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
Logic Pro Alchemy formant filter controls
Source components are shown only in advanced view. Click the Advanced button to switch to advanced view, then click the A/B/C/D button to select the source you want to edit.
The parameters in this section are shown when the Formant button is active in an additive or spectral source subpage.
When audio is imported into the additive or spectral engines with the Formant option enabled, the signal is analyzed and resonances in the original signal are extracted and converted into a formant filter shape. See Logic Pro Alchemy Import browser.
The formant filter scales the amplitude of additive partials or spectral bins over time to recreate the characteristic resonances of the instrument, rather than processing the audio signal like a conventional filter.
Formant filter analyzed parameters
The analyzed controls work only if you enable the Formant button in the Import browser when importing your audio files. This more detailed analysis attempts to determine the resonant frequencies of the source audio data.
On/off button: Enable or disable the analyzed formant section.
Shift knob: Shift the formant filter up or down in semitones. Higher values can make sounds seem brighter or thinner. Lower values can create a darker, thicker character.
KTrack knob: Determine how the formant filter tracks notes on the keyboard. At 100%, filter resonances shift up or down in pitch with the note. Set to lower values to reduce key tracking which may make some sounds playable over a wider keyboard range.
Size knob: Stretch the formant filter to change the perceived size of the resonant chamber. Use this parameter to alter the size of a guitar body or to make a child’s vocal sample sound like that of a giant, for example. The Size knob works in conjunction with the Center parameter.
Center knob: Set the center frequency for formant stretching (controlled with the Size knob). Resonances below the center frequency are shifted upward as the Size knob value is increased. A corresponding downward shift occurs to resonances above the center frequency.
Note: The Center knob has no effect when the Size knob is set to 100%.
Smooth knob: Set the rate of change for the formant filter. High values smooth and slow down formant changes. Low values exaggerate and speed up changes. Low values can also introduce an unusual “chattering” distortion that may be suitable for drum sounds.
Formant filter synthesized parameters
The synthesized controls work with any additive or spectral material and do not require the formants to be analyzed on import. Use these parameters to impose new resonant characteristics on the original signal. The default settings provide a range of vowel sounds: use the Select knob to morph through the default “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” and “u” vowel sounds loaded into the four slots to the right.
On/off button: Enable or disable the synthesized formants section.
Shift knob: Shift all synthesized formant filters up or down in semitones. Higher values can make sounds seem brighter or thinner. Lower values can create a darker, thicker character.
Size knob: Stretch the formant filter to alter the perceived size of the resonant chamber. Size works in conjunction with the Center knob.
Center knob: Set the center frequency for the formant stretch set with the Size knob. Resonances below the center frequency are shifted upward as the Size value is increased. A corresponding downward shift occurs to resonances above the center frequency.
Select knob: Morph smoothly through the four filter units. The displayed value indicates position. Whole numbers indicate a particular filter unit, and fractional values indicate a position between filters.
Filter type pop-up menus and fields: Choose the filter type used in each of the four formant filters. You can step through the available filter types with the Previous and Next buttons (the arrows).
Off: Passes the original data, as if the synthesized section were turned off. Assign this type to use one of the four filter units as a bypass. Adjust the Select knob to quickly disable synthesized formant processing.
Comb filters: Comb filters are so-named because they create a distinctive comb-like pattern of boosts and cuts in the frequency spectrum, arranged in a harmonic series.
Comb Neg: The position of the first harmonic is determined by the Shift knob. The Size knob can be used to stretch the pattern of cuts and boosts up or down the frequency spectrum, or both, depending on the setting of the Center knob. The negative filter name is used because it recreates the effect of a phase-inverted delayed signal that boosts only odd harmonics, resulting in a hollow sound.
Comb Pos: This filter emulates the effect of mixing in a positive phase delayed copy of the original signal, resulting in a boost of both even and odd harmonics. This filter has a brighter sound than the negative comb filter.
Metal Combs: The Brass, Iron, Steel, and Tin comb filter variants provide a distinctive tonal coloration that emphasizes different harmonics in the frequency spectrum. To help you visualize these differences, the “teeth” (harmonics) on the comb are of varying thicknesses and are spaced at different intervals in each filter. Experiment with each comb to determine the best choice for your sound.
Classic and Parallel filters: The classic variants are two-pole designs. The parallel filters are multipole designs.
Band Pass: A bandpass filter with a gentle slope. Signals above or below the set center frequency are attenuated.
High Pass: Emulates a two-pole highpass filter that gently reduces the levels of lower frequencies. The Shift knob sets the cutoff frequency. The Size knob changes the filter slope.
Low Pass: Emulates a two-pole lowpass filter that gently reduces the levels of higher frequencies. The Shift knob sets the cutoff frequency. The Size knob changes the filter slope.
Notch: A filter that attenuates a narrow band of frequencies near the set frequency. The frequency band can be moved up or down the frequency spectrum with the Shift knob. The Size knob sets the width of the band (notch).
Peak: A filter that boosts a narrow band of frequencies around the set frequency. The frequency band can be moved up or down the frequency spectrum with the Shift knob. The Size knob sets the width of the band.
Vowel Bright, Classic, and Smooth filters: Bright vowel sounds contain more high frequency content and are the most aggressive-sounding. Classic vowel sounds are warmer, and are similar to synthesizer vowel sound filtering. Smooth variants are more natural-sounding vowel shapes with a gentler filter slope.
Tip: Most of the “vowel” filters are not strictly designed to create that exact vowel. Each Bright, Classic, and Smooth vowel filter is more of a unique variation on that general sound, with not only brightness differences, but also overall character differences. Additionally, any vowel filter can be independently modulated, alone or in conjunction with Select knob morphing between filters (even from mismatched sets). Use these facilities to dramatically expand your filtering options.
Vowel A: Mimics a set of vocal chords to impose an “a” vowel sound on the audio. Each variation of this complex filter shape has prominent peaks at different frequencies. It is, generally speaking, an open-sounding filter.
Vowel E: Mimics a set of vocal chords to impose an “e” vowel sound on the audio. Each variation of this complex filter shape has prominent peaks at different frequencies. It is, generally speaking, an open-sounding filter.
Vowel I: Mimics a set of vocal chords to impose an “i” vowel sound on the audio. Each variation of this filter shape has prominent upper midrange peaks and a further low-mid peak, making this filter sound thinner and less open than the “a” and “e” vowel filters.
Vowel O: Mimics a set of vocal chords to impose an “o” vowel sound on the audio. This filter shape has gentler midrange and upper midrange peaks with a dominant low-mid resonance. The result is a rounder sound with less brightness and presence than the vowel types above.
Vowel U: Mimics a set of vocal chords to impose a “u” vowel sound on the audio. This filter shape has gentler midrange and upper midrange peaks with a prominent low-mid resonance. The “u” filter variants also emphasize higher-range content around 7 and 8 KHz, for example, making them sound thinner than the “o” filter.
Modify formants in a resynthesized additive guitar sound
In Logic Pro, from the Name bar, click the File button and choose Initialize Preset from the pop-up menu to reset all Alchemy parameters to default settings.
Select source A, then click the source select field and choose Import Audio from the pop-up menu.
In the Import browser window, click the Additive and Formant Import Mode buttons.
Navigate to the Guitars subfolder in the Factory samples folder, and choose a single guitar sample.
When loading is complete, click the Formant button to the right side of the source A window. Note that the upper Analyzed section is turned on.
Adjust the Shift knob to move resonances up or down in frequency and to change the timbre. Small amounts of Shift variation work well for subtle changes: try a few semitones in either direction.
Play some very low notes, then some very high notes. Gradually turn down the KTrack knob to reduce key tracking for the formant filter, and note the difference when you replay the high and low notes.
Adjust the Size knob value to change the apparent size of the guitar body. Also adjust the Center knob value, and note the effect it has on the tone of the resulting larger or smaller guitar body.
Modify formants in a resynthesized spectral drum loop
In Logic Pro, from the Name bar, click the File button and choose Initialize Preset from the pop-up menu to reset all Alchemy parameters to default settings.
Select source A, then click the source select field and choose Import Audio from the pop-up menu.
In the Import browser window, click the Spectral and Formant Import Mode buttons.
Navigate to the Loops subfolder in the Factory samples folder, and choose a drum loop.
When loading is complete, click the Formant button to the right of the source A window. Note that the upper Analyzed section is turned on.
Adjust the Size knob value to make the drums seem bigger or smaller.
Adjust the Smooth knob value to alter the rate of change for the formant filter. Higher values smear the timbre of one drum into the next. Lower values exaggerate changes and create an unusual distortion near the bottom of the knob range.
Create a talking additive sound with synthesized vowel formants
In Logic Pro, from the Name bar, click the File button and choose Initialize Preset from the pop-up menu to reset all Alchemy parameters to default settings.
Select source A, then turn off the oscillator in the VA section to the right.
Click the Additive button, and turn on the additive section. You will hear an additive sawtooth sound if you play some notes.
As an option, increase the Num Partials value. This helps to prevent the sound becoming dull if played in lower registers.
Click the Formant button, and turn on the lower Synthesized section. Play a few notes to hear the “a” vowel sound that is imposed on the sawtooth wave.
Increase the Select knob value, and play a few notes. Note how the vowel sound morphs to an “e,” then an “i,” then finally a “u” at 100%.
Reduce the Select knob value, then modulate it with a new AHDSR envelope (AHDSR2), and leave the depth at +100%.
Set Sustain to zero for the AHDSR2 envelope. Note the “yeah” articulation this creates as you play each note.
Increase the Attack time for the AHDSR2 envelope. Note the “aya” type articulation this creates as you play each note.
Adjust the Shift knob, the Size knob, and the Center knob, to explore the different timbres available.
Switch the order of vowels in the four pop-up menus, and also load different filter types such as Comb.