Logic Pro X has been the go-to DAW (Digital audio workstation) for music producers for a long time now. Apple is constantly working on new updates to bring new features and improvements to enhance the music production process. In this blog post, we’ll go through a few features that we think are worth knowing when using Logic. These features will hopefully make your production process easier and will help you with your workflow. So now, let’s explore the hidden gems in Logic.
Playing a selected region even when you have cycling on
As you might already know, a spacebar allows you to start and stop playback in logic. If you have cycle parameter on and press spacebar, it will automatically start playing in the beginning of cycle area.
Now, if you have a situation that you need to start playing somewhere else, Logic has made that possible. Just add the Shift -key before pressing the spacebar, and the playback will start from a selected region.
Writing notes on tracks
If you need to write notes while working on Logic, but don’t want them to take space from the window by using the Note Pads window, there is an option for you.
Point to the track in the inspector and right-click. Then choose Channel-strip components → Track notes. Now you should be able to write notes into each track.
Capture recording
Do you know the feeling when you just played something amazingly good and realized that you didn’t have rec on? This feature is the one that saves you time and nerves when trying to remember what you just played to do it again to record it.
Capture recording lets you record without recording so that anything you played will appear as a new recorded clip. You can turn it on by right-clicking Control bar at the top of the window. Then select Customize Control Bar and Display → Capture Recording. After this, another record -button will appear next to the main one, and whenever you press this after playing something that would have been worth recording, it will appear in the Logic project as a new clip.
Quick Sampling
Sampling is one creative way to use samples in the production process. Sampling basically means that you take a section of audio from another source and then rework it into the creation of a new track. It can be from an existing song, a sample pack you have bought/downloaded from the internet, or audio clip you have recorded by yourself. Sampler lets you easily create sampler instruments of an audio file.
In Logic, you are able to import audio files into the main window to create audio tracks by dragging them from the Finder. Logic will give you options on how you want the audio to be used.
If you drop a sample on top where it says Quick sampler (Original) it will open the Quick sampler window. Now you should be able to play the sample with a midi keyboard if you’re using one. Another option is to use your computers’ own keyboard.
(If it doesn’t work right away, choose window → Show Musical Typing. It will only work if the keyboard is on the screen)
Now that you have opened the Quick sampler, you are able to start exploring what you’re able to do with it. On top of the window there’s options for the playback mode:
- Classic mode → Sample plays when you hold a key and stops when you release it. You’ll will also be able to loop the sample.
- One Shot mode → Sample plays once from start to finish even when you keep pressing the key after it has ended.
- Slice mode → This mode slices the sample into slices based on the transients of the audio.
Now you are able to manipulate the sample you chose with parameters you see under the waveform display. On top of the screen, you can also choose from Logic’s own presets for the sampler which are also worth checking out!
Internet is full all kinds of tutorials to learn how to use a quick sampler, but don’t forget to experiment and see what you are able to find out by yourself.
Logic Pro X is a powerhouse of innovative features designed to inspire music producers, composers and sound engineers. As always, remember to experiment and try thinking outside the box when creating something new. You’ll never know beforehand what you will be able to come up with, and that is probably the main point why people make music in the first place. Just be patient with yourself and your learning, and nothing can stop you!
Check out our last weeks blog post HERE
