Logic Pro User Guide
- Welcome
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- What is Logic Pro?
- Logic Pro project basics
- 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
- 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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- 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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- 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
- Normalize audio regions in the Tracks area
- Create aliases of MIDI regions
- Convert repeated MIDI regions to loops
- Change the color of regions
- Convert audio regions to samples for a sampler instrument
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
- 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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- Logic Pro 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 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 in Logic Pro
- 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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- 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
- Copy staffs or voices in the Staff Style window in Logic Pro
- 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 key commands
- Global Control Surfaces Commands
- Various windows
- Windows Showing Audio files
- Main Window Tracks and Various Editors
- Live Loops Grid key commands
- Various Editors
- Views showing Time Ruler
- Main Window Tracks
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer key commands
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Sampler
- Step Input Keyboard
- Tools
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- Various windows modifier keys and actions
- Controller Assignments window modifier keys and actions
- Tracks area modifiers and actions
- Global tracks modifier keys and actions
- Automation modifier keys and actions
- Live Loops Grid modifier keys and actions
- Mixer modifier keys and actions
- MIDI Environment window modifier keys and actions
- Piano Roll Editor modifier keys and actions
- Score Editor modifier keys and actions
- Event List modifier keys and actions
- Step Editor modifier keys and actions
- Step Sequencer modifier keys and actions
- Flex Time modifier keys and actions
- 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
- Supported control surfaces
- Software and firmware for Logic Pro
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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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- Effects overview
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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 the 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 MIDI plug-in controls
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- Instruments introduction
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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
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Alchemy master voice section
- Alchemy 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
- Define MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
- Copyright
Controller assignments Expert view Value parameters in Logic Pro
The parameters in this section control different aspects of incoming MIDI message values.
Value parameters
Min and Max fields: Enter an integer value to set the minimum and maximum range for incoming values represented by Lo7 and Hi7. Typically, the minimum defaults to 0, and the maximum defaults to 127. Some control surfaces (such as CM Labs Motor Mix) may use the same message, with different value ranges, for different controls. For more specific information, refer to the documentation that came with your device.
Format pop-up menu: Choose the encoding format for negative values in the 7-bit portions sent over MIDI. The choices are:
Unsigned: No negative values are possible. The full 7- or 14-bit range is treated as a positive number. The value range is 0 to 127 (7 bit) or 0 to 16383 (14 bit).
2’s complement: If the most significant bit is set, the value is negative. To obtain the absolute value, invert all bits and add 1. The value range is from –128 (7 bit) to 127 or –8192 to 8191 (14 bit).
1’s complement: If the most significant bit is set, the value is negative. To set the absolute value, invert all bits. Note that this allows two possible encoding values for zero. The value range is –127 to 127 (7 bit) or –8191 to 8191 (14 bit).
Sign Magnitude: If the most significant bit is set, the value is negative. To set the absolute value, clear the most significant bit. Note that this allows two possible encoding values for zero. The value range is –127 to 127 (7 bit) or –8191 to 8191 (14 bit).
Note: The appropriate format for a device is usually specified in its documentation. If unavailable, check the control surface manufacturer’s website or contact them for more information.
Multiply field: Enter a value which is used to scale incoming MIDI values. This is useful for button presses that have a value of 1. For example:
To set the automation mode to Write: Set Multiply to 4.00, and Mode to Direct.
To decrement a parameter by 1 with a button press: Set Multiply to –1.00, and Mode to Relative.
Mode pop-up menu: Choose the mode used by incoming values to modify the current parameter value. The choices are:
Direct: The incoming value is used as the parameter value.
Toggle: If the parameter’s current value is 0, it is set to the incoming value. All other values set the parameter value to 0. This option is useful for buttons that toggle a value, such as Mute or Solo.
Scaled: The incoming value is scaled from its value range to the destination parameter’s value range. This is useful for faders and rotary encoders.
Relative: The incoming value is added to the parameter’s current value. This is commonly used for encoders but is also useful for buttons that increment or decrement by a certain amount—specified by the Multiply parameter.
Rotate: The incoming value is added to the parameter’s current value, cycling between maximum and minimum values. This is useful for button presses that cycle between modes, such as automation mode.
X-OR: The value defines a bit mask (a filter), which is applied to the parameter’s current value with the “exclusive or” Boolean operation. This is useful for enabling or disabling single channel strip types in All view.
Note: For On/Off parameters, Mode is set to Toggle by default. It is set to Scaled for absolute controls (faders and knobs, for example) or to Relative for encoders.
Feedback pop-up menu: Choose the display format used for the parameter value shown on the control surface display, if applicable. The choices are:
None: No feedback is sent.
Single Dot/Line: LED rings: only one LED; LCDs: a single vertical line.
Left to Right Bar: A bar from the minimum to the current value.
Bar from Center: A bar from the center position to the current value.
Right to Left Bar: A bar from the current value to the maximum.
Q/Spread: Two equal bars from the center to the current value.
Ascending Bar: A bar from the bottom to the current value.
Descending Bar: A bar from the top to the current value.
Text Only: LED rings: no feedback; LCDs: no feedback as a graphics element.
Automatic: Depending on the currently assigned parameter, the most suitable feedback mode is used: Plug-in and Instrument parameters carry this information, Pan displays a single dot or line (Single Dot/Line), and all other parameters display a bar that runs from left to right (Left to Right Bar).
Note: Feedback works for directly supported control surfaces, but not all settings are available for all controls. Feedback also works for Lua script supported devices that provide a CoreMIDI input port. In this case, Lua script MIDI feedback processing is used, including optional label and value text feedback. For Lua script supported devices that provide both a CoreMIDI input and output port, the input message is sent to the out port, with the value scaled to 0-127 as an absolute value. “Learned” controller and Smart Controls assignments are automatically enabled to provide feedback. It should be noted that feedback is not possible on IAC.
Text Feedback checkbox: Turn on to send a text representation of the current value to the control surface display. The control surface display capabilities determine the display position and number of characters used.
Local Feedback (Fader/Knob) checkbox: Turn on to stop feedback while the parameter is in Touch mode. This prevents motorized faders from fighting against user movements.
Key Repeat checkbox: Turn on to repeatedly execute the assignment at the rate set by the Key Repeat slider in macOS Keyboard preferences. The duration the button must be held for before the assignment is repeated is set with the Delay Until Repeat slider in Keyboard preferences.
Key Repeat is useful for the zoom function. For example, if you assign a Key Repeat command to the Mackie Control Zoom buttons, holding the Zoom In button will continuously zoom in the Logic Pro window until the button is released. The alternative is to repeatedly press the Mackie Control Zoom buttons to zoom in or out more than one level.
Note: The Key Repeat checkbox is available only for key command, key presses, and relative value changes. If any other assignment class is selected, the checkbox is dimmed.
The default key command assignments support the Key Repeat function if useful or applicable to the control surface or device, making changes unnecessary to use this function. If you want to enable the Key Repeat function for your own assignments, you may need to use the re-learn option for the assigned message. Key Repeat messages must include the Lo7 byte, which provides information on the up (released) or down (pressed) state of the assigned button. Logic Pro guides you through the re-learning process. The current MIDI message is automatically cleared, Learn mode is activated, and a help tag prompts you to send the required MIDI message. Releasing the assigned button—after learning the MIDI message—automatically creates the Lo7 byte, and assigns the Lo7 value (for the button release message) to the Min parameter. The Lo7 value for the button pressed message is automatically assigned to the Max parameter. Typically, the value range of 1 to 127 is used for the button pressed message. The zero (0) value is generally used for the button release message.
Note: Some control surfaces, such as CM Labs Motormix, may use different value ranges. Assigning appropriate Min and Max values ensures that the Key Repeat function works with such devices. Take care when manually changing the Min or Max value for a key command because the complete assignment does not work in cases where the Min and Max values do not match the button pressed (on) and button released (off) states. Consult your control surface manual for further information about the values it uses.
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF