Logic Express 8 Getting Started Apple Inc. © 2007 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Under the copyright laws, this manual may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Apple. Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying software licence agreement. The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Use of the "keyboard" Apple logo (Option-Shift-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple Inc. is not responsible for printing or clerical errors. Note: Because Apple frequently releases new versions and updates to its system software, applications, and Internet sites, images shown in this book may be slightly different from what you see on your screen. Apple Inc. 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 95014-2084 408-996-1010 www.apple.com Apple, FireWire, iMovie, iPod, iTunes, Logic, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Finder and Spotlight are trademarks of Apple Inc. AppleCare is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective companies. Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the performance or use of these products. 1 Contents Preface 5 6 7 9 9 10 13 18 21 22 25 25 28 30 33 34 36 38 44 47 47 50 53 56 58 59 59 61 Welcome to Logic Conventions of This Manual Starting Your Project and Importing Media Files A Quick Note About Templates Getting to Know the Arrange Window Creating Tracks Adding Media Files Navigating Your Project Undoing Operations Selecting Tracks and Regions Recording Preparing to Record Audio Recording Audio Regions Recording an Instrument Part Creating Your Arrangement Choosing Tools Muting and Soloing Tracks and Regions Editing Regions Using the Inspector Editing MIDI Events Getting to Know the MIDI Editors Editing and Creating Events Using Instruments and Effects Using the Library Editing Instruments and Effects Working With Audio Files Editing Audio Files Managing Your Audio Files Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 3 Chapter 7 63 64 65 67 70 71 71 72 73 75 75 76 79 79 80 81 83 89 107 Mixing and Exporting Your Project Using the Channel Strip Controls Changing the Routing of Channel Strips Automating Your Mix Exporting Your Project Speeding Up Your Workflow Using Key Commands Using Screensets Using Control Surfaces Audio and MIDI Basics MIDI Audio Audio and MIDI in Mac OS X Core Audio Core MIDI Optimizing Your Computer Audio System Troubleshooting Chapter 8 Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Glossary Index 4 Contents This guide is designed to get you up and running with Logic in the shortest possible time. It does not cover all areas of the program. What you will find are descriptions of the most essential aspects of Logic's interface, commands, and menus--the "tip of the iceberg," if you will. In most cases, one method will be shown. As you become more familiar with Logic, you'll discover that there are often several ways to achieve an end result. The descriptions are laid out in a "what you see" fashion, and are generally paired with step-by-step instructions for accomplishing specific tasks. Follow these instructions to quickly learn how to handle MIDI and audio information via a series of examples. It goes without saying that you will be introduced to a number of new terms and concepts. The first rule: Don't panic! Just follow the steps, look at the screenshots (and Logic itself ), and take your time while trying things. The second rule: You can't break anything, so feel free to experiment. Do, however, pay attention to notes and warnings in the guide. In general, methods that work in one window will work identically (or similarly) throughout the application. Once you have a handle on the basics covered in this guide, you'll find that the more "advanced" functions are just as easy to master. If you'd like to learn more about digital audio and the elements of a music project, read Appendix A, "Audio and MIDI Basics." Appendix B provides information about Audio and MIDI in Mac OS X. Appendix C will help you to optimize your computer for music production. Additional, more comprehensive information can be found in the other Logic manuals. Some come as printed guides, but the complete collection is included in electronic form in the Documentation folder of the Logic Install DVD. The most important electronic books are also accessible from the Logic Help menu. Preface 5 Welcome to Logic Conventions of This Manual The following conventions are used in this manual: Menu Functions For functions that can be reached via hierarchical menus, the different menu levels are illustrated as follows: Menu > Menu entry > Function. Important Entries Some text will be shown as follows: Important: Information on function or parameter. These entries discuss a key concept or technical information that should, or must, be followed or taken into account. Please pay special attention to these entries. Notes Some sections provide additional information or tips that will assist your use of Logic. These are displayed as shown below: Note: Information on function or parameter. Key Commands Many Logic functions can be activated or accessed with key commands--computer keyboard shortcuts. The key commands mentioned in this guide are based on the English Standard key command set. Tips A number of shortcuts, alternative methods, or general working tips are included throughout the documentation. These may help your workflow, or provide additional information on other uses for functions. Tips are shown as below: Tip: Information on function or parameter. Warnings A few warning messages are included for functions that are destructive, and could result in irretrievable data loss, or could cause damage to your equipment. Warnings are displayed as follows: Warning: Information on function or parameter. Please pay special attention to these entries, as they can save you from making costly mistakes. 6 Preface Welcome to Logic 1 Starting Your Project and Importing Media Files 1 The basic Logic file (or document) type is the project. A project can contain audio recordings, MIDI performances, and your personal working preferences. A project must be open before you can work in Logic. To launch Logic, open and save a new project: 1 Double-click the Logic icon in the Applications folder. The Templates dialog appears. 2 Choose the Empty Project item in the Templates dialog. If not visible, click the Explore folder icon in the Collection column. 7 The empty project will open, and you will see the New Tracks dialog. 3 Ensure that the Audio button is highlighted. If not, click it. 4 For now, simply click the Create button at the lower-right corner of the New Tracks dialog. The main Logic window--the Arrange--is shown, with one audio track visible. 5 Choose File > Save As, which will open the Save As dialog. 6 Type in a new name, such as "test." Choose the desired folder path (or create a new one). 7 Ensure that the Include Assets and "Copy external audio files to project folder" checkboxes are enabled. Click the disclosure triangle to see the Advanced Options, if not visible. Note: The project assets may include audio files, video files, EXS instrument files, and more. Dependent on your choices in the advanced options, these files can be saved in the project folder. This simplifies archiving, and makes it easy to transport entire projects to other Logic-based studios (or computers). 8 Click the Save button at the lower-right corner. 8 Chapter 1 Starting Your Project and Importing Media Files A Quick Note About Templates When you first open Logic, it looks for a project file. If no suitable files are found, the Templates dialog automatically opens. You can also open it at any time by choosing File > New. The Templates dialog contains a number of "ready-to-wear" projects that have been customized for particular jobs; creating a printed score, working with film, creating a hip-hop track, and so on. Take a look at each of them, after you've read the guide. You can use these as starting points for your own projects, or can customize these (or create completely new) templates. Once you have spent a little time with Logic, you'll discover how you like to work, and how to set up and personalize Logic--to make it behave the way you like to work. For now, keep your customizations to a minimum. Getting to Know the Arrange Window After loading and saving your new project, and creating an audio track, you will see the following on screen: Arrange window Track list Bar ruler Local menu bar Click these buttons to display the Lists or Media area. Click this button to hide the Toolbar. Tool menu Click this button to display the Inspector. Inspector Toolbar Arrange area Playhead Arrange channel strips Vertical zoom control Horizontal zoom control Click these buttons to display one of the editors. Transport bar  Arrange window: This is the main window of Logic. It can incorporate all working areas and editors.  Main menu (not shown in image): Used for global file and edit operations, and to access program-wide options, including screenset functions (see "Using Screensets" on page 72). The Window menu is used to open different editor, and other, windows. Chapter 1 Starting Your Project and Importing Media Files 9  Toolbar: Toolbar buttons execute several major functions. The Media and Lists buttons open/close the Media and Lists areas (shown below the buttons, when open).  Local menu bar: Provides access to window-specific functions.  Tool menu: Provides access to tools, used for selection and editing tasks.  Bar ruler: Horizontally displays Logic's time axis--from left to right. It is also used for navigation, playback, and recording tasks.  Track list: This is where you select, create, move, and delete tracks.  Arrange area: This is the arrangement workspace. It can contain any number of MIDI or audio regions, aligned on horizontal track lanes (shown in the track list).  Playhead: The playhead indicates the current project position, and moves from left to right as the project is playing. The playhead can also be used as a target for paste operations.  Inspector: The Inspector is used to adjust various aspects of track or region playback. Channel strips--for the selected track, and its destination channel--are displayed at the bottom of the Inspector.  Editor buttons: The Mixer, Sample Editor, Piano Roll, Score, and Hyper Editor buttons open or close the corresponding editor window above the Transport bar--the Arrange area is resized to accommodate the editor.  Transport bar: Used to control playback and recording operations.  Zoom controls: Drag the Zoom control sliders to change the horizontal and vertical magnification factor of the window contents. Creating Tracks Logic works on the basis of tracks, much like a multi-track tape machine. You can see and access these tracks in the Arrange window track list. If you followed the steps outlined above when opening Logic, the project will contain a single audio track, called Audio 1. There are two other track types that can be used to create arrangements; instrument and external MIDI tracks. To create a few new tracks: 1 Click the + button directly above the track list. 2 In the New Tracks dialog, click the Audio button (if not already active). 3 Highlight the number "1" in the numeric field at the top of the dialog, and type in "3" . 10 Chapter 1 Starting Your Project and Importing Media Files Check out the Format, Input, and other options available while the dialog is open. 4 Click the Create button. The dialog closes, and three new audio tracks ("Audio 2," "Audio 3," and "Audio 4") are created in the Arrange track list. 5 Repeat the steps above, but click the Software Instrument button, and type "4" in the numeric field of the New Tracks dialog to create four new software instrument tracks ("Inst 1," "Inst 2," and so on). Important: Now would be a great time to save your project. Presuming you followed the steps when you first launched Logic, and have already "saved as," you can choose File > Save (or use the default Save key command: Command-S). You can also follow the steps above to create External MIDI tracks, which are used for the recording and playback of external MIDI synthesizers. Use of external MIDI tracks (and hardware) is discussed in the Logic user manual. You should be looking at something like this: Library The last of the new tracks ( ...