New Features in Logic Pro 8 This is an overview of the new features in Logic Pro 8. For more information on these features and their use, see the documents mentioned in the following sections. Logic Pro 8 Changes This section provides a summary of new or enhanced Logic Pro 8 features. Further details, including usage information, for these functions is found in the Logic Pro 8 User Manual. Interface The user interface of Logic Pro 8 has undergone a significant transformation. This includes general graphical enhancements that improve visibility and make things easier to use. Further changes include a number of new, or revamped, windows and dialogs, and simplified preferences and project settings. Menu structures have also been altered--again, streamlining use. The changes to the interface have resulted in the renaming of many on screen elements, settings, and preferences. This is also reflected in the documentation. See "Renaming of Functions and Elements" on page 6, for details on the main changes. New Arrange Window The key change to Logic Pro 8 is a new Arrange window that can incorporate all editor windows, the Mixer, and several new windows and on screen elements:  Media or Lists area: This new Arrange window area can be displayed at the right side of the Arrange window. It contains all list editors, the Audio Bin, Loop Browser, Library, and Browser. See "Media and Lists Area" on page 2.  Inspector: The Inspector is an enhanced replacement for the Parameters area of earlier Logic versions. See "The Inspector" on page 3. 1  Toolbar and Transport bar: A customizable Toolbar spans the top of the Arrange window. It contains buttons that open or close other Arrange window areas, plus several function buttons. The customizable Transport bar spans the lower edge of the Arrange window. See "Customizable Arrange Toolbar and Transport Bar" on page 4.  Editing area: You can open the Mixer, Sample Editor, Piano Roll Editor, Score Editor or Hyper Editor in the Arrange window by clicking the corresponding button--just above the Transport bar. The level of integration between these windows and elements streamline your workflow. As examples, you can create a new track (and corresponding channel strip) by dragging audio files from the Browser into the Arrange area, or insert an instrument and several effects into a channel strip (inclusive of settings) with a single click in the Library. A further benefit of these new features is that it is (generally) unnecessary to use the Environment window for tasks such as channel creation and routing. In fact, setup has been simplified to such a degree that the Logic Setup Assistant, and several preferences of earlier versions, have been removed. You can continue to open windows independently, and use screensets as you did in earlier Logic versions (although you can now name them). The new Arrange window facilities, however, are likely to change your approach. Note: The screensets of projects created in Logic Pro 7 will be "adapted" to take advantage of the new interface features. Media and Lists Area The right-hand side of the Arrange window can accommodate the Lists and Media areas. The Lists area is opened by clicking the Lists button in the Arrange Toolbar. It contains four sub-windows, accessed by clicking the appropriate tab at the top of the area: the Event List, Marker List, Tempo List, and Signature List. Cosmetically, these are a little different to the equivalent windows of earlier Logic versions. There are a few small usability enhancements, but overall, they are functionally identical. The Media area--accessed by clicking the Media button in the Arrange Toolbar-- displays all media files in the project, or on any storage device attached to your system, including local network devices. This provides direct access to all available audio files, Apple Loops, sample libraries, and more, from the Arrange window. The Media area offers four sub-windows, outlined below: Audio Bin A catalogue of all audio files (and regions) in the project. This is the equivalent of the Audio window of earlier Logic versions. An enhanced version of the Audio Bin, that allows direct region edits, can be opened as an independent window. 2 Loop Browser All Apple Loops (and other loop format files, such as ReCycle files) can be browsed or searched for, and added to your arrangement. This is an enhanced version of the Loop Browser of earlier Logic revisions. Library The Library is new to Logic Pro 8. It provides access to all settings files--for all channel strip, effect, and instrument plug-in settings (including EXS instruments). It can also integrate with MIDI devices and (active) ReWire applications, providing rapid access to MIDI sub-channels and ReWire instruments. The Library is intimately connected with the Logic Pro 8 channel strips, and will update to reflect the current channel strip type (audio, software instruments, or external MIDI) and element selection (Channel Strip Settings menu, Insert or Instrument slot). This makes it easy to change channel strip and plug-in settings from the Arrange window, which is particularly handy for software instruments. Browser The Browser provides direct access to all supported media files (except settings files which are more easily accessed via the Library) on any device connected to your computer, including locally networked storage units. It features advanced search facilities, making it easy to find any file--even in the largest of media file libraries. Only Logic-relevant files are displayed: Logic projects, OMF, AAF, OpenTL, XML (Final Cut Pro), audio files (SDII, AIFF, Wave, CAF, Apple Lossless, AAC, MP3, Apple Loops), MIDI files, SysEx files (SYX), and movies. The Browser replaces the Project Manager of earlier Logic Pro versions. The Inspector The Inspector can be displayed by clicking the Inspector button in the Arrange Toolbar. It is an enhanced replacement for the Parameters area of earlier Logic versions. The actual Inspector content depends on the area in key focus: either the Arrange or one of the editing areas--simply click in an area, on a region or event, on an area title bar, menu, tab, or other element to give it key focus. Logic Pro 8 also includes a number of new key commands that you can use to quickly switch between areas and windows. As an example: You can use Tab or Shift-Tab to cycle through the Arrange window areas: Tab cycles forward, Shift-Tab cycles backwards. The Inspector basically consists of the parameter area for the window with key focus, and the arrange channel strips (see below). If the key focus window does not provide a parameter area (Mixer, Sample Editor, Piano Roll Editor, all Media and Lists area tabs), the Arrange area parameters are displayed in the Inspector. If the current project contains a movie file, the top part of the Arrange area Inspector (above the Region Parameter box) can display a small movie window. 3 Arrange Channel Strips A second channel strip has been added to the Arrange area Inspector, which shows the primary destination channel strip for the track channel strip. This enables you to alter the settings of the bus (aux channel strip), output, or master channel strip associated with a track/channel--without leaving the Arrange window. Customizable Arrange Toolbar and Transport Bar A customizable Arrange Toolbar spans the top of the Arrange window. It contains buttons that open or close various Arrange window areas (Media, Inspector, and so on), plus other buttons that directly access key functions. You can alter these to meet your working needs and methods. The Transport bar spans the lower edge of the Arrange window. It is completely customizable, and features a new Master Level fader, which acts as a remote control for the Master fader in the Mixer. Other enhancements include integrated CPU and HD load meters, and the Low Latency mode button (see "Software Instrument Live Mode" on page 24). Control-click on either the Toolbar or Transport bar, and choose Customize Transport bar/Toolbar from the shortcut menu--to access, and alter, the customization options. Enhanced Bar Ruler Functions The appearance of the Bar ruler can be changed by clicking the small note icon at the right-hand edge. This opens a menu of alternate Bar and (SMPTE) Time display settings, including the new time linear views. These ensure that grid lines and region lengths are altered with tempo changes. (The bar linear views of previous Logic Pro versions spaced grid lines and region lengths consistently, even when the project contained tempo changes.) To activate a time linear view: m Choose the Time, or Time and Bar entry from the menu. To activate a bar linear view: m Choose the Bar, or Bar and Time entry from the menu. A further setting in this menu is the Marquee Stripe. When activated, a thin row is shown at the top of the Bar ruler (see "Marquee Operations" on page 7). 4 Changed Link Behavior The Content Link function is now activated by Option-clicking the Link button (doubleclick still works). Control-click (or click-hold) the button to access a shortcut menu, offering: No Link, Same Level Link, and Content Link modes. Piano Roll Editor The Piano Roll Editor Link button now provides only two states: On and Off. On behaves as follows:  If you select a single region in the Arrange area, the Piano Roll Editor only displays the content of this region--with start and end markers shown in the Bar ruler.  If you select multiple regions in the Arrange area, the Piano Roll displays the contents of all selected regions. The new behavior makes the Piano Roll Editor's Hierarchy button and Show Selected Regions Only setting obsolete, so they were removed. Hyper Editor The Hyper Editor Link button now provides only two states: On and Off. Switching it on activates Content Link: The Hyper Editor always displays the content of the region selected in the Arrange area. The display updates whenever the selection changes. The new behavior makes the Hyper Editor's Hierarchy button obsolete, so it was removed. Further to these changes, the Arrange level view in both the Piano Roll Editor and Hyper Editor was removed, as it serves no purpose in the new interface. 5 Renaming of Functions and Elements Changes to the interface have brought about a number of terminology changes. Many functions, commands, preferences, settings, and alert dialogs have been altered, making them simpler and clearer. The following table covers the main changes to on screen elements: Former term audio object audio instrument multi channel software instrument Parameters area Matrix Editor Audio window Track Mixer/Audio Mixer Global view (Track Mixer) Audio layer (Environment) song position line (SPL) song drop recording format value (Transport bar) Crosshair tool (Hyper Editor) Instrument Set (Score Editor) Score Style New term channel strip software instrument multi output software instrument Inspector Piano Roll Editor Audio Bin Mixer All view Mixer layer playhead project punch recording division value Line tool score set staff style Arranging Apart from the new look, the Arrange window now offers several features and functions that enhance editing operations. You should take a look at "General Editing Improvements" on page 8, which covers program-wide changes that also affect the Arrange window. Sample Accurate Arrange Editing The Arrange window now allows you to make sample accurate region edits. This is tied to the zoom level and Snap menu. In order to make sample-accurate edits:  A high zoom level must be chosen  The Snap menu needs to be set to Smart or Samples. A further, associated, enhancement is the ability to snap automation edits with sampleaccuracy, and an automation offset facility (see "Snapping Automation to Grid Values" on page 17.) 6 Marquee Operations The new Bar ruler marquee stripe can be used as a selection and navigation tool. When activated, a thin marquee stripe is shown at the top of the Bar ruler. You can simply drag in this area to create a marquee. To activate the marquee stripe: m Click the note icon at the right-hand end of the Bar ruler, and choose the Marquee setting from the menu. To make a marquee selection: m Click-drag in this area to create a marquee stripe selection area (also shown on selected Arrange tracks). To remove the marquee selection: m Click outside the marquee selection. To add or remove individual tracks from the marquee selection: m Shift-click on track names in the track list. Snap to Transient You can extend or reduce the length of the marquee selection by moving the start or end point of the marquee to:  Transients in audio regions  Note on or off positions in MIDI regions  Region start or end positions To change the marquee start or end point: m Use the Left/Right Arrow keys to move the marquee end point. These are the default Select Previous (or Next) Region/Event key commands, which behave as described above, ...