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 Step Sequencer edit modes in Logic Pro
You can control different aspects of the event triggered by a step using edit modes. You can choose the edit mode for a pattern, and view multiple edit modes for each row using subrows. Some edit modes are common to both note rows and automation rows, while others are specific to one row type.
The Edit Mode selector in the Step Sequencer menu bar controls the edit mode for all rows in the pattern. Step On/Off mode is always available on the left-side button on the selector. You can choose other edit modes from the menu on the right side of the selector. The chosen edit mode appears on the right-side button. Edit modes include the following:
Edit modes for both row types
Step On/Off: Click steps to turn them on or off. Active steps appear highlighted in the step grid, while inactive steps appear darker.
Tie: Click the right edge of a step to tie it to the following step, or click the left edge to tie it to the previous step. The duration of the step is lengthened by the value of the step it is tied to.
Loop Start/End: When this mode is active, a frame appears around the row. Drag the left edge of the frame to set the start of the row relative to the overall pattern. Drag the right edge of the frame to set the end of the row relative to the overall pattern. You can also click a step to set the start or end point (whichever is closest) to that step, and drag vertically to other rows to set their start or end positions.
Chance: Drag vertically in the step to set the Chance percentage. Chance controls the probability that the step plays each time the pattern repeats. The active state of the step is determined when you edit the Chance value and does not change until you edit it again.
Start Offset: Drag vertically in the step to move the start offset of the step from –50 to +50 percent of the step rate.
Step Rate: Drag vertically in the step to set the length of the step (in note values, relative to the project tempo). This determines how long it takes for the playhead to move across the step, whether or not it is active.
Skip: Click a step to turn skipping on or off. When skipping is on, the step is skipped and playback moves immediately to the next step, in effect shortening the row by the duration of the skipped step.
Edit modes for note rows
Velocity: Drag vertically in the step to set the Velocity value from 1 to 127. Velocity typically controls the loudness of the note attack, but can control other parameters depending on the parameter mapped to Velocity for the patch.
Gate: Drag vertically in the step to set the Gate value as a percentage of the step. The Gate value shortens the note length to less than the duration of the step.
Note: Drag vertically in the step to set the Note value from –12 to 12 semitones, transposing the pitch of the step in notes.
When you change the pitch of a step in a fixed-pitch note row, the row header label changes to Melodic to indicate that the row contains multiple pitches.
Octave: Drag vertically in the step to set the Octave value from –2 to 8 octaves, transposing the pitch of the step in octaves.
Note Repeat: Drag vertically in the step to set the Note Repeat value from 1 to 16. Note Repeat controls how often the note repeats during the duration of the step.
Edit modes for automation rows
Value: Drag vertically to set the value for the automation parameter controlled by the row. The value range depends on which parameter the row is set to control.
Note: In the Edit Mode selector, choosing Velocity / Value sets the edit mode to velocity for note rows, and to the automation value for automation rows. In row headers, Velocity appears in the Edit Mode pop-up menu for note rows only.
View and edit multiple edit modes for a row using subrows
You can view and edit multiple edit modes for a row using subrows. When you click the disclosure triangle in the row header, a default set of subrows appear, each with its own edit mode. When you add a subrow, it defaults to the next available edit mode for that row type. Two subrows of a row cannot have the same edit mode.
Choose the edit mode for the pattern
The Edit Mode selector consists of three parts: Step On/Off can always be selected directly using the left-side button. The right-side button shows the edit mode currently selected in the Edit Mode pop-up menu, which is accessed using the arrows on the right side of the selector.
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
To choose Step On/Off, click the button on the left side of the Edit Mode selector.
To choose a different edit mode, click the up and down arrows on the right side of the selector and choose the edit mode from the list.
When you choose an edit mode from the list, it becomes active for all rows. Subrows keep their current edit mode.
Change edit mode values for steps in the grid
In Logic Pro, in the Step Sequencer menu bar, choose an edit mode from the Edit Mode selector.
By default, each step shows the current value for the selected mode. You can change the display of step values in the step grid.
In the step grid, edit the value of each step.
For most edit modes (except Tie and Skip), you edit the value by dragging vertically in the step. The value appears above the step as you drag. Some edit modes have only on and off states, rather than a range of values. In this case, clicking the step switches between the two states. For Loop Start/End, clicking a step sets the loop start or loop end position (whichever is closer) to that step.
Show subrows for a row
You can view and edit multiple edit modes for a row at the same time using subrows.
In Logic Pro, click the disclosure triangle on the left of the row header.
By default, several subrows appear below the row, depending on the row type.
You can Add subrows and change the edit mode for a subrow.
Change the edit mode for a subrow
IIn Logic Pro, choose a new edit mode from the Edit Mode pop-up menu, located in the upper-right area of the subrow header.
Add a subrow
When you add a subrow, it defaults to the next available edit mode for that row type. Two subrows of one row cannot have the same edit mode.
In Logic Pro, hold the pointer over the left edge of a subrow header, then click the Add Subrow icon that appears.
A subrow appears below the subrow, set to the next available edit mode for the row.
Click the Edit Mode pop-up menu and choose an edit mode for the subrow.
The steps in the subrow show the values for the selected edit mode.
Delete a subrow
In Logic Pro, hold the pointer over the left edge of the subrow header, then click the Delete Subrow icon that appears.
