Logic Pro X User Guide
- Welcome
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- What is Logic Pro?
- Workflow overview
- Logic Pro project basics
- Advanced tools and additional options
- 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 keyboard shortcuts
- Customize the control bar
- Change the LCD display mode
- Monitor and reset MIDI events
- Use the cycle area
- Use the Chase Events function
- Control Logic Pro using Apple Remote
- Control Logic Pro projects using Logic Remote
- 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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- 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
- 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
- Clone audio regions
- Change the color of regions
- Convert audio regions to Sampler sample zones
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
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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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- Flex Time and Pitch overview
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- Flex Pitch algorithm and parameters
- Edit the pitch of audio in the Audio Track Editor or a zoomed in track
- Edit the pitch of audio in the Tracks area when the track is not zoomed in
- Correct the timing of audio regions with Flex Pitch
- Quantize the pitch of audio regions
- Create MIDI from audio recordings
- Change the gain of audio regions
- Use Varispeed to alter the speed and pitch of audio
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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
- Support for ARA 2 compatible plug-ins
- 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 in Logic Pro
- 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
- Record a Live Loops performance
- Change Live Loops grid settings
- Control Live Loops in Logic Pro 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 Logic Pro 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 Logic Pro Staff Style window
- Copy staffs or voices in the Logic Pro Staff Style window
- 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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- 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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- 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
- Various Editors
- Views showing Time Ruler
- Main Window Tracks
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Sampler
- Step Input Keyboard
- Tool key commands in Logic Pro
- 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
- Control surfaces supported by Logic Pro
- Software and firmware
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- Learn about Effects
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- Learn about Amps and Pedals
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- Bass Amp Designer overview
- Bass amplifier models
- Bass cabinet models
- Build a custom combo
- Amplifier signal flow
- Pre-amp signal flow
- Use the D.I. box
- Amplifier controls
- Bass Amp Designer effects overview
- Bass Amp Designer EQ
- Bass Amp Designer compressor
- Bass Amp Designer Graphic EQ
- Bass Amp Designer Parametric EQ
- Bass Amp Designer microphone controls
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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 controller parameters
- Modifier MIDI plug-in controls
- Note Repeater MIDI plug-in controls
- Randomizer MIDI plug-in controls
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- Use the Scripter MIDI plug-in
- 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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- Learn about included Instruments
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- Alchemy overview
- Name bar
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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
- Master voice section
- Alchemy extended parameters
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- Logic Pro Quick Sampler overview
- Add content to Logic Pro Quick Sampler
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler waveform display
- Use Flex in Logic Pro Quick Sampler
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Pitch controls
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Filter controls
- Quick Sampler filter types
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Amp controls
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler 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
- Assign MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
Logic Pro Alchemy basic arpeggiator controls
The arpeggiator is shown only in browse or advanced view. Click the Browse or Advanced button to switch to either view, then click the Arp button in the Perform/Arp/Effects section.
The basic arpeggiator controls consist of several buttons and nine knobs.
Basic arpeggiator controls
All/A/B/C/D buttons: Choose the target source that is used to play the arpeggiator pattern. See the tasks in Use the Logic Pro Alchemy arpeggiator.
When set to All, the arpeggiator pattern is played by all active sources.
You can restrict the arpeggiator pattern to a single target source by setting values for one of the A, B, C, or D arpeggiators. The other three sources, if active, respond to incoming MIDI data with no arpeggiation.
You can also activate and create different arpeggio patterns for any combination of the A, B, C, or D arpeggiators. When you play the keyboard, each active source is triggered by the corresponding active arpeggiator, resulting in up to four simultaneous (but different) arpeggiated sources.
Note: Alchemy uses separate voices to play arpeggiated and non-arpeggiated output. Therefore, this feature requires the Num(ber) of voices to be set to at least 2 in the master voice section. See Logic Pro Alchemy master voice section.
Sync button: Turn on to synchronize the arpeggiator with the project tempo. See Rate knob.
Key Trigger pop-up menu: Choose an option to align the arpeggiator and host application grid values. Incoming and playing notes snap to this value when the host is in play mode.
Choose a value other than Off to restart the arpeggiator pattern when the first note is struck after a pause. This allows you to create pattern variations by playing chords on different beats in the bar and may feel more responsive. Playing legato does not retrigger the arpeggiator.
Choose Snap to Rate when you want to use a host application rate that differs from available menu options.
Choose Cycle Reset to enable or disable. This option starts the arpeggiation from the first note each time the pattern is repeated and when the host application is started (at step 1). Cycle Reset is enabled by default, and turned off for all existing presets for backwards compatibility.
Mode knob: Turn the arpeggiator on and off, and determine the order in which incoming notes are organized into a pattern. In addition to Off, you have the following choices:
Up: Plays the current notes from lowest to highest.
Down: Plays the current notes from highest to lowest.
Up/Down: Plays the current notes from lowest to highest and back again.
Down/Up: Plays the current notes from highest to lowest and back again.
As Played: Plays the current notes in the order they were originally played.
Random: Plays the current notes in a random, non-repeating order.
Chord: Plays all held notes simultaneously as a chord. The chords are retriggered and pulse in time with the arpeggiator rate and rhythm, as determined by the arpeggiator sequencer settings. See Logic Pro Alchemy arpeggiator sequencer.
Note: Mode is a modulation target. This lets you set a Perform knob to modulate Mode, enabling you to turn the arpeggiator on and off during a performance.
Rate knob: Set the duration of each arpeggiator step. When Sync is on the arpeggiator is synchronized with the project tempo, and Rate is set in bars/beats. When Sync is off, the Rate knob sets a constant length for each step which is unaffected by project tempo changes.
Octave knob: Determine if the arpeggiator pattern is played only at its original pitch or across higher octaves when the pattern is repeated.
Length knob: Set the length of each arpeggiated note. At the maximum setting of 100% the length of each note is a full step. Set the length to lower values to generate shorter notes for a more staccato effect (if triggering a sound with a fast release time).
Pattern knob: Choose the active pattern in the step sequencer section to the right. Sixteen different step sequencer patterns can be created and edited for each arpeggiator. By default, all patterns are identical, so this parameter has no effect until your patterns are edited.
Swing knob: Change the timing of the arpeggiator, moving even-numbered steps to later positions without changing the timing of odd-numbered steps. This can add a more relaxed feel or groove to the part. Swing generally works best when combined with a Rate knob setting of 1/4 of a beat (16th note swing feel) or a Rate knob setting of 1/2 a beat (8th note swing).
Note Vel knob: Determine how the arpeggiator handles note velocity values. Arp sequencer 1 modulates arpeggiator Amp values by default. When Note Vel is set to a value of 0%, the step values of Arp sequencer 1 determine the velocities of notes in the arpeggiator pattern. When Note Vel is set to a value of 100%, arpeggiator pattern note velocities are determined by incoming MIDI velocities. Intermediate Note Vel values blend the Arp sequencer step values with incoming MIDI velocities.
Split knob: Set the highest MIDI note number to be included in the arpeggiator pattern. Notes above this value are not arpeggiated. Set to the maximum value (G8) to arpeggiate all MIDI input.
Latch knob: Hold the arpeggiator pattern when you lift your hands from the keyboard in Hold or Add mode. Set to Off to stop the arpeggiator pattern when you lift your hands.
Hold: Newly played notes are organized into a new pattern, which replaces the existing pattern.
Add: Newly played notes are added to the existing pattern.
Tip: Try combining As Played mode with the Add latch setting to create an interactive step sequencer with up to 128 steps.