Logic Pro User Guide
- Welcome
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- What is Logic Pro?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use menu commands and key commands in Logic Pro
- 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
- Change the gain of audio regions in the Tracks area in Logic Pro
- 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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- Global changes overview
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- Tempo overview
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- Smart Tempo overview
- Use free tempo recording in Logic Pro
- 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 in Logic Pro
- Correct tempo analysis results using beat markers in Logic Pro
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 settings 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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- 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
- 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
- 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 spectral edit window in Logic Pro
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 Spectral button at the top of the Main edit window to open the Spectral edit window.
Spectral edit window: Use to graphically edit spectral resynthesis data. You can also create new sounds by using simple paint tools directly in the display.
Spectral data is displayed as follows in the Spectral edit window, or “canvas”.
Time, expressed in seconds, is represented along the x-axis from left to right. It is also shown at the pointer position.
Frequency, in hertz, is represented along the y-axis from bottom to top. It is also shown at the pointer position.
Amplitude is represented by brightness, using shades of blue. Dark blues represent lower amplitude values, and light blues represent higher amplitude values. Silence is black, and the loudest amplitude is white.
A green play position indicator scrolls across the image for the most recently triggered voice.
Warp markers are also shown, if the Warp button is enabled in the Main edit window.
Note: Accurate resynthesis requires a much finer frequency resolution than the spectral display can accommodate. Frequency information depicted in the display is a coarse representation of the underlying data. Graphical data creation and editing are performed at the resolution of the display. This means that you cannot paint conventional melodies and chords consisting of precise notes, for example.
Spectral editor parameters
Draw/Mask buttons: Set a mode that affects the behavior of the paint tools.
Draw: The paint tools can be used to modify the image itself either by drawing new or deleting existing content or by increasing or decreasing the luminosity of specific parts of the spectrum.
Mask: The entire image is masked, as if covered with a layer of black wax. The paint tools can be used to selectively reveal parts of the underlying image, as if scraping away the wax to reveal the layer underneath.
Note: The most recent edit made in the Spectral editor can be undone by pressing Command-Z. Multiple edits can be reversed by pressing Option-Command-Z, then choosing the step you want to revert to from the Undo History window.
Lasso, Brush, and Erase buttons: Choose a select (Lasso) or brush mode. Erase uses the selected brush type to remove portions of the spectrogram.
Lasso button: Turn on to activate a select mode. Drag across the spectral canvas to select an area.
In mask mode, your selection only is played. The unselected portion of the canvas is silent.
In draw mode, your selection can be used as a brush shape.
Brush button: Turn on to activate brush mode. You can draw directly on the image when in draw mode, or scrape away the mask layer to reveal the underlying image when in mask mode. Any Lasso selection can be used as a brush shape that remains available until you select a different brush shape. See Brush pop-up menu and field.
Hold down Shift to limit painting to the vertical axis.
Hold down Command to limit painting to the horizontal axis.
Erase button: Turn on to selectively remove portions of the image with the selected brush type. See Brush pop-up menu.
Brush pop-up menu and field: Choose a predefined brush shape. Visible only when the Brush or Erase button is active.
Circle, DotBlurred, LineHorizontal, and LineVertical produce the brush shapes described.
Transient produces a vertical edge that slopes to the right, typical of a percussive drum hit.
Custom uses the Lasso selection as a brush shape.
Size knob: Scale the size of the brush chosen in the Brush pop-up menu.
Note: When a custom brush is active, the Size knob is not available.
Color knob: Set the amplitude scaling of the brush. At 100%, brush strokes are white. At 50%, brush strokes are mid-blue. At zero, brush strokes are black. This knob is visible only when both the Draw and Brush buttons are active.
Note: When a custom brush is active, the maximum intensity is defined by the custom brush data.
Mode pop-up menu and field: Choose a mode that determines how the brush interacts with the existing canvas image in draw mode. This menu is visible only when both the Draw and Brush buttons are active.
Normal: Each pixel on the canvas is set identically to the corresponding brush pixel.
Add: Brush pixel values are added to the existing canvas pixel values. In this mode, painting multiple coats of blue results in increasingly higher amplitudes with each coat.
Multiply: Brush pixel values are multiplied with the existing canvas pixel values. Use this to selectively brighten parts of the image.
Mono/Stereo buttons: Switch the display mode between mono and stereo.
Note: This does not change the sound. In mono mode, stereo sounds are represented as a single image that represents both channels. Edits affect the left and right channels equally. In stereo mode, stereo sounds are shown in left and right lanes. Edits affect only the channel they are made in.
Resolution buttons: Switch the display between a linear and logarithmic representation of your spectral data on the vertical y-axis. Logarithmic (right button) is the default.
Linear (left): A simple linear scale with 11 KHz shown at the halfway point on the vertical y-axis. This mode is useful for detailed editing of very high frequency content.
Logarithmic (right): A logarithmic scale for frequency that corresponds more closely with human perception of pitch. Content at the halfway position on the y-axis is approximately 1 KHz. Log mode is useful for most editing duties.
Image button: Choose an import image option from the pop-up menu.
Import Image: Opens a dialog where you can select a file in PNG format that is placed directly on the spectral canvas. The imported image is positioned at the far left of the canvas. The height of the image is scaled to fit the entire vertical range of the canvas, and the width of the image is scaled by the same factor as the height, retaining the original image proportions. All color information is discarded, and image brightness information is mapped to amplitude. If the imported image width does not extend fully to the right edge of the canvas, existing data beyond the image edge remains in place. Images with a height of 256 lines result in a one-to-one map of pixels to spectral bins. The spectral editor display is actually 381 lines tall, so edits involve some blurring between bins.
Import Image to Brush: Opens a dialog where you can select a file in PNG format to be used as a brush for painting on the spectral canvas. The original dimensions of the image are preserved. You can place the image at any position with a click, or you can drag to paint with it.
Clear button: Deletes all spectral data from the source, leaving only silence (a solid black image).
Scroll bar and zoom controls: Drag the middle of the scroll bar to view spectral data that is 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.
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF