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 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 the Sampler Key Mapping Editor
You can choose from three editor views in the Mapping pane: Key Mapping Editor, Group view, and Zone view. Click the buttons at the top right to switch between these edit panes. The menu bar at the top of the Mapping pane contains elements that are common to all editors. See Mapping pane menu bar.
The Key Mapping Editor provides you with a graphical, grid-like representation of zones, mapped across a keyboard. You can view one or more selected groups, and move and resize all zones horizontally and vertically. You can also use the parameter fields above and below the graphical display area to adjust a number of group and zone parameters. The group list at the left can be hidden or shown. See Graphically edit Sampler zones and groups.
Within each group mapping area (notes and velocities), zones can’t overlap. When you force an overlap by dragging zones one above the other within the same group, the Key Mapping Editor automatically cuts zones in order to make space for other zones. This allows you to add zones or delete mapped areas without having to edit all affected zones directly. You can protect either the selected or unselected zones when dragging zones.
Note: Changes to parameter values and graphical edits you make affect all selected zones. The Group and Zone parameters found in the Key Mapping Editor are a subset (duplicates) of the parameters found in the Zone view. A change to a parameter value in one editor view will be reflected in the other views.
Tip: The Key Mapping Editor works hand in hand with the Zone pane, which shows the selected zone waveform and associated parameters.
The Key Mapping Editor consists of three main areas. You can hide or view the group list by clicking the Group List Display button in the Group list controls.
Key Mapping Editor: Drag zones into the Key Mapping Editor to add them. Zones are represented by rectangles. Zone key range is indicated by the width. Zone velocity range is indicated by the height. Zone parameters are shown below the keyboard.
Keyboard: Drag zones onto the keyboard to add them to a key. Click a key to play the mapped zone. The root key of each zone is indicated in gold.
Group list controls: Use to choose a group, mute, solo, or hide and view the group list. Group parameters are shown above the Key Mapping Editor.
Group number: Click a group number to move focus to that specific group in the group list, when multiple groups are selected. The focus feature makes it easier for you to graphically edit complex mappings that contain multiple overlapping groups. New groups are automatically assigned a consecutive number. See Select groups or zones in the Key Mapping Editor.
Mute button: Turn on to silence the selected group. Turn off to make the selected group audible.
Solo button: Turn on to hear the selected group in isolation. Turn off to make all groups audible.
Group Name pop-up menu: Displays the group name. Click to choose a different group.
Group List Display button: Hide or view the group list. When hidden, the Key Mapping Editor is maximized. You can mute, solo, and choose a group from the Group Name pop-up menu, when the group list is hidden.
Key Mapping Editor group parameters
Group parameters are shown above the Key Mapping Editor. Drag vertically in parameter value fields to change them. For example, vertically drag the group Pan field value to change it. Alternatively, you can double-click in a field and enter a value, then press the Return key.
Group Mixer parameters: Globally adjust output settings for the selected group.
Volume: Use to set the overall level of the group—and, therefore, the volume of all zones in the group. This works much like a subgroup on a mixing console.
Pan: Use to set the pan position of the group—stereo balance for stereo samples—and the pan position of all assigned zones simultaneously.
Output pop-up menu: Choose the outputs used by the group: main outputs, paired channels, or individual outputs. This allows individual groups to be routed independently to aux channels in a multi-output Sampler instance.
Note: This has an impact on any individual zone output assignments.
Group Key Range fields: Use to define a key range for the selected group.
Use the left field to set the lowest note for the group.
Use the right field to set the highest note for the group. When you play notes outside this range, the zones assigned to this group are not triggered.
Note: Take care with these parameters because they override zone range settings, possibly making some zones inaudible.
Group Velocity Range fields: Use to define a velocity range for the selected group. Velocity Range is useful for sounds where you want to dynamically mix—or switch between—samples by playing your MIDI keyboard harder or softer. This feature is ideal for layered sounds, such as a piano/string layer, or when switching between different percussion samples.
Use the left field to set the lowest velocity that triggers the group.
Use the right field to set the highest velocity that triggers the group. When you play notes outside this range, the zones assigned to this group are not triggered.
Key Mapping Editor zone parameters
Zone parameters are shown below the keyboard. Drag vertically in parameter value fields to change them. For example, vertically drag the zone Tune field value to change it. Alternatively, you can double-click in a field and enter a value, then press the Return key.
Zone Name pop-up menu: Displays the current zone name. Select a different zone to display and edit its parameters.
Tip: You can also display and select a different zone in the Mapping pane Key Mapping Editor or Zone view by playing a note. To enable this behavior, turn on the Select from Last Played Keys > Groups and Zones menu option in the Mapping pane Edit menu. You can automatically preview a zone when you play a note by turning on the Preview Selected Zone option in the Zone menu.
Zone Pitch fields: Use to set the tuning of the selected zone.
Root Key: Use to set the root note of the zone—in other words, the note at which the sample is heard at its original pitch.
Tune: Drag vertically to tune the zone in semitone/cent increments.
Pitch button: Turn on to change the sample pitch when triggered by different keys. When disabled, the sample is always played at its original pitch, regardless of the note played.
Note: When the Pitch button is turned off, the value set with the Tune parameter is added to, or subtracted from, the original pitch.
Zone Mixer fields: Use these parameters to define output level and pan position of the selected zone.
Volume: Use to set the output level of the zone.
Pan: Use to set the pan position of the zone. This parameter works only when Sampler is used in stereo.
Zone Key Range fields: Use these parameters to define a key range for the zone. When you play notes outside this key range, the sample assigned to this zone is not triggered.
Use the left field to set the lowest note for the zone.
Use the right field to set the highest note for the zone.
Zone Velocity Range fields: Use to define a velocity range for the zone. When you play notes outside this velocity range, the sample assigned to this zone is not triggered.
Use the left field to set the lowest velocity that triggers the zone.
Use the right field to set the highest velocity that triggers the zone.
Navigate the Key Mapping Editor
In Logic Pro Sampler, drag the scrollbars to navigate to non visible zones or groups. You can also use a two-finger swipe to scroll vertically or horizontally. If you are using a Magic Mouse, use a single-finger swipe to scroll.
Use a pinch gesture to zoom the keyboard display. Alternatively, drag the Zoom slider.
Tip: You can double-click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to quickly switch between a maximized and the current view level.
Important: Use of gestures, such as swiping or pinching require these features to be enabled in the Mouse or Trackpad panes of your System Preferences.
Select groups or zones in the Key Mapping Editor
In Logic Pro Sampler, when the group list is visible: Click a group name or number to select it and to move focus to the group. Shift-click or drag (from outside any group) to select multiple groups. The Key Mapping Editor area above the keyboard shows only zones that belong to the selected group. You can also remotely select groups with your MIDI keyboard.
Note: To enable selection of groups from a MIDI keyboard, turn on the Select from Last Played Keys > Groups or Groups and Zones menu option in the Mapping pane Edit menu.
Note: When multiple groups are selected, you will see the zones of all selected groups in the Key Mapping Editor. Each selected group has a number that you can click to move focus to that specific group. The focus feature makes it easier for you to graphically edit complex mappings that contain multiple overlapping groups.
When the group list is not visible: Choose a group in the Group Name pop-up menu. The Key Mapping Editor area above the keyboard shows only zones that belong to the selected group. You can also remotely select groups with your MIDI keyboard.
Click a zone in the Key Mapping Editor area above the keyboard to select it. Shift-click or drag (from an empty area outside any zone) to select multiple zones. You can adjust zone parameters shown below the keyboard and directly edit zones graphically. See Graphically edit Sampler zones and groups.