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
Add or remove gaps in a Logic Pro arrangement
Sometimes you may want to remove an entire passage from a project—for example, you may want to remove the regions of all tracks between bars 17 and 20, so that all regions (and bar changes, tempo changes, and global score symbols) from bar 21 on are moved four bars to the left, closing the gap left by removing the four bars.
Alternatively, you may want to insert some empty bars in the middle of a project, to create space for another chorus, verse, or bridge, for example. As with the previous example, all existing tempo changes and so on are moved accordingly (to the right by the number of inserted bars).
You can limit changes to only selected regions. If you do this, rather than moving all regions within a project section, you are asked if you want to move global events such as bar changes, tempo changes, and score symbols. This global edit is performed on all regions, when used.
Note: The toolbar features a number of section-editing buttons that can be used to perform some of the operations described below. When these buttons are used, the operation affects all regions that fall between the locators, regardless of which regions in the area are selected. To perform these operations on selected regions within the locators, use the appropriate key command after selecting the regions.
Insert a gap between regions using the locators (the cycle length)
In Logic Pro, set the left and right locator positions by doing one of the following:
Drag from left to right across a portion of the ruler.
Set the values in the locator fields in the LCD.
Select the regions you want to move by the cycle length. If no selection is made, all regions that fall between the locators are affected.
Clicking the Insert Silence button in the toolbar also affects all regions that fall between the locators.
Choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Insert Silence Between Locators (or use the corresponding key command).
For selected regions that are longer than the cycle length: Regions are cut at the left locator position; the second region (newly created from the cut) is moved to the right of the right locator position, creating a gap between the regions.
For selected regions that fall wholly within the locators: Regions that began at the left locator position now begin at the right locator position.
For a combination of partially and wholly selected regions that fall within the locators: The encompassed section is cut, and moved to the right locator position.
Remove gaps between regions
In Logic Pro, select the regions.
Do one of the following:
Choose Edit > Move > Shuffle Left within Selection (or use the corresponding key command).
The first selected region on each track remains unchanged, and all subsequent regions are moved to the left:
Choose Edit > Move > Shuffle Right within Selection (or use the corresponding key command).
The first selected region on each track is moved to the right, and all subsequent regions remain unchanged.
Remove a section of an arrangement using the locators
In Logic Pro, set the locators to span the section you want to remove (bars 5 through 8, for example).
Do one of the following:
To cut all regions that fall between the locators: Click the Cut Section button in the toolbar, or choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Cut Section Between Locators.
To cut selected regions that fall between the locators: Use the Cut Section Between Locators (Selection) key command).
Any regions that span the cycle area (for example, a 16-bar region that starts at bar 1 and ends at the start of bar 17) are cut.
The section between the locators (bars 5 to 8) is deleted from all selected regions. (In fact, it is copied to the Clipboard and removed from the arrangement.)
All regions to the right of the right locator are moved to the left by the length of the cycle (4 bars), including newly created regions that result from the operation.
In the case of the 16-bar region example, from above, it would be cut into two regions:
One would span bars 1 to 4.
The other would now be an 8-bar region that is placed from bar 5 to the start of bar 13.
Tip: The Snip command is ideal for situations in which you want to remove an entire section of your arrangement, such as a chorus.
Insert a cut section into the arrangement
In Logic Pro, set the locators to span the section you want to remove (bars 5 through 8, for example).
Do one of the following:
To cut all regions that fall between the locators: Click the Cut Section button in the toolbar, or choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Cut Section Between Locators.
To cut selected regions that fall between the locators: Use the Cut Section Between Locators (Selection) key command.
Set the playhead to the position where you want to insert the cut section.
Either click the Insert Section button in the toolbar (to affect all tracks, regardless of selection), or choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Insert Section at Playhead.
All selected regions are cut at the left locator, and a passage of one cycle length is inserted. Regions currently in the Clipboard are then pasted at the playhead position.
Tip: This workflow is perfect for when you want to insert a part (a chorus, for example) at another point in your arrangement. To guarantee all tracks are shifted, including tempo, time signature changes, and markers, make sure everything is selected (using Command-A or Shift-I) before cutting and inserting.
Copy a section of the arrangement
In Logic Pro, set the locators to span the section you want to copy (bars 5 through 8, for example).
Choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Copy Section Between Locators (or use the Copy Section Between Locators (Global) key command).
Set the playhead to the position where you want to insert the copied section.
Either click the Insert Section button in the toolbar (to affect all tracks, regardless of selection), or choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Insert Section at Playhead.
All selected regions are cut at the left locator, and a passage of one cycle length is inserted. Regions currently in the Clipboard are then pasted at the playhead position.
Tip: This workflow is perfect for when you want to insert a part (a chorus, for example) at another point in your arrangement. To guarantee all tracks are shifted, including tempo, time signature changes, and markers, make sure everything is selected (using Command-A or Shift-I) before cutting and inserting.
Repeat a section of the arrangement using the locators
In Logic Pro, set the locators to span the section you want to repeat (bars 5 through 8, for example).
Select the regions that you want to repeat. If no selection is made (or if you use the Repeat Section button in the toolbar), all regions that fall between the locators are affected.
Choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Repeat Section Between Locators (or use the corresponding key command).
The portions of all regions that are wholly or partially encompassed by the locators are copied and pasted starting at the right locator position.
You can also move, copy, and delete sections of a project using arrangement markers. For more information, see Add arrangement markers in Logic Pro.