Logic Pro User Guide for Mac
- Welcome
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- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 11.1
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 11
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.6
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.4
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.2
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.0
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- What is Logic Pro for Mac?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use menu commands and key commands
- Use the complete set of Logic Pro features
- 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 key commands
- Customize the control bar
- Change the LCD display mode in Logic Pro for Mac
- Monitor and reset MIDI events
- Use the cycle area
- Use the Chase Events function
- Use Apple Remote to control Logic Pro
- Use Logic Remote to control Logic Pro projects
- Preview projects in the Finder
- Close projects
- View project information
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- Tracks overview
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- Create tracks
- Create tracks using drag and drop
- Create tracks using existing channel strips
- Assign tracks to different channel strips
- Choose the default region type for software instrument tracks
- Select tracks
- Duplicate tracks
- Rename tracks
- Change track icons
- Change track colors
- Reorder tracks
- Zoom tracks
- Replace or double drum sounds
- Control timing with the groove track
- Use selection-based processing
- Edit track parameters
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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
- Replace software instrument recordings
- Record to multiple software instrument tracks
- Record multiple MIDI devices to multiple tracks
- Record software instruments and audio simultaneously
- Use step input recording techniques
- Record MIDI messages from another music app
- Route MIDI internally to software instrument tracks
- Use the metronome
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- Arranging 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
- Reverse audio regions
- Split regions
- Demix MIDI regions
- Join regions
- Create regions in the Tracks area
- Change the gain of audio regions in the Tracks area
- Normalize audio regions in the Tracks area
- Create aliases of MIDI regions
- Convert repeated MIDI regions to loops
- Change the color of regions
- Convert a MIDI region into a pattern region in Logic Pro for Mac
- Replace a MIDI region with a Session Player region in Logic Pro for Mac
- Convert audio regions to samples for a sampler instrument
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
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- Chords overview
- Add and delete chords
- Select chords
- Cut, copy, and paste chords
- Move and resize chords
- Loop chords on the Chord track
- Transpose chords
- Edit chords
- Work with chord groups
- Use chord progressions
- Change the chord rhythm
- Choose which chords a Session Player region follows
- Analyze the key signature of a range of chords
- Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter
- Create groove templates
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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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- Session Players overview
- The Session Player Editor
- Choose a Session Player type and style
- Chords and Session Players
- Choose Session Player presets
- Regenerate a Session Player performance
- Follow rhythm of chords and other tracks
- Work with Drummer multi-channel kits
- Convert Session Player regions into MIDI or pattern regions
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- Logic Pro for Mac advanced editors overview
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- Audio File Editor overview
- Play audio files in the Audio File Editor
- Navigate audio files in the Audio File Editor
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- Audio File Editor edit commands
- Edit audio files with transient markers
- Use the Audio File Editor Pencil tool
- Trim or silence audio files
- Remove DC offset
- Set audio file levels
- Normalize audio files
- Fade audio files
- Reverse audio and invert phase
- Audio File Editor Loop commands
- Undo Audio File Editor edits
- Backup audio files
- Use an external sample editor
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- Mixing overview
- Set channel strip input format
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
- Reorder channel strips in the Mixer
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- Plug-ins overview
- Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- Search for plug-ins in the Mixer
- Insert a plug-in on a track using drag and drop
- Activate plug-ins on inactive channel strips
- Use the Channel EQ
- Work in the plug-in window
- Work with plug-in settings
- Work with plug-in latencies
- Work with Audio Units in Logic Pro for Mac
- Support for ARA 2 compatible plug-ins
- Use MPE with software instruments
- 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
- 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 with other devices
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- Global changes overview
- Control transposition with the Pitch Source parameter
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- Tempo overview
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- Smart Tempo overview
- Use free tempo recording
- Choose the Project Tempo mode
- Choose the Flex & Follow setting
- Use Smart Tempo with multitrack audio
- Work in the Smart Tempo Editor
- Improve the tempo analysis using hints
- Correct tempo analysis results using beat markers
- Protect Smart Tempo edits by locking a range
- Match audio recordings to the project tempo
- Match the tempo to an audio region
- Use audio file tempo information
- Record tempo changes
- Use the Tempo Interpreter
- Use the tempo fader
- Control project volume
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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 Staff Style window in Logic Pro for Mac
- Copy staffs or voices in the Staff Style window in Logic Pro for Mac
- 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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- Key commands overview
- Browse, import, and save key commands
- Assign key commands
- Copy and print key commands
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- Global Commands
- Global Control Surfaces Commands
- Various Windows
- Windows Showing Audio Files
- Main Window Tracks and Various Editors
- Various Editors
- Views Showing Time Ruler
- Views Showing Automation
- Main Window Tracks
- Live Loops Grid
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Library
- Sampler
- Drum Machine Designer
- Step Input Keyboard
- Smart Controls
- Tool Menu
- Control Surface Install Window
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- Logic Pro projects
- Various windows
- Controller Assignments window
- Control bar
- Tracks area
- Global tracks
- Automation
- Live Loops grid
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll Editor
- Score Editor
- Event List
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Flex Time
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Surround Panner
- Channel EQ
- Space Designer
- Sampler
- Touch Bar shortcuts
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- Working with your control surface
- Connect control surfaces
- Add a control surface to Logic Pro for Mac
- Automatic assignment for USB MIDI controllers
- Grouping control surfaces
- Control Surfaces settings overview
- Modal dialog display
- Tips for using your control surface
- Supported control surfaces
- Software and firmware for Logic Pro for Mac
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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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- 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 controllers
- Modifier controls
- Note Repeater controls
- Randomizer controls
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- Use Scripter
- 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 controls
- Record MIDI to Track
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- Alchemy overview
- Alchemy interface overview
- Alchemy Name bar
- Alchemy file locations
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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
- Wide unison mode
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Alchemy master voice section
- Alchemy Extended parameters
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- ES2 overview
- ES2 interface overview
- ES2 integrated effects processor controls
- Use ES2 in Surround mode
- Extended parameters
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- Sample Alchemy overview
- Interface overview
- Add source material
- Edit mode
- Play modes
- Source overview
- Synthesis modes
- Granular controls
- Additive effects
- Additive effect controls
- Spectral effect
- Spectral effect controls
- Filter module
- Lowpass, bandpass, and highpass filters
- Comb PM filter
- Downsampler filter
- FM filter
- Envelope generators
- Mod Matrix
- Modulation routing
- Motion mode
- Trim mode
- More menu
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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
- Define MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Studio Piano
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
- Copyright
Drum Machine Designer kit controls in Logic Pro for Mac
Drum Machine Designer shows a grid representation of the kit for the currently loaded patch. Each pad represents a kit piece. You can edit a number of settings for the entire kit, discussed in this section. To learn about interacting with kit pieces, see Drum Machine Designer Pad controls bar and Drum Machine Designer pad controls.
The kit controls bar above the grid shows the active kit name and provides access to kit parameters. Click the kit name or the Kit Controls button to interact with global effects and control settings for the entire kit in the Smart Controls pane. If the Smart Controls pane is not visible, click the disclosure arrow at the lower left of the grid.
Kit controls bar parameters
To view kit Mute, Solo, and Action pop-up menu parameters, move the pointer over the kit controls bar.
Kit name and icon: Click the kit name to view kit parameters in the Smart Controls pane. Double-click the kit name to rename it (and the main track). Click the kit icon to stop all playing sounds. The Kit Controls button is highlighted when kit parameters are shown in the Smart Controls pane.
Note: The kit icon displays a muted speaker icon when you move the pointer over it during playback. This can be used to immediately stop playback of all kit pieces. This is useful when you want to silence a long One Shot sample that you are previewing in a Quick Sampler-based kit piece, for example.
Kit Controls button: View kit parameters in the Smart Controls pane. The button is highlighted when working with kit parameters in the Smart Controls pane. See Kit Tone and Effect Smart Controls.
Note: The Kit Controls button is visible only if the Smart Controls pane is shown.
Mute button: Select to silence the kit (mute the main track channel strip).
Solo button: Select to hear the kit in isolation. All other tracks and channel strips are muted, indicated by a flashing Mute button.
Action pop-up menu: Choose a command that globally affects the appearance and behavior of the kit.
Select Pad by Key: Choose to turn on or turn off the automatic selection of pads with a MIDI keyboard. When on, the pad with an input note that corresponds to the incoming played MIDI note is selected.
Note: MIDI notes played by Logic MIDI regions do not select pads, regardless of the setting of this menu item.
Select Channel strip by Pad: Choose to turn on or turn off the selection of channel strips when you click a pad in the grid.
Note: This option not only selects the corresponding subtrack and channel strip of the selected pad, but also sets focus to the main track. This ensures that notes played on the main track continue to be distributed to all subtracks. You can turn on both Select Pad by Key and Select Channel Strip by Pad to select pads, subtracks, and channel strips by playing a key on your MIDI keyboard.
Open/Close Library: Open or close the Library pane. Click a kit patch name in the Library to exchange the entire kit.
Use Empty Kit as Default: Turn on this option to use an empty kit when you insert Drum Machine Designer on an instrument channel strip.
Hide/Show General MIDI Drum Names: Hide or show General MIDI (GM) drum names on each active pad. This is useful as a reference when mapping new sounds in a kit that you want to conform with the GM Drum standard. For example, when using Drum Machine Designer with Drummer.
Hide/Show Kit Piece Icons: Hide or show the icons on each active pad.
Note: When you move the pointer over a pad, a small speaker icon is shown. Click this icon to play the sound.
Reorder Pads: Choose the Change Sounds or Visual Only option to alter how pad layout changes affect assigned pad sounds. The pad layout can be changed by reordering pads. For example, when you insert a pad between other pads or drop one pad onto another to exchange them.
Change Sounds: Changing the pad layout moves the sounds of the pads, but pad input and output note settings are not changed: The sounds will appear in a different order when played via a MIDI keyboard or by a recorded region.
Visual Only: Changing the pad layout moves the pads and sounds together, so reordering will only have a visual effect: The pads will appear in a different order, but assigned sounds are still played by the same MIDI notes.
Sort Pads by GM Drum Standard: Choose to automatically remap the order of pads to the General MIDI (GM) Drum standard, which is used by Drummer. This changes the visual order of pads, but does not remap sounds.
Note: Regardless of the “Reorder Pads” setting, both “Sort Pads” options will sort the pads visually, in accordance with input note values.
Sort Pads Chromatically: Choose to automatically remap the order of pads chromatically from C1. This changes the visual order of pads, but does not remap sounds.
Note: In order to play the instrument of a Drum Machine Designer subtrack chromatically and polyphonically, the instrument plug-in must react to different notes with different pitches, and its number of voices (polyphony) must be greater than one. If you have created a Drum Machine Designer kit and can’t play a subtrack instrument chromatically and polyphonically, please check that the instrument voices or polyphony parameter is set to a value greater than one. Also make sure the instrument key tracking parameter is turned on.
Update Kit Name for all Kit Pieces: Choose to apply the current kit name to all kit pieces. This is useful when you add new kit pieces to an existing kit.
Assign Track Icon: Choose to open a window where you can choose a kit icon from several categories. Select a category from the list and click an icon to assign it to the kit (and main track).
Clear all Pads: Remove all assigned kit pieces from all pads.
Set Output Notes based on DMD Pad instruments: Choose to assign kit piece output notes according to the Root Key of the Quick Sampler or other instruments assigned to each pad. This ensures that samples or sounds are triggered at the original pitch and speed.
Enable Key Tracking on DMD Pads: Choose to play sounds chromatically.
Disable Key Tracking on DMD Pads: Select to limit sounds to the root pitch when any key is struck.
Load and exchange kits
In Logic Pro, click the kit name in the kit controls bar at the top of the Drum Machine Designer window. If the Smart Controls pane is not visible, click the disclosure arrow at the lower left of the grid.
Click the Action pop-up menu on the kit controls bar, then choose Open Library if the Library is not visible.
Click a kit patch in the Library to load that kit.
Edit the sound of the entire kit
You can use Smart Controls parameters to apply a number of sound processing and effect options to the entire kit.
In Logic Pro, click the Kit Controls button in the kit controls bar. If the Smart Controls pane is not visible, click the disclosure arrow at the lower left of the grid.
Adjust the Smart Controls parameters for the kit.
To learn more about how each control affects the sound, see Kit Tone and Effect Smart Controls.
Save an edited kit as a kit patch
In Logic Pro, click the Save button at the bottom of the Library pane.
If the Library is not visible, click the Action pop-up menu on the kit controls bar, then choose Open Library.
In the window that appears, navigate to the file location you want to use.
The default folder location is User Kit Patches. If necessary, create a new folder.
Type the kit patch name, then press Save.