Control surface requirements in Logic Pro for Mac
To use a hardware control surface to give you tactile control over Logic Pro for Mac, you need to connect, add, and configure your control surface device for use with Logic Pro. The setup procedures and settings are common to all directly supported control surfaces.
Important: All macOS computers support built-in MIDI Device Profiles (MDPs) and control surface plug-ins. macOS computers with Intel processors also support control surface plug-ins from manufacturers other than Apple. Refer to the device manufacturer’s support documentation to see if an MDP or plug-in is available.
Important: If you are using a MIDI controller that is supported by a Lua script, see Automatic assignment for USB MIDI controllers. Information presented in MIDI Controllers settings and other topics may also apply. Some of these additional options may be useful for your project.
To use one or more control surfaces with Logic Pro, you need:
A Mac running Logic Pro.
For devices equipped only with MIDI ports: A MIDI interface with a free MIDI input and output port for each device. For example, if you are using a MIDI interface with eight MIDI input and output ports—with one Mackie Control and one Mackie Control XT unit—you need to use two MIDI In ports and two MIDI Out ports.
For all other supported devices: An available peripheral port. Ideally, this should be a direct connection with the computer, rather than through a hub. However, if the peripheral ports on your Mac don’t match that on your device—for example, if you have a device that requires a FireWire port, but your Mac only offers USB/Thunderbolt ports—you may have to use an adapter or a hub. Refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your device.
An installed driver (if required by your control surface) supported by the macOS version running on your computer.
Important: The driver software for your MIDI interface must support SysEx communication. Consult the documentation for your MIDI interface (or MIDI interface drivers).
In a standard control surface configuration you can use a single control surface, or several. Each device can run independently or can be part of a control surface group comprised of multiple devices as described in Create control surface groups.
The number of devices that can be used simultaneously depends on the number of free ports available on your system. Using multiple control surfaces allows you to control more tracks and channels, effects, and other parameters simultaneously.