1 What's New in Logic Express 7.1 This document contains information about the improvements and changes found in the Logic Express 7.1 Update. The descriptions in this document supersede the relevant sections of the Logic Express 7 manuals (including the Late-Breaking News.pdf ). For the latest information about product updates, tips, and techniques, visit the Logic Express website at http://www.apple.com/logicexpress. General Improvements The Logic Express 7.1 Update introduces the following general enhancements. Plug and Play of Audio Interfaces Logic Express 7.1 supports plug and play for audio interfaces: it's possible to connect and switch on a new/additional audio interface while Logic Express 7.1 is running. An alert appears when you connect a new device, and will prompt you to select and confirm the audio interface/driver that you would like to use. 1 Changes to Dialogs A number of enhancements have been made to the following Logic dialogs: · Sample Editor: Audio File > Save Selection As, Audio File > Save a Copy As. Both dialogs now allow you to set the desired sample rate, stereo conversion and dither type for the destination file. The dialogs also feature an additional "Add resulting files to Audio window" option. Some file dialogs now feature additional file conversion settings. · Audio window: Audio File > Save Region As, Audio File > Copy/Convert File As: Both dialogs offer the file conversion menus outlined above for the Sample Editor, enabling one or multiple selected Regions/files to be converted or copied. The Copy/ Convert File As dialog provides an additional "Add resulting files to Audio window" option. · Arrange window: The Audio > Convert Regions to New Audio Files dialog provides the file conversion menus outlined above for the Sample Editor. · The global File > Export > Region as Audio File dialog offers an additional "Add resulting files to Audio window" option. Arrange Region Handling The handling of Regions in the Arrange window has been improved: selected Regions that overlap with unselected Regions are now shown "on top." Additional Key Commands Logic Express 7.1 offers several key commands for functions previously only accessible as menu items. Global Menu Functions The following global menu functions are now also available as key commands: Application (Logic) menu: · Opening all preferences windows, the Logic Setup Assistant, and the AU Manager · Initialize All except Key Commands function 2 File menu · Project functions: Project Settings, Clean Up Project, Consolidate Project, Rename Project, Save as Project · Opening all panes of the Song Settings window · Save functions: Save a Copy As, Save a Template As · Bounce function Audio menu · Import Audio File · Opening Loop Browser and Hardware and Drivers pane Options menu · Track Automation: Toggle Automation Quick Access, Delete Orphan Automation Date of Current Track · Movie: Open Movie as Float Windows menu The Step Input Keyboard can now be accessed via a key command. Arrange Menu The following local Arrange menu functions (Arrange window) are now also available as key commands: · Track: Create Multiple, Delete Redundant Audio Tracks · Region: Demix by Note Pitch · MIDI: Select all Orphan Aliases, Delete all Orphan Aliases · Audio: Open in Apple Loops Utility, Copy ReCycle Loop, Paste ReCycle Loop, Search Zero Crossings Hyper Editor The following local Hyper Editor functions are now also available as key commands: · Create Hyper Set · Create GM Drum Set · Create Hyper Set For Current Events · Clear Hyper Set Track Mixer All Filter buttons can now be switched on and off via key commands. Channel Strip Settings Menu The following key commands have been added: · Next/Previous Channel Strip setting · Save/Copy/Paste Channel Strip setting Note: Logic Express 7.1 also features the new, more general "Next/Previous Channel Strip Setting or Plug-in setting or EXS Instrument" key commands. 3 Drag Menu All Drag menu entries can now be chosen via key commands. New Key Command Warning In circumstances where an existing local key command combination is used when assigning a new global key command, the following warning message will appear: "This shortcut is already assigned to key command xxx in key command class yyy, which has higher priority than key command class zzz." You have three options: Cancel, Replace, or OK. Cancel does not alter existing assignments. Replace will replace the existing shortcut assigned to the chosen key command combination with the selected function. OK will assign the key command combination to the selected function while retaining the existing key command/function. Important: There is a hierarchy of key command classes, which are not merely separated into global and local key commands. As an example, there is a key command class that applies to all windows that display Regions. This class has higher priority than global key commands, but a lower priority than local (Arrange, Score, Matrix, and so on) window key commands. Marker Functionality The Marker facilities of Logic Express 6 have been reinstated in Logic Express 7.1. Markers are very useful for tagging particular time positions or sections in a song. They appear as text strings in the Bar Rulers of all Logic windows that contain Bar Rulers. To create a marker: 1 Position the mouse cursor at the desired location in the lower third of the Bar Ruler. 2 Press Option-Command and click. 3 Type the marker name into the Marker field. The length of the marker is set automatically: the marker extends to the start point of the next marker, or to the end of the song or folder, if there are no ensuing markers. 4 m To delete a marker: Grab it with the mouse in the Bar Ruler, and drag it down, out of the Bar Ruler. Release the mouse button when the cursor turns into a hand containing two arrows (see screenshot below). Newly created markers are automatically named "Marker ##" The "##" value indicates . their order of appearance in the timeline, which will be displayed in the Bar Ruler as "Marker 1," "Marker 2," and so on. The number always refers to the actual order of all markers in the song, including renamed markers. To edit a marker name: 1 Double-click on the marker while holding down Control-Command. 2 A text entry field opens, allowing you to edit the marker's name. To change a marker's position in the Bar Ruler: 1 Press Command and click-hold the marker in the Bar Ruler. 2 Drag the marker to the left or right. To set the SPL to a marker: Press Command and click the marker in the Bar Ruler. The SPL is set to the start point of the clicked marker. Double-clicking starts playback at the marker start point. Note: You can drag a marker up into the top third of the Bar Ruler. This will set a Cycle area that matches the position and length of the marker (and thus the locator positions). If the sequencer is stopped when performing this action, the SPL will be moved to the Cycle area start point. m Automation Tool The Arrange Toolbox in Logic Express 7.1 features the Automation tool. This tool performs a number of automation tasks. When track automation is activated via the View > Track Automation menu option, a pull-down menu below the Toolbox allows you to define the functionality of the tool 5 Curve If you choose this option, you can use the Automation tool to bend the line between two nodes or any selection. There are four different curve types available: convex, concave, and two different types of S-curves. Note: This function is also available when using the standard Pointer tool, by pressing Option-Control. Select If you choose this option, you can use the Automation tool to rubber band any selection (of nodes) in the automation data. A click on a Region selects all currently visible automation events within the Region borders. Once an area of (or the entire) Region is selected, you can freely move the selection to the left or right. With Option pressed, you can copy the selection to a different location. Please note that both operations will delete all nodes in the destination area. Shift-clicking with the Automation tool selects other areas, in addition to an existing selection. This enables you to simultaneously edit non-contiguous selections. Shift-clicking on a node with the Automation tool--in front, or following a selection-- extends the current selection. Removing Movie Function The Options > Movies menu now features a Remove Movie function, which allows you to completely remove a movie from a song or project. All references to the movie in the project or song are deleted. Hidden Menu Bars in Screensets Logic Express 7 allows you to hide local menu bars and scroll bars by OptionCommand-clicking the title bar. 6 The Logic Express 7.1 Update enhances this function. It now also works when using Screensets: You can save the state of hidden menu bars and scroll bars in Screensets. Hidden menu bars and scroll bars are also saved when you close a window. As an example: Hide the menu bar and scroll bars of the Arrange window and close it. When you reopen the Arrange window, the menu bar and scroll bars remain hidden. This function is handy in situations where you would like to configure small floating Environment windows containing Fader Objects, used as switches, for example. Bounce Dialog Choosing the CD burner The Bounce dialog in Logic Express 7.1 offers a new Device menu in the Burn options, which allows you to choose between any recognized CD burners connected to your system. Start and End Position default values The default values for the Start and End Position fields in the Bounce dialog now also take selections made in the Arrange window into account. This means that the default values are now set in the following way: · If the Cycle function is engaged, they will be set to the locator positions. · If a selection is made in the Arrange window, they will be set to the selected area. · If neither of the above is valid, they are set to encompass the entire Logic song. Faster Overview Creation The Overview Creation dialog features an additional option which accelerates overview creation. This option makes the overview creation as fast as the "foreground" overview creation of Logic 6 (at the cost of slowing down other operations, but not blocking user interaction completely). 7 Follow Tempo Function Audio files created in Logic Express 7.1 can now follow the song tempo (including tempo changes) and the first key signature set in the Global tracks. As an example: If you record a bass solo at 100 bpm, you can change the song tempo to 120 bpm and the bass solo will automatically be played back at the new tempo. The function works with all audio files that were recorded in, or bounced/exported from, Logic Express 7.1. The function only works in the parent song (the song the audio files were created in). If you drag a file recorded in a given song to another song with the Finder, the file can not follow the song tempo. Bounced/exported files can only follow the song tempo, if the "Add resulting files to Audio window" option was enabled in the Export/Bounce window prior to the bounce/export. Files copied between two songs retain the ability to follow the song tempo. The song's tempo information is used to tag the beats in the recording. The function works best if your audio files match the song tempo as precisely as possible. The longer your audio files are, the more RAM is required for this functionality to work properly. If you want your audio files to follow the song tempo and key, you will need to select the appropriate Audio Region in the Arrange window and enable the Follow Tempo option in the Region Parameter box. The Follow Tempo option is synchronized for all Regions that make use of the same audio file. All audio files that follow the song tempo and first key signature are indicated by the following symbols in Logic: Note: The Follow Tempo option does not create an Apple Loop! Remember: Apple Loops follow chord changes--should you record a solo over an arrangement consisting of Apple Loops with transposition changes over time, you might want to enable Follow Tempo for your solo, but you won't be happy with the double transpositions that will occur... To create an Apple Loop, please use either of the following options: · Choose Region > Add to Apple Loops Library in the Arrange window (also see the ensuing section). This method sets transients that are based on the song's tempo information. · Choose Audio > Open in Apple Loops Utility in the Arrange window (more information can be found in the Logic Express 7 Reference Manual). This functionality allows you to set the transients manually--independent of the song tempo. 8 Apple Loops The following changes have been made to Apple Loops handling. Creating Your Own Apple Loops You can now directly save both Audio and Audio Instrument Regions as Apple Loops in Logic Express 7.1. When ...