Logic Pro User Guide
- Welcome
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- What is Logic Pro?
- Workflow overview
- Logic Pro project basics
- Advanced tools and additional options
- Undo and redo edits
- Manage Logic Pro content
- How to get help
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- Projects overview
- Create projects
- Open projects
- Save projects
- Delete projects
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- Play a project
- Set the playhead position
- Control playback with the transport buttons
- Use transport shortcut menus
- Use transport keyboard shortcuts
- Customize the control bar
- Change the LCD display mode
- Monitor and reset MIDI events
- Use the cycle area
- Use the Chase Events function
- Control Logic Pro using Apple Remote
- Control Logic Pro projects using Logic Remote
- Preview projects in the Finder
- Close projects
- View project information
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- Overview
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- Before recording software instruments
- Play software instruments
- Record software instruments
- Record additional software instrument takes
- Overdub software instrument recordings
- Spot erase software instrument recordings
- Use Note Repeat
- Record to multiple software instrument tracks
- Replace software instrument recordings
- Record multiple MIDI devices to multiple tracks
- Record software instruments and audio simultaneously
- Use step input recording techniques
- Use the metronome
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- Overview
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- Regions overview
- Select regions
- Select parts of regions
- Cut, copy, and paste regions
- Move regions
- Add or remove gaps
- Delay region playback
- Loop regions
- Repeat regions
- Resize regions
- Mute and solo regions
- Time stretch regions
- Split regions
- Demix MIDI regions
- Join regions
- Create regions in the Tracks area
- Normalize audio regions in the Tracks area
- Create aliases of MIDI regions
- Clone audio regions
- Convert repeated MIDI regions to loops
- Change the color of regions
- Convert audio regions to Sampler zones
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
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- Overview
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- Add notes
- Select notes
- Snap items to the grid
- Move notes
- Copy notes
- Change the pitch of notes
- Resize notes
- Edit note velocity
- Quantize the timing of notes
- Quantize the pitch of notes
- Change note articulations
- Lock the position of events
- Mute notes
- Change note color
- View note labels
- Delete notes
- Time stretch notes
- View multiple MIDI regions
- Split chords
- Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor
- Open other editors
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- Flex Time and Pitch overview
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- Flex Pitch algorithm and parameters
- Edit the pitch of audio in the Audio Track Editor or a zoomed in track
- Edit the pitch of audio in the Tracks area when the track is not zoomed in
- Correct the timing of audio regions with Flex Pitch
- Quantize the pitch of audio regions
- Create MIDI from audio recordings
- Change the gain of notes in audio regions
- Use Varispeed to alter the speed and pitch of audio
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- Mixing overview
- Set channel strip input formats
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
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- Plug-ins overview
- Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- Insert a plug-in on a track using drag and drop
- Activate plug-ins on inactive channels
- Use the Channel EQ
- Work in the plug-in window
- Work with plug-in settings
- Work with plug-in latencies
- Work with Audio Units plug-ins
- Support for ARA 2 compatible plug-ins
- Use the Plug-in Manager
- Work with channel strip settings
- Surround panning
- Use the I/O Labels window
- Undo and redo Mixer and plug-in adjustments
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- Smart Controls overview
- Show Smart Controls for master effects
- Choose a Smart Control layout
- Automatic MIDI controller assignment
- Map screen controls automatically
- Map screen controls
- Edit mapping parameters
- Use parameter mapping graphs
- Open the plug-in window for a screen control
- Rename a screen control
- Use articulation IDs to change articulations
- Assign hardware controls to screen controls
- Compare Smart Control edits with saved settings in Logic Pro
- Use the Arpeggiator
- Automate screen control movements
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- Live Loops overview
- Start and stop cells
- Work with Live Loops cells
- Change loop settings for cells
- How the Live Loops grid and Tracks area interact
- Edit cells
- Edit scenes
- Work in the Cell Editor
- Bounce cells
- Record a Live Loops performance
- Change Live Loops grid settings
- Control Live Loops in Logic Pro with other devices
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- Overview
- Add notes
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- Part box overview
- View score symbols
- Select score symbols
- Add notes and rests
- Add notes and symbols to multiple regions
- Add key and time signature changes
- Change the clef sign
- Add dynamic marks, slurs, and crescendi
- Change note heads
- Add symbols to notes
- Add trills, ornaments, and tremolo symbols
- Add sustain pedal markings
- Add chord symbols
- Add chord grids and tablature symbols
- Add bar lines, repeats, and coda signs
- Add page and line break symbols
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- Select notes
- Move and copy notes
- Change note pitch, duration, and velocity
- Change note articulations
- Quantize the timing of notes
- Restrict note input to the current key
- Control how ties are displayed
- Add and edit tuplets
- Override display quantization using tuplets
- Add grace notes and independent notes
- Delete notes
- Use automation in the Score Editor
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- Staff styles overview
- Assign staff styles to tracks
- Staff Style window
- Create and duplicate staff styles
- Edit staff styles
- Edit staff, voice, and assign parameters
- Add and delete staffs or voices in the Logic Pro Staff Style window
- Copy staffs or voices in the Logic Pro Staff Style window
- Copy staff styles between projects
- Delete staff styles
- Assign notes to voices and staffs
- Display polyphonic parts on separate staffs
- Change the staff assignment of score symbols
- Beam notes across staffs
- Use mapped staff styles for drum notation
- Predefined staff styles
- Share a score
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- Environment overview
- Common object parameters
- Customize the Environment
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- Fader objects overview
- Use fader objects
- Play back fader movements
- Work with object groups
- Fader styles
- Fader functions: MIDI events
- Fader functions: range, value as
- Fader functions: filter
- Vector fader
- Special faders overview
- Cable switchers
- Meta event faders
- SysEx faders
- Work with SysEx messages
- Special functions
- Ornament objects
- MMC record buttons
- Keyboard objects
- Monitor objects
- Channel splitter object
- Physical input objects
- Physical input objects
- MIDI click objects
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- Key commands overview
- Browse, import, and save key commands
- Assign key commands
- Copy and print key commands
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- Global Commands key commands
- Global Control Surfaces Commands
- Various windows
- Windows Showing Audio files
- Main Window Tracks and Various Editors
- Live Loops Grid
- Various Editors
- Views showing Time Ruler
- Main Window Tracks
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Sampler
- Step Input Keyboard
- Tool key commands in Logic Pro
- Touch Bar shortcuts
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- Working with your control surface
- Connect control surfaces
- Add a control surface to Logic Pro
- Automatic assignment for USB MIDI controllers
- Grouping control surfaces
- Control Surfaces preferences overview
- Modal dialog display
- Tips for using your control surface
- Control surfaces supported by Logic Pro
- Software and firmware
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- Learn about Effects
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- Learn about Amps and Pedals
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- Bass Amp Designer overview
- Bass amplifier models
- Bass cabinet models
- Build a custom combo
- Amplifier signal flow
- Pre-amp signal flow
- Use the D.I. box
- Amplifier controls
- Bass Amp Designer effects overview
- Bass Amp Designer EQ
- Bass Amp Designer compressor
- Bass Amp Designer Graphic EQ
- Bass Amp Designer Parametric EQ
- Bass Amp Designer microphone controls
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- Use MIDI plug-ins
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- Arpeggiator overview
- Arpeggiator control parameters
- Note order parameters overview
- Note order variations
- Note order inversions
- Arpeggiator pattern parameters overview
- Use Live mode
- Use Grid mode
- Arpeggiator options parameters
- Arpeggiator keyboard parameters
- Use keyboard parameters
- Assign controller parameters
- Modifier MIDI plug-in controls
- Note Repeater MIDI plug-in controls
- Randomizer MIDI plug-in controls
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- Use the Scripter MIDI plug-in
- Use the Script Editor
- Scripter API overview
- MIDI processing functions overview
- HandleMIDI function
- ProcessMIDI function
- GetParameter function
- SetParameter function
- ParameterChanged function
- Reset function
- JavaScript objects overview
- Use the JavaScript Event object
- Use the JavaScript TimingInfo object
- Use the Trace object
- Use the MIDI event beatPos property
- Use the JavaScript MIDI object
- Create Scripter controls
- Transposer MIDI plug-in controls
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- Learn about included Instruments
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- Alchemy overview
- Name bar
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- Alchemy source overview
- Source master controls
- Import browser
- Source subpage controls
- Source filter controls
- Source filter use tips
- Source elements overview
- Additive element controls
- Additive element effects
- Spectral element controls
- Spectral element effects
- Pitch correction controls
- Formant filter controls
- Granular element controls
- Sampler element controls
- VA element controls
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Master voice section
- Alchemy extended parameters
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- Logic Pro Quick Sampler overview
- Add content to Logic Pro Quick Sampler
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler waveform display
- Use Flex in Logic Pro Quick Sampler
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Pitch controls
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Filter controls
- Quick Sampler filter types
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Amp controls
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler extended parameters
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- Sculpture overview
- Sculpture interface
- Global parameters
- Amplitude envelope parameters
- Use the Waveshaper
- Filter parameters
- Output parameters
- Use surround range and diversity
- Assign MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
Use the Sampler Mapping pane menu bar
You can use Mapping pane menu commands and functions at any time. The menu bar displays the same menus and elements in the Key Mapping Editor, Group view, and Zone view.
Mapping pane menu parameters
See the tasks in this section to learn more about the commands and functions in each pop-up menu.
Edit pop-up menu: Choose an editing or selection command or function.
Group pop-up menu: Choose a group-related command or function.
Zone pop-up menu: Choose a zone-related command or function. This menu contains Split, Automap, Remap, Loop, and Audio File submenus.
View pop-up menu: Choose an option that affects the appearance and behavior of the display.
Preview button: Play the selected zone.
Zoom slider: In the Key Mapping Editor, drag to zoom the view in or out. You can also use pinch gestures to zoom directly in the graphical editor with your trackpad. If you are using a Magic Mouse, use a single-finger vertical swipe to zoom.
Editor view buttons: Use to switch to the Key Mapping Editor, Group view, or Zone view.
Use Mapping pane Edit menu commands
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following commands or functions from the Edit menu:
Cut, Copy, Paste: The standard commands for cutting, copying, and pasting values. You can also cut, copy, and paste selected zones and groups.
When you copy groups between two Sampler instances, associated zones are also copied and group assignments of the zones are retained.
When you copy groups within a single Sampler instance, only the groups themselves are copied, not the associated zones. This behaves like the Group menu Duplicate command.
Delete: Deletes the currently selected zone or group.
WARNING: Take care when deleting a group because all zones associated with the group are also deleted.
Select All: Selects all zones and groups in the loaded sampler instrument.
Deselect All: Selects none of the zones and groups in the loaded sampler instrument.
Select Unused: Selects all unused zones and groups in the loaded sampler instrument. These commands are available only when the Key Mapping Editor or Zone view is active.
Unused Group: A group that doesn’t contain at least one zone, is not part of a round robin, and has no keyswitch is considered unused.
Unused Zone: A zone without a reference to an audio file is considered empty or unused.
Note: A zone without a reference can be created manually by using the New command in the Zone menu. You can manually remove the zone audio reference by using the Detach command in the Zone > Audio files menu.
Invert Selection: Switches the current selection. For example, if you have selected all unused zones and groups of the loaded sampler instrument, using this command will select all used zones and groups.
Select from Last Played Keys: Selects groups, zones and groups, or neither when you play keys on your MIDI keyboard.
None: No zone or group is selected when you play your MIDI keyboard.
Groups: One or more groups is selected when you play your MIDI keyboard.
Groups and Zones: Both zones and groups are selected when you play your MIDI keyboard.
Edit Key Labels: Open a dialog where you can name keys. This is ideal for GM Drum kit mapping, for example.
Edit Output Labels: Open a dialog where you can name audio outputs.
Use Mapping pane Group menu commands
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following commands or functions from the Group menu:
New: Create a new, empty group.
Duplicate: Create a copy of the selected group (or groups). This does not copy zones in the group. Only the group itself is copied, inclusive of all group parameter settings.
Create Round Robin: Creates a round robin of multiple selected groups. Repeatedly striking a key will sequentially step through these groups in a continuous cycle. See the task in Make advanced Sampler group selections.
Merge: Merges multiple selected groups.
Use Mapping pane Zone menu commands
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following commands or functions from the Zone menu:
New: Create a new empty zone (a zone with no reference to an audio file).
Load Audio Files: Open a browser window where you can choose one or more audio files.
Normalize Loudness: Choose to analyze the selected zone to find the perceived loudness and raise or lower the volume of the zone to achieve a perceived loudness of -12 LUFs. The dynamic relationships of sample levels within the zone remain unaltered. When multiple zones are selected, all will play at the same loudness and the dynamic relationships of sample levels between zones will change.
Tip: If you want to maintain the same relative gain relationship between zones, raise or lower the group volume.
Retune: Analyzes the audio content and sets the root key and tuning value automatically.
Always Move Root Key with Zone: Turn on to automatically move the root key when you drag one or more zones in the Key Mapping Editor.
Tip: This is useful when you want to change a zone’s keyboard position without transposing the zone pitch, when moving it up or down the keyboard.
Prefer Splitting Zones by Velocity: Turn on to change the appearance and behavior of zones in the Key Mapping Editor when you drag the boundary between two zones stacked vertically.
Turn on to cut zones horizontally (by velocity) to resolve a zone overlap within the same group.
Turn off to cut zones vertically (by note) to resolve a zone overlap within the same group.
Slide Zones Over: Turn on to change the appearance and behavior of zones in the Key Mapping Editor when you drag them horizontally to positions that overlap other zones.
Turn on to cut unselected zones to resolve a zone overlap within the same group.
Turn off to cut selected zones to resolve a zone overlap within the same group.
Protect Unselected Zones in Zone List: Turn on to prevent accidental overlaps, and therefore modifications, of unselected zones when you edit notes and velocities in Zone view.
Preview Selected Zone: Automatically plays the selected zone when selected.
Use Mapping pane Zone menu Split commands
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following commands or functions from the Zone > Split menu:
Create Zones Split at Notes: Use to analyze the selected zone for clear, pitched notes. A new zone is created for each pitched note, of sufficient duration and harmonicity, which is detected in the audio file. This feature is most commonly used to split loops that contain musical phrases.
Create Zones Split at Silence: Use to analyze the selected zone for points with extended periods of silence. New zones are created for the non silent sections of the zone. This feature is most commonly used to split custom recordings of instruments, where notes of various pitches and loudness levels are played, separated by a second or two of silence.
Tip: For both “Create” functions, once a zone is split, you can use Automap menu commands with the resulting zones to build a playable instrument.
Use Mapping pane Zone menu Automap commands
Automapping is a process that repositions zones across keyboard and velocity ranges, based on the audio content of each zone. As examples: note pitch or loudness, or a filename.
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following commands or functions from the Zone > Automap menu:
Automap using Current Root Note: Selected zones are extended horizontally to fill the entire key range without gaps between zones, relative to the current root note position. If multiple selected zones have the same root note, they will be sorted by velocity, based on audio content loudness levels.
Automap using Pitch Detection: Selected zones are repositioned and extended horizontally to fill the entire key range without gaps between zones, in accordance with their pitch. If multiple selected zones have the same pitch, they will be sorted by velocity, based on audio content loudness levels.
Automap using Mapping Data from Audio Files: Selected zones are mapped using any recognized mapping data contained within the audio file header. Should the content of audio files overlap, new groups are created and zones are automatically moved to avoid overlaps.
Automap using Root Note from Audio File Names: Selected zones are repositioned and extended horizontally to fill the entire key range without gaps between zones in accordance with root note data in the audio filename. If multiple selected zones have the same root note in the filename, they will be sorted by velocity, based on audio content loudness levels.
Automap Velocities Only: Selected zones are repositioned and extended vertically to fill the entire velocity range without gaps between zones, in accordance with audio content loudness levels.
Use Mapping pane Zone menu Remap commands
Remapping is a process that repositions zones across keyboard and velocity ranges, with no analysis of audio file content.
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following commands or functions from the Zone > Remap menu:
Fill Gaps: Use to expand the velocity and key ranges of all selected zones that have gaps between them. Expansion of these ranges is balanced between selected zones.
Mirror Velocities: Use to change the velocity range positions of all selected zones. Selected zone positions are mirrored vertically on the key.
Pivot on Corner: Use to remap selected zones to the position/key of the lowest selected note. Selected zones are stacked vertically on the key, in order from lowest (at the bottom) to highest numbered. The velocity range of each stacked zone is automatically adjusted.
Note: In cases where selected zones are already stacked vertically, Pivot on Corner will perform the inverse function and will place each zone on a different key, using the full velocity range available.
Remap All Notes: Use to remap all selected zones to fill all free keys, starting from the position/key of the lowest selected zone.
Remap Black Notes: Use to remap all selected zones to black notes only.
Remap to Root Notes: Use to remap all selected zones to their respective root key positions.
Remap Velocities: Use to open a dialog where you can specify a velocity range that is applied to all selected zones.
Remap White Notes: Use to remap all selected zones to white notes only.
Use Mapping pane Zone menu Loop commands
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following commands or functions from the Zone > Loop menu:
Auto-Loop: Use to analyze the selected zone and to automatically set loop start and loop end marker positions.
Optimize Loop Start: Use to automatically adjust the loop start point to create a smooth loop cycle.
Optimize Loop Crossfade/End: Use to automatically set crossfade values at the point in the loop cycle where the loop end and loop start markers cross over. The loop length is not affected.
Set End to Loop End: Use to move the (sample) end marker to the current loop end position.
Set Loop from Start to End: Use to move the loop start and end markers to the (sample) start and end marker positions.
Set Start to Loop Start: Use to move the (sample) start marker to the current loop start marker position.
Use Mapping pane Zone menu Audio Files commands
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following commands or functions from the Zone > Audio Files menu:
Detach: Use to remove the audio file association from the selected zone.
Tip: This results in an empty zone.
Write Loop: Use to write loop start and end data to the header of the audio file associated with the selected zone.
Write Mapping: Use to write mapping data, such as the root key, the key range, and the velocity range to the header of the audio file associated with the selected zone.
Use Mapping pane View menu commands
In Logic Pro Sampler, choose any of the following display functions from the View menu to change the layout and appearance of the Key Mapping Editor, Group view, and Zone view:
Show Zone Names: Turn on to display zone names on each zone in the Key Mapping Editor.
Show Zones from all Selected Groups: Turn on to restrict the display of zones to selected groups in the Key Mapping Editor and Zone view.
Show Group Column in Mapping Editor: Turn on to display the group list in the Key Mapping Editor.
Show Group Column in Zone List: Turn on to display the group list in Zone view.
Visible Group List Columns: Choose each item to display the corresponding parameter column in Group view. A checkmark is shown beside active items. Choose an active item to hide the column in Group view.
Visible Zone List Columns: Choose each item to display the corresponding parameter column in Zone view. A checkmark is shown beside active items. Choose an active item to hide the column in Zone view.