Logic Pro User Guide for Mac
- Welcome
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- 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 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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- 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 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 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
- Channel EQ
- 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
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Work with Live Loops cells in Logic Pro for Mac
You can add regions or loops to cells in the Live Loops grid, as long as the region or loop matches the track type for the track containing the cell. For example, you can add audio regions to cells on audio tracks, and MIDI or pattern regions to cells in rows on software instrument tracks.
After adding Session Player regions or pattern regions to the grid, you can convert them to MIDI cells to allow for precise editing of notes and make use of functions not available in Step Sequencer. You can also extract loops from audio cells, with optimal loop start and end points set by Logic Pro.
In addition to adding regions to cells, you can record to Live Loops cells, and record a Live Loops performance as regions to the Tracks area. You can also copy cells to the Tracks area, as well as copy and paste scenes to the playhead position in the Tracks area. When copying cells to the Tracks area, take care to match the track type to the cell type (for example, you can paste audio cells only to audio tracks).
When you add an audio file without tempo information to a cell, Logic Pro analyzes the tempo of the audio file. You can edit the tempo information using the Edit Smart Tempo and Edit Transients commands in the Cell Editor Edit menu.
If you plan to record audio without a constant tempo to a cell, it is recommended that you record the audio to an audio track in the Tracks area using the Smart Tempo functions in Logic Pro. Once the audio region is tagged with correct tempo information, you can add the region to an audio cell and have it play at a constant tempo.
Working with Session Player regions and cells
Session Player cells behave in much the same way as Session Player regions in the Tracks area. The main difference is that Session Player cells follow only region chords in the cell.
When you copy or drag Session Player regions from the Tracks area to the Live Loops grid, the source of the chords in the resulting Session Player cells is determined by the Pitch Source parameter in the Region inspector. For example, if the Pitch Source parameter for a Session Player region is set to Chord Track and you drag that region to the Live Loops grid, the chords from the Chord track are added to the Session Player cell.
You can also change the pitch source of a Session Player region by choosing Follow Global Chord Track or Follow Region Chords in the Chords menu in the Session Player Editor. See Session Player overview in Logic Pro and Overview of chords in Logic Pro.
Add a region from the Tracks area to the Live Loops grid
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Drag a region from the Tracks area to a cell of the same type in the Live Loops grid.
Drag a region from the Tracks area to an empty area of the grid, below the existing tracks.
A new track of the appropriate type (audio or software instrument) is created, and the cell is added to the new track. The new track has the same channel strip settings as the original track.
When you drag a region from the Tracks area to the Live Loops grid, Logic Pro places a copy of the region in the cell. The original region in the Tracks area remains unchanged. If the cell already contains a region, it is replaced with the new region.
Create new tracks when dragging multiple items to the Live Loops grid
When you drag multiple items (for example, cells, regions, Apple Loops, or files from the Finder) to the empty area below the Live Loops grid, you can create a new track for each individual item.
Press Shift when dragging the items to the empty area below the Live Loops grid.
The items are arranged vertically and a new track is created for each individual item when you drop them below the Live Loops grid. Press Shift again before you drop the items to arrange them horizontally and add them to a single new track.
Copy and paste regions to cells in the Live Loops grid
In Logic Pro, select one or more regions in the Tracks area, then choose Edit > Copy (or press Command-C).
Select a cell.
Choose Edit > Paste (or press Command-V).
If you copy one region, you can paste it only to a cell on a track of the same type. If you copy multiple regions, you can paste them only to cells on the same tracks where the original regions are located.
Copy regions within the cycle range to Live Loops
Control-click the cycle area and choose Copy Cycle to Live Loops Scene from the shortcut menu.
Copy regions to Live Loops based on selection
Using the Copy to Live Loops Scene key command in Logic Pro, you can copy various combinations of regions to new scenes, depending on what you have selected in the Tracks area. This is especially useful for populating a Live Loops grid in an existing project containing many different regions, sections, or markers. You can copy any of the following to Live Loops:
Marquee selection: Copies the content on each track between the left and right edges of the marquee selection to the first empty scene.
One or more regions: Copies the selected regions to a single cell in the first empty scene.
Cycle range: If the cycle area is on and nothing is selected, copies the section between the locators to a single cell in the first empty scene.
Markers: If Cycle mode is off and one or markers are selected, copies the regions between the start or end points for each selected marker to a new scene. Arrange markers have priority over normal markers.
All Arrange markers: If Cycle mode is off and nothing is selected but the project contains arrange markers, copies all arrange markers to new scenes. This is a good way to quickly create a Live Loops scene for each section of a project.
In Logic Pro, determine what you want to copy to Live Loops (marquee, region, cycle, or marker).
Choose Edit > Copy to Live Loops Scene or use the Copy to Live Loops Scene key command (Command-Home or Command-Fn-Left Arrow).
The exact wording of the command in the menu changes depending on what you select.
Import an audio file to an empty cell
In Logic Pro, Control-click an empty audio cell and choose Add Audio File (or press Shift-Command-I).
A new audio cell is created containing the audio file.
Convert Session Player and pattern cells to MIDI cells
You can convert Session Player cells and pattern cells to MIDI cells, to edit individual notes of a Session Player performance or to perform edits not possible in Step Sequencer.
In Logic Pro, Control-click the Session Player or pattern cell you want to convert and choose Convert > Convert to MIDI Cell.
Extract loops from audio cells
Logic Pro can analyze the musical and sonic characteristics of a longer audio file in an audio cell and extract the best sounding loops to empty cells (up to 10) on the same track. You can choose the length of loops you want to extract, or let Logic Pro extract the best loops of any size.
By default, Logic Pro examines only the detected downbeat positions for potential loop start points. However, you can deactivate this setting to let loop points be set at other musically meaningful positions. You can always manually change the resulting loop points, if necessary.
To work effectively, loop extraction requires audio containing repetitions and accurate tempo information. To get the best results, check the cell in the Smart Tempo Editor before extracting loops and determine whether they show accurate beat mapping.
The loop extraction algorithm looks for loop points that deliver a smooth transition from loop end to loop start. Those loop points may not necessarily coincide with the musical structure of the analyzed audio.
In Logic Pro, Control-click an audio cell and choose any of the following from the Extract Loops submenu:
Set Optimal Full Loop: Extracts the longest loop within the selected cell.
Extract Best 2-Bar Loops: Determines the best two-bar loops and copies them to the next empty cells to the right.
Extract Best 4-Bar Loops: Determines the best four-bar loops and copies them to the next empty cells to the right.
Extract Best 8-Bar Loops: Determines the best eight-bar loops and copies them to the next empty cells to the right.
Extract Best Loops of Any Size: Determines the best loops of any size throughout the audio file and copies them to the next empty cells to the right.
To consider all musically meaningful positions for potential loop start points, not just downbeats, make sure Limit Loop Points to Downbeats is turned off in the Extract Loops submenu.
Loop extraction is disabled if:
The cell is empty or contains multiple regions.
The region in the cell is shorter than two bars.
Flex & Follow in the Cell inspector is turned off.
The cell contains Apple Loops or untagged loops.
Multiple cells are selected.
Create cells
You can create new cells and then edit them in the Cell Editor or record audio and MIDI. Software instrument tracks can contain MIDI and pattern cells.
In Logic Pro, do any of the following:
To create an audio cell: Control-click an empty cell on an audio track, then choose Create Cell.
To create a MIDI cell: Control-click an empty cell on a software instrument track, then choose Create MIDI Cell.
To create a pattern cell: Control-click an empty cell on a software instrument track, then choose Create Pattern Cell.
To create a Session Player cell: Control-click an empty cell on a software instrument track, then choose Create Session Player Cell.
Add a cell from the Live Loops grid to the Tracks area
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Drag a cell to a track of the same type in the Tracks area.
Drag a cell to an empty area of the Tracks area, below the existing tracks.
A new track of the appropriate type (audio or software instrument) is created, and the region is added to the new track. The new track has the same channel strip settings as the original track.
When you drag a cell from the Live Loops grid to the Tracks area, Logic Pro places a copy of the cell as a region in the Tracks area. The original cell in the Live Loops grid remains unchanged. If a track already contains a region at the position where you place the cell, it is replaced or overlapped with the resulting new region.
Copy a scene to the Tracks area
In Logic Pro, in the Tracks area, set the playhead at the position where you want to paste cells in the scene as regions.
In the Live Loops grid, Control-click the scene and choose one of the following:
To shift the content of all tracks right of the playhead position by the length of the inserted scene: Choose Insert Scene at Playhead (or press Command-End or Command-Fn-Right Arrow).
To copy the scene to the playhead position: Choose Copy Scene to Playhead.
WARNING: When you copy a scene to the playhead position, any existing regions are overwritten or overlapped.
Create an Apple Loop from a cell
You can create Apple Loops from your own audio and software instrument cell recordings. When you create an Apple Loop from a cell, it’s added to the Apple Loops library and appears in the Loop Browser, so that you can use it in other projects.
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Control-click a cell, then choose Export > Add to Loop Library from the shortcut menu.
Select a cell, then choose File > Export > Region to Loop Library.
The Add Region to Apple Loops Library window opens, providing several options for the Apple Loop. See Create your own Apple Loops.
Extract stems from an audio cell with Stem Splitter
You can split an audio cell such as a band recording into separate stems. You can extract stems for vocals, bass, drums, and other instrumental parts.
Stem Splitter is available on Macs with Apple silicon. See Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter.
In the Live Loops grid in Logic Pro, Control-click the audio cell, then choose Stem Splitter.
In the Stem Splitter dialog, checkboxes for all four stems (Vocals, Drums, Bass, and Other) are selected by default. Deselect the checkboxes for any stems you do not want to extract.
Click Split.
A summing stack is created below the track with the selected audio cell. The subtracks of the summing stack contain cells with the extracted stems. You can solo individual stems using the Solo buttons in the subtrack headers, and you can move, copy, or edit each part in the same way as any audio cell.