Create tracks in a Logic Pro project

You add tracks to a project to hold your recordings, loops, and other material. When you add a track, you can choose the track type, format, input source (for audio tracks), and output, and create multiple tracks. The options in the New Tracks dialog vary, depending on the type of track you are creating.

When you create a new track, a corresponding new channel strip is also created. The new track appears in the Tracks area, and the new channel strip appears in the Mixer. You can choose a patch, which controls the sound of the track.

Create one or more new tracks

In Logic Pro, click the Add Tracks button , located above the track headers.
Select the track type in the upper part of the New Tracks dialog.
If the Details area at the bottom of the New Tracks dialog is closed, click the Details disclosure arrow to open it.
Do one of the following, depending on the track type:
- For audio tracks: Choose the input channel or channels from the Audio Input pop-up menu.
- For software instrument tracks: Choose an instrument plug-in from the Instrument pop-up menu.
  Note: When Logic Pro > Settings > Display > General > “Show icons in New Tracks dialog” is selected, choose An Instrument Plug-in from the Use pop-up menu.
- For external MIDI tracks: Select the “Use External Instrument plug-in” checkbox, then choose the device and the input channel or channels from the MIDI Destination pop-up menu.
  Note: When Logic Pro > Settings > Display > General > “Show icons in New Tracks dialog” is selected, choose An external USB or MIDI Device from the Use pop-up menu.
- For Drummer tracks: Choose the genre from the Genre pop-up menu.
Tip: Below the Input pop-up menu, a line of text shows the current input device. To change the input device, click the arrow next to the device name, then change the device in the Audio Settings pane.
Choose the audio output and output channel (or channels) from the Output pop-up menus.
Tip: The current output devicet is listed below the Output pop-up menu and associated checkboxes. To change the output device, click the arrow next to the text, then choose another device in the Audio Settings pane.
Do any of the following:
- To set the number of multi-timbral parts for software instrument tracks: Select the Multi-timbral checkbox, then enter the number of multi-timbral or layer parts.
  Multi-timbral refers to the number of different sounds a software instrument can play simultaneously.
- To have the Library open automatically so you can choose a patch for the track: Select the Open Library checkbox.
  Tip: Deselect the Open Library checkbox if you want to add an empty track containing no plug-ins.
- To include the default patch for audio tracks: Select the Load Default Patch checkbox.
- To choose an instrument plug-in for software instrument tracks: Choose the instrument plug-in from the pop-up menu below the Load Patch or Instrument Plug-in checkbox.
- To turn on monitoring for audio tracks: Select the Input Monitoring checkbox.
  When Logic Pro > Settings > Display > General > “Show icons in New Tracks dialog” is selected, the checkbox is labeled “I want to hear my instrument as I play and record.”
- To record-enable audio tracks: Select the Record Enable checkbox.
  When Logic Pro > Settings > Display > General > “Show icons in New Tracks dialog” is selected, the checkbox is labeled “Prepare new audio tracks for immediate recording.”
- To create multiple tracks: Select the number in the “Number of tracks to create” field, and enter a new number.
Click Create.
The new track appears in the Tracks area. If the Open Library checkbox is selected, the Library opens so you can choose a patch for the track.
For information about choosing patches, see Choose patches in the Library in Logic Pro.

Create an empty track

Do one of the following:

To create an empty track of the same type as the focused track: Hold down Option and click the Add Tracks button .
To create an empty track of the opposite type as the focused track: Hold down Option-Shift and click the Add Tracks button .

Create a track below the selected track

In Logic Pro, Control-click the track header.
Choose a track type from the shortcut menu.

A new track of the chosen type, with default settings, is created below the selected track.

Create a track below all existing tracks

In Logic Pro, select a track of the same type as the one you want to create.
Double-click the empty area below the track headers.

When you create a Drummer track, the track contains one 8-bar region. For more information about working with Drummer tracks, see Overview of Drummer in Logic Pro.

You can also Create an Instrument track from an audio recording using Flex Pitch.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF

Helpful?