Alchemy Import browser in Logic Pro for Mac
You can import WAV, AIFF, and Sampler sound files as additive, spectral, a combination of additive and spectral, granular, or sampler elements. See Alchemy source elements overview in Logic Pro for Mac.
You can quickly replace the sound for Alchemy on a software instrument track by dragging an audio file, audio or software instrument region, or Apple Loop to the track header. When you drag content to one of the Alchemy zones to replace the existing sound, you can choose whether the new sound uses additive, granular, or spectral synthesis.
The additive element allows for the most detailed manipulation of sound and is especially good for sound files that represent single notes, rather than chords or more complex sounds and textures.
Importing to the spectral element allows effective manipulation of polyphonic sounds, such as chords, drum loops, and other complex sounds and textures.
An additive+spectral import may deliver the best results when an additive import fails to capture the noisy components of a sound, such as the hammer strike of a piano or the breath noise of a flute.
The granular element is good for drum loops, percussive sounds, and any sound that you want to use granular effects with.
Use the sampler element when you want to play a sound file in its original form, transposed across the keyboard.
Import browser parameters
Places column: Shows all top-level folder locations. The Alchemy Samples and EXS Factory Samples folders are shown at the top of the list. Click to view each folder.
Samples column: Shows the samples within the selected folder, preset, or sampler instrument. Only sample data is displayed. See the tasks in this section for information on sample selection.
Dropzone: Shows the names of samples added to this area. Samples can be from multiple locations or instruments. See the tasks in this section for information about use.
Control-click files in the Dropzone list to open a shortcut menu.
Delete: Remove the file from the Dropzone.
Move to New RR Group: Create a new round-robin group and add the selected file or files to the group. See Alchemy inspector group controls in Logic Pro for Mac.
Analysis Mode buttons: Set the type of analysis that is performed when sample data is imported.
Additive button: Use to import samples that you want to resynthesize using additive synthesis. Good results depend on accurate identification of the root note. If the filename has a pitch value appended to it, this is used to set the root note. In other cases, analysis of the waveform pitch determines the root note. The Mapping mode may also be important.
Spectral button: Use to import samples that you want to resynthesize using spectral synthesis. The root note determines the MIDI note that plays the resynthesized sound at its original pitch. If the filename has a pitch value appended to it, this is used to set the root note. In other cases, analysis of the waveform pitch is used to determine the root note.
Add+Spec button: Use to import samples that you want to resynthesize using a combination of additive and spectral synthesis. By default, the spectral component is imported and played with the spectral element set to Noise-Resynth mode. Playing the spectral data in Resynth mode produces a markedly different effect, which you may sometimes prefer. The spectral element internal highpass control is automatically set to a high value, thus excluding frequencies that would compete with those produced by the additive element. If the spectral element is too subtle, you can make it more prominent by setting the highpass control to a lower value.
Formant button: Use in conjunction with the Additive, Spectral, or Add+Spec buttons to perform additional analysis of formants in the sample material. The values of this formant analysis are mapped to the Analyzed formant filter parameters in the source subpage. See Alchemy formant filter controls in Logic Pro for Mac.
Granular button: Use when you intend to perform granular-specific manipulations such as time stretching. The root note determines the MIDI note that plays the sound file at its original transposition. If the filename has a pitch value appended to it, Alchemy automatically sets the root note to match.
Sampler button: Use to create straight sample-playback presets. The root note determines the MIDI note that plays the sound file at its original transposition. If the filename has a pitch value appended to it, Alchemy automatically sets the root note to match.
Mapping pop-up menu: Choose a mapping mode suitable for pitched or unpitched imported samples.
Pitch: Suitable for sounds that you want to play across the keyboard chromatically. Use this mode to automatically place imported samples in keyboard zones for optimum playback when re-pitched.
Drum: Maps each sample to a single key. Use this mode to map sounds such as a set of drum hits or chords that won’t transpose correctly if re-pitched. Imported samples are mapped to individual keys (starting at C1).
Preview button: Turn on to automatically audition samples when you click filenames in the Samples column.
Cancel button: Use to cancel the import operation. No files are imported, and the Import browser window is closed.
Import button: Use to start the import operation. Depending on the chosen mode, when you click Import, an import progress dialog is briefly displayed and the Import browser window closes. Click Cancel next to the progress bar to cancel a long import.
