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
Channel strip controls in Logic Pro
Each channel strip has a set of controls (also called components), which varies according to channel strip type. You can adjust the channel strip volume and pan position, mute and solo channel strips, add and adjust effects, and send the output to auxiliary or output channel strips.
Audio Device controls: The following audio channel strip controls are only visible when you are using a compatible audio interface. See your audio interface users guide for more information.
Input type slot: Choose the type of audio device connected to the input, for example microphone, instrument, line level equipment, and so on.
Phantom power button: Sends phantom power to an attached microphone. Check your microphone documentation to determine if your microphone needs phantom power.
Filter button: Activates a low-cut filter across the input. This can reduce the amount of low-frequency rumble recorded, if present in the source signal.
Phase reverse button: Use this button to reverse the phase of the audio signal. This can be useful when recording the same signal with multiple microphones. When the button is lit, the phase is reversed.
Input gain field: Displays the amount of input gain added to the audio signal.
Input gain knob: Use to set the amount of input gain.
Direct hardware monitoring button: Activates or deactivates direct hardware monitoring for the channel. This allows you to hear your recorded material without the latency incurred by monitoring your signal through Logic Pro. See your audio interface’s documentation for details on how it implements direct hardware monitoring.
Setting button: Use to load, browse, or save channel strip settings for the selected track. These settings represent the entire routing configuration of a single channel strip, including plug-ins and their settings.
Input/Instrument slot: Choose the channel strip’s input source—the input source that your microphone or instrument is connected to.
Audio Effect slot: Inserts an audio effect into the channel strip. Use effects to alter signals in real time.
Send slot: Routes the signal to an aux channel strip. The Send Level knob that appears defines the amount of signal to route. Use sends to process effects for multiple signals at the same time.
Send Level knob: Controls the amount of signal sent to an aux channel strip. Use sends to process effects for multiple signals at the same time.
Output slot: Choose the channel strip’s output destination—where the channel strip signal is sent to.
Pan/Balance knob: Sets the channel strip signal’s position. On mono channel strips, it controls the signal’s left/right position. On stereo channel strips, it controls the balance between the left and right signals.
VCA slot: Assigns the channel strip to an existing VCA group.
Peak level display: Updates during playback to show the highest peak level reached. A red display indicates signal clipping.
Volume display: Shows the playback volume.
Volume fader: Adjusts the playback volume of the channel strip signal.
Level meter: Shows the level of the input signal—when playing an instrument or singing, for example. Amber and yellow signals are safe. Red indicates signal clipping.
Mute button: Removes the signal from the overall composition so that it can’t be heard.
Solo button: Isolates the signal from the overall composition so that it can be heard alone.
(Input) Format button: Switches the channel strip input format between Mono and Stereo. Click-hold to choose Left, Right, or Surround format.
Dim button: Turns on Dim Volume mode. This sets the playback volume to the Dim value set in the Logic Pro > Preferences > Audio > General pane.
When Show Advanced Tools is selected in the Advanced preferences pane, the following additional controls become available:
Gain Reduction meter: Displays the gain reduction of the first Compressor plug-in in the channel strip. If no compressor is inserted, the meter should display the gain reduction of an inserted Limiter or Adaptive Limiter plug-in.
EQ display: Click to insert a Channel EQ into the first unused Insert slot, or to open the topmost inserted Channel or Linear Phase EQ. Option-click to insert a Channel EQ into the first slot and move any inserted plug-ins down one slot. Shift-click to insert a Linear Phase EQ into the first unused Insert slot. Option-Shift-click to insert a Linear Phase EQ into the first slot and move any inserted plug-ins down one slot. Use EQ effects to shape an audio signal by adjusting specific frequency range levels.
MIDI Effect slot: Insert a MIDI effect into the channel strip.
Group slot: Controls a channel strip’s group assignment. Use the Group Settings window to define which parameters are controlled for the entire group at once.
Automation Mode button: Sets how channel strip and plug-in changes are handled during recording and playback.
Input Monitoring button: Allows you to hear incoming audio on audio tracks that aren’t armed for recording. Use to set audio levels or to practice parts before recording.
Record Enable button: Arms the track or channel strip for recording.
Bounce button: Bounces the output of any output channel strip to an audio file.
Choose which channel strip controls to display
You can choose which channel strip controls you want displayed on channel strips by doing one of the following:
In the Logic Pro Channel Strip Components or MIDI Channel Strip Components submenus of the Mixer > View menu, choose a control to display, or deselect a control to remove it.
Control-click a portion of a channel strip not containing a channel strip control and in the Channel Strip Components submenu of the pop-up menu choose a control to display, or deselect a control to remove it from channel strips.
Choose Configure Channel Strip Components from the Mixer > View menu, the channel strip pop-up menu, or press the Configure Channel Strip Components key command and choose which controls you wish to display.
Save a configuration of channel strip controls as default
In Logic Pro, choose Configure Channel Strip Components from the Mixer > View menu or Control-click a channel strip and choose Configure Channel Strip Components from the pop-up menu.
Choose Store as User Defaults from the Actions menu.
Apply a saved configuration of channel strip controls to the Mixer
In Logic Pro, choose Configure Channel Strip Components from the Mixer > View menu or Control-click a channel strip and choose Configure Channel Strip Components from the pop-up menu.
Choose Apply User Defaults from the Actions menu.
Revert channel strip controls to factory defaults
In Logic Pro, choose Configure Channel Strip Components from the Mixer > View menu or Control-click a channel strip and choose Configure Channel Strip Components from the pop-up menu.
Choose Revert to Factory Defaults from the Actions menu or click the Revert button.