Logic Pro X 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
- Change the color of regions
- Convert audio regions to Sampler sample 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
- 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 Logic Pro 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
Logic Pro Sculpture stringed instrument programming
The tasks outlined in this section provide programming guidelines, tips, tricks, and information to assist you in creating stringed instrument sounds in Sculpture.
Create a bass sound in Sculpture
In Logic Pro X, load the #default (or your vanilla) setting file.
Choose the +1 Oct. parameter from the Transpose pop-up menu at the top of the interface, and play a few notes around C2.
The general color of an acoustic bass is already there
You can certainly drag the ball on the Material Pad toward the Nylon corner, but first choose Pick from the Object 1 Type pop-up menu.
Play your keyboard, and adjust the ball position while doing so.
Take a look at the Strength, Variation, Timbre, and VeloSens parameters of Object 1, and adjust each in turn, to taste.
You may also want to adjust the amplitude envelope Release parameter (the vertical R slider in the section to the right of the circular Material Pad).
To make your bass more woody, adjust Object 1 pickup position toward the right (drag the #1 slider in the Pickup section, which is at the left side of the interface). At extreme positions (the left or right end), you’ll find that the bottom end of your bass is lost. Try it out.
Adjust the position of Pickup A and Pickup B by dragging the horizontal sliders. As you’ll hear, you can quickly recreate a picked acoustic or electric bass sound.
To instantly make the sound a hybrid (or full-on) synthesizer bass, click the Waveshaper button (directly above the circular Material Pad and choose one of the types from the Type pop-up menu above the button.
Choose Save Setting As from the Settings pop-up menu and save your settings with new names as you go.
You’ll probably come up with several new sounds in just a few minutes. Each of these can be used as is, or as templates for future bass sounds you create.
Create a guitar sound in Sculpture
Guitar, lute, mandolin, and other plucked-type instruments, including harps, can be created from this basic setting.
In Logic Pro X, load the #default (or your vanilla) setting file.
Set the Voices parameter to a value of 6—there are only six strings on a guitar. Obviously, pick 7 for a banjo, or as many as possible for a harp.
Set Object 1 type to Impulse, if not already chosen.
Activate Object 2 and set its type to Pick.
Move Pickup A position to the extreme right.
Move Object 2 Pickup position to a value of 0.14.
Activate the Body EQ, and select one of the Guitar models.
Adjust the various Body EQ parameters. These have a major impact on the overall brightness and tone of your guitar sound. (Try Model Guitar 2, Intensity 0.46, Shift 0.38, and Stretch 0.20, for example.)
Set Fine Structure to a value of around 0.30 to 0.35—let your ears be the judge.
Drag the Spread Pickup semicircle vertically to increase the perception of stereo width (a value around the 10 o’clock/2 o’clock mark is nice).
Activate the Filter, and select Lo Pass mode.
Adjust the Cutoff and Resonance parameters to taste (try both at 0.81).
Adjust the Tension Mod slider upward, and play the keyboard to see how the momentary detuning effect caused by this parameter affects the sound. Set it to an appropriate amount.
Set the Level Limiter mode to “both.”
Choose Save Setting As from the Settings pop-up menu and save the setting with a new name.
You may notice that a different approach was taken in the creation of this setting. The reason for this is the major impact that the Body EQ model has on the sound. In some cases, like this one, it may be better to work slightly out of sequence, rather than to strictly follow the signal flow.
Create other guitar-like sounds in Sculpture
In Logic Pro X, do any of the following:
Adjust the Object Strength, Variation, and Timbre parameters.
Reposition the Material Pad ball to create a completely different tone to your guitar.
Use Delay or Vibrato to emulate the double-strike picking of mandolins.
Create a solo string sound in Sculpture
Solo stringed instruments that are played with a bow, such as violins and cellos, can be created in much the same way. This sound can also be played polyphonically.
In Logic Pro X, load the #default (or your vanilla) setting file.
Set Transpose to −1 Oct.
Set Object 1 type to Bow.
Play the lower half of your MIDI keyboard, and you’ll hear a viola/cello-like sound, which could obviously be improved.
Set the Object 1 Velosens slider to match your playing style and that of the music, as you’re playing the keyboard. Adjust later, if necessary.
Drag the Tension Mod slider slightly upward, so that the arrowhead covers the “D.” This emulates the momentary detuning effect of the bow stretching the string.
Move Pickup A to a position around 0.90.
Move Object 1 pickup position to a value around 0.48.
Activate Body EQ, and select the Violin 1 model.
Set the Body EQ parameters as follows: Intensity 0.73, Shift +1.00, and Stretch+1.00.
Adjust the Fine Structure slider to taste.
Drag the Spread Pickup semicircle downward until the light blue dots reach the 10:30 and 1:30 positions.
Set the Level Limiter mode to “both.”
Choose Save Setting As from the Settings pop-up menu and save the setting with a new name.
Customize your solo string sound in Sculpture
In Logic Pro X, do any of the following:
Set up a modulation, such as a vibrato, that is introduced into the sound after a short period.
Follow the example above to create higher-pitched solo string instruments, but pay special attention to all Keyscale parameters. Careless settings can lead to an out-of-tune violin or viola.
Use the Body EQ to alter the sound. Take care with settings because they can have a large impact on the upper octaves in particular.
For a truly radical change (using the example settings above), change Object 1 type to Pick, and you’ll have a round and rubbery synth bass sound in the lower octaves and a passable harp across the rest of the keyboard.