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Welcome
- 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
- Get started overview
- Workflow overview
- Logic Pro main window
- Projects
- Playback and navigation
- Tempo, key, and time signature
- Patches
- Arranging regions
- - Piano Roll Editor
  - Audio Track Editor
- Session Players
- Smart Controls
- Live Loops
- Mixing
- Apple Loops
- Smart Tempo
- Sharing
- 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
- Hardware connection overview
- Projects overview
- Create projects
- Open projects
- Save projects
- Delete projects
- Use Logic Remote to control Logic Pro projects
- Preview projects in the Finder
- Close projects
- View project information
- Tracks overview
- Control timing with the groove track
- Use selection-based processing
- Edit track parameters
- Overview
- Use the metronome
- Using loops and other media in Logic Pro
- Bookmark folders in the All Files Browser
- Import compressed audio files
- Arranging overview
- Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter
- - Remove silent passages
  - Uses for Remove Silence
- Create groove templates
- Overview
- Select audio regions
- Cut, copy, and paste audio regions
- Move audio regions
- Trim audio regions
- Split and join audio regions
- Snap edits to zero crossings
- Delete audio regions
- Use Flex Time and Pitch in the Logic Pro for Mac Audio Track Editor
- Use automation in the Audio Track Editor
- Overview
- View multiple MIDI regions
- Split chords
- Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor
- Open other editors
- Session Players overview
- The Session Player Editor
- Choose a Session Player type and style
- Chords and Session Players
- Choose Session Player presets
- Follow rhythm of chords and other tracks
- Work with Drummer multi-channel kits
- Convert Session Player regions to MIDI or pattern regions
- Flex Time and Pitch overview
- Use Varispeed to alter the speed and pitch of audio
- Logic Pro for Mac advanced editors overview
- Mixing overview
- - Channel strip types
  - Channel strip controls
- Set channel strip input formats
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
- Work with channel strip settings
- Surround panning
- Use the I/O Labels window
- Undo and redo Mixer and plug-in adjustments
- Automation overview
- Track automation vs. region automation
- Show automation curves
- Choose automation modes
- - Select, copy, and move automation
  - Delete automation
- Snap automation to grid positions
- Edit automation in the Automation Event List
- Write automation with external controllers
- 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
- Live Loops overview
- Start and stop cells
- Work with Live Loops cells
- - Record to cells
  - Record and edit takes in 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
- Step Sequencer overview
- Use Step Sequencer with Drum Machine Designer
- Record Step Sequencer patterns live
- Step record Step Sequencer patterns
- Load and save patterns
- Modify pattern playback
- Edit steps
- Edit rows
- Step Sequencer inspector
- Customize Step Sequencer
- Global changes overview
- - Add arrangement markers
  - Edit arrangement markers
- Control transposition with the Pitch Source parameter
- Control project volume
- Overview
- Add notes
- Use automation in the Score Editor
- Share a score
- Sharing overview
- Share songs to the Music app
- Share songs using AirDrop
- Share songs using MailDrop
- Share a project to GarageBand for iOS
- Share a project to Logic Pro for iPad
- Overview of surround and spatial audio
- - Overview of spatial audio with Dolby Atmos
  - - Bed tracks and object tracks
    - Rendering a Dolby Atmos mix in Logic Pro for Mac
- - Surround Panner overview
  - Surround Panner parameters
- - 3D Object Panner overview
  - 3D Object Panner parameters
- - Bounce surround audio files
  - Export ADM BWF files
- Video and synchronization overview
Touch Bar shortcuts
- Environment overview
- Common object parameters
- - Environment Layers overview
  - Create, name, delete, and switch layers
- Customize the Environment
- - Effects overview
  - Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- - Instruments introduction
  - Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
  - Use multi-output instruments
- - Alchemy overview
  - Alchemy interface overview
  - Alchemy Name bar
  - Alchemy file locations
  - - Preset browser overview
    - Browser results list
  - - Main filter controls
    - Filter types
  - Alchemy master voice section
  - Alchemy Extended parameters
- - Drum Kit Designer overview
  - Edit pane
  - Use Drum Kit Designer
  - Extended parameters
  - Drum Kit Designer mappings
- - Drum Machine Designer overview
  - Drum Machine Designer interface
  - Kit controls
  - - Pad controls bar
    - Use pad controls
  - Kit Tone and Effect Smart Controls
  - Kit Piece Tone and Effect Smart Controls
- - Drum Synth overview
  - Drum Synth Kicks
  - Drum Synth Snares and Claps
  - Drum Synth Percussion
  - Drum Synth Hats and Cymbals
- - ES1 overview
  - Global parameters
  - - Filter parameters
    - Overdrive the filter
  - Amplifier parameters
  - MIDI controller assignments
- - ES2 overview
  - ES2 interface overview
  - - Use the dynamic stage
    - Enhance sounds with the Sine Level control
  - ES2 integrated effects processor controls
  - Use ES2 in Surround mode
  - Extended parameters
  - - Use randomization parameters
    - Restrict randomization
- - EFM1 overview
  - Modulation parameters
  - Global parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Create random sounds
  - Extended parameters
  - Assign MIDI controllers
- - ES E overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - LFO parameters
  - Filter parameters
  - Envelope parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Extended parameters
- - ES M overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - Filter and filter envelope controls
  - Level envelope and output controls
  - Extended parameters
- - ES P overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - LFO parameters
  - Filter parameters
  - Envelope and level controls
  - Integrated effects processor
  - Extended parameters
- - - EVOC 20 PS overview
    - Vocoder basics
  - EVOC 20 PS interface
  - Analysis controls
  - (U/V) detection parameters
  - Formant filter controls
  - Modulation parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Vocoder history
  - EVOC 20 block diagram
- - Quick Sampler overview
  - Add audio to Quick Sampler
  - Quick Sampler waveform display
  - Use Flex in Quick Sampler
  - - Mod Matrix pane
    - LFO controls
  - Quick Sampler Pitch controls
  - Quick Sampler Filter controls
  - Quick Sampler filter types
  - Quick Sampler Amp controls
  - Quick Sampler extended parameters
- - Retro Synth overview
  - Analog oscillator controls
  - Sync oscillator controls
  - - Table oscillator parameters
    - Use the Wavetable menu
  - FM oscillator controls
  - Filter controls
  - Filter types
  - Amp and effect controls
  - Global and controller settings
  - Extended parameters
- - 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
- - Sampler overview
  - Load and save instruments in Sampler
  - Sampler articulation handling
  - Sampler memory management
  - Sampler extended parameters
- - Sculpture overview
  - Sculpture interface
  - - Pickup parameters
    - Spread controls
  - Global parameters
  - Amplitude envelope parameters
  - Use the Waveshaper
  - Filter parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Use surround range and diversity
  - Define MIDI controllers
  - Extended parameters
- - Studio Bass overview
  - Main view parameters
  - Details view parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - String and position MIDI channel assignments
- - Studio Horns overview
  - Extended parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - Section MIDI channel assignments
- Studio Piano
- - Studio Strings overview
  - Extended parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - Section MIDI channel assignments
- - Ultrabeat overview
  - Ultrabeat interface
  - Synthesizer section overview
  - Filter section controls
  - Distortion circuit controls
- - Utility instruments
  - External Instrument
  - Klopfgeist
- - Vintage B3 overview
- - Vintage Clav overview
  - Vintage Clav interface
  - Extended parameters
  - - D6 Clavinet history
    - D6 mechanical details
- - Vintage Electric Piano overview
  - Vintage Electric Piano interface
  - - Model controls
    - Pitch controls
  - Extended parameters
  - - Rhodes models
    - Hohner and Wurlitzer models
  - MIDI controller assignments
- - Vintage Mellotron overview
  - Vintage Mellotron controls
- - Legacy instruments overview
  - - Bass
    - Church Organ
    - Drum Kits
    - Electric Clav(inet)
    - Electric Piano
    - Guitar
    - Horns
    - Piano
    - Sound Effects
    - Strings
    - Tuned Percussion
    - Voice
    - Woodwind
    - Tonewheel Organ
- - Synthesizer basics overview
  - Synthesizer fundamentals
Glossary
Copyright

Create zones with drag and drop in Logic Pro for Mac

A zone is a location into which a single audio file—or sample, if you prefer this term—can be loaded. The sample loaded into the zone is memory resident—it uses the RAM of your computer. You can define as many zones as needed.

A zone offers parameters that control sample playback. You can set the key range—the range of notes that the sample spans—and the root key—the note at which the sample sounds at its original pitch for each zone. In addition, you can adjust sample start, end, and loop points, volume, and several other parameters for the zone.

Sampler provides several methods you can use to create and add zones. You can quickly add a single zone to Sampler by dragging an audio file, audio or software instrument region, or Apple Loop to the Mapping or Zone panes or the instrument track header. You can create multiple zones by dragging multiple audio files, regions, or loops onto the Sampler Mapping pane or the Navigation bar. You can also manually create a zone and can add an audio file by using menu options. In addition, you can choose whether the new zone maps samples chromatically or based on analysis of the material.

Tip: Any type of loop can be added from the Loop Browser, including MIDI loops, Step Sequencer loops, and Session Player loops.

Important: When you drag a region to the track header area or to another drag zone to create a sample-based software instrument using the region, the region is bounced through the plug-ins on the track. For software instrument tracks, this includes any MIDI plug-ins, the track instrument, and any audio plug-ins. For audio tracks, this includes any audio plug-ins and other processing, such as Flex. The resulting audio file is used in the sample-based instrument. This is different than dragging an audio file to a drag zone, which does not trigger a bounce.

Create a zone by dragging content into the zone pane

In Logic Pro Sampler, click the Zone button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Zone pane.
To add material from the Main window, Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser:
Drag an audio file, audio or software instrument region, or Apple Loop into the Zone pane.
The root key for the zone is the key at which the sample is played at its recorded pitch.

Create a zone by dragging content to one or more keys

In Logic Pro Sampler, click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Mapping pane. Click the Key Mapping Editor button if not already shown.
From the Main window, Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser:
Drag an audio file, audio or software instrument region, or Apple Loop directly onto a key on the Mapping pane keyboard.
The root key is shown in gold on the keyboard. The start key, end key, and root key are all set to the note that the file is dragged to.
Note: You can drag multiple audio files onto a key in the Key Mapping Editor. This automatically creates a stack of layered zones, split by velocities.
The drop location changes the import behavior:
- When you drop an audio file onto the keyboard, it is mapped to that key.
- When you drop an audio file onto the Key Mapping Editor above the keyboard, it is mapped to a range of keys. As you drag toward the top of the Key Mapping Editor, the key range expands.
  The root key is shown in gold, and the key range (containing the start key and end key) is shown across the keyboard.

Add multiple files to the Key Mapping Editor

In Logic Pro Sampler, you can add audio files to the Mapping pane in several ways and in different editor views.

Click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Mapping pane. Click the Key Mapping Editor button if not already shown.
From the Main window, Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser:
Drag one or more files into the Mapping pane, either directly onto the keyboard or the Key Mapping Editor above the keyboard. Shift-click or Command-click to select multiple files.
The drop location changes the import behavior:
- When you drop an audio file onto the keyboard, it is mapped to that key. When you drop multiple audio files onto the keyboard, each is mapped to its own key.
  The root key is shown in gold on the keyboard. Multiple gold keys are shown when you drag more than one audio file.
- When you drop an audio file onto the Key Mapping Editor above the keyboard, it is mapped to a range of keys. As you drag toward the top of the Key Mapping Editor, the key range expands.
  The root key is shown in gold, and the key range is shown across the keyboard. Multiple gold keys and key ranges are shown when you drag more than one audio file.

Add multiple files to the Zone view and create a new group

In Logic Pro Sampler, you can add audio files to the Mapping pane in several ways and in different editor views.

Click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Mapping pane. Click the Zone view button if not already shown.
From the Main window, Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser:
Drag one or more files onto the Zone view. Shift-click or Command-click to select multiple files.
A group is automatically created and the audio file is added to the group. When you drop multiple audio files, all are added to the group.

Add zones by dragging audio files, regions, or loops to a software instrument track

In Logic Pro Sampler, drag one or more audio files, regions, or Apple Loops to a software instrument track header with a Sampler instance inserted. Shift-click or Command-click to select multiple files.
When the “Add new zones” dialog appears, drag the items to one of the following:
- Sampler (Chromatic Map) maps samples to successive chromatic notes.
- Sampler (Optimized Map) maps samples according to analysis of the material.

Create a new, empty instrument

In Logic Pro, insert Sampler into an instrument channel.
Click the Mapping or Zone buttons (or both) in the Navigation bar to turn on these panes, if they are not shown.
Click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Mapping pane. You will typically add audio files in either the Key Mapping Editor, Navigation bar, or Zone view, but you can also drop files into the Group view or Zone pane.
- Click the Key Mapping Editor button to add audio files in the Key Mapping Editor.
- Click the Zone view button to add audio files in this view.

Create an empty zone with a menu command, and assign a sample to it

In the Logic Pro Sampler Mapping pane, choose Zone > New.
A new group is shown in the Mapping pane, and a zone is automatically added to the group.
Do one of the following:
- In the Zone pane, drag an audio file into the waveform display area.
- In Zone view, click the File column, then choose Load Audio File from the pop-up menu.
- In Zone view, drag an audio file into the empty Name field of the zone in the Audio File column.
- In the Key Mapping Editor, press and hold Command-Shift, then drag the pointer to create a new, empty zone. You can add a sample to the zone using any of the methods discussed.
- In the Key Mapping Editor, drag an audio file directly onto the zone.
If you chose the Load Audio File option in step 2, locate the audio file you want and select it in the File Selector window.
- Click the Options button at the lower left of the File Selector window to show or hide the checkboxes and Play button.
- Select “Hide used audio files” to dim the names of files used in the currently loaded sampler instrument.
- Select “Preview audio file in Sampler Instrument” to temporarily replace the sample files in the currently selected zone. The zone is not directly triggered by selecting this option, but it can be triggered by playing MIDI notes while the File Selector window is open—and different files are chosen. The selected sample can be heard as part of the zone, inclusive of all synthesizer processing (filters, modulation, and so on).
To preview looped playback of the currently selected audio file, click the Play button at the lower right of the File Selector window. The Play button label changes to Stop during playback.
- You can step through files by using the Down Arrow key, or by clicking them, to audition each file in turn.
- Click the Stop button to stop playback.
When you find an audio file you want to use, click the Open button to add it to the zone.
When the audio file is loaded, the sample name is displayed in the Name field for the zone in the Audio File column of Zone view.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: PDF

Logic Pro Effects: PDF

Helpful?

Logic Pro User Guide for Mac