, tap the Edit button
, then tap a pad in the drum grid.In the Plug-ins area menu bar, tap the Selection pop-up menu, then choose the drum kit or a kit piece.
If you have a pattern region on the main track, open Step Sequencer, then select the row for the kit piece you want to edit.
In the Plug-ins area, edit the plug-in parameters. For more information about working with plug-ins, see Intro to plug-ins.
Save an edited kit or kit piece as a kit or kit piece patch
In the Logic Pro Tracks area, do one of the following:
To save an edited kit: Tap the icon in the track header of the main track to select it, then tap it again.
To save an edited kit piece: Tap the icon in the track header of a subtrack to select it, then tap it again.
Tap Save Patch, enter a name for the kit, then tap OK.
Your kit or kit piece is saved in My Instrument Patches in the Browser.
Use MIDI learn with an external MIDI controller
With learn input note, you can assign a pad’s input note by playing a note on an external MIDI controller.
In Logic Pro, tap the Edit button
in the Drum Machine Designer menu bar.Tap a pad in the drum grid to select it, then tap it again to open pad settings.
Tap Learn Input Note to activate MIDI learn.
Play a note on your external MIDI controller.
The first note you play is assigned as the pad’s input note. Learn input note is deactivated after receiving the first note or, if no note is received, when you close the pad settings.
You can assign multiple pads to the same input note, which allows you to create layered sounds consisting of multiple channel strips with different instruments.
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