Use the complete set of Logic Pro features

Logic Pro provides the power and flexibility of a complete professional music production system, while also allowing you to work in a simplified mode that streamlines tools and menus across the app to provide you with a core set of features for music production.

Complete mode: For experienced users who have upgraded from earlier versions of Logic Pro or worked with other DAW apps, the full set of Logic Pro features and options is active. Complete mode is active by default if older versions of Logic Pro have previously been installed on your Mac.
Simplified mode: Users new to Logic Pro can start working with basic features and a simplified interface. In particular, if you are familiar with GarageBand, you will find a direct match for most GarageBand features along with some additions. When you open an existing Logic Pro project, any tools or options used by the project are turned on automatically.

Turn on Complete mode

Choose Logic Pro > Settings > Advanced.
Select the Enable Complete Features checkbox.

Note: When the Enable Complete Features checkbox is unselected, Logic Pro is working in Simplified mode. The Simplified button appears in the upper-right edge of the control bar, showing you the working state. You can click the Simplified button to open Logic Pro > Settings > Advanced directly, so that you can turn on Complete mode.

In the Logic Pro User Guide, features that require Complete mode have this icon: .

If a Logic Pro project makes use of a feature (for example, track stacks) that can only be created or edited in Complete mode, items using the feature will still play back when operating in Simplified mode.

When you turn on Complete mode, you gain access to the following controls and options:

User interface

Access the Event, Marker, Tempo, and Signature Lists.
Access the Project Audio Browser and All Files Browser.
Access the Step Editor (formerly Hyper Editor) to graphically edit MIDI events.
Customize the control bar and toolbar with additional buttons and controls.
Access the Marker, Signature, and Beat Mapping global tracks.
Customize key commands in the Key Commands window.
Access additional Logic Pro settings and project settings.
Access additional track header controls in the Tracks area, including On/Off buttons, Hide buttons, track numbers, and color bars.
Customize your workflow using screensets.
Open editors and other working areas as separate windows.
Access the Event and Region inspector floating windows.

Projects

Open and work on multiple projects.
Manage different versions of projects called alternatives.
Revert to automatically saved versions of a project called backups.
Save assets either inside the project or in a project folder with subfolders for different asset types.

Recording

Use additional recording functionality, including: Quick Punch-In, Autopunch, advanced recording commands, and automatic coloring of takes when recording.
Use Quick Swipe Comping to create composite takes (comps).
Use step input recording to manually enter MIDI events rather than recording them in real time.
Generate separate note events for bars, beats, divisions, and groupings with the metronome.

Arranging

Hide tracks in the Tracks area.
Snap items in the Tracks area to the grid using Snap pop-up menu settings.
Control the results of moving, resizing, or deleting regions in the Tracks area and other working areas using drag modes.
Maximize visibility of tracks using individual track zoom and waveform zoom.
Organize track content using folders.
Configure track header components.
Show track headers on a single line.
Color regions in the Tracks area using the Color palette.
Use the secondary ruler and marquee ruler in the Tracks area and other working areas.
Access additional track parameters, including Channel, Freeze Mode, Q-Reference, Delay, Flex Mode, and Staff Style in the Track inspector.
Access additional region parameters, including Delay, Dynamics, Gate Time, Clip Length, Q-Vel, Q-Length, Q-Flam, Q-Range, Q-Strength in the Region inspector.
Create your own Sampler, Drum Machine Designer, or Alchemy instruments by converting audio into samples on a new software instrument track.

Audio

Use the Audio File Editor for destructive editing of audio files and advanced configuration options.
Use the Project Audio Browser to view audio files and regions that have been added to or recorded in your project.
Create crossfades on adjacent and overlapping audio regions.

Editing

Export to file formats such as AAF and XML.
Access advanced features in the Piano Roll Editor.
Perform extensive MIDI edits in the MIDI Transform window.
Create and edit MIDI note and controller data using the Step Editor.
Use drum replacement and doubling.
Use Varispeed to speed up or slow down an entire project.
Change the tuning system used for included software instruments.
Use the the second and third Tool menus.
Use advanced tools, including the Solo, Automation Select, and Automation Curve tools.
Create and edit custom key commands.
Access Undo History.

Mixing

Filter channel strips by type in the Mixer.
Access the Sends on Faders pop-up menu.
Use track stacks to organize and control tracks, manage projects with high track counts, and create and manage audio subgroups.
Define channel strip groups in the Mixer and automate groups to control changes over time.
Turn on plug-in latency compensation to synchronize audio processed by plug-ins, and turn on Low Latency Monitoring to route audio around latency-causing plug-ins.
Access the Compare, Copy/Paste, Undo/Redo, Link, and Side Chain controls in plug-in windows.
Organize and manage built-in and Audio Units plug-ins using the Plug-in Manager.

Loops and media files

Create Apple Loops from your own audio and software instrument recordings.

Smart Controls

Change the layout for a Smart Control, map screen controls and edit mappings, rename screen controls, and assign external controllers to screen controls in the Smart Control inspector.

Score Editor

View and edit multiple tracks.
Access additional score view options.
Add notes and symbols from the Part box.
Add lyrics and other text.
Customize staff styles and score sets.
Edit the score layout.

Surround

Use surround capabilities (in the Mixer) with a surround speaker setup.

MIDI Environment

Use the Environment for MIDI signal flow control and real-time processing of MIDI data.

Control surfaces

Connect and configure control surfaces.
Create and edit control surface assignments.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF

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