Logic Pro User Guide for Mac
- Welcome
- What’s new in Logic Pro
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- What is Logic Pro for Mac?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Undo and redo edits
- Download additional sound packs
- How to get help
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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
- Analyze the chords in audio or MIDI regions in Logic Pro for Mac
- 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
- 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 Smart Tempo 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 project tempo to an audio region
- Use audio file tempo information
- Sync audio to a video hit point
- Record tempo changes
- Use the Tempo Interpreter
- Use the tempo fader
- Control project volume
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- Overview
- Add notes to a score
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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 and trademarks
Plug-ins for the surround master channel strip in Logic Pro for Mac
Any plug-in that you place on the Audio Effect slot of the surround master channel strip is in surround. It is loaded in its native surround format (if available) or as multi mono.
The Dolby Atmos plug-in is automatically inserted on the Effect slot of the surround master channel strip and should not be removed from a Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos project. You can add other plug-ins manually on an Effect slot before or after the Dolby Atmos plug-in, with the following differences:
Before the Dolby Atmos plug-in: Any plug-ins inserted here process only the bed tracks and not the object tracks of your Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos mix.
After the Dolby Atmos plug-in: Any plug-ins inserted here do not process the signal that is exported as a Dolby Atmos ADM BWF master file. Those plug-ins affect only the signal that you are monitoring and bouncing to a channel-based audio file.
Plug-ins before the Dolby Atmos plug-in
You can use the following or other surround-capable plug-ins if you want to process the surround bed signal:
Multichannel Gain: Lets you adjust the signal level of each channel of the surround bus before it reaches the Dolby Atmos plug-in.
Limiter: A limiter provides additional level control for the surround bed, but it shouldn’t negatively affect the balance between the bed tracks and object tracks.
EQ: An EQ plug-in lets you make overall frequency adjustments for the surround bed signal if necessary. Keep in mind that the surround bed also includes the LFE channel.
Level Meter: A Level Meter plug-in inserted on the slot before the Dolby Atmos plug-in provides visual feedback about the signal level of the surround bus that is routed into the Dolby Atmos plug-in.
Plug-ins after the Dolby Atmos plug-in
Because plug-ins inserted after the Dolby Atmos plug-in don’t affect the exported Dolby Atmos ADM BWF master file, you should use only metering plug-ins on those slots. However, you may (temporarily) insert mastering plug-ins if you plan to create a discrete surround bounce file from a Spatial Audio project.
Level Meter: When you insert the Level Meter plug-in right after the Dolby Atmos plug-in, the meter shows the signal level of your Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos mix (bed tracks and object tracks) rendered to a 7.1.4 channel-based format (when the monitoring format is set to 7.1.4). None of the 12 channels should exceed –1 dBTP (dB measured as true peak).
Note: When you select a different monitoring format in the Dolby Atmos plug-in, the channel mode of its output changes accordingly, which in turn changes the channel mode of the Level Meter plug-in. For example, setting the monitoring format to 5.1 switches the Level Meter’s channel mode to 5.1, and selecting any binaural or 2.0 option changes the Level Meter plug-in so that it shows only the left and right channels.
Loudness Meter: The integrated loudness of a Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos mix should not exceed –18 LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) in order to play back correctly on a system or device compatible with Dolby Atmos. This is especially important for rendering a binaural mix when the levels of all channels are combined into just two channels. You must keep a very close eye on the levels for each surround channel on the surround master channel strip.
Note: Make sure to select the 5.1 monitoring format (as required by Dolby) when measuring the loudness level, even if you don’t have the corresponding speaker setup.
Recommended plug-in order
The recommended order for inserting plug-ins on the surround master channel strip is Multichannel Gain, Limiter, Level Meter, Dolby Atmos, Level Meter, and then Loudness Meter.
Note: The level meters on the surround master channel strip always represent the rendered channel-based output. They only show the channels (the number of bars) based on the selection in the Monitoring Format pop-up menu of the Dolby Atmos plug-in. The channel order (for example, L, R, C, LFE, Ls, Rs) of any surround format follows the setting in the Mixer View Settings pane. See Change the order of surround level meters.
Native surround plug-ins
Logic Pro has many plug-ins that support surround formats natively up to 7.1.4. You can use them on bed tracks or the surround master channel strip.
Category | Plug-in |
|---|---|
Delay | Delay Designer (up to 7.1) |
Dynamics | |
Surround Compressor (up to 7.1) | |
EQ | |
Imaging | |
Metering | |
MultiMeter (up to 7.1) | |
Modulation | |
Multi Effects | |
Reverb | |
Utility | |
Software instruments | ES2 (up to 7.1) |
Sampler (up to 7.1) | |
Sculpture (up to 7.1) |
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: PDF
Logic Pro Instruments: PDF
Logic Pro Effects: PDF
Control Surfaces Support Guide: PDF