Logic Pro User Guide for Mac
- Welcome
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- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.6
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.4
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.2
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.0
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- What is Logic Pro for Mac?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use menu commands and key commands
- Use the complete set of Logic Pro features
- Undo and redo edits
- Manage Logic Pro content
- How to get help
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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 for Mac
- 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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- Tracks overview
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- Create tracks
- Create tracks using drag and drop
- Create tracks using existing channel strips
- Assign tracks to different channel strips
- Choose the default region type for software instrument tracks
- Select tracks
- Duplicate tracks
- Rename tracks
- Change track icons
- Change track colors
- Reorder tracks
- Zoom tracks
- Replace or double drum sounds
- Control timing with the groove track
- Use selection-based processing
- Edit track parameters
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- Overview
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- Before recording software instruments
- Play software instruments
- Record software instruments
- Record additional software instrument takes
- Overdub software instrument recordings
- Spot erase software instrument recordings
- Use Note Repeat
- Replace software instrument recordings
- Record to multiple software instrument tracks
- Record multiple MIDI devices to multiple tracks
- Record software instruments and audio simultaneously
- Use step input recording techniques
- Record MIDI messages from another music app
- 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 for Mac
- 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 for Mac advanced editors overview
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- Audio File Editor overview
- Play audio files in the Audio File Editor
- Navigate audio files in the Audio File Editor
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- Audio File Editor edit commands
- Edit audio files with transient markers
- Use the Audio File Editor Pencil tool
- Trim or silence audio files
- Remove DC offset
- Set audio file levels
- Normalize audio files
- Fade audio files
- Reverse audio and invert phase
- Audio File Editor Loop commands
- Undo Audio File Editor edits
- Backup audio files
- Use an external sample editor
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- Mixing overview
- Set channel strip input 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 in Logic Pro for Mac
- 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
- 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
- Correct tempo analysis results using beat markers
- 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 for Mac
- Copy staffs or voices in the Staff Style window in Logic Pro for Mac
- Copy staff styles between projects
- Delete staff styles
- Assign notes to voices and staffs
- Display polyphonic parts on separate staffs
- Change the staff assignment of score symbols
- Beam notes across staffs
- Use mapped staff styles for drum notation
- Predefined staff styles
- Share a score
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- Key commands overview
- Browse, import, and save key commands
- Assign key commands
- Copy and print key commands
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- Global Commands
- Global Control Surfaces Commands
- Various Windows
- Windows Showing Audio Files
- Main Window Tracks and Various Editors
- Various Editors
- Views Showing Time Ruler
- Views Showing Automation
- Main Window Tracks
- Live Loops Grid
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Library
- Sampler
- Drum Machine Designer
- Step Input Keyboard
- Smart Controls
- Tool Menu
- Control Surface Install Window
- Touch Bar shortcuts
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- Working with your control surface
- Connect control surfaces
- Add a control surface to Logic Pro for Mac
- Automatic assignment for USB MIDI controllers
- Grouping control surfaces
- Control Surfaces settings overview
- Modal dialog display
- Tips for using your control surface
- Supported control surfaces
- Software and firmware for Logic Pro for Mac
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- Environment overview
- Common object parameters
- Customize the Environment
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- Fader objects overview
- Use fader objects
- Play back fader movements
- Work with object groups
- Fader styles
- Fader functions: MIDI events
- Fader functions: range, value as
- Fader functions: filter
- Vector fader
- Special faders overview
- Cable switchers
- Meta event faders
- SysEx faders
- Work with SysEx messages
- Special functions
- Ornament objects
- MMC record buttons
- Keyboard objects
- Monitor objects
- Channel splitter object
- Physical input objects
- Physical input objects
- MIDI click objects
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- Use MIDI plug-ins
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- Arpeggiator overview
- Arpeggiator control parameters
- Note order parameters overview
- Note order variations
- Note order inversions
- Arpeggiator pattern parameters overview
- Use Live mode
- Use Grid mode
- Arpeggiator options parameters
- Arpeggiator keyboard parameters
- Use keyboard parameters
- Assign controllers
- Modifier controls
- Note Repeater controls
- Randomizer controls
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- Use Scripter
- Use the Script Editor
- Scripter API overview
- MIDI processing functions overview
- HandleMIDI function
- ProcessMIDI function
- GetParameter function
- SetParameter function
- ParameterChanged function
- Reset function
- JavaScript objects overview
- Use the JavaScript Event object
- Use the JavaScript TimingInfo object
- Use the Trace object
- Use the MIDI event beatPos property
- Use the JavaScript MIDI object
- Create Scripter controls
- Transposer controls
- Record MIDI to Track
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- Alchemy overview
- Alchemy interface overview
- Alchemy Name bar
- Alchemy file locations
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- Alchemy source overview
- Source master controls
- Import browser
- Source subpage controls
- Source filter controls
- Source filter use tips
- Source elements overview
- Additive element controls
- Additive element effects
- Spectral element controls
- Spectral element effects
- Pitch correction controls
- Formant filter controls
- Granular element controls
- Sampler element controls
- VA element controls
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Alchemy master voice section
- Alchemy Extended parameters
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- ES2 overview
- ES2 interface overview
- ES2 integrated effects processor controls
- Use ES2 in Surround mode
- Extended parameters
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- Sample Alchemy overview
- Interface overview
- Add source material
- Edit mode
- Play modes
- Source overview
- Synthesis modes
- Granular controls
- Additive effects
- Additive effect controls
- Spectral effect
- Spectral effect controls
- Filter module
- Low and highpass filter
- Comb PM filter
- Downsampler filter
- FM filter
- Envelope generators
- Mod Matrix
- Modulation routing
- Motion mode
- Trim mode
- More menu
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- Sculpture overview
- Sculpture interface
- Global parameters
- Amplitude envelope parameters
- Use the Waveshaper
- Filter parameters
- Output parameters
- Use surround range and diversity
- Define MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
- Copyright
![](https://help.apple.com/assets/6463F7B2A10C47224C458830/6463F7B8A10C47224C458887/en_US/958a919fd7f4db100ada4ae333e24177.png)
Use Drum Machine Designer pad controls in Logic Pro for Mac
Move your pointer over, or click, the icon or pad background of any of the 16 pads shown on each grid page to access pad parameters and to view Drum Machine Designer Kit Piece Controls in Logic Pro for Mac. Use the pad controls bar below the grid to access editing options and to navigate between pad pages.
Use the kit controls bar above the grid to view and edit kit parameters in the Smart Controls pane, when visible.
![Figure. Drum Machine Designer with a pad selected, showing kit piece Smart Controls parameters.](https://help.apple.com/assets/6463F7B2A10C47224C458830/6463F7B8A10C47224C458887/en_US/e19d5c9a31834438de8e887d53cc556f.png)
Pad parameters
Pad: Move the pointer over the pad to view Mute, Solo, Input, Output, and Action pop-up menu options. Click the speaker icon to play the sound. Drag the pad to reorder it in the grid. Double-click the pad to rename it (and the subtrack). You can also exchange the kit piece sound assigned to the pad.
Note: When you click a pad icon or pad background, the Smart Controls pane updates to show parameters specific to the sound. Click the disclosure arrow at the lower left of the grid if the Smart Controls pane is not visible.
Note: The kit icon in the kit controls bar displays a muted speaker icon when you move the pointer over it during playback. This can be used to immediately stop playback of all kit pieces. This is useful when you want to silence a long One Shot sample that you are previewing in a Quick Sampler-based kit piece, for example.
Unassigned pad: A pad without a corresponding subtrack is called an unassigned pad. You can recognize it by the missing icon, missing kit piece name and missing kit name, and by the “+” icon that appears when you move the pointer over the pad. Click the “+” icon to create a new, empty subtrack and channel strip, or click the pad and choose a kit piece in the Library. You can also drag an audio sample or a region onto the pad.
Note: In cases where you have used the Clear Pad command, the pad will have no assigned sound, but will have a corresponding subtrack, so the “+” icon is not displayed.
Mute button: Use to silence the subtrack assigned to the pad. Multiple pads can be muted.
Solo button: Use to hear the sound in isolation. This solos the subtrack. All other pads are muted, indicated by a flashing Mute button. Multiple pads can be soloed.
Input pop-up menu: Choose, or learn, an input note number for the pad. You can assign multiple pads to the same input note, allowing you to create layered sounds consisting of multiple channel strips with different instruments.
Output pop-up menu: Choose, or learn, an output note number for the pad.
Note: MIDI notes received on the main track are distributed to subtracks, according to the input and output notes assigned to the pads. This is true for notes from regions on the main track, and for notes played in real time when the main track is the focused track. For example, if the pad assigned to the first subtrack is set to input note C1 and to output note G2, a C1 played on the main track is converted to a G2. This note value is passed to the first subtrack and plays a G2 on the instrument inserted in the subtrack channel strip.
Action pop-up menu: Choose a command for the pad.
Exclusive Group: Choose a group for the pad. You can assign multiple pads to the same group. As soon as one drum sound in the group is triggered, all other sounds in that same group are stopped. For example, you could group three pads with open, semi-closed, and closed hi-hat sounds. Only one of these sounds can be played at a time, mirroring the behavior of real hi-hats.
Note: The group number is shown at the top right of each pad in the group when any group member is selected.
Open/Close Library: Open or close the Library pane. Click a patch name in the Library to exchange the assigned kit piece.
Resample Pad: Choose to initiate a resampling process. This sends the input note of the selected pad to Drum Machine Designer, which plays the assigned instrument, inclusive of all channel strip and main track plug-ins. The resulting Drum Machine Designer output is resampled, and loaded into a new Quick Sampler instance on a new channel strip and subtrack, which is automatically assigned to the first available (lowest numbered) unassigned pad.
Note: If multiple pads are assigned to the same input note, the mixed sound of all pads is resampled. This allows you to combine the sounds of multiple pads onto one pad.
Update Kit Name for this Kit Piece: Choose to apply the current kit name to the selected kit piece.
Set Output Note based on DMD Pad instruments: Choose to assign the kit piece output note according to the Root Key of the Quick Sampler or other instrument. This ensures that the sample is triggered at the original speed in Quick Sampler and at the correct pitch in other instrument sounds.
Assign Track Icon: Choose to open a window where you can choose a kit piece icon from several categories. Select a category from the list and click an icon to assign it to the kit piece.
Clear Pad: Remove the kit piece assigned to the pad. This clears the channel strip of the pad subtrack.
Add kit pieces to unassigned pads
In Logic Pro, move the pointer over an unassigned pad.
Do one of the following:
Click a kit piece patch in the Library to add the kit piece.
Drag a MIDI or audio region, or an audio file from the Finder, Audio File Browser, or Loop Browser, onto the pad. Files can be in any audio file format that Logic Pro supports.
A resampling process takes place when a region is dropped onto a pad and a new Quick Sampler instance is inserted on a new subtrack, which is automatically assigned to the first available (lowest numbered) unassigned pad.
Click the “+” icon that appears to create a new, empty channel strip and subtrack.
Note: In cases where you have used the Clear Pad command, the pad will have no assigned sound, but will have a corresponding subtrack, so the “+” icon is not displayed. Click the pad background to assign a sound to the pad and subtrack.
Add samples to unused pads on a Drum Machine Designer main track or subtrack
You can quickly add samples to unused pads by dragging content to the main track header, or you can replace the sample for a pad by dragging content to the corresponding subtrack header.
In Logic Pro, drag one or more audio files, regions, or Apple Loops to a Drum Machine Designer main track or subtrack header.
When adding an audio file, the “Add Sample to” dialog appears in the track header. Drag the items to the Drum Machine Designer zone.
The items are added to the first (lowest numbered) unassigned pads.
When adding an audio or software instrument region, a resampling process is triggered, with the region bounced offline as an audio file.
When adding a Step Sequencer region, a resampling process is triggered, with the region bounced offline as an audio file.
Note: The resampling process that takes place when a region is dropped onto a pad inserts a new Quick Sampler instance on a new subtrack, which is mapped to the first available (lowest numbered) unassigned pad.
Play a drum or kit piece
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Place the pointer over a pad, then click the speaker icon. The sound is played from start to end.
Place the pointer over a pad, then click-hold the speaker icon. The sound is played and stops immediately when you release the button.
Mute a kit piece
In Logic Pro, place the pointer over the pad to view available options, then click the Mute button that appears.
The muted pad is dimmed and the Mute button on the dimmed pad is highlighted. This silences the subtrack assigned to the pad.
Solo a kit piece
In Logic Pro, place the pointer over the pad to view available options, then click the Solo button that appears.
All other pads are dimmed, and the Solo button is highlighted. This solos the subtrack assigned to the pad.
Edit the sound of a kit piece
You can use Smart Controls parameters to process and affect the overall kit or selected kit piece.
Note: If the Smart Controls pane is not visible, click the disclosure arrow at the lower left of the grid.
In Logic Pro, click the icon or a pad background of the kit piece you want to edit.
Click the Pad Controls button in the pad controls bar.
Adjust the Smart Controls parameters for the kit piece.
To learn more about how each control affects the sound, see Drum Machine Designer Kit Piece Controls in Logic Pro for Mac.
Note: If a Drum Machine Designer subtrack or pad uses a Quick Sampler or Drum Synth plug-in, you will see additional Q-Sampler Main, Q-Sampler Details, or Drum Synth view buttons alongside the Pad Controls button below the grid. Use these to access the respective instrument plug-in interface and parameters directly at the bottom of the Drum Machine Designer window. See Quick Sampler overview and Drum Synth overview for details on editing parameters that you can view in the lower portion of the Drum Machine Designer interface.
Save an edited kit piece sound as a kit piece patch
In Logic Pro, click the icon or a pad background of the edited kit piece you want to save.
Click the Save button at the bottom of the Library pane. If the Library is not visible, click the Action pop-up menu on the pad, then choose “Open Library”.
In the Finder window:
Browse to the file location you want to use. The default folder location is User Kit Piece Patches. If required, create a new folder.
Type the kit piece patch name, then press the Save button.
Reorder kit pieces
In Logic Pro, you can reorder kit pieces in the following ways:
Drag a pad to an empty location in the grid.
Drag a pad between two pads in the grid. A vertical blue line is shown to indicate the target location. The pad is placed between the target pads. Adjacent (and other) pads move to accommodate the dropped pad.
Drag a pad between pages in the grid. An arrow is briefly shown at the left or right edge of the grid, which then moves to the target page. Drop the pad at the location you want to use on the page.
Drag a pad onto another pad in the grid to swap their positions.
Note: Dragging behavior is affected by the option you chose in the “Reorder Pads” submenu in the kit controls bar Action pop-up menu.
Change Sounds: Changing the pad layout moves the sounds of the pads, but pad input and output note settings are not changed: The sounds will appear in a different order when played via a MIDI keyboard or by a recorded region.
Visual Only: Changing the pad layout moves the pads and sounds together, so reordering will only have a visual effect: The pads will appear in a different order, but assigned sounds are still played by the same MIDI notes.
Replace kit pieces using pads
In Logic Pro, click a pad icon or pad background to select it.
Do one of the following:
Click a kit piece patch in the Library to exchange the kit piece. If the Library is not visible, choose Open Library from the Action or shortcut menu. Use Control-click to access the shortcut menu.
Drag a MIDI or audio region, or an audio file from the Finder, Audio File Browser, or Loop Browser, onto the pad. Files can be in any audio file format that Logic Pro supports.
Note: A Replace with Quick Sampler message is shown on the pad.
Replace kit pieces using Drum Machine Designer subtracks
In Logic Pro, drag an audio file, region, or Apple Loop to a Drum Machine Designer subtrack.
When the Replace Sample dialog appears, drop the item.