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
Morph drum beats in Logic Pro Alchemy
This tutorial guides you through the process of importing two drum beats and then morphing between them. You will initially morph all elements collectively, then each individually.
Note: Images shown in tutorials are not specific to presets used in tasks. They are included as a guide to help you find areas and parameters in the Alchemy interface.
Import and morph multiple drum loops in Alchemy
The loops used for this example are from the Electro House and Tech House loop libraries. If you cannot find the loops, you’ll need to download these additional content packages. To do so, choose Download Additional Content from the Logic menu in the menu bar.
In Logic Pro, switch to advanced view and choose Initialize Preset from Alchemy’s File menu.
This resets Alchemy’s settings and makes it easier to build sounds from scratch.
Click the source select field for source A and choose Import Audio.
The Import window opens.
Open the Apple Loops browser, and type “Lockstep” in the search field. Drag the Lockstep Beat 02 loop to the Dropzone area of the Import window.
Click the Spectral and Formant analysis mode buttons at the lower left, then click the Import button.
This determines the synthesis engine used for resynthesis of the audio sample. Spectral + Formant is a good general purpose option that works well for drum loops. It’s also the default setting in a new instance of Alchemy. When analysis is complete, you can trigger the loop at its native pitch by playing C3 on your keyboard.
Drag the Insider Groove Beat loop to the controls area of source B.
This alternative import method triggers the Import process automatically, using the previously selected analysis mode.
Play C3 to trigger both loops at once. The loops are 8 beats long and have a native tempo of 120, so playback is nicely synchronized. Although there are techniques for tempo matching imported loops, it is simpler to use matched samples and improves the potential for getting good results with minimal effort. If the loops have a very different groove, click the Edit button to open the main edit window, where you can do any of the following:
In the waveform display, create warp markers to divide the loop into equal length segments. The number of markers required depends on the length and complexity of the loop. Aim to have a segment for each significant beat in the loop.
Slide each warp marker forward or back as necessary to align it with the nearest drum hit transient. Hold a warp marker in the waveform display to zoom horizontally for more accurate adjustments.
Switch to the other drum loop source with the A/B/C/D buttons at the top left of the main edit window.
Slide each warp marker forward or back as before to align each with the nearest drum transient.
Click the A button (under Global), then choose Continuous from the source A Loop Mode pop-up menu. Repeat this step for the source B loop.
This sets both beats to loop continuously while you hold down a note.
Turn off the Velocity On button in the modulation rack.
When triggering loops, it can be helpful to disable velocity control of the playback level so the loops trigger with the same loudness regardless of how hard you play. If the modulation area doesn’t show this parameter, click the Global button, then click the center of the Master Volume knob shown at the upper right.
Click the Morph button at the left to show the morphing section at the upper right, then drag the handle in the middle of the morph control area from left to right to hear the level of each source crossfade.
The default view shows XY set to crossfade, not morph, between the sources.
Select one of the two morph buttons in the morphing section to access the elemental morphing controls. Because there are only two sources, click the Morph Linear button, then click the A-B button to limit morphing to these two sources.
Drag the handle between the two sources while holding a note to create a fundamentally different effect than the crossfade between them.
What you can hear is a true morphing between discrete components of each sound. The transition is not simply between the overall level of each sound, but between the levels of multiple narrow frequency bands and the formant characteristics of each sound.
Drag the handle to the far left, then listen as you move slowly to the right to hear a phantom shaker-like rhythm that doesn’t exist in either loop. Once you have finished exploring, move the handle back to the far left before looking at the next task.
Morph elements independently in Alchemy
In Logic Pro, click the Elements button in the morph section to access controls that allow independent morphing between different sound elements, as opposed to morphing all sonic aspects simultaneously.
Play C3 on your keyboard, then move the Spectral control handle (orange dot) from left to right. You can also rotate the Spectral knob.
You can hear the spectral components of the first loop transition to those of the second loop. The change is similar to that heard in step 10 of the previous task, but the phantom shaker rhythm is clearer, and the kick sound from the Lockstep Beat remains intact longer. In fact, this combination causes the kick to change tone and become more pronounced at beat 1 of each bar. When the Spectral control is full right, the original kicks are replaced by a pronounced “thump” at the head of each bar.
Morph pitch and formants in Alchemy
In Logic Pro, move the Pitch handle (green dot) from left to right. You can also rotate the Pitch knob.
Drum beats don’t generally contain much pitched information, so use of the Pitch control may have little impact when working with loops. In this case, however, setting Pitch to the far right position results in the prominent high tom of the Insider Groove Beat becoming louder near beat 2. Only the tail of the pitch pushes through however, creating an eighth note rhythm that starts near beat 3.
Set Formant (purple dot) to 75%-100% to make the onset of the tom pitch more clearly audible. You can also rotate the Formant knob to set this value.
Set the Spectral knob to zero.
You can hear the arc of the tom hit, but without tonal characteristics because there’s little spectral material at this point in the Lockstep loop. This demonstrates the important role that resonances play in human perception of pitch information.
Assign performance controls to morphed drum loop elements in Alchemy
In Logic Pro, Control-click the Position knob for source A, then choose Add Modulation > LFO > LFO1 from the shortcut menu.
In the modulation section, click the Shape pop-up menu for LFO1 and choose Basic > RampUp.
Switch off Bipolar mode for the LFO, and set Rate to the same number of beats as the loop. For example, set the Rate knob to 4 beats for a one-bar loop, or to 8 beats for a two-bar loop, and so on.
Control-click the Position knob for source A, and choose Copy Modulation from the shortcut menu.
Click the source B button to view source B parameters.
Control-click the Position knob for source B, and choose Paste Modulation from the shortcut menu.
The playback position of both loops is now controlled by LFO1, and they play back in sync with the project tempo.
Click the Morph button to view morphing parameters, then click the Morph Lin button.
Click the A-B button to use the X knob to morph between the two time-aligned drum loops.
As an optional step, you can click the Elements button to use or assign element controls.
Control-click the Spect/Gran knob (orange dot), and choose Add Modulation > Perform > XYPad1X from the shortcut menu.
Control-click the Pitch knob (green dot), and choose Add Modulation > Perform > XYPad1Y from the shortcut menu.
You can now use the left X/Y pad in the performance section to morph the spectral data by moving the pointer horizontally. You can morph pitch data by moving the pointer vertically.
Control-click the Formant knob (purple dot), and choose Add Modulation > Perform > XYPad2X from the shortcut menu.
Control-click the Envelope knob (yellow dot), and choose Add Modulation > Perform > XYPad2Y from the shortcut menu.
You can now use the right X/Y pad in the performance section to morph the formant filters by moving the pointer horizontally. You can morph the envelope shape by moving the pointer vertically.