Logic Pro User Guide
- Welcome
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- What is Logic Pro?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use the complete set of Logic Pro features
- 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 key commands
- Customize the control bar
- Change the LCD display mode in Logic Pro
- Monitor and reset MIDI events
- Use the cycle area
- Use the Chase Events function
- Use Apple Remote to control Logic Pro
- Use Logic Remote to control Logic Pro projects
- 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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- Arranging 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
- Reverse audio 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
- Convert repeated MIDI regions to loops
- Change the color of regions
- Convert audio regions to samples for a sampler instrument
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
- Create groove templates
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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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- Logic Pro advanced editors overview
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- Audio File Editor overview
- Play audio files in the Audio File Editor
- Navigate audio files in the Audio File Editor
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- Audio File Editor edit commands
- Edit audio files with transient markers
- Use the Audio File Editor Pencil tool
- Trim or silence audio files
- Remove DC offset
- Set audio file levels
- Normalize audio files
- Fade audio files
- Reverse audio and invert phase
- Audio File Editor Loop commands
- Undo Audio File Editor edits
- Backup audio files
- Use an external sample editor
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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 in Logic Pro
- Support for ARA 2 compatible plug-ins
- Use MPE with software instruments
- 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
- 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 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 Staff Style window in Logic Pro
- Copy staffs or voices in the Staff Style window in Logic Pro
- 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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- 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 key commands
- Various Editors
- Views showing Time Ruler
- Main Window Tracks
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer key commands
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Sampler
- Step Input Keyboard
- Tools
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- Various windows modifier keys and actions
- Controller Assignments window modifier keys and actions
- Tracks area modifiers and actions
- Global tracks modifier keys and actions
- Automation modifier keys and actions
- Live Loops Grid modifier keys and actions
- Mixer modifier keys and actions
- MIDI Environment window modifier keys and actions
- Piano Roll Editor modifier keys and actions
- Score Editor modifier keys and actions
- Event List modifier keys and actions
- Step Editor modifier keys and actions
- Step Sequencer modifier keys and actions
- Flex Time modifier keys and actions
- 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
- Supported control surfaces
- Software and firmware for Logic Pro
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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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- Effects overview
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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 controllers
- Modifier controls
- Note Repeater controls
- Randomizer controls
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- Use the Scripter
- 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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- Instruments introduction
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- Alchemy overview
- Alchemy interface overview
- Alchemy Name bar
- Alchemy file locations
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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
- Alchemy master voice section
- Alchemy 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
- Define MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
- Copyright
Alchemy Import browser in Logic Pro
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.
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.
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.
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.
Drag an audio file into a source
In Alchemy in Logic Pro, open advanced view then drag an audio file onto any source select field from one of the following:
Loop Browser
File Browser
Logic Main window
Finder: Hold Command while performing the operation.
Drop the file onto one of the analysis mode labels shown on the grid of the target source.
The chosen analysis mode is highlighted.
If Additive, Spectral, or Granular mode is chosen, analysis may take a moment or two. No analysis occurs when Sampler mode is used.
Note: If you want to perform an Add+Spec analysis, or want to perform a further formant analysis of the audio material, use the Import browser methods discussed in following tasks.
Replace the sound for Alchemy on a software instrument track using drag and drop
In Logic Pro, drag an audio file, region, or Apple Loop to a software instrument track with an Alchemy instrument plug-in as the instrument.
When the “Replace existing sound with” dialog appears, drag the item to one of the available options to choose the synthesis type Alchemy uses to process the content: Additive, Granular, or Spectral.
Import a single audio file into a source with the Import browser
In Alchemy in Logic Pro, open advanced view then click a source select field and choose Import Audio from the pop-up menu to open the Import browser window.
Click one of the Analysis Mode buttons to choose an import analysis mode.
If the Additive, Spectral, or Add+Spec button is active, you can also turn on the Formant button. This performs a further analysis of the audio material and sends the results to the Analyzed section of the formant filter. See Alchemy formant filter controls in Logic Pro.
If the audio data is imported to the additive, spectral, add+spectral, or granular elements, analysis may take a moment or two. No analysis occurs when the Sampler analysis mode button is active.
Click the Preview button to enable or disable automatic preview of selected files.
Sound files can be mono or stereo, 8-, 16-, 24-, or 32-bit, at any sample rate. Note that rates above 44.1 kHz don’t provide significant improvements in quality.
Click a filename, then click the Import button to import the sound.
An import progress dialog is shown. The Import browser closes when the import is complete, and the previous window is displayed.
Import multiple audio files into a source with the Import browser
Multiple WAV and AIF files may be imported to a single source. Other file types are not supported for multifile import.
If the note name is included in the filename, samples are mapped to corresponding keyboard zones for all analysis types. When importing using additive or spectral analysis, samples without a note name are analyzed to determine pitch information that is then used for keyboard mapping. Samples are mapped to the highest key of the zone and pitched down for the remaining notes in the zone.
When no pitch information or note names are available, samples are mapped evenly across keyboard zones based on file selection order. The root key pitch is set to the middle of each zone.
In Alchemy in Logic Pro, open advanced view then click a source select field and choose Import Audio from the pop-up menu to open the Import browser window.
Click one of the Analysis Mode buttons to choose an import analysis mode.
If the Additive, Spectral, or Add+Spec button is active, you can also turn on the Formant button. This performs a further analysis of the audio material and sends the results to the Analyzed section of the formant filter. See Alchemy formant filter controls in Logic Pro.
If the audio data is imported to the additive, spectral, add+spectral, or granular elements, analysis may take a moment or two. No analysis occurs when the Sampler analysis mode button is active.
Click the Preview button to enable or disable automatic preview of selected files.
Sound files can be mono or stereo, 8-, 16-, 24-, or 32-bit, at any sample rate. Note that rates above 44.1 kHz don’t provide significant improvements in quality.
Use standard modifier keys to select multiple files: Command-click to select or deselect files, Shift-click to select a range of files.
If you are creating a sound that uses samples from multiple instruments or folders, drag the selected file or files to the Dropzone shown at the right side of the Import browser. Once at least one file is added to the Dropzone, you can double-click a filename to add it to the list of Dropzone files. Drag filenames in the Dropzone list to change their order.
Tip: You can also drag files directly into the Dropzone from the Main window, Finder (hold Command), the Audio File browser, or the Loop browser. You can use standard modifier keys to select or deselect files.
Choose a mode from the Mapping pop-up menu.
Pitch: Suitable for sounds that you want to play across the keyboard, chromatically.
Drum: Map each sample to a single key.
Click the Import button to import all selected files.
Note: Clicking Import when at least one file is in the Dropzone imports files from the Dropzone, rather than files selected in the file list.
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF