20,99 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
Crank your sound up to X with Apple's premier recording softwareand Logic Pro X For Dummies! Apple's Logic Pro X levels the playing field, makinghigh-quality studio recordings accessible for any musician. It's aprofessional-level tool with a user-friendly interface and loads ofnew features to keep you more organized so you can focus oncreating rather than computing. Record live audio and MIDI tracksand edit faster with the new Mixer. Create your own drum kit, orwork with the native virtual session drummer. Add flavor to yoursound with new Pedalboard stompboxes, and fine-tune it all withFlex Pitch. You'll let loose with Logic Pro X and let yourcreativity flow with help from For Dummies. Written by veteran music and audio professional Graham English,Logic Pro X For Dummies jumps right in to using Apple'shigh-end recording software so you can focus on doing what you dobest--making music. From navigating the user interface toworking with real and virtual instruments, recording tracks,editing audio, adding plug-ins, and everything in between, you'lllearn how to turn your musical inspiration into a fully-engineeredand mastered demo. * Shows you how to create a project, record live audio and MIDItracks, import video, and mix songs like a pro * Covers editing audio and adding effects and plug-ins to achieveyour ideal sound * Walks you through the entire audio engineering process frommix-down to mastering and exporting your final cut * Includes information on how to use iPad and its touch interfaceto create amazing sound If you're serious about your sound, Logic Pro X ForDummies is your ultimate guide to achieving the quality you'vebeen dreaming of and turning the volume up on all your musicalendeavors.
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 490
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014
Ähnliche
Logic Pro X For Dummies®
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
Logic Pro X For Dummies® is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple, Inc.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ.
For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002. For technical support, please visit www.wiley.com/techsupport.
Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014935512
ISBN 978-1-118-87504-9 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-87563-6 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-87503-2 (ebk)
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Logic Pro X For Dummies
Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/logicprox to view this book's cheat sheet.
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I: Leaping into Logic Pro X
Chapter 1: Getting Logic Pro Up and Sprinting
Embracing Logic Pro
Transitioning from Other Software
Creating with Logic Pro
Thinking like a pro
Planning your creative process
Getting to the finish line
Connecting Your Logic Pro Studio
Setting up your computer
Connecting your hardware
Building common setups
Chapter 2: Examining Logic Pro Projects
Starting Your Project
Opening a project
Saving a project
Closing a project
Naming and renaming a project
Augmenting Your Project
Saving time with project templates
Autosave your hard work
Recover from problems with project backups
Create options with project alternatives
Customizing Your Project Settings
Import settings and content from other projects
Export your project for collaboration
Tidying Up Your Project
Chapter 3: Exploring the Main Window and Tracks Area
Navigating Logic Pro
Getting comfortable in the main window
Working in the tracks area
Controlling the control bar
Polishing in the editors area
Investigating the inspector
Taking Inventory of Your Track List
Make headway with track headers
Make it pretty with track colors
Zooming Tracks
Your Logic Pro Toolbox
Keeping It Simple with Smart Controls
Opening smart controls
Editing smart control layouts
Manually mapping smart controls
Editing smart control parameters
Controlling the controls with your controller
Navigating with Key Commands
Saving Workspaces with Screensets
Chapter 4: Embracing Tracks and Regions
Knowing Your Track Types
Audio track
Software instrument track
Drummer track
External MIDI track
Track stacks
Folder track
Around the Global Tracks
Sorting and Hiding Tracks
Knowing the Region Types
Audio region
MIDI region
Drummer region
Editing Regions
Dragging, moving, and resizing regions
Splitting, joining, and deleting regions
Snapping regions to a grid
Looping and copying regions
Part II: Digital Recording and Using Prerecorded Media
Chapter 5: Introduction to Digital Audio and MIDI
Understanding Digital Audio
Acoustics 101
Set your sample rate
Determine your bit depth
Choosing audio file types
Connecting Your Audio Devices
Choosing your input and output device
Setting your I/O buffer size and reducing latency
Monitoring signals through your hardware or software
Exploring audio preferences
Understanding MIDI
Sending MIDI messages
Changing MIDI channels
Connecting Your MIDI Devices
Connecting MIDI controllers
Connecting external instruments
Exploring MIDI preferences
Chapter 6: Recording Audio
Preparing to Record Audio
Test your recording levels
Enable software and input monitoring
Setting up the metronome
Recording Your First Audio Take
Recording Multiple Takes in Cycle Mode
Recording Multiple Inputs
Punching In and Punching Out
Setting Up Multiple Monitor Mixes
Giving your singer a separate vocal cue mix
Chapter 7: Recording MIDI
Preparing to Record MIDI
Recording external MIDI instruments
Recording software instruments
Recording with musical typing
Recording with the step input keyboard
Recording Your First MIDI Take
Recording Multiple MIDI Takes in Cycle Mode
Creating Tracks in Cycle Mode
Overdubbing MIDI
Recording Multiple MIDI Inputs
Chapter 8: Adding Media to Your Project
Adding Apple Loops to Your Project
Navigating the loop browser
Adding audio loops
Adding MIDI loops
Adding Prerecorded Audio to Your Project
Using the browsers to find audio files
Adding audio to your project
Adding audio from the media browser
Adding audio from the all files browser
Importing Video to Your Project
Adding a movie to your project
Exploring the movie track
Creating movie scene markers
Importing audio from your movie
Part III: Making Music with Virtual Instruments
Chapter 9: Making Beats with Drummer and Ultrabeat
Playing with Your Virtual Drummer
Creating a drummer track
Creating drummer regions
Choosing and directing your drummer in the editor
Selecting producer kits
Building custom kits with Drum Kit Designer
Converting drummer regions to MIDI regions
Creating Beats with Ultrabeat
Exploring the Ultrabeat interface
Choosing sounds in the assignment section
Shaping sounds in the synthesizer section
Sequencing patterns in the step sequencer
Controlling patterns with MIDI
Exporting patterns into the tracks area
Chapter 10: Playing Virtual Vintage Instruments
Taking Stock of Vintage Instruments
Loading and playing vintage instruments
Choosing vintage instrument presets
Spinning Your Tonewheels with the Vintage B3
Understanding drawbars
Get the vintage vibe with vibrato/chorus and percussion
Playing with presets
Spinning the Leslie
Going deep into expert options
Controlling the manuals and foot pedals with MIDI controllers
Funking Up the Vintage Clav
Choosing your Clav type
Picking your pickups
Getting classic sounds with effects
Extending your Clav
Getting the Tone of Tines with the Vintage Electric Piano
Exploring tines, reeds, and tone bars
Producing great sounds with timeless effects
Playing with additional parameters
Fusing Four Synths with Retro Synth
Choosing your flavor of synthesis: Analog, sync, wavetable, and FM
Controlling your synth parameters
Modifying synth effects
Modulating the synth
Chapter 11: Sound Design with Synths and Samplers
Exploring the Logic Pro Synths
The EFM1 FM synth
The ES1 subtractive synth
The ES2 hybrid synth
The ES E ensemble synth
The ES M mono synth
The ES P poly synth
The EVOC 20 poly synth vocoder
Sampling with the EXS24 Sampler
Importing sample libraries
Converting regions to sampler instruments
Controlling sample parameters
Editing sampled instruments
Modeling Sounds Using Sculpture
Understanding sound modeling
Exploring the Sculpture interface
Chapter 12: Conducting a Virtual Orchestra
Building an Orchestral Template
Choosing your orchestral instruments
Choosing appropriate staff styles
Saving your orchestral template
Performing Your Orchestra
Traveling the World Instruments
Part IV: Arranging and Editing Your Project
Chapter 13: Arranging Your Music
Working in the Tracks Area
Using the ruler
Scrubbing the arrangement
Investigating the region inspector
Investigating the track inspector
Showing Your Global Tracks
Creating and naming markers
Creating key signature and time signature changes
Creating tempo changes
Creating arrangement markers
Creating transposition points
Beat Mapping Your Arrangement
Beat mapping MIDI regions
Beat mapping audio regions
Automatically beat-mapping regions
Arranging Regions in the Tracks Area
Selecting regions
Selecting parts of regions with the marquee tool
Moving regions
Soloing and muting regions
Time-stretching regions
Demixing MIDI regions
Fading and crossfading audio regions
Stripping silence from audio regions
Creating Folder Tracks
Packing and unpacking folders
Adding and removing regions
Creating alias folders and regions
Using Groove Templates
Creating a groove template
Importing groove templates from other projects
Importing third-party groove templates
Chapter 14: Editing Audio Tracks
Knowing Your Audio Editors
The audio track editor
The audio file editor
Creating the Perfect Take with Quick Swipe Comping
Comping takes
Creating alternate comps
Editing take regions
Packing and unpacking take folders
Time Traveling with Flex Time
Choosing flex time algorithms
Using flex markers
Using the flex tool
Tuning with Flex Pitch
Editing pitch in the tracks area
Editing pitch in the audio track editor
Editing pitch event hot spots
Quantizing the pitch and scale of a region
Editing Audio in the Audio File Editor
Navigating and playing audio
Selecting audio
Editing audio
Chapter 15: Editing MIDI Tracks
Knowing Your MIDI Editors
Editing MIDI in the Piano Roll Editor
Adding and editing notes
Editing the velocity of notes
Quantizing notes
Muting notes
Using MIDI draw
Editing MIDI in the Step Editor
Creating and editing steps
Creating and editing lanes
Creating and editing lane sets
Editing MIDI in the Score Editor
Creating and editing notes in the score
Investigating the score region inspector
Adding items from the part box
Editing MIDI in the MIDI Transform Window
Using transform presets
Creating transform presets
Editing MIDI in the Event List Editor
Displaying events
Creating and editing events
Editing Your MIDI Environment
Exploring object parameters
Viewing environment layers
Inserting objects in the environment
Part V: Mixing, Mastering, and Sharing Your Music
Chapter 16: Mixing Your Project
Understanding Important Mixing Concepts
Mindset
Acoustics
Balance
Panning
Frequency
Depth
Effects
Dynamics
Interest
Knowing Your Channel Strip Types
Audio channel strips
Instrument channel strips
MIDI channel strips
Auxiliary channel strips
Output channel strips
Using Meters to Visualize Volume and Levels
Understanding clipping
Choosing pre-fader or post-fader metering
Changing the level-meter scale
Adjusting Channel Strip Controls
Adjusting volume and toggling between levels
Adjusting the pan balance
Muting and soloing tracks
Grouping tracks
Choosing input and output settings
Selecting channel strip settings
Adding Effects to Tracks
Adding audio and MIDI insert effects
Adding send effects
Controlling Signal Flow
Understanding how insert and send effects work
Using auxiliary channel strips
Using multi-output instruments
Using the output and master channel strips
Adjusting the EQ of Your Tracks
Adding Channel EQ
Using match EQ
Adding Depth with Reverb and Delay
Using Space Designer
Using Delay Designer
Adding or Removing Dynamics with Compression
Using Compressor
Using Limiter
Using other dynamics tools
Taking Track Notes
Chapter 17: Automating Your Mix
Turning Your Mix Into a Performance with Automation
Choosing Your Automation Mode
Adding Automation to Your Tracks
Adjusting automation points
Moving regions with or without automation
Editing automation with MIDI draw
Recording Live Automation
Chapter 18: Mastering Your Final Track
Fine-Tuning EQ
Using Linear Phase EQ
Matching a reference mix with Match EQ
Adding Multiband Compression
Using Multipressor
Avoiding a squashed mix
Turn It Up
Using Adaptive Limiter for maximum loudness
Matching levels to other recorded material
Chapter 19: Bouncing and Sharing Your Music
Bouncing Your Project
Recording external instruments before you bounce
Bouncing to an audio file
Creating Stems and Alternate Mixes
Bouncing a stem mix
Bouncing alternate mixes
Sharing Your Music
Sharing your project to iTunes
Sharing your project to the media browser
Sharing your project to SoundCloud
Part VI: The Part of Tens
Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Use an iPad with Logic Pro X
Playing Keys
Playing Guitar
Playing Drums
Editing Tracks and Your Arrangement
Using Your iPad Mixing Console
Recording Remotely
Commanding Logic Pro
Navigating Logic Pro
Sketching Songs with GarageBand
Importing iPad Audio
Chapter 21: Ten Tips to Speed Your Workflow
Keep Detailed Notes
Use Key Commands
Use Screensets
Save Track Stack Patches and Channel Strip Settings
Choose a Tool and Master It
Choose a Tool and Ignore It
Use the Fastest Way, Not the Right Way
Establish a Troubleshooting Strategy
Save and Back Up Frequently
Don’t Lose Sight of the Music
About the Author
Cheat Sheet
Guide
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Pages
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
369
370
Introduction
At its near-permanent spot in the top-ten grossing apps in the entire Mac App Store, Logic Pro X has proven itself to be in high demand. You shouldn’t expect anything less than stellar software from Apple. And there’s a good reason why Logic Pro is professionally competitive. Apple designs intuitive software that music producers love and at the best possible value.
In line with Apple’s mission, I wrote Logic Pro X For Dummies to add value to your Mac and Logic Pro X. You learn how to record, arrange, edit, mix, and share your music, becoming a self-sufficient musician with your computer and Logic Pro. This book will guide you to make more music.
About This Book
If I could give people one superpower, I would give them instant musical talent. My world would be a curious musical, filled with willing musical partners. Logic Pro X For Dummies is my honest attempt to make musical partners out of every reader, including you.
This book is designed to get you making music fast. You don’t even need to know how to play an instrument to make music with Logic Pro because it comes with additional content that you can use in your projects. Regardless of your current capabilities, the step-by-step instruction in this book will get you making music fast.
I’m happy you came to me to learn Logic Pro X because I have been coaching Logic Pro users since 2007 and know the common frustrations and mistakes people make. I want you to feel confident using the software so you can complete more projects and share your music — with others and with me. This book gives you the most important information you need to quickly meet your musical goals and turn your ideas into completed projects.
Logic Pro X For Dummies is organized for easy access. It’s your productivity advisor and your reference for quickly finding the information you need. And because many people learn more quickly by watching someone else, I provide free videos and project templates to accompany the book at http://logicstudiotraining.com/lpxfordummies.
Throughout the book, I use certain conventions to show you what to do. For example, when you choose items from menus, I use the command arrow, such as Choose File⇒Edit. Links to websites are presented in a monospace font, such as http://logicstudiotraining.com. If you purchased the e-book, links are live and will take you directly to the web page. Finally, Logic Pro uses the term key command for any combination of keys that can act as a shortcut to a function; when I refer to the Command key, I use the symbol.
Foolish Assumptions
As I said, I want to give you instant talent, but I have to make some assumptions about you, my friendly reader. I’m pretty sure you have the music bug. But it’s possible that you want to only record audio with Logic Pro X, such as voice-overs or live seminars. This book covers those topics, but I’m also writing for the musician in you.
I believe that you bought this book not only to learn how to use software but also to create music. Logic Pro is the tool and your music is the reason the tool exists.
I also assume that you’re not making as much music as you could be making. I know I’m not. I’m sure we could all be bringing more music into the world, and I often aggressively push for it. I love to train musicians because they are great listeners. Great listeners make great leaders, and if I didn’t push for more great leaders, I would feel that I wasted a golden opportunity to inspire you to greatness. The more music you make, the better listener you become.
Even if you’re a beginner, I assume you’ll be able to make music that sounds great with Logic Pro X. It might be a foolish assumption, but given everything Logic Pro X can do for you, I really don’t think so. Finally, I make the safe assumption that you’ll enjoy your time with Logic Pro X.
Icons Used in This Book
You’ll see helpful icons throughout this book. Scan for them and you’ll find useful information that will help pull everything together and even broaden your perspective. Readers love to scan and I love to write for scanners.
The Tip icon is usually designed to give you an “aha” moment. Tips go beyond step-by-step instruction into strategies and techniques to make better sounding music. Pay close attention to the tips!
The Remember icon points out information that you need to keep in mind as you use Logic Pro. In some cases, you’ll be given key commands that are important to remember. Other times, you’ll see a short refresher on information that’s relevant to the topic and covered elsewhere in the book. Whenever you see this icon, it’s important to at least store the information in your short-term memory. After all, the book remembers everything for you in the long term.
The Technical Stuff icon points out information that can be either skipped or treated as extra credit. The information in these sections shouldn’t be beyond your understanding, but you don’t need to know how the engine works to drive a car.
The Warning icon is reserved for potential mistakes that could cause you to sound bad. That’s the last thing I want, and fortunately, sounding bad is hard to achieve with Logic Pro X. So when you see the Warning icon, please read it!
Beyond the Book
As mentioned, I deliver content outside this book in the form of videos and project files. Where appropriate, I've added a link to a web page with further instructions. These videos should help you visualize the content of the book, and the project files are excellent resources for starting out.
In addition, For Dummies books include one of my favorite tools of all time, the cheat sheet. I make cheat sheets for a hobby, and I’m excited to give you what I’ve got at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/logicprox.
You also have access to Dummies.com online articles that expand the book even further. You’ll find these articles on the book’s Extras page at www.dummies.com/extras/logicprox. And if the book has any technical updates, they'll be posted there as well.
Where to Go from Here
Although I wrote the book to be somewhat linear and to follow a logical progression, you can start anywhere you want. Because I reference chapters throughout the book, you should be able to open any chapter and follow along.
If you’re new to Logic Pro, you’ll at least want to skim the first four chapters. These chapters make up Part I and will get you started using Logic Pro and understanding how it works. Part II shows you how to record audio, load and play software instruments, and add prerecorded media to your project. If you’re upgrading from previous versions of Logic Pro, you might skip to Part III and learn about the new software instruments or head over to Part IV where you learn how to use the exciting new editing features such as flex pitch.
Part V is dedicated to mixing audio so that the final result sounds good and is ready to share with the world. From the beginning of the book to the end, you have a powerful music production blueprint. I hope you get what you need. If you should have a question, you can find me online or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/logicproxfordummies.
Part I
Leaping into Logic Pro X
Visit www.dummies.com for great Dummies content online.
In this part...
Understand the benefits of creating with Logic Pro and set up your Logic Pro studio. Develop a productive workflow and mindset.Learn how to start Logic Pro projects and discover timesaving tips to help you finish them. Share your projects for collaboration and back up and secure your work.Explore the Logic Pro main window and tracks area. Navigate the software interface, play and control your project, and explore the tools.Understand how tracks and regions work in Logic Pro. Adjust your tempo and time signature, save track settings for instant recall, and learn how to edit and loop regions.Chapter 1
Getting Logic Pro Up and Sprinting
In This Chapter
Understanding the benefits of creating with Logic Pro
Getting into the Logic Pro mindset
Developing a productive workflow
Setting up your Logic Pro studio
The joke used to be that Logic Pro wasn’t logical. I would argue that it was logical but not intuitive. Nowadays, you can’t make that joke without dating yourself because Apple, which is known for making the complicated simple, bought Logic Pro from Emagic in 2002. The product just keeps getting better and better.
You’ll find that creating music with Logic Pro can be a straightforward and rewarding experience. One caveat: As you explore Logic Pro, remember your desired outcome. With so many bright and shiny objects in this deep and powerful app, getting distracted is easy. But if you keep your musical and learning goals in mind, you’ll discover why Logic Pro is responsible for so many Billboard hits.
Take command. Logic Pro listens.
In this chapter, you discover why Logic Pro users are proud, productive, and ready to play. You’ll understand how to plan your creations, get the most value from your time with Logic Pro, set up your studio, and much more.
Remembering the Logic Pro journey
Logic Pro has come a long way since its inception. In the mid-80s, the German company C-LAB created Supertrack for the Commodore 64 computer. This product evolved into the Creator software program and eventually became Notator Logic, which ran on the Atari system in the early 90s. Here are some important milestones on the path to Logic Pro X:
1994: Audio recording capabilities were added to Notator Logic.2000: Virtual instruments were added to Logic 4.2002: Apple purchased Logic.2004: Logic 6 became Mac-only.2007: Several audio applications, including Logic Pro 8 and MainStage, were bundled as Logic Studio. New features such as Quick Swipe Comping and the Delay Designer plug-in were introduced, and the copy protection USB dongle was eliminated.2009: Logic Pro 9 introduces more features such as flex time editing, Amp Designer, and Pedalboard plug-ins.2010: Logic Pro 9 goes 64-bit.2013: Logic Pro X is released, with a redesigned look, flex pitch editing, new editors, the Drummer software instrument, the Bass Amp Designer plug-in, virtual vintage instruments, MIDI plug-ins, track stacks, smart controls, tighter integration with GarageBand, the Logic Remote iPad app, and much more.Embracing Logic Pro
Lots of digital audio workstations (DAWs) are out there, so why would you want to settle down with Logic Pro? Here’s a list of reasons why you don’t need to look any further than Logic Pro:
Logic Pro is designed by Apple, so hardware and software compatibility are simple and usually hassle-free. I have upgraded Logic Pro and the Mac operating system within a week of new releases and have yet to encounter any problems. If you’re ever wondering whether it’s safe to upgrade, stop by http://logicstudiotraining.com and ask me.Logic Pro has thousands of sampled instruments and effects presets, so you can save thousands of dollars in additional expenses. You get a complete studio — including a virtual drummer who won’t show up late or scuff your floors.Logic Pro excels at both recording and editing audio and MIDI. Some DAWs do one or the other really well, but Logic Pro does both with superb sound quality and ease of use.Logic Pro is compatible with most audio and MIDI hardware. I rarely get asked hardware questions from my clients because the product just works.Logic Pro enables you to provide professional notation for lead sheets and full scores. When you need to hand out chord charts to the band or provide fully engraved charts with advanced markup to the orchestra, Logic Pro has you covered. Logic Pro can also create guitar tablature and add lyrics to your score.Logic Pro supports many hardware control surfaces, so you can control knobs, faders, buttons, and other parameters in Logic Pro right from your hardware. An inexpensive MIDI controller can be turned into a remote control for advanced control (or when the hand you use for your mouse or trackpad begins to ache from overuse).Logic Pro is a powerful mixing console. If your computer can handle it, you can have 255 audio tracks, 255 software instrument tracks, and 255 auxiliary tracks. You weren’t worried about running out of tracks, were you? And because you don't have 255 hands, you can automate parameter changes on all those tracks.Logic Pro is a 64-bit application that gives you increased power. Older 32-bit apps allow the use of only 4MB of RAM, but Logic Pro can access all the memory your computer has installed. You can run more plug-ins and more software instruments without a hiccup.I’ve only touched the surface of what Logic Pro can do. Surround sound, virtual vintage instruments, drum machines, guitar amps and pedals, pitch and time editing, and MIDI effects are a fraction of what you have available as a Logic Pro user. Congratulations on making such a smart choice to embrace Logic Pro. Welcome to the club!
Transitioning from Other Software
I won’t bad-mouth or slam other DAWs. It’s a good rule to live by, especially when you collaborate with musicians who use different software. I happen to be a fan of GarageBand and use it regularly because it integrates so well with Logic Pro. If you’ve used GarageBand, you’ll find the Logic Pro interface familiar and welcoming.
Logic Pro X has many of the same features as GarageBand, plus a lot more, such as a professional mixer and finer control over audio and MIDI regions. GarageBand 10 users are familiar with smart controls, but with Logic Pro X you can do a lot more with them, such as control and edit more parameters. Best of all, Logic Pro can open GarageBand projects, including GarageBand projects created in iOS, the operating system that powers the iPhone, the iPad, and the iPod touch. Being able to start projects on one of those devices and continue working on them in GarageBand or Logic Pro creates a powerful workflow.
If you’re coming from another software environment, maintain a beginner’s mind as you explore Logic Pro. The workflow is probably similar to what you’re accustomed to. It won’t take you long to understand that a Logic Pro project has tracks containing MIDI or audio regions and that you can arrange those regions right in the main window or edit them in the various editors. Did I just give the whole book away right there? Not quite, but understanding Logic Pro is almost that simple.
Just remember, if your objective is clear, Logic Pro can help you reach it.
Creating with Logic Pro
With Logic Pro, you have a full band at your fingertips. From country to dance music, songwriting to film scoring, capturing MIDI performances to professional audio recording, Logic Pro will excite your passions and showcase your strengths. Lead the way and Logic Pro will follow.
Thinking like a pro
Whether or not you’re in it for the money, having a professional mindset can make your experience with Logic Pro more productive and enjoyable.
My advice to new and seasoned Logic Pro users alike is to set a goal and work steadily towards that goal. Here’s what I’ve found and I hope you agree. Creativity loves speed. Slow and tedious labor kills creativity faster than anything. So set a clear objective and move quickly towards completion.
Planning your creative process
You can always wait for inspiration to strike you — but you could end up waiting a long time. And when inspiration does strike, it often doesn’t stick around long. For all the moments when you’re not feeling inspired, having a plan for your creative process can help.
What’s your purpose for the project? Are you learning something or creating something? If you’re learning, what’s your learning goal and how much time are you going to give it? You could easily get lost trying to learn everything Logic Pro can do and never create anything. That will suck the joy out of using Logic Pro, and you’ll find yourself opening it less and less. So give yourself learning limits and give yourself creative projects. Connecting to the purpose of your project will keep you motivated and moving in a clear and forward direction.
Here are some example projects to get you learning and creating:
Learn a tool. Logic Pro comes with lots of tools and editors to help you achieve your creative goals. Spend 5 to 15 minutes learning a single tool, function, or editor. You will have many opportunities to do this throughout the book.Write a song. Lots of my students find it easier to separate writing a song from recording a song. Writing a song means starting from scratch and trying out ideas. You’ll end up doing some recording, but your purpose is not to create “keeper” tracks but to experiment and organize your ideas.Record a song. If you've already written a song, record it. Logic Pro has an intuitive interface, and you’ll be able to polish your tracks until they’re as shiny as a platinum record.Sequence an 8-bar loop. Not all projects have to be big and grand. A simple 8-bar piece of music can become a loop that you can use in another project or license to another artist.Compose a score. Use the orchestral instruments or synthesizers to create a score for a video or just for fun. If you have any home videos on your computer, you can import them to Logic Pro and give them a soundtrack. Play the video at the next holiday reunion, and your film composition is sure to impress friends and family.Design a sound. Spend 30 minutes with any of the Logic Pro virtual instruments and come up with your own sounds. Several synths even come with a randomize button to keep the sound fresh. Ever wondered what a six-foot guitar made of cardboard would sound like? Me neither, but you can make it happen with the Sculpture software instrument in Logic Pro.Mix a song. You can use a project you’ve recorded or you can use Apple loops to practice your mixing chops and share your project with the world. Be sure to consult my mixing guide at http://logicstudiotraining.com to make your time in audio engineering land productive and free of earaches.These examples are just a sampling of the types of projects you can start. The main point is to set a clear objective so you can achieve your goal. Set yourself up to win and you’ll stay motivated.
Getting to the finish line
Most Logic Pro users come to me for help not with getting started but with getting things done. When inspiration fades, so does motivation, unless you have a strategy for getting to the finish line.
Here are some tips for completing projects:
Set time limits. Give yourself the shortest time frame for completing a task. Parkinson's law states that work expands to fill the time available to complete it. Set aside 10 hours to complete a job, and it will take 10 hours. Set aside 30 minutes, and the job will take 30 minutes. For larger projects, put a deadline on the calendar and stick to it. This suggestion might sound rigid, but the only thing you have to lose is your uncompleted projects.Make projects attainable. Dream big but be realistic. If you’ve never done a particular task before, give yourself time to learn and improve. You might want to write a chart-buster, but begin by writing a simple song with a clear structure. Then you can build upon your new skills and improve with each project.Break the project down. Typically, an album is made up of many songs, each song is made up of many instruments recorded on separate tracks, and each track is made up of many takes that are edited and turned into a final take. When you list all the tasks required to complete your project, you’ll have an easier time completing each task.Keep it simple. The fewer parts you commit to your project, the easier it will be to complete. Many pop songs have 32 tracks on the low end and more than 100 tracks on the not-so-high end, but that doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Lots of great songs have only four instruments, including the lead vocal. Try to simplify your project; you’ll find that completing your project is much easier when it isn’t complicated.The more you create, the better you’ll get. The more projects you complete, the more confidence you’ll have. With confidence and chops, you’ll tackle more ambitious projects and find yourself working with higher-level musicians.
Now that you’ve read about the Logic Pro producer’s mindset, it’s time to get your gear ready to handle your mad genius.
Connecting Your Logic Pro Studio
You can do a lot just with the Logic Pro software. You can play the software instruments with your computer keyboard by using musical typing (described in Chapter 7). You can import media from a variety of sources, such as iTunes or iMovie (as detailed in Chapter 8). You can use headphones or your computer speakers to listen to your project. To take advantage of all that Logic Pro has to offer, however, you’ll want to connect some peripheral devices.
Consider adding some or all of the following devices to your studio:
Audio interface: You’ll need to get audio into and out of your computer. Your computer probably has a built-in mic, but you might also want to capture audio from a variety of sources such as a keyboard, guitar, and microphone. You may want to be able to record more than one instrument at a time. Audio interfaces allow you to get professional sounding audio into your Logic Pro project. You can get inexpensive, good quality input devices through major retailers such as Amazon and the Apple store, or you can search eBay and Craigslist for used options. USB and Thunderbolt connectivity are standard on the latest Apple computers. Firewire might be another option, depending on the capabilities and age of your computer.Speakers: In the pro audio community, your speakers are known as monitors. In a pinch, your computer speakers will do just fine. I use them to do a chunk of my mixing because many people listen to music on their laptop’s speakers. (The same advice goes for Apple’s earbuds, which are provided with all their mobile devices.) For a more accurate picture of your audio, listen to your project on a set of monitors that produces the entire frequency range. There’s a good chance that the audio interface you choose will have a stereo monitor output for connecting a pair of speakers.MIDI controller: MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) allows devices to talk to each other and enables you to control all the wonderful software instruments that come with Logic Pro. A MIDI controller can be a keyboard, drum pads, or any other device that transmits MIDI. MIDI controllers connect to your computer by USB or by a separate MIDI interface for devices that have 5-pin DIN connectors.iPad: The Logic Remote iPad app can control software instruments and the mixer, execute key commands, and more. Best of all, the app is free! It connects to Logic Pro through your Wi-Fi network. Got a keyboard sitting 20 feet across the room? No problem: Use the iPad to control Logic Pro remotely. I cover Logic Remote in Chapter 20.Setting up your computer
If you haven’t already installed Logic Pro X on you computer, get it from the Apple App Store. Open the App Store in your Applications folder and search for Logic Pro X. Purchase and install it (an installation wizard will guide you) — but be patient while downloading because the program is about 800MB. You need a minimum of 5GB of disk space plus 35GB if you want to add optional content available through a free in-app download. You also need a minimum of 4GB of RAM, a display with 1280-by-768 resolution or higher, and OS X v10.8.4 or later.
To download the additional Logic Pro X content, launch Logic Pro X. Choose Logic Pro X⇒Download Additional Content. Select all the additional content packages you want to install, and then click the Install button.
I recommend finding the hard drive space to download the additional content because the instruments, samples, and loops you get are fantastic and fun to play.
Here are some tips to make your experience with Logic Pro X as smooth as possible:
Pay attention to Time Machine backups. If you use Time Machine to back up your computer, Time Machine might access the hard drive while you’re accessing the hard drive with Logic Pro. As a result, you might get an error if you’re working on a project with a high track count or lots of samples streamed from the disk. Turn off Time Machine temporarily if you encounter any issues.Shut down other apps if you run out of power or if Logic Pro gets glitchy. When I arrange or edit my projects, I often leave other apps open. When I’m recording or in the final process of mixing, however, I close all other apps so that the hard drive is free and extra power is available for processor-intensive Logic Pro effects.Prevent app nap in OS X Mavericks. When apps are hidden and not actively working, they enter app nap to save power and battery life. This feature might get in the way if you put Logic Pro in the background while you, say, look at lyrics in a text document while recording your voice. To prevent Logic Pro “napping,” go to the Applications folder, right-click or Ctrl-click the Logic Pro X application, and choose Get Info. Then select the Prevent App Nap check box.Show Advanced Tools. Logic Pro X has with several advanced features that aren’t available by default. You should enable them so that you can follow along with the examples in this book. In the main menu, choose Logic Pro X⇒Preferences⇒Advanced Tools and then select the Show Advanced Tools check box, as shown in Figure 1-1.Figure 1-1: The Logic Pro X Advanced Preferences pane.
Now that you’ve installed Logic Pro X and made a few tweaks, you’re ready to connect your hardware and start making music.
Connecting your hardware
If you plan on recording audio, you'll need a way to get audio into Logic Pro. Your Mac probably has a built-in line in or microphone. These may work in a pinch, but professional-quality recordings need professional hardware. Luckily, most professional hardware is compatible with Logic Pro X, so you should have a simple plug-and-play experience.
After you connect your audio hardware, you tell Logic Pro how to use it by choosing Logic Pro X⇒Preferences⇒Audio. Select the Devices tab, as shown in Figure 1-2, and use the Output Device and Input Device drop-down menus to choose your audio hardware.
You can get to Logic Pro X Preferences quickly by pressing +comma (,). This key command will display the Preferences in most applications on your Mac.
Figure 1-2: In the Audio Preferences pane, choose and configure your audio hardware.
Similarly, if you plan to control Logic Pro from a MIDI controller, your computer needs to be connected to the controller. Many controllers will send and receive MIDI through USB, eliminating the need for a third-party interface. Other controllers may use 5-pin DIN cables and require a hardware MIDI interface to go between the computer and the controller. Check the literature; Logic Pro will probably be mentioned.
After you’ve connected your MIDI controller, Logic Pro will automatically listen for your controller’s signals on the currently selected track. Playing software instruments with a MIDI keyboard controller is usually a plug-and-play experience without any need for customization.
With all your hardware connected, Logic Pro X is ready and waiting for your commands.
Building common setups
To help you visualize what a complete hardware and software setup looks like, I’ve designed some possible systems. You can create music with a computer and the Logic Pro software alone. However, if your goals are more ambitious and you want to get good sounds into and out of Logic Pro, consider your hardware and the acoustics of your listening environment. Idealized scenarios aren’t necessary for good quality or enjoyment. With a Mac computer and Logic Pro X, your baseline for quality and fun is already high.
It’s easy to believe that you need the best equipment (and a lot of it) to create anything worthy of attention. Don’t believe the hype and don’t get GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). Spend your money wisely and spend your time creating, not buying. The setups in this section can be built inexpensively.
In a recording setup, such as the one shown in Figure 1-3, you need to get audio from instruments or microphones into Logic Pro. You also need to hear what you’re recording through monitors or headphones. Your audio interface is the intermediary between your computer and the peripherals.
Figure 1-3: A typical recording setup.
In a MIDI studio, such as the one in Figure 1-4, instruments such as synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and even alternate controllers (for example, a guitar MIDI system) connect to a MIDI interface, which transmits the MIDI messages from the various instruments to the computer. An audio interface is still needed to transmit audio in and out of your system.
Figure 1-4: A studio of MIDI instruments.
If all you do is mix other people’s music, you may never need to do any recording of your own. In this case, you need an audio interface to get audio from Logic Pro and into a pair of monitors, as shown in Figure 1-5. You may, however, use a controller to mimic a mixing console with faders, knobs, buttons, and other useful features that control Logic Pro remotely.
Figure 1-5: A mixing studio.
I love to travel, and I never go anywhere without a laptop and an instrument. I travel with guitars, drum machines, small keyboards, and sometimes more than one of each. I like to keep the setup as simple as possible while affording me the flexibility that I love. In a mobile rig, such as the one shown in Figure 1-6, headphones will replace speakers, and portable interfaces and microphones will be used to get audio in and out of Logic Pro.
Figure 1-7: A mobile audio rig.
If you plan on performing live, consider buying MainStage, the companion app to Logic Pro. MainStage shares all the instruments and presets with Logic Pro but is designed for live performance. It has a gorgeous full-screen interface that’s easy to read on stage. MainStage doesn’t include features that you don’t need live, such as notation or audio and MIDI editors.
There’s never been a better time to be a Logic Pro user. You get an amazing studio at an amazing price and you can do amazing things with it. I hope you’re as excited as I am to dig into what Logic Pro can do.
Chapter 2
Examining Logic Pro Projects
In This Chapter
Starting and finishing projects
Discovering some timesaving workflow tips
Backing up and securing your projects
Sharing your projects for collaboration
Logic Pro projects are similar to any computer file types, except they’re larger in scope than files such as text documents. You might be shocked to see an entire chapter about a file type, but there’s so much more you can do with Logic Pro projects than you can with other file types that you’ll soon understand how important they are to the creative process.
Projects are flexible. When disk space is a concern, for example, you can save only the assets you want to keep. You can create project templates to speed up your workflow and set up Logic Pro exactly how you want to work. Each project contains global settings of the entire project as well as different snapshots of the project, such as different arrangements, mixes, or treatments. For example, you can create an alternate version of your project if the producer calls for a version without a vocal (for when the performer needs to sing live on TV to a backing track).
In this chapter, I cover naming conventions to keep all your projects organized, tips and tricks to speed up your workflow, strategies for archiving and backing up your work, and much more.
Starting Your Project
A project is the file type that you work with in Logic Pro. The file extension of a Logic Pro project is .logicx. The project file contains MIDI events, parameter settings, and information about the audio and video in your project.
To get the big picture of your project and how it relates to Logic Pro, the hierarchy goes like this:
Project⇒Tracks⇒Regions⇒Events
Your project contains tracks. Your tracks contain regions. Your regions contain events. The File menu is where you do most of your project-level work.
To start an empty default Logic Pro project, choose File⇒New or press Shift++N. A New Tracks dialog window opens, as shown in Figure 2-1. At the top of the screen, choose the type of track you would like to begin working with and then click Create.
Figure 2-1: The New Tracks dialog is where you choose your first track.
A more advanced and customized way to start a new project is to choose File⇒New from Template (+N). The Project Chooser window opens, as shown in Figure 2-2. You can select a premade project template, a recent project, or your own customized project template. I show you how to create a customized orchestral template in Chapter 12. Click Details (on the left) to display even more options for your new project, such as the tempo, time and key signatures, and audio input and output.
You can change any project option, but you should stick to a single sample rate. The default sample rate, 44.1 kHz, is used for CD quality audio and is the choice I recommend to all beginners. The 48 kHz sample rate is often used in video projects. Using higher sample rates depends on your hardware capabilities and project needs.
After you start your project, you’re ready to begin recording, arranging, editing, and mixing. It’s a dream come true.
Choose a custom startup action to tell Logic Pro what to do when you launch it. If you’re the prolific type, you can create a new project every time you launch the app. If you, like me, are a mere mortal, you might want to open the most recent project on startup. Choose Logic Pro X⇒Preferences⇒General and select the Project Handling tab, as shown in Figure 2-3. Then select your startup action. Logic Pro is kind enough to ask you what to do when it starts. But it won’t take food and drink orders. I’ve tried.
Figure 2-2: Choose customizable project templates here.
Figure 2-3: Customize your startup action.
Opening a project
You can open a project in several ways. You can click a project file in Finder, which will launch Logic Pro and open the project. If another project is open, Logic Pro will ask if you want to close the project. More than one project can be open simultaneously, so it’s not necessary to close the current project. To switch between open projects, choose Window on the main menu and then select the project in the list at the bottom of the menu.
You can open a project also from the File menu. Choose File⇒Open or press +O and a dialog will open allowing you to navigate to the location of your project in Finder. Choose File⇒Open Recent instead to see a list of your recent projects.
Logic Pro can also open MIDI files, AAF files (Advanced Authoring Format files used by digital audio workstations such as Pro Tools), XML files (used by Final Cut Pro X), and GarageBand projects. It can also open projects created with earlier versions of Logic Pro.
If this is your first time launching Logic Pro X, you can open a demo project from the Help menu. Choose Help⇒Logic Pro Demo Project and a project by a chart-topping band will give you something to explore.
Saving a project
When you create your project, it is autosaved in the Logic folder under the temporary name Untitled.logicx. (You can get to the Logic folder in Finder by navigating to Users⇒USERNAME⇒Music⇒Logic.)
To save your project manually, choose File⇒Save. In the Save dialog that appears, name your project and choose a location or keep the default location, which is the Logic folder. You can choose to organize your project as a package or a folder. A package saves your project as a single file that includes all project assets. A folder saves the project file and saves its assets in subfolders.
You can also choose to copy specific file types into your project. It’s a good idea to copy your audio files into the project, but you might not want to copy samples due to their potentially large file size. The benefit to saving a project without assets is that you conserve hard drive space. The downside is that it can be easy to mistakenly delete assets the project depends on. Hard drive space is inexpensive, so it makes sense to include all assets in your project folder. By doing so, organizing, moving, and archiving projects will be easier.
I find saving projects as packages is the simplest approach. You can view the contents of packages (all package file types, including Pages, Keynote, and Numbers files) by Ctrl-clicking the package in Finder and choosing Show Package Contents. All your audio files and assets will be in the Finder window that opens.
If you want to save the project with a different name or in a different location, choose Save As on the File menu. If you want to create a copy of the project, choose Save a Copy As on the File menu.
Closing a project
When you’re ready to close your project, choose File⇒Close Project. If you’ve made any changes since you last saved your project, Logic Pro asks if you want to save the project. If you don’t want to keep those changes, select Don’t Save from the Save dialog.
