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
Use the Articulation Set Editor in Logic Pro
The Articulation Set Editor can be used to create sophisticated key switch and controller switch definitions, and define output transformations, which enables compatibility with third party sample libraries. You can also use the Articulation Set Editor to create Articulation Sets for instruments that have assigned Articulation IDs to sample groups, but do not have pre-configured articulations. For example, some Sampler instruments come pre-configured with specific sample groups identified by an Articulation ID but do not have pre-configured Articulation Sets. See Sampler articulation handling in Logic Pro.
The Articulation Set Editor consists of three panes: Articulations, Switches, and Output.
The Articulations pane
The Articulations pane is where you can define specific articulations, including their names and IDs. The articulations defined here populate the articulation menus in the plug-in header and the various editors.
You can set articulations to be triggered by MIDI channel rather than an articulation ID. This can be useful for instruments whose MIDI channels are used to control additional properties.
The Articulations pane contains a table showing the following parameters:
Name field: Type a name for your articulation in this field.
Articulation ID field: Type a number to be the Articulation ID for your articulation. For Sampler-based instruments that use the articulation ID for group selection choose the corresponding articulation ID. For any other instruments, an output transformation needs to be defined on the output page (converting the articulations back into keyswitches), and the IDs can be arbitrary.
Channel pop-up menu: Choose a MIDI channel for the articulation, or choose “-” for all MIDI channels.
Symbol pop-up menu: Choose a notation symbol to represent the articulation in the Score Editor.
Revert button: Reverts any changes done to the the articulations to their saved state.
Plus and minus buttons: Use these buttons to create and remove articulations.
The Switches pane
The Switches pane is where you create and customize keyswitches and controller switch assignments for each articulation. You can determine the type of MIDI message to use for switches, what values within that MIDI message to use, and you can specify the articulation behavior when the switch is triggered.
It includes the following controls:
MIDI Remote button: This button has to be active for your articulation switches to respond to the defined MIDI messages. If MIDI Remote is off, you cannot control your articulation switches remotely with your attached MIDI device. For example, you might want to turn off MIDI Remote if you want to play an instrument live using the full keyboard range without risking an accidental switch between articulations.
MIDI Channel pop-up menu: Sets a specific MIDI channel for all your keyswitches. This is useful if you have a dedicated keyboard for keyswitches or you wish to limit your keyswitches to a particular MIDI channel.
Octave Offset pop-up menu: Sets an offset for the octave used for keyswitches. You can set an offset of up to plus or minus ten octaves. This can be useful in particular for bass instruments; since keyswitches are often set to very low octaves, with bass instruments you may want to move the keyswitches to higher octaves and leave the lower octaves free for playing.
These three Switches controls can be set locally in the Switches pane, or globally to affect how all instruments with articulations will behave. To determine if these settings are local or global, see Articulation Switches.
Below the controls is a table showing each articulation along with the following parameters:
Type pop-up menu: Chooses the specific type of MIDI message used to activate the articulation. Note On is the standard MIDI message used to trigger articulations, but Note Off, Poly Aftertouch, Controller, Program (program change), Aftertouch, Pitch Bend, and Velocity are also supported.
Selector pop-up menu: Determines which specific value of the MIDI message chosen in the Type column triggers the articulation. For example, if you chose Note On in the Type column, here is where you would choose the specific note for the keyswitch. If you chose Controller in the Type column, you would choose the specific controller number. If you choose Program, Aftertouch, or Pitch Bend in the Type column, there will be no Selector value.
Value Start slider: Defines the low end of the range for the controller switches. For Note On/Off messages, this relates to velocity values.
Value End slider: Defines the high end of the range for the controller switches. For Note On/Off messages, this relates to velocity values.
Mode pop-up menu: Selects between different switch modes. These different switch modes exist in order to support both variations in your playing style and special articulation features.
Permanent: Switches to the selected articulation, which will then be used for all subsequent notes until another articulation is selected. This is useful for the main (standard) articulations such as Sustain, Staccato, and other common playing techniques.
Permanent (Retrigger): Stops the currently sounding note and retriggers it immediately with the newly selected articulation. The new articulation will be used for all the following notes until another articulation is selected.
Permanent (Trigger): Immediately applies the newly selected articulation to the currently playing note. As soon as the switch is disengaged all notes are stopped. This is useful to trigger falls, doits, and so on, at the end of a musical phrase.
Momentary: Activates the keyswitch only while the switch is within its defined Value range. For Note On or Note Off articulations this means the articulation switches only while the key is depressed or released respectively; for controllers the articulation is selected as long as the value is within the value start and end range. This is useful for articulations you only want to use for one note or a very short passage such as growls, trills, and so on.
Momentary (Retrigger): Stops the current note and retriggers it immediately with the selected articulation while the switch is within its defined Value range. For Note On or Note Off articulations this means the articulation switches only while the key is depressed or released respectively; for controllers the articulation is selected as long as the value is within the value start and end range.
Momentary (Trigger): Immediately applies the newly selected articulation to the currently playing note while the switch is within its defined Value range. As soon as the switch is disengaged all notes are stopped. This is useful to trigger falls, doits, and so on, at the end of a musical phrase.
Toggle: Activates the selected articulation when the switch is engaged. When the switch is engaged again it reactivates the previous articulation. This is useful when you want to toggle between two articulations, such as sustained notes and palm muting.
Toggle (Retrigger): Stops the currently sounding note and retriggers it immediately with the newly selected articulation. When the switch is engaged again it reactivates the previous articulation.
Toggle (Trigger): Immediately applies the newly selected articulation to the currently playing note. As soon as the switch is disengaged all notes are stopped. This is useful to trigger falls, doits, and so on, at the end of a musical phrase.
Articulation pop-up menu: Choose from among the available articulations. You can use the same articulation multiple times, each triggered by a different status or selector, and with different value ranges.
Revert button: Reverts any changes made to the switches to their saved state.
Plus and minus buttons: Use these buttons to create and remove switches.
The Output pane
For instruments that don’t support the use of articulation IDs directly, you can use Output pane to define how articulations are accessed in your particular instrument. Output articulations are mostly keyswitches. Some third-party sampler instruments also use controllers as switches.
Working in the Output pane, you can define output triggers for articulations, which means that you can use triggers with third-party libraries for which pre-configured Articulation Sets do not already exist. Because the output triggers are independent of the switches, they can be used to create setups with consistent switches across different libraries.
The Output pane consists of a table showing each articulation along with the following parameters:
Name field: Displays the name of the articulation.
Type pop-up menu: Choose the specific type of MIDI message that is used to activate the articulation. Note On is the standard MIDI message used to trigger articulations, but Note Off, Poly Aftertouch, Controller, Program (program change), Aftertouch, and Pitch Bend are also supported.
Channel pop-up menu: Choose a MIDI channel for the articulation, or choose “-” for all MIDI channels. This is useful when third party sample libraries use specific MIDI channels for articulations.
Selector pop-up menu: Determines which specific value of the MIDI message chosen in the Type column triggers the articulation. For example, if you chose Note On in the Type column, here is where you would choose the specific note for the keyswitch. If you chose Controller in the Type column, you would choose the specific controller number.
Value Start slider: Defines the low end of the range for the controller switches.
Value End slider: Defines the high end of the range for the controller switches.
Activate Multiple Outputs checkbox: Define up to three MIDI messages that can be sent to an instrument in order to activate an articulation. This may be necessary for instruments that require, for example, one MIDI message to chose a category and another MIDI message to choose an articulation within within that category.
Revert button: Reverts any changes made to the output assignments to their saved state.
Choose an Articulation Set
In the Logic Pro Track inspector, choose an Articulation Set from the Articulation Set pop-up menu.
Open the Articulation Set Editor
In the Logic Pro Track inspector, choose Edit from the Articulation Set pop-up menu.
Create a new articulation
In Logic Pro, in the Articulations pane, click the “+” button at the bottom left of the Articulation Set Editor window.
Remove an articulation
In Logic Pro, in the Articulations pane, select an articulation and click the “-” button at the bottom left of the Articulation Set Editor window.
Revert to the previously saved version of articulations
In Logic Pro, click the “Revert” button at the bottom left of the Articulation Set Editor window.
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF