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
Logic Pro Alchemy partial envelope
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 editor window.
The Partial envelope shows a number of points that indicate the temporal position of envelope snapshots (groups of partials) or individual partials, depending on the chosen Mode pop-up menu option (above the Partial bar). These points also indicate the overall level or value of the visible parameter type in the selected snapshot or partial. Partials are shown in the Partial bar display. See Logic Pro Alchemy partial bar display.
Partial envelope parameters
Overall button: Shown above the Partial bar display, sets two Partial envelope modes.
Overall button on: Each point represents a snapshot of summed amplitude, pitch, and pan values of all partials at a certain point in time. Typically, you choose snapshots in the envelope display and adjust individual or grouped partial values in the Partial bar display. You can, however, also adjust all partial values in a given snapshot by dragging vertically in the Partial envelope. The horizontal, or x-axis, indicates the temporal position of each snapshot. The vertical, or y-axis, indicates the summed value of each snapshot.
Overall button off: Each point in the Partial envelope has a one-to-one correlation with the selected partial in the Partial bar display. Adjusting a value in either the Partial bar display or the Partial envelope is immediately reflected in the other. The horizontal, or x-axis, indicates the temporal position of the selected partial. The vertical, or y-axis, indicates the value of the selected partial.
Note: The time positions of envelope points may vary from one partial to the next as you choose different partials when the Overall button is off. This is one of the keys to the high quality of resynthesis in Alchemy: each partial can have an independent set of points. When the Overall button is on, Alchemy presents a series of envelope points linked to all partials, and adjustments to individual partial times and values are handled automatically.
Detail knob: Set the resolution of the Partial envelope display. This affects the number of points shown.
A value of 25% reduces the total number of visible points. This may necessitate scrolling or zooming to view all points.
A value of 100% shows all points. The 500 or more visible points are unnecessary for anything other than the most precise edits, but you may find this level of detail useful when programming an additive sound from scratch, rather than editing resynthesis data.
Mode pop-up menu and field: Choose a mode to determine the way the envelope responds when a point is dragged.
Normal: The dragged point only is moved. All other points remain stationary.
Slide: Dragging one point causes all subsequent points to move, retaining the relative distances between points.
Stretch: Dragging left compresses earlier points and stretches later points. Dragging right stretches earlier points and compresses later points. In either case, the total length of the envelope is preserved.
Note: Point levels remain fixed in stretch mode, so you can only drag horizontally.
Partial envelope: Display and edit envelope point positions and values.
The ruler indicates the current envelope position in milliseconds.
The Partial envelope shows only straight line segments between points, with no convex or concave lines.
The first and last points always have an amplitude of zero. In sounds with a fast attack phase, a second point with a nonzero amplitude is shown at a time position very close to the first point. You may need to increase the Detail setting to see the second point.
Loop and warp markers can be superimposed on the Partial envelope. See Logic Pro Alchemy zone waveform editor.
Warp marker movements automatically snap to existing Partial envelope points.
Positioning the loop start and loop end markers at identical positions creates a sustain point which allows a particular segment of the sound (a snapshot) to be heard continuously. This method is useful for locating, auditioning, and editing a succession of snapshots.
Scroll bar and zoom controls: Drag the middle of the scroll bar to view envelope points 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.
Create or delete points in the partial envelope
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Click anywhere in the Partial envelope to create a new point for the active partial (selected in the Partial number bar).
Click on or near a line between existing points to create a new point.
When the Partial envelope contains existing points, either method creates a snapshot of partial values that fall in between the partial values associated with the preceding and following points.
If the Partial envelope is “blank” (only contains a single point), each newly-created point has a single associated partial value (for the partial selected in the Partial number bar). The partial (value) of the preceding point is also shown in the Partial bar display.
Note: The Overall button affects the display of values shown in the Partial bar and related points in the Partial envelope.
Double-click an envelope point to delete it.
Adjust partial pitch values with partial envelope points
When the additive editor displays pitch (the Tune button is on), point levels represent partial pitches. You can edit these levels to eliminate a pitch wobble or to create vibrato, for example.
In Logic Pro, click an envelope point to select it. You can also drag across multiple envelope points to select them.
This selects a snapshot of multiple partials when the Overall button is on, or individual partials when the Overall button is off.
When multiple points are selected, the Partial bar shows the average value of each partial across the selected envelope points. Edits of partial values are applied to all partials associated with the selected points.
Click the Tune button above the Partial bar display to view pitch values at the current envelope point.
If required, click the Mode pop-up menu above the Partial bar to choose how your edits are applied: to a single partial, all partials, or a group of related partials.
Drag the envelope point vertically to set the pitch value.
The time and pitch of the selected point are displayed at the pointer position when clicked.
Fix unwanted pitch fluctuations with copied envelope points
In cases where a resynthesized sound has unwanted pitch fluctuations, you can resolve these artifacts by reducing the PVar (pitch variation) control on the source A/B/C/D subpage. The downside with this approach is that each partial is aligned with its harmonic tuning which may change the character of the sound significantly. Try this alternative method.
In Logic Pro, make sure the Overall and Tune buttons are active, then select a single Partial envelope point.
Click the Breakpoint button, and choose Copy from Breakpoint from the pop-up menu.
Click the Breakpoint button, and choose Paste All Breakpoints Pitch Data from the pop-up menu.
The partial pitch values of the copied envelope point are applied to all other envelope points, thus retaining the inharmonic features of the copied point while simultaneously eliminating fluctuations from one point to the next.