Logic Pro User Guide for Mac
- Welcome
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- 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
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- 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
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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 for Mac
- 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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- Tracks overview
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- Create tracks
- Create tracks using drag and drop
- Create tracks using existing channel strips
- Assign tracks to different channel strips
- Choose the default region type for software instrument tracks
- Select tracks
- Duplicate tracks
- Rename tracks
- Change track icons
- Change track colors
- Reorder tracks
- Zoom tracks
- Replace or double drum sounds
- Control timing with the groove track
- Use selection-based processing
- Edit track parameters
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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
- Replace software instrument recordings
- Record to multiple software instrument tracks
- Record multiple MIDI devices to multiple tracks
- Record software instruments and audio simultaneously
- Use step input recording techniques
- Record MIDI messages from another music app
- Route MIDI internally to software instrument tracks
- 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
- Change the gain of audio 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
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- Chords overview
- Add and delete chords
- Select chords
- Cut, copy, and paste chords
- Move and resize chords
- Loop chords on the Chord track
- Transpose chords
- Edit chords
- Work with chord groups
- Use chord progressions
- Change the chord rhythm
- Choose which chords a Session Player region follows
- Analyze the key signature of a range of chords
- Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter
- 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 for Mac 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 in Logic Pro for Mac
- 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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- Global changes overview
- Control transposition with the Pitch Source parameter
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- Tempo overview
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- Smart Tempo overview
- Use free tempo recording
- Choose the Project Tempo mode
- Choose the Flex & Follow setting
- Use Smart Tempo with multitrack audio
- Work in the Smart Tempo Editor
- Improve the tempo analysis using hints
- Correct tempo analysis results using beat markers
- Protect Smart Tempo edits by locking a range
- Match audio recordings to the project tempo
- Match the tempo to an audio region
- Use audio file tempo information
- Record tempo changes
- Use the Tempo Interpreter
- Use the tempo fader
- Control project volume
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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 for Mac
- Copy staffs or voices in the Staff Style window in Logic Pro for Mac
- 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
- Global Control Surfaces Commands
- Various Windows
- Windows Showing Audio Files
- Main Window Tracks and Various Editors
- Various Editors
- Views Showing Time Ruler
- Views Showing Automation
- Main Window Tracks
- Live Loops Grid
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Library
- Sampler
- Drum Machine Designer
- Step Input Keyboard
- Smart Controls
- Tool Menu
- Control Surface Install Window
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- Logic Pro projects
- Various windows
- Controller Assignments window
- Control bar
- Tracks area
- Global tracks
- Automation
- Live Loops grid
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll Editor
- Score Editor
- Event List
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Flex Time
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Surround Panner
- Channel EQ
- Channel EQ
- Sampler
- Touch Bar shortcuts
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- Working with your control surface
- Connect control surfaces
- Add a control surface to Logic Pro for Mac
- Automatic assignment for USB MIDI controllers
- Grouping control surfaces
- Control Surfaces settings overview
- Modal dialog display
- Tips for using your control surface
- Supported control surfaces
- Software and firmware for Logic Pro for Mac
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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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- 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 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 controls
- Record MIDI to Track
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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
- Wide unison mode
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Alchemy master voice section
- Alchemy Extended parameters
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- ES2 overview
- ES2 interface overview
- ES2 integrated effects processor controls
- Use ES2 in Surround mode
- Extended parameters
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- 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
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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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- Studio Piano
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
- Copyright
Alchemy partial bar display in Logic Pro for Mac
Source components are shown only in advanced view. Click the Advanced button to switch to advanced view, then click the A/B/C/D button to view detailed parameters for the selected source.
The source edit window is opened by clicking the Edit button on any source subpage. Click the close window icon (X) at the top right to close the window.
Use the Additive button at the top of the Main edit window to open the Additive edit window.
The Partial bar display shows up to 600 partials with independent amplitude, pitch, pan, and phase values at each Partial envelope point. You can edit individual partials or groups of related partials for each envelope point.
Note: Higher partials that are part of the additive data set may not be heard unless the Num Partials (number of partials) control on the respective source A/B/C/D subpage is set to a suitably high value. For example, raising the amplitude of partial number 72 has no effect when Num Partials is set to a value of 60. Conversely, setting a Num Partials value of 500 has no effect in additive mode unless partial data exists for 500 partials.
Partial bar display parameters
Overall button: Use in conjunction with the Vol, Tune, Pan, and Phase buttons to display partial values averaged across all envelope points. When the Phase button is active, the Partial envelope only is updated.
Turn on Overall to adjust the amplitude, pitch, and pan values of all partials across the entire sound, without the need to select and edit individual envelope points for each partial. Also see the Overall button information for the Alchemy partial envelope in Logic Pro for Mac.
Partial display mode buttons: Click Vol, Tune, Pan, or Phase to restrict the display to the chosen partial parameter type.
Vol button: Show partial amplitude values.
Tune button: Show partial pitch values. Also see Snap Pitch button information below.
Pan button: Show partial pan values.
Phase button: Show partial phase values.
Mode pop-up menu and field: Choose a group of related partials for editing. You can also click the Previous and Next buttons (the arrows) to step through modes. Group adjustments retain the relative differences between partial values. Hold down Command while dragging to scale adjustments logarithmically. Note that the Shape pop-up menu affects editing behavior in each mode.
One: Adjustments affect the value of only the selected partial.
All: Adjustments affect the values of all partials.
Even: Adjustments affect the values of only even-numbered partials.
Fifths: Adjustments affect the values of only partials that are fifths apart from the selected partial and the selected partial itself.
Octaves: Adjustments affect the values of only partials that are octaves apart from the selected partial and the selected partial itself.
Odd: Adjustments affect the values of only odd-numbered partials.
Thirds: Adjustments affect the values of only partials that are thirds apart from the selected partial and the selected partial itself.
Shape pop-up menu and field: Choose a weighted group of related partials for editing.
Normal: Adjustments affect only the selected partial and grouped partials that precede it.
Flat: Adjustments evenly affect all grouped partials.
Bright: Adjustments are weighted toward higher grouped partials.
Dark: Adjustments are weighted toward lower grouped partials.
Snap Pitch button: Visible only when the Tune button is active. Automatically limits partial pitch values to meaningful units when a bar is edited.
Breakpoint button: Open a pop-up menu with a number of Partial envelope point-related commands. See Alchemy partial envelope in Logic Pro for Mac.
Copy Breakpoints: Copy all partial data in the currently selected envelope point or points to the Clipboard.
Paste Breakpoints: Paste all partial data from the Clipboard to the currently selected envelope point or points.
Paste Breakpoints Amp/Pitch/Pan Data: Paste the currently visible parameter partial data from the Clipboard to the currently selected envelope point or points.
Paste All Breakpoints Amp/Pitch/Pan Data: Paste the currently visible parameter partial data from the Clipboard to every envelope point.
Image button: Open an import dialog where you can choose a PNG format image file for conversion to additive synthesis data. See the task in this section.
Clear button: Removes all partials and resets the Partial bar display and Partial envelope to default values.
Partial bar display: Shows editable bars that represent partial values.
Partial number bar: Indicates the selected partial. Click a partial number to select it without affecting any values.
Scroll bar and zoom controls: Drag the middle of the scroll bar to view partials that are not visible in the display area. Horizontally drag the zoom controls at either end of the scroll bar to resize the contents of the visible display area.
Adjust the values of one or more partials
In Alchemy in Logic Pro, from the Partial bar display, do any of the following:
Click directly at a position in a bar to set a value.
Drag a bar vertically. Hold down Shift while dragging to set values with enhanced precision.
Drag horizontally to create multiple new partials or to alter several existing partial values.
Control-click a partial or drag a partial below the baseline to set it to a value of zero.
Control-click in the Partial bar display, then drag left or right to set multiple partials to a value of zero.
Create an additive sound from scratch
This example introduces the basic principles of additive programming in Alchemy.
When you create a new, initialized preset by choosing Initialize Preset from the File button pop-up menu in the Name bar, source A is in VA mode.
Important: Use of Initialize Preset automatically turns on wide unison mode. See Alchemy wide unison mode.
For additive synthesis, a different default configuration is better suited. It is not necessary to change any settings from their initial values as soon as you enter the Additive edit window and start creating data; the configuration of source A switches, automatically, to a sensible set of defaults for additive programming.
In Alchemy in Logic Pro, open advanced view and click the A button to view the source A subpage, then click the source A Edit button to open the Main edit window. Click the Additive button at the top of the Main edit window to view the Additive edit window.
Set the Detail knob to 100% for an accurate view of all data.
Make sure the Partial bar display Vol button is on and the Overall button is off.
Drag from left to right in the Partial bar display to draw in bars that define the harmonic content at the beginning of the sound.
Play a few notes on your MIDI controller to confirm that the sound begins with a bright timbre.
The default loop mode is Continuous which loops the sound indefinitely when you hold a note. If you do not want the sound to loop, change the Loop mode to None.
Select point 2 in the Partial envelope, then click the Breakpoint button and choose Copy Breakpoint from the pop-up menu.
Select point 3 in the Partial envelope, and drag it toward point 2. Release point 3 when you are close to point 2.
Click the Breakpoint button, and choose Paste Breakpoint from the pop-up menu. Make sure point 3 is selected.
The data from point 2 is copied to point 3, smoothing out the levels between points.
Click the X icon at the top right to close the Additive edit window.
The Additive element parameters are displayed.
Experiment with the Additive parameters to change the tone of your basic additive sound. Feel free to use other synthesis, filter, modulation, and effect parameters to make your additive sound more interesting.
Import an image file, and convert it to additive data
Alchemy is capable of importing an image in PNG (Portable Network Graphics) format and translating it into additive synthesis data. You can convert an existing image into sound, or you can design new sounds by drawing the image you want to import in an external graphics application.
In Alchemy in Logic Pro, open advanced view and click the A button to view the source A subpage, then click the source A Edit button to open the Main edit window. Click the Additive button at the top of the Main edit window to view the Additive edit window.
Click the Image button at the top right of the Additive edit window, then choose a PNG-format file in the file browser.
The selected file is translated into additive data using the criteria outlined below.
Each column of pixels represents a snapshot in the additive data. The leftmost column describes snapshot 1, the next column to the right describes snapshot 2, and so on. Snapshots are timed at a steady rate of 20 per second.
Within each column, there is a one-to-one correspondence between pixels and partials: the bottom row represents partial 1, the second row up represents partial 2, and so on. Thus the height of your image determines the number of partials. For example, an image 100 pixels tall translates to a 100-partial sound.
The brightness of each pixel determines the amplitude of a particular partial in a particular snapshot. A black pixel corresponds to silence, while a white pixel corresponds to maximum amplitude. You can import both color and grayscale images. Color information other than brightness is ignored.
Note: Importing an image with a lot of bright pixels results in additive data with numerous high-amplitude partials, which may cause clipping to occur.
If the results of an image import are unexpectedly noisy, you can reduce the overall amplitude by doing one or more of the following:
Reduce the Vol setting of the additive element.
Click the Overall button, then choose All from the Mode pop-up menu, and drag downward in the Partial bar display.
Use your graphics software to darken the image before importing it.