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
Add content to Quick Sampler in Logic Pro
Quick Sampler provides two direct methods to add an audio file, Apple Loop, or region. Once you’ve added the file, you can choose different modes to change playback behavior, you can directly edit waveform markers, and you can alter the tonal color and performance characteristics with the synthesis and modulation parameters. You also have the option to record audio directly into Quick Sampler.
You can quickly replace the sound for Quick Sampler on a software instrument track by dragging an audio file, audio or software instrument region, or Apple Loop to the track header. When you drag content to one of the Quick Sampler zones to replace the existing sound, you can choose whether Quick Sampler uses the original tuning, loudness, looping, and length of the material, or analyzes the material and optimizes its tuning, searches for loop points, and crops silence.
Important: When you drag a region to the track header area or to another drag zone to create a sample-based software instrument using the region, the region is bounced through the plug-ins on the track. For software instrument tracks, this includes any MIDI plug-ins, the track instrument, and any audio plug-ins, For audio tracks, this includes any audio plug-ins and other processing, such as Flex. The resulting audio file is used in the sample-based instrument. This is different than dragging an audio file to a drag zone, which does not trigger a bounce.
Add an audio file with the Sample name field
In Logic Pro, click the “Sample name” field at the top center, and choose Load Audio File to open Finder.
In the Finder, browse to the file you want to import, then select one of the following checkboxes.
Original: Adds the audio file to the waveform display, which uses the tuning, loudness, looping, and length characteristics of the source file.
Optimized: Analyzes the source file, optimizing its tuning, loudness, and length, then adds the audio file. If the contents are rhythmic and/or cyclical (looped), Quick Sampler automatically adds loop and crossfade markers to the waveform display. Silence at the beginning or end of the source audio is cropped (cut), shortening the imported content.
Note: These checkboxes are visible only when the Options button at the bottom left of the Finder window is turned on.
Click Open.
Drag and drop content into Quick Sampler
In Logic Pro, drag a region or an audio file from the Audio File window, Apple Loops window, or Finder into the Quick Sampler waveform display.
Drop the file into either the Original or Optimized portion of the waveform display.
Original: Adds the audio file to the waveform display, which uses the tuning, loudness, looping, and length characteristics of the source file.
Optimized: Analyzes the source file, optimizing its tuning, loudness, and length, then adds the audio file. If the contents are rhythmic and/or cyclical (looped), Quick Sampler automatically adds loop and crossfade markers to the waveform display. Silence at the beginning or end of the source audio is cropped (cut), shortening the imported content.
Note: A resampling process is triggered when you drop a region into Quick Sampler. The region is bounced offline and added to the waveform display.
Replace the sound for Quick Sampler on a software instrument track using drag and drop
In Logic Pro, drag an audio file, region, or Apple Loop to a software instrument track with a Quick Sampler instrument inserted.
When the “Replace existing sound” dialog appears, drag the item to one of the available Quick Sampler zones to choose how the plug-in processes the content.
Quick Sampler (Original) uses the original tuning, loudness, looping, and length of the content.
Quick Sampler (Optimized) analyzes the content and optimizes its tuning and loudness, searches for loop points, and crops silence.
Note: A resampling process is triggered when you drop a region into Quick Sampler. The region is bounced offline and added to the waveform display.
Save a Quick Sampler instrument
In Logic Pro, you can access all basic Quick Sampler file operations using the commands in the plug-in header Settings pop-up menu.
Save: Saves the currently loaded instrument. When you create a new instrument and save it for the first time, you are asked to provide a name. If you have edited an existing instrument and use this command, the existing filename is used and the original instrument is overwritten.
Save As: Saves the currently loaded instrument content, but you are prompted to provide a different filename. Use this command when you want to save a copy or multiple versions of an edited Quick Sampler instrument, rather than overwriting the original version. This, and the Save A Copy As, command may be useful when you want to save a Quick Sampler setting that is unique to a specific project. Storing this in a location outside of user folders may also be practical for sharing a copy of your Quick Sampler setting with a colleague or friend.
Save A Copy As: Saves a copy of the currently loaded Quick Sampler content. You are prompted to provide a different filename. Use this command when you want to save a copy or multiple versions of an edited instrument, rather than overwriting the original version.
Save As Default: Saves the currently loaded Quick Sampler instrument as the default instrument. This instrument serves as a template for future Quick Sampler instruments and is used when you create a new instrument. It is also used when you choose the Recall Default command in the plug-in Settings pop-up menu.
Save a Quick Sampler patch in the Library
You can save patches, comprised of a Quick Sampler instrument and associated plug-in settings, in the Library.
In Logic Pro, click the Save button at the bottom of the Library pane. If the Library is not visible, click the Library button on the Logic Pro menu bar or use the default keyboard shortcut: Y.
In the Finder window:
Browse to the file location you want to use. The default folder location is User Patches. If required, create a new folder.
Type the patch name, then press the Save button.
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF