Logic Pro User Guide
- Welcome
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- What is Logic Pro?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use menu commands and key commands in Logic Pro
- Use the complete set of Logic Pro features
- 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 key commands
- Customize the control bar
- Change the LCD display mode in Logic Pro
- Monitor and reset MIDI events
- Use the cycle area
- Use the Chase Events function
- Use Apple Remote to control Logic Pro
- Use Logic Remote to control Logic Pro projects
- 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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- 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 in Logic Pro
- Normalize audio regions in the Tracks area
- Create aliases of MIDI regions
- Convert repeated MIDI regions to loops
- Change the color of regions
- Convert audio regions to samples for a sampler instrument
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
- 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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- Logic Pro 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 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 in Logic Pro
- Support for ARA 2 compatible plug-ins
- 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
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- Tempo overview
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- Smart Tempo overview
- Use free tempo recording in Logic Pro
- Choose the Project Tempo mode
- Choose the Flex & Follow setting
- Use Smart Tempo with multitrack audio
- Work in the Smart Tempo Editor
- Improve the tempo analysis using hints in Logic Pro
- Correct tempo analysis results using beat markers in Logic Pro
- Protect Smart Tempo edits by locking a range
- Match audio recordings to the project tempo
- Match the tempo to an audio region
- Use audio file tempo information
- Record tempo changes
- Use the Tempo Interpreter
- Use the tempo fader
- Control project volume
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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 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
- Copy staffs or voices in the Staff Style window in Logic Pro
- 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
- 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 settings overview
- Modal dialog display
- Tips for using your control surface
- Supported control surfaces
- Software and firmware for Logic Pro
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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 the 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 MIDI plug-in 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
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Alchemy master voice section
- Alchemy 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
- Define MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
- Copyright
Use Sampler Group view in Logic Pro
You can choose from three editor views in the Mapping pane: Key Mapping Editor, Group view, and Zone view. Click the buttons at the top right to switch between these edit panes. The menu bar at the top of the Mapping pane contains elements that are common to all editor views. See Mapping pane menu bar.
In Group view, you can: View and edit all group parameters, organized into columns, with related parameters shown in subcolumns. Group parameters provide simultaneous control of all zones assigned to the group.
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Click a group name or number to select it, or Shift-click or drag (from an empty area outside any group) to select multiple groups. You can also select groups with your MIDI keyboard.
Note: To enable the selection of groups with a MIDI keyboard, turn on the Select from Last Played Keys > Groups or Groups and Zones menu option in the Mapping pane Edit menu.
Note: When multiple groups are selected, changes to parameter values affect all selected groups. Each group has a number that you can click to move focus to that specific group, when multiple groups are selected. The focus feature makes it easier for you to edit complex mappings that contain multiple overlapping groups.
Value changes are relative. For example, in two selected groups with High Velocity values of 12 and 27, reducing the value of the first group to 10 reduces the second group value to 25.
Click parameter subcolumn headers to sort groups. For example, click the Low Key Range subcolumn header to sort zones by the lowest note.
Control-click a parameter column header to open a shortcut menu where you can hide or show individual group parameters. You can also quickly show all columns, restore the default column view, and restore the default column width.
Horizontally drag parameter columns to resize.
Drag the scrollbars to navigate to non visible group parameters. You can also use a two-finger swipe on your trackpad to scroll vertically or horizontally. If you are using a Magic Mouse, use single-finger swipes.
Group view parameters
Drag vertically in parameter value fields to change them. For example, vertically drag the value shown for a group in the Pan column to change it. Alternatively, you can double-click in a field and enter a value, then press the Return key.
Group parameters: New groups are automatically assigned a consecutive number.
Mute button: Mute or unmute a group.
Solo button: Solo or unsolo a group. All other groups are silenced when active. You can solo multiple groups.
Name field: Displays the group name. Double-click to enter a new group name.
Mixer parameters: Globally adjust group settings.
Volume field: Adjust the overall level of the group—and, therefore, the volume of all zones in the group. This works much like a subgroup on a mixing console.
Pan field: Adjust the pan position of the group—stereo balance for stereo samples—and the pan position of all assigned zones simultaneously.
Output field: Use to define the outputs used by the group. Choices include the main outputs, paired channels, or individual outputs. This allows individual groups to be routed independently to aux channels in a multi-output Sampler instance.
Key Range parameters: Use to define a key range for the group. When you play notes outside this range, zones assigned to this group will not be heard.
Low field: Set the lowest note for the group.
High field: Set the highest note for the group.
XFade Type pop-up menu: Choose the crossfade type that best suits the group audio material. The Linear dB and Linear Gain options scale the amplitude for the group crossfade. Equal Power applies an exponential crossfade curve that causes a volume boost of 3 dB in the middle of the crossfade range. This fades out/fades in at an equal volume level. See Fade between sample groups in Sampler.
XFade field: Set the crossfade range for zones grouped by the specified key range. Only zones within the specified key range are crossfaded.
Velocity Range parameters: Use to define a velocity range for the group. When you play notes outside this velocity range, you will not hear zones assigned to this group. This feature is useful when you want to dynamically mix—or switch between—grouped zones (samples) by playing your MIDI keyboard harder or softer. This is ideal for layered sounds, such as a piano/string layer, or when switching between different percussion samples, as examples.
Low field: Set the lowest velocity that triggers the group.
High field: Set the highest velocity that triggers the group.
XFade Type pop-up menu: Choose the crossfade type that best suits the group audio material. The Linear dB and Linear Gain options scale the amplitude for the group crossfade. Equal Power applies an exponential crossfade curve that causes a volume boost of 3 dB in the middle of the crossfade range. This fades out/fades in at an equal volume level.
XFade field: Set the crossfade range for zones grouped by the specified velocity range. Only zones within the specified velocity range are crossfaded.
Round Robin parameters: Control groups in a round robin cycle. Round robin cycles are used to switch between groups of samples assigned to a single key. See Make advanced group selections.
ON/OFF button: Turn on to use the group in a round robin cycle.
Cycle pop-up menu: Choose to add or remove groups from the round robin cycle, or move the selected group to the end of the cycle, or to a new cycle.
Enable by Articulation parameters: Use to define an Articulation ID for the group. This parameter is available as a modulation target, so you can switch between sample groups with a MIDI controller. For example, you could use your keyboard modulation wheel to switch between several hi-hat groups with different opening degrees. See Sampler articulation handling.
ON/OFF button: Turn on to use an Articulation ID for the group.
Value field: Set the Articulation ID number used by the group.
Enable by Bend parameters: Use to define a bend range for the group. Values outside the specified range do not affect the group. See Make advanced group selections for information on the use of all Enable by… options.
ON/OFF button: Turn on to use a defined bend range for the group.
Low field: Set the minimum bend range value.
High field: Set the maximum bend range value.
Enable by Channel parameters: Use to define a MIDI channel for the group. Only this MIDI channel affects the group.
ON/OFF button: Turn on to use a defined MIDI channel for the group.
Value field: Set the MIDI channel.
Enable by Control parameters: Use to define a MIDI controller and range for the group. If you set up controller 64 (Sustain), for example, the group will be held (sustained) when an incoming controller 64 message (within the defined range) is received. Controller values outside the specified range do not affect the group.
ON/OFF button: Turn on to use a controller for the group.
Value field: Set the MIDI controller number.
Low field: Set the minimum controller value.
High field: Set the maximum controller value.
Enable by Note parameters: Use to define a MIDI note number for the group. Only this MIDI note number affects the group.
ON/OFF button: Turn on to use a defined MIDI note number for the group.
Value field: Set the MIDI note value.
Enable by Tempo parameters: Use to define a tempo range for the group. Values outside the specified range do not affect the group.
ON/OFF button: Turn on to use a defined tempo range for the group.
Low field: Set the minimum tempo range value.
High field: Set the maximum tempo range value.
Release Trigger parameters: Use to determine if zones pointing to this group are triggered on key down or on key release. This is useful for emulating organ key clicks, for example, where you may want the organ note triggered on key down, but the organ click triggered on key release.
ON/OFF button: Turn on to turn on key release triggers. If turned off, zones in the group are triggered only on key down.
Decay button: Turn on to turn on the (Decay) Time field.
Time field: Use to set the time it takes for the level of a sample (triggered by key release) to decay.
Note: The Decay button and Time parameters function only when the Release Trigger parameter is turned on (set to key release).
Playback parameters: Use these parameters to determine playback behavior for the group.
Voices pop-up menu: Use to set the number of voices that the group can play.
Exclusive pop-up menu: Assign multiple groups to the same Exclusive Class. Groups in the same class can only be used independently. As soon as one group in the class is triggered, all other groups in that same class are disabled.
Tip: A practical use of the Playback parameters is to set up a classic hi-hat mode within a full drum kit that is mapped across the keyboard. For example, you could assign an open and closed hi-hat sample to an exclusive group and set the Voices parameter of the group to 1. The most recently triggered of the two hi-hat samples mutes the other because only one voice is allowed for the group. This mirrors the real-world behavior of hi-hats. The other sounds of the drum kit can still be played polyphonically, if samples in zones are assigned to another group.
Envelope 1 and 2 Offsets parameters: Independently offset the envelope parameter settings for each group. This is useful if you want Envelope 1, for example, to uniquely affect the zones in a specific group—after the initial impact of the envelope on other played groups. See Sampler envelopes for details on envelope parameters.
Filter Offsets parameters: Independently offset the Cutoff and Resonance settings for each group. This can be useful if you want the initial impact of a note to be unfiltered for one group but not other groups. See Sampler Synth pane for details on filter parameters.
Playback Details parameters: Use to define the sample select behavior for the group.
Sample Select Random Offset field: Set a randomization range offset value for Sample Select modulation, which you define with the Sample Select Random parameter in the Synth Details slide-out panel.
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF