Logic Pro X For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
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Copyright © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2018949676
ISBN 978-1-119-50620-1 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-50621-8 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-50619-5 (ebk)
At its near-permanent spot in the top-ten grossing apps in the entire Mac App Store, Logic Pro X has proven itself to be in high demand. You shouldn’t expect anything less than stellar software from Apple. And there’s a good reason why Logic Pro is professionally competitive. Apple designs intuitive software that music producers love and at the best possible value.
In line with Apple’s mission, I wrote Logic Pro X For Dummies, 2nd Edition to add value to your Mac and Logic Pro X. You learn how to record, arrange, edit, mix, and share your music, becoming a self-sufficient musician with your computer and Logic Pro. This book will guide you to make more music.
If I could give people one superpower, I would give them instant musical talent. My world would be a curious musical, filled with willing musical partners. Logic Pro X For Dummies, 2nd Edition is my honest attempt to make musical partners out of every reader, including you.
This book is designed to get you making music fast. You don’t even need to know how to play an instrument to make music with Logic Pro because it comes with additional content that you can use in your projects. Regardless of your current capabilities, the step-by-step instruction in this book will get you making music fast.
I’m happy you came to me to learn Logic Pro X because I have been coaching Logic Pro users since 2007 and know the common frustrations and mistakes people make. I want you to feel confident using the software so you can complete more projects and share your music — with others and with me. This book gives you the most important information you need to quickly meet your musical goals and turn your ideas into completed projects.
Logic Pro X For Dummies, 2nd Edition is organized for easy access. It’s your productivity advisor and your reference for quickly finding the information you need. And because many people learn more quickly by watching someone else, I provide free videos and project templates to accompany the book at https://logicstudiotraining.com/templates.
Throughout the book, I use certain conventions to show you what to do. For example, when you choose items from menus, I use the command arrow, such as Choose File ⇒ Edit. Links to websites are presented like this: https://logicstudiotraining.com. If you purchased the e-book, links are live and will take you directly to the web page. Finally, Logic Pro uses the term key command for any combination of keys that can act as a shortcut to a function; when I refer to the Command key, I use the ⌘ symbol.
As I said, I want to give you instant talent, but I have to make some assumptions about you, my friendly reader. I’m pretty sure you have the music bug. But it’s possible that you want to only record audio with Logic Pro X, such as voice-overs, podcasts, or live seminars. This book covers those topics, but I’m also writing for the musician in you.
I believe that you bought this book not only to learn how to use software but also to create music. Logic Pro is the tool and your music is the reason the tool exists.
I also assume that you’re not making as much music as you could be making. I know I’m not. I’m sure we could all be bringing more music into the world, and I often aggressively push for it. I love to train musicians because they are great listeners. Great listeners make great leaders, and if I didn’t push for more great leaders, I would feel that I wasted a golden opportunity to inspire you to greatness. The more music you make, the better listener you become.
Even if you’re a beginner, I assume you’ll be able to make music that sounds great with Logic Pro X. It might be a foolish assumption, but given everything Logic Pro X can do for you, I really don’t think so. Finally, I make the safe assumption that you’ll enjoy your time with Logic Pro X.
You’ll see helpful icons throughout this book. Scan for them and you’ll find useful information that will help pull everything together and even broaden your perspective. Readers love to scan and I love to write for scanners.
The Tip icon is usually designed to give you an “aha” moment. Tips go beyond step-by-step instruction into strategies and techniques to make better sounding music. Pay close attention to the tips!
The Remember icon points out information that you need to keep in mind as you use Logic Pro. In some cases, you’ll be given key commands that are important to remember. Other times, you’ll see a short refresher on information that’s relevant to the topic and covered elsewhere in the book. Whenever you see this icon, it’s important to at least store the information in your short-term memory. After all, the book remembers everything for you in the long term.
The Technical Stuff icon points out information that can be either skipped or treated as extra credit. The information in these sections shouldn’t be beyond your understanding, but you don’t need to know how the engine works to drive a car.
The Warning icon is reserved for potential mistakes that could cause you to sound bad. That’s the last thing I want, and fortunately, sounding bad is hard to achieve with Logic Pro X. So when you see the Warning icon, please read it!
As mentioned, I deliver content outside this book in the form of videos and project files. Where appropriate, I've added a link to a web page with further instructions. These videos should help you visualize the content of the book, and the project files are excellent resources for starting out.
In addition, For Dummies books include one of my favorite tools of all time, the cheat sheet. I make cheat sheets for a hobby, and I’m excited to give you what I’ve got at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/logicprox.
You also have access to Dummies.com online articles that expand the book even further. You’ll find these articles on the book’s Extras page at www.dummies.com/extras/logicprox. And if the book has any technical updates, they'll be posted there as well.
Although I wrote the book to be somewhat linear and to follow a logical progression, you can start anywhere you want. Because I reference chapters throughout the book, you should be able to open any chapter and follow along.
If you’re new to Logic Pro, you’ll at least want to skim the first four chapters. These chapters make up Part I and will get you started using Logic Pro and understanding how it works. Part II shows you how to record audio, load and play software instruments, and add prerecorded media to your project. If you’re upgrading from previous versions of Logic Pro, you might skip to Part III and learn about the new software instruments or head over to Part IV where you learn how to use the exciting new editing features such as flex pitch.
Part V is dedicated to mixing audio so that the final result sounds good and is ready to share with the world. From the beginning of the book to the end, you have a powerful music production blueprint. I hope you get what you need. If you should have a question, you can find me online or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/logicproxfordummies.
Part 1
IN THIS PART …
Develop a productive workflow and mindset.
Discover timesaving tips to help you finish Logic Pro projects, and share your projects for collaboration and back up.
Navigate the software interface, play and control your project, and explore the tools.
Understand how tracks and regions work in Logic Pro, adjust your tempo and time signature, save track settings for instant recall, and edit and loop regions.
Chapter 1
IN THIS CHAPTER
Understanding the benefits of creating with Logic Pro
Getting into the Logic Pro mindset
Developing a productive workflow
Setting up your Logic Pro studio
The joke used to be that Logic Pro wasn’t logical. I would argue that it was logical but not intuitive. Nowadays, you can’t make that joke without dating yourself. Apple, which is known for making the complicated simple, bought Logic Pro from Emagic in 2002 and continues to make the product better and better.
You’ll find that creating music with Logic Pro can be a straightforward and rewarding experience. One caveat: As you explore Logic Pro, remember your desired outcome. With so many bright and shiny objects in this deep and powerful app, getting distracted is easy. But if you keep your musical and learning goals in mind, you’ll discover why Logic Pro is responsible for so many Billboard hits.
Take command. Logic Pro listens.
In this chapter, you discover why Logic Pro users are proud, productive, and ready to play. You’ll understand how to plan your creations, get the most value from your time with Logic Pro, set up your studio, and much more.
Lots of digital audio workstations (DAWs) are out there, so why would you want to settle down with Logic Pro? Here’s a list of reasons why you don’t need to look any further than Logic Pro:
https://logicstudiotraining.com and ask me.I’ve only touched the surface of what Logic Pro can do. Surround sound, virtual vintage instruments, drum machines, guitar amps and pedals, pitch and time editing, and MIDI effects are a fraction of what you have available as a Logic Pro user. Congratulations on making such a smart choice to embrace Logic Pro. Welcome to the club!
I won’t bad-mouth or slam other DAWs. It’s a good rule to live by, especially when you collaborate with musicians who use different software. I happen to be a fan of GarageBand and use it regularly because it integrates so well with Logic Pro. If you’ve used GarageBand, you’ll find the Logic Pro interface familiar and welcoming.
Logic Pro X has many of the same features as GarageBand, plus a lot more, such as a professional mixer and finer control over audio and MIDI regions. GarageBand 10 users are familiar with smart controls, but with Logic Pro X you can do a lot more with them, such as control and edit more parameters. Best of all, Logic Pro can open GarageBand projects, including GarageBand projects created in iOS, the operating system that powers the iPhone, the iPad, and the iPod touch. Being able to start projects on one of those devices and continue working on them in GarageBand or Logic Pro creates a powerful workflow.
If you’re coming from another software environment, maintain a beginner’s mind as you explore Logic Pro. The workflow is probably similar to what you’re accustomed to. It won’t take you long to understand that a Logic Pro project has tracks containing MIDI or audio regions and that you can arrange those regions right in the main window or edit them in the various editors. Did I just give the whole book away right there? Not quite, but understanding Logic Pro is almost that simple.
Just remember, if your objective is clear, Logic Pro can help you reach it.
With Logic Pro, you have a full band at your fingertips. From country to dance music, songwriting to film scoring, capturing MIDI performances to professional audio recording, Logic Pro will excite your passions and showcase your strengths. Lead the way and Logic Pro will follow.
Whether or not you’re in it for the money, having a professional mindset can make your experience with Logic Pro more productive and enjoyable.
My advice to new and seasoned Logic Pro users alike is to set a goal and work steadily towards that goal. Here’s what I’ve found and I hope you agree. Creativity loves speed. Slow and tedious labor kills creativity faster than anything. So set a clear objective and move quickly towards completion.
You can always wait for inspiration to strike you — but you could end up waiting a long time. And when inspiration does strike, it often doesn’t stick around long. For all the moments when you’re not feeling inspired, having a plan for your creative process can help.
What’s your purpose for the project? Are you learning something or creating something? If you’re learning, what’s your learning goal and how much time are you going to give it? You could easily get lost trying to learn everything Logic Pro can do and never create anything. That will suck the joy out of using Logic Pro, and you’ll find yourself opening it less and less. So give yourself learning limits and give yourself creative projects. Connecting to the purpose of your project will keep you motivated and moving in a clear and forward direction.
Here are some example projects to get you learning and creating:
https://logicstudiotraining.com to make your time in audio engineering land productive and free of earaches.These examples are just a sampling of the types of projects you can start. The main point is to set a clear objective so you can achieve your goal. Set yourself up to win and you’ll stay motivated.
Most Logic Pro users come to me for help not with getting started but with getting things done. When inspiration fades, so does motivation, unless you have a strategy for getting to the finish line.
Here are some tips for completing projects:
The more you create, the better you’ll get. The more projects you complete, the more confidence you’ll have. With confidence and chops, you’ll tackle more ambitious projects and find yourself working with higher-level musicians.
Now that you’ve read about the Logic Pro producer’s mindset, it’s time to get your gear ready to handle your mad genius.
You can do a lot just with the Logic Pro software. You can play the software instruments with your computer keyboard by using musical typing (described in Chapter 7). You can import media from a variety of sources, such as iTunes or iMovie (as detailed in Chapter 8). You can use headphones or your computer speakers to listen to your project. To take advantage of all that Logic Pro has to offer, however, you’ll want to connect some peripheral devices.
Consider adding some or all of the following devices to your studio:
If you haven’t already installed Logic Pro X on your computer, get it from the Apple App Store. Open the App Store in your Applications folder and search for Logic Pro X. Purchase and install it (an installation wizard will guide you) — but be patient while downloading because the program size is about 800MB. You need a minimum of 6GB of disk space, plus 63GB if you want to add optional content available through a free in-app download. You also need a minimum of 4GB of RAM, a display with 1280-by-768 resolution or higher, and OS X v10.12 or later.
To download the additional Logic Pro X content, launch Logic Pro X. Choose Logic Pro X ⇒ Sound Library ⇒ Download All Available Sounds or Download Essential Sounds. If you’re updating the sound library, you may need to select the libraries that are available for download individually. Click the Continue button to download and install the content.
I recommend finding the hard drive space to download the additional content because the instruments, samples, and loops you get are fantastic and fun to play.
Here are some tips to make your experience with Logic Pro X as smooth as possible:
Show Advanced Tools. Logic Pro X has with several advanced features that aren’t available by default. You should enable them so that you can follow along with the examples in this book. In the main menu, choose Logic Pro X ⇒ Preferences ⇒ Advanced Tools and then select the Show Advanced Tools check box, as shown in Figure 1-1.
FIGURE 1-1: The Logic Pro X Advanced Preferences pane.
Now that you’ve installed Logic Pro X and made a few tweaks, you’re ready to connect your hardware and start making music.
If you plan on recording audio, you'll need a way to get audio into Logic Pro. Your Mac probably has a built-in line in or microphone. These may work in a pinch, but professional-quality recordings need professional hardware. Most professional hardware is compatible with Logic Pro X, so you should have a simple plug-and-play experience.
After you connect your audio hardware, you tell Logic Pro how to use it by choosing Logic Pro X ⇒ Preferences ⇒ Audio. Select the Devices tab, as shown in Figure 1-2, and use the Output Device and Input Device drop-down menus to choose your audio hardware.
FIGURE 1-2: In the Audio Preferences pane, choose and configure your audio hardware.
You can get to Logic Pro X Preferences quickly by pressing ⌘ +comma (,). This key command will display the Preferences in most applications on your Mac.
If you plan to control Logic Pro from a MIDI controller, your computer needs to be connected to the controller. Many controllers will send and receive MIDI through USB, eliminating the need for a third-party interface. Other controllers may use 5-pin DIN cables and require a hardware MIDI interface to go between the computer and the controller. Check the literature; Logic Pro will probably be mentioned.
After you’ve connected your MIDI controller, Logic Pro will automatically listen for your controller’s signals on the currently selected track. Playing software instruments with a MIDI keyboard controller is usually a plug-and-play experience without any need for customization.
With all your hardware connected, Logic Pro X is ready and waiting for your commands.
To help you visualize what a complete hardware and software setup looks like, I’ve designed some possible systems. You can create music with a computer and the Logic Pro software alone. However, if your goals are more ambitious and you want to get good sounds into and out of Logic Pro, consider your hardware and the acoustics of your listening environment. Idealized scenarios aren’t necessary for good quality or enjoyment. With a Mac computer and Logic Pro X, your baseline for quality and fun is already high.
It’s easy to believe that you need the best equipment (and a lot of it) to create anything worthy of attention. Don’t believe the hype and don’t get GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). Spend your money wisely and spend your time creating, not buying. The setups in this section can be built inexpensively.
In a recording setup, such as the one shown in Figure 1-3, you need to get audio from instruments or microphones into Logic Pro. You also need to hear what you’re recording through monitors or headphones. Your audio interface is the intermediary between your computer and the peripherals.
FIGURE 1-3: A typical recording setup.
In a MIDI studio, such as the one in Figure 1-4, instruments such as synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and even alternate controllers (for example, a guitar MIDI system) connect to a MIDI interface, which transmits the MIDI messages from the various instruments to the computer. An audio interface is still needed to transmit audio in and out of your system.
FIGURE 1-4: A studio of MIDI instruments.
If all you do is mix other people’s music, you may never need to do any recording of your own. In this case, you need an audio interface to get audio from Logic Pro and into a pair of monitors, as shown in Figure 1-5. You may, however, use a controller to mimic a mixing console with faders, knobs, buttons, and other useful features that control Logic Pro remotely.
FIGURE 1-5: A mixing studio.
I love to travel, and I never go anywhere without a laptop and an instrument. I travel with guitars, drum machines, small keyboards, and sometimes more than one of each. I like to keep the setup as simple as possible while affording me the flexibility that I love. In a mobile rig, such as the one shown in Figure 1-6, headphones will replace speakers, and portable interfaces and microphones will be used to get audio in and out of Logic Pro.
FIGURE 1-6: A mobile audio rig.
If you plan on performing live, consider buying MainStage, the companion app to Logic Pro. MainStage shares all the instruments and presets with Logic Pro but is designed for live performance. It has a gorgeous full-screen interface that’s easy to read on stage. MainStage doesn’t include features that you don’t need live, such as notation or audio and MIDI editors.
There’s never been a better time to be a Logic Pro user. You get an amazing studio at an amazing price and you can do amazing things with it. I hope you’re as excited as I am to dig into what Logic Pro can do.