Welcome
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 11
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.6
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.4
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.2
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.0
- Get started overview
- Workflow overview
- Logic Pro main window
- Projects
- Playback and navigation
- Tempo, key, and time signature
- Patches
- Arranging regions
- - Piano Roll Editor
  - Audio Track Editor
- Session Players
- Smart Controls
- Live Loops
- Mixing
- Apple Loops
- Smart Tempo
- Sharing
- What is Logic Pro for Mac?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use menu commands and key commands
- Use the complete set of Logic Pro features
- Undo and redo edits
- Manage Logic Pro content
- How to get help
- Hardware connection overview
- Projects overview
- Create projects
- Open projects
- Save projects
- Delete projects
- Use Logic Remote to control Logic Pro projects
- Preview projects in the Finder
- Close projects
- View project information
- Tracks overview
- Control timing with the groove track
- Use selection-based processing
- Edit track parameters
- Overview
- Use the metronome
- Using loops and other media in Logic Pro
- Bookmark folders in the All Files Browser
- Import compressed audio files
- Arranging overview
- Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter
- - Remove silent passages
  - Uses for Remove Silence
- Create groove templates
- Overview
- Select audio regions
- Cut, copy, and paste audio regions
- Move audio regions
- Trim audio regions
- Split and join audio regions
- Snap edits to zero crossings
- Delete audio regions
- Use Flex Time and Pitch in the Logic Pro for Mac Audio Track Editor
- Use automation in the Audio Track Editor
- Overview
- View multiple MIDI regions
- Split chords
- Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor
- Open other editors
- Session Players overview
- The Session Player Editor
- Choose a Session Player type and style
- Chords and Session Players
- Choose Session Player presets
- Follow rhythm of chords and other tracks
- Work with Drummer multi-channel kits
- Convert Session Player regions to MIDI or pattern regions
- Flex Time and Pitch overview
- Use Varispeed to alter the speed and pitch of audio
- Logic Pro for Mac advanced editors overview
- Mixing overview
- - Channel strip types
  - Channel strip controls
- Set channel strip input formats
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
- Work with channel strip settings
- Surround panning
- Use the I/O Labels window
- Undo and redo Mixer and plug-in adjustments
- Automation overview
- Track automation vs. region automation
- Show automation curves
- Choose automation modes
- - Select, copy, and move automation
  - Delete automation
- Snap automation to grid positions
- Edit automation in the Automation Event List
- Write automation with external controllers
- 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
- Use the Arpeggiator
- Automate screen control movements
- Live Loops overview
- Start and stop cells
- Work with Live Loops cells
- - Record to cells
  - Record and edit takes in 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 with other devices
- Step Sequencer overview
- 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
- Step Sequencer inspector
- Customize Step Sequencer
- Global changes overview
- - Add arrangement markers
  - Edit arrangement markers
- Control transposition with the Pitch Source parameter
- Control project volume
- Overview
- Add notes
- Use automation in the Score Editor
- Share a score
- Sharing overview
- Share songs to the Music app
- Share songs using AirDrop
- Share songs using MailDrop
- Share a project to GarageBand for iOS
- Share a project to Logic Pro for iPad
- Overview of surround and spatial audio
- - Overview of spatial audio with Dolby Atmos
  - - Bed tracks and object tracks
    - Rendering a Dolby Atmos mix in Logic Pro for Mac
- - Surround Panner overview
  - Surround Panner parameters
- - 3D Object Panner overview
  - 3D Object Panner parameters
- - Bounce surround audio files
  - Export ADM BWF files
- Video and synchronization overview
Touch Bar shortcuts
- Environment overview
- Common object parameters
- - Environment Layers overview
  - Create, name, delete, and switch layers
- Customize the Environment
- - Effects overview
  - Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- - Instruments introduction
  - Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
  - Use multi-output instruments
- - Alchemy overview
  - Alchemy interface overview
  - Alchemy Name bar
  - Alchemy file locations
  - - Preset browser overview
    - Browser results list
  - - Main filter controls
    - Filter types
  - Alchemy master voice section
  - Alchemy Extended parameters
- - Drum Kit Designer overview
  - Edit pane
  - Use Drum Kit Designer
  - Extended parameters
  - Drum Kit Designer mappings
- - Drum Machine Designer overview
  - Drum Machine Designer interface
  - Kit controls
  - - Pad controls bar
    - Use pad controls
  - Kit Tone and Effect Smart Controls
  - Kit Piece Tone and Effect Smart Controls
- - Drum Synth overview
  - Drum Synth Kicks
  - Drum Synth Snares and Claps
  - Drum Synth Percussion
  - Drum Synth Hats and Cymbals
- - ES1 overview
  - Global parameters
  - - Filter parameters
    - Overdrive the filter
  - Amplifier parameters
  - MIDI controller assignments
- - ES2 overview
  - ES2 interface overview
  - - Use the dynamic stage
    - Enhance sounds with the Sine Level control
  - ES2 integrated effects processor controls
  - Use ES2 in Surround mode
  - Extended parameters
  - - Use randomization parameters
    - Restrict randomization
- - EFM1 overview
  - Modulation parameters
  - Global parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Create random sounds
  - Extended parameters
  - Assign MIDI controllers
- - ES E overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - LFO parameters
  - Filter parameters
  - Envelope parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Extended parameters
- - ES M overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - Filter and filter envelope controls
  - Level envelope and output controls
  - Extended parameters
- - ES P overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - LFO parameters
  - Filter parameters
  - Envelope and level controls
  - Integrated effects processor
  - Extended parameters
- - - EVOC 20 PS overview
    - Vocoder basics
  - EVOC 20 PS interface
  - Analysis controls
  - (U/V) detection parameters
  - Formant filter controls
  - Modulation parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Vocoder history
  - EVOC 20 block diagram
- - Quick Sampler overview
  - Add audio to Quick Sampler
  - Quick Sampler waveform display
  - Use Flex in Quick Sampler
  - - Mod Matrix pane
    - LFO controls
  - Quick Sampler Pitch controls
  - Quick Sampler Filter controls
  - Quick Sampler filter types
  - Quick Sampler Amp controls
  - Quick Sampler extended parameters
- - Retro Synth overview
  - Analog oscillator controls
  - Sync oscillator controls
  - - Table oscillator parameters
    - Use the Wavetable menu
  - FM oscillator controls
  - Filter controls
  - Filter types
  - Amp and effect controls
  - Global and controller settings
  - Extended parameters
- - Sample Alchemy overview
  - Interface overview
  - Add source material
  - Edit mode
  - Play modes
  - Source overview
  - Synthesis modes
  - Granular controls
  - Additive effects
  - Additive effect controls
  - Spectral effect
  - Spectral effect controls
  - Filter module
  - Lowpass, bandpass, and highpass filters
  - Comb PM filter
  - Downsampler filter
  - FM filter
  - Envelope generators
  - Mod Matrix
  - Modulation routing
  - Motion mode
  - Trim mode
  - More menu
- - Sampler overview
  - Load and save instruments in Sampler
  - Sampler articulation handling
  - Sampler memory management
  - Sampler extended parameters
- - Sculpture overview
  - Sculpture interface
  - - Pickup parameters
    - Spread controls
  - Global parameters
  - Amplitude envelope parameters
  - Use the Waveshaper
  - Filter parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Use surround range and diversity
  - Define MIDI controllers
  - Extended parameters
- - Studio Bass overview
  - Main view parameters
  - Details view parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - String and position MIDI channel assignments
- - Studio Horns overview
  - Extended parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - Section MIDI channel assignments
- Studio Piano
- - Studio Strings overview
  - Extended parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - Section MIDI channel assignments
- - Ultrabeat overview
  - Ultrabeat interface
  - Synthesizer section overview
  - Filter section controls
  - Distortion circuit controls
- - Utility instruments
  - External Instrument
  - Klopfgeist
- - Vintage B3 overview
- - Vintage Clav overview
  - Vintage Clav interface
  - Extended parameters
  - - D6 Clavinet history
    - D6 mechanical details
- - Vintage Electric Piano overview
  - Vintage Electric Piano interface
  - - Model controls
    - Pitch controls
  - Extended parameters
  - - Rhodes models
    - Hohner and Wurlitzer models
  - MIDI controller assignments
- - Vintage Mellotron overview
  - Vintage Mellotron controls
- - Legacy instruments overview
  - - Bass
    - Church Organ
    - Drum Kits
    - Electric Clav(inet)
    - Electric Piano
    - Guitar
    - Horns
    - Piano
    - Sound Effects
    - Strings
    - Tuned Percussion
    - Voice
    - Woodwind
    - Tonewheel Organ
- - Synthesizer basics overview
  - Synthesizer fundamentals
Glossary
Copyright

Pattern creation basics in Logic Pro for Mac

Using Step Sequencer, you can create rhythm-based drum patterns and note-based instrument patterns using any available software instrument. You can start with an empty pattern, or use an existing pattern or template as a starting point.

You create a pattern by turning steps on and off, modifying the sound and duration of steps using edit modes, and editing aspects of the overall pattern, including the pattern length, the step rate for the pattern, and the pattern key. You can increase the number of notes or drum sounds in a pattern by adding rows and choosing the row assignment. By activating Learn mode, you can quickly add rows by playing notes or manipulating automation parameters.

Create an empty pattern region in the Tracks area

In Logic Pro, Control-click in an empty software instrument track, then choose Create Pattern Region from the shortcut menu.
In Logic Pro, select an empty software instrument region, click the Step Sequencer button in the Editors area, then click a step in the step grid.
Note: When you select a MIDI region or MIDI cell, the editor that appears in the Editors area is the editor last used for a MIDI region or MIDI cell. After you work with a pattern region or cell, the next time you click in a new cell, the Step Sequencer editor is available in the Editors area, so you can start editing steps without first creating an empty pattern cell.

Create an empty pattern cell in the Live Loops grid

In Logic Pro, select an empty software instrument cell, click the Step Sequencer button in the Editors area, then click a step in the step grid.
Note: When you select a MIDI region or MIDI cell, the editor that appears in the Editors area is the editor last used for a MIDI region or MIDI cell. After you work with a pattern region or cell, the next time you click in a new cell, the Step Sequencer editor is available in the Editors area, so you can start editing steps without first creating an empty pattern cell.
Control-click an empty software instrument cell in the Live Loops grid, then choose Create Pattern Cell from the shortcut menu.

Turn steps on or off

In Logic Pro, with the Edit Mode selector set to Step On/Off, click an inactive step in the grid to turn it on.
Click an active step to turn it off.

Enter steps monophonically

Using Mono mode, you can easily create monophonic lines by suppressing the creation of more than one note per step position. When you turn on a step, and another step is already active at the same vertical position, the previously active step is turned off. This can be useful, for example, when creating patterns for a monophonic instrument.

Turning on Mono mode will not turn off steps that are already active, but once you activate a new step, Step Sequencer turns off all other active steps at the same step position.

When Mono mode is active, triggering Randomize All Step On/Off Row Values respects the Mono mode setting, so that no notes are created at the same step position.

To turn on Mono mode, click the Mono Mode button in the Step Sequencer menu bar.

Preview a pattern

In Logic Pro, with the project stopped, click the Preview button in the Step Sequencer menu bar.
Click the Preview button again to stop the pattern playing.

Add a row

You can add a row, and choose the pitch (for note rows) or automation parameter (for automation rows) directly from the Add Row pop-up menu. You can also add rows using Learn mode.

In the Step Sequencer menu bar, choose one of the following from the Add Row pop-up menu :
- To add a note row: Choose Notes, then do one of the following:
  - Choose a fixed pitch or a drum sound for the row from the Notes submenu.
  - Choose Melodic if you plan to add a note row with steps set to different pitches.
    When you add a Melodic row, Note and Octave subrows are created for the row by default.
- To add an automation row: Choose Automation, then choose the automation parameter for the row from one of the submenus.
- To activate Learn mode: Choose Learn, then follow the steps described in Add rows using Learn (Add) mode.
After adding a row, you can turn steps on or off, and edit other settings using edit modes.

Add rows using Learn (Add) mode

You can add rows by playing MIDI notes or manipulating automatable parameters using Learn mode. When Learn (Add) mode is active, Step Sequencer creates a new note row for any played MIDI note for which a row does not already exist. Similarly, it creates a new automation row for any received parameter controller event for which a row does not exist. Learn (Add) mode simplifies the process of creating a step grid with the notes, drum sounds, and automation parameters you want to use in your pattern.

To activate Learn (Add) mode, choose Learn (Add) from the Add Row pop-up menu .
While Learn (Add) mode is active, a red Learn button appears in place of the Add Row pop-up menu.
Do either of the following:
- To add note rows: Play notes on a connected MIDI keyboard or other MIDI controller.
- To add automation rows: Manipulate a control for an automatable parameter, either in Logic Pro or using a connected MIDI controller.
To turn off Learn mode, click the Learn button.

After adding a row, you can turn steps on or off, and edit other settings using edit modes.

Reassign rows using Learn (Assign) mode

You can reassign existing rows by playing MIDI notes or manipulating automatable parameters using Learn (Assign) mode. When Learn (Assign) mode is active, Step Sequencer reassigns the selected row to match any played MIDI note for which a row does not already exist, or to match any received parameter controller event for which a row does not exist.

To activate Learn (Assign) mode, choose Learn (Assign) from the Add Row pop-up menu .
While Learn (Assign) mode is active, an amber Learn button appears in place of the Add Row pop-up menu.
Select the row you want to reassign.
Do either of the following:
- To reassign a note row: Play notes on a connected MIDI keyboard or other MIDI controller.
- To reassign an automation row: Manipulate a control for an automatable parameter, either in Logic Pro or using a connected MIDI controller.
To turn off Learn (Assign) mode, click the Learn button.

After adding a row, you can turn steps on or off, and edit other settings using edit modes.

Step Sequencer provides many controls and functions for working with patterns. You can modify pattern playback, edit steps and rows, and edit pattern, row, and step settings in the Step Sequencer inspector. You can also customize different aspects of Step Sequencer to suit your workflow, see Customize the Step Sequencer interface.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: PDF

Logic Pro Effects: PDF

Helpful?

Logic Pro User Guide for Mac