Guide To Logic

Logic version Pro 9

How To Open and Save a Logic Project

First step is to click on the Logic application. Once it

has loaded, a menu like this will appear on your
screen. Then select Empty Project to begin using
Logic.

When a blank Project is loaded, select whether you

want to create a Audio, Software Instrument (MIDI)
or a External MIDI track. For the purpose of this part
of the guide, lets focus on Software instrument first.

How To Create a Instrument Track

To Create a new track select Track and then New. This will then, by default, select the
EVP88 Electric piano. Instruments can be changed by select Media and then Library.
As you can see from the image below, there are a range of types of instruments to choose
from. Within each type of instrument, there are a wide variety of timbres and more types of
instruments to choose from. These are all in the form of MIDI.

MIDI

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It is a

mixture of software and hardware that allows a wide variety of
instruments to be used. The Language of MIDI is presented in
binary. It is a form of 1 and 0, which is also On and Off. The
binary code can be sent from a MIDI Keyboard. It allows
access to the sounds that you select on Logic, whether it may
be a Piano or a Drum Kit. On a MIDI Keyboard, a composer is
able to change the octave of the keys on the Keyboard,
also the modulation effect and pitch bend notes. Along
with many other features depending on the range of the
MIDI Keyboard. Also, by pressing the caps lock key,
allows a user to use their qwerty Keyboard as a MIDI
Keyboard. As shown in the Image to the right.

A composer may use MIDI to create a full track, ranging

from Electro Funk to Dubstep. However, some
composer may use it for double tracking/over dubbing
audio instruments to add depth. It is common to find the audio of
a Snare drum over dubbed if the Snare drum isnt the correct
sound for the song.

Instruments, Editing and Recording

To view the various instruments Logic has to offer, if not

selected by default, click Media and then Library to
access the variety of instruments. The section should
look like the image shown to the right.

Once you have a input method, whether it be caps lock

Keyboard or a MIDI Keyboard, Simply press the R
othe track. Or as a quick shortcut, press the R key on
your Keyboard (Shown below).

There a few ways to edit

the recorded instrument
for MIDI. One of the main
editorial features of MIDI
is the use of Quantize.
This is the movement of
notes inputed, moved into
place in the correct timing.
The image to the left
shows you a variety of the timing notes can be moved to.

There is also a manual way to move the notes. This is

called Piano roll. You can either press P on the keyboard or
select Piano Roll at the bottom of the Logic Project. This
will then bring up the inputed notes which then can be
manipulated in anyway. This is an example of further
editing MIDI. The image below shows the various ways of
editing. Whether it be the velocity of the note (how hard the
note is hit). The sustain of a note (how long a note lasts for)
and even bending the pitch of a note.

There also Plug Ins that can be used. Which delve deeper into the editing side of Logic.
These Plug Ins can be used on MIDI Projects. But These will be explained in the audio
section of the guide.

Quick and Useful Things For Your Logic Project

Changing Tempo

You can change the BPM (Beats Per Minute) also known as tempo, by double clicking at
the bottom of the project and then entering any tempo that is desired. It is set at 120 as the
default setting (Shown in the above image).

Looping

Looping is the repetition of one particular part of the composition. Composers loop to hear
any mistakes or to refine that certain part. To loop, hold down the mouse button at the
number of bars section and drag left. It will appear light Green once the loop has been set.
Take the loop of by simply clicking the Green area (Shown below).

Useful Tools

Marquee

At the top right of the Logic Project, their is a cursor sign next to a cross. This cross sign is
the Marquee tool. This tool (with the Command button held), cuts certain areas of the track
and can be used to make markers and even reduce huge chunks of automation at once
time.

Scissors

The scissors tool simply splits/cuts up any part of the track selected.

Eraser Tool

This tool quickly erases any part of the track that is not wanted.

Glue Tool

Any tracks that have been cut up or recorded in different places can all be put into one
track with the glue tool

There are many other tools that can be used just by holding the Command button. The
rest of the tools are displayed just below.

Recording Audio: Plug Ins and Problems

Plug Ins can be found under the EQ setting on

the channel strip, to the left of the audio track.
Here are some of the problems and most
important Plug Ins to combat the problems.

Noise Gate

There are certain things you need to be aware of

during the recording of audio. The biggest
problem with recording audio is hiss. This is
most often down to the quality of mic that is
used. It can be very intrusive but, to an extent,
can be taken care of by using a plug in called
Noise Gate. A Noise Gate sets a decibel
threshold in which sounds below a certain
decibel are cut out of the audio track.

EQ

Room modes are another issue to take into consideration. This is the reflection of sound
bouncing off of walls which create a certain frequency in the recording of a track. For
example the ring of a snare drum has a certain
frequency which can be altered by creating a
pin point in the Channel EQ setting, then
dragging across the frequency spectrum to find
that particular sound that is unwanted, and then
dragged below 0 decibels. It can also be used
to enhance certain frequencies. For example if
a composer wanted to make a voice more crisp
and clean, they would raise the higher end up.
in the image to the right, the raised part of the
EQ represents the example of a voice and the
dip represents the snare drum ring.

Compression

A common problem in recording a audio track is that some parts may be louder than
others. Compressions helps smooth out the dynamic range of the track and produce a
more comfortable listening experience. However, over compressing is a problem in itself
as it leads to the flattening of the dynamic range.

Channel Strip: What You Need To Know

This is the Channel Strip. It is where you will find all of the plug ins/inserts.

Here is the volume for the overall track. If the track hasnt been automated at
different points, then this is the control to set the volume on the overall track. As
you can see from my own project that this particular track is set at 0 decibels.
This is because it has been automated. However as it gets louder, this little dial
will rise up.

This Part of the Channel Strip is called Panning. At the

moment, the current Track is set at hard left. This means
that the content of the track will play only through the left speaker/earphone. The
blue part of the dial would be the opposite way around if it was panned to the
right. If the track was centre then there would be no blue outline.

Effects

Here are some of the most commonly used effects throughout Logic.

Amps and Pedals

After or during recording a guitar, it is often that guitarists would use this
effect/plug in to produce a desired sound of their guitar.

Delay

Delay is another commonly

used effect. It is the reputation
and sustain of the recorded
instrument. Various delays are
available for personal preference. Various settings
on the delay allows correct delay time, feedback
of the delay and which is delayed more, right or
left.

Pitch

Often used to correct pitch problems in vocal

recordings. But can also be over used as a
effect. It creates a synthetic sound to vocals if
it is overused.

Reverb

Reverb is an effect which is used to recreate

whatever is recorded, but in a room. Whether it
be a hall or a small square bathroom. The
different Reverbs on Logic simply allow for more
in depth editing. Commonly used on vocals to
add depth and atmosphere.

Modulation

There are different types of modulation used in

Logic for different effects. For example Chorus
creates a thick/warmer sound that has an almost
wave feel to the sound. Tremolo tends to add a
wobbly groove to the track it is on. Modulation is
essentially a plug in that affects the signal of the
audio.

Bouncing A Logic Project

Bouncing a Logic project is fairly simply. If there has been no peaking throughout the track
then you are safe to Bounce your track.

Peaking - This is where the MIDI or audio reach a loud level of volume in which there is
a distorted noise. To combat, use the plug ins Limiter or Adaptive Limiter. These help set a
limit to which the overall track can go to, in terms of decibels.

Bouncing - The conversion of the Logic project to various audio playback forms. Here
are the types of audio forms that the project can be bounced to. The most common is mp3.
To bounce, simply use the technique that
would be used to create a loop, but highlight
the whole of the track you want as a final
piece. Once it is highlighted, press file and
Bounce.

Logic Not Only For Musicians

Logic can be used by others apart from musicians. Film Composers canopy a piece of film
into Logic and then watch the piece of footage whilst editing. To import a movie to Logic,
select File and then Open Movie. A window will then pop up with the choice of Movie
you want to pick to create music too. When pressing play on your Logic track, the movie
will also play at the same time.

Set Up For Logic: DAW

DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation. There are two types of DAWs. Software DAW
and Integrated DAW.

Software DAW

A software DAW is a computer based audio interface. Essentially Logic. Logic is providing
the processing power for the audio editing and the Mac itself is acting as a manipulation
tool. A software DAW, just like Logic, has extensive MIDI capabilities like playback,
recording and editing.

Integrated DAW

A Integrated DAW also known as a mixing desk is a mixing console, separate from the
Software DAW and Mac. A Mixing desk consists of Automation controls, Reverb and EQ
controls. However the more money you pay for a Integrated DAW, the more features you
will get.

Integrated DAWs also come with inputs. So you can attach (from a studio) a input box from a
recording room, straight into a mixing desk.

Integrated DAWs also convert audio. They convert a Analogue signal (recorded sound) into a
Digital signal (Binary). However, along with Software DAWs, the Digital signal can be played back
in a Analogue signal.

This is the end of this short guide to Logic. I hope this guide has been informative and a easy to
understand.

Logic Guide By Josh Wilkins