General Tips for Logic Pro X

Most shortcuts a had for Logic Pro 9 was saved and implemented when I updated to Logic Pro X (long ago by now). I have kept a copy of Logic 9 because of the 32 bit plug-in support but must admit that I very seldom open it any more.

Get note length in milliseconds

This is a great measurement tool when working with attack or release times in compressors. To access note length in milliseconds based on the song tempo, click on the Delay settings under More in the info side pane to access this time list.

tempo-to-milliseconds.jpg

(This works for both audio and MIDI tracks)

Drum replacement

Works with snare and kick. Select an audio recording and go to Track in the menu and select "Replace or Double Drum Track..."

drum-replacement-01.png

Choose what to replace, snare or kick

drum-replacement-02.png

Click on Prelisten and select sample in the side pane to the left

drum-replacement-03.png

...

Bounce mono to mono

When bounce in place mono becomes stereo, how to avoid.

Set output to mono does not really help. Instead make sure not to include "Input monitoring only for focused track, and record-enabled tracks" when bouncing the track.

Bounce mono to mono

Missing Waveform Problem

Can't do much editing if you don't see the waveform. This is/was probably a bug that hopefully has been fixed.

Missing waveform

Go to the Media bin and select files with missing waveforms, go to the "Audio File" tab and select "Refresh Overview(s)"

Refresh Overview

Capture Recording - MIDI and Audio

This is a very useful feature that enables you capture a performance (both audio and MIDI) if you forgot to press the record button when you where jamming away. One thing to remember is that you can click the red button with the white circle around it after you have pressed stop for MIDI, but for audio you need to record a few seconds of audio before you press stop. After that you can drag out the recording.

(I might put an image here to show how it works)

Under "Customize Controlbar and Display" (right click next to the transport) there is a feature called "Capture Recording" under the Transport section. It enables you to capture what you just played without pressing the Record button. When you are done playing, press the red button with a circle around it.

capure-recording-logic-pro-x.png

In order to make this work with audio you have to enable "Allow Quick Punch-In" under the Record menu.

capure-recording-with-audio-logic-pro-x.png

Please remember to press the Record button (not the same as the one for Capture MIDI) before stopping playback. It is enough with a few seconds. After that you can press stop and then drag out the audio back in time.

  1. Select and record enable [R]
  2. Press Play (space bar) and play something through the microphone
  3. Press Record Button for a few seconds
  4. Press Stop
  5. Drag out the region

MIDI Chase

Under Project Settings, check Notes Sustained and Notes under Chase on Cycle Jump.

Logic-MIDI-Chase.png

This enables a MIDI note to be played even if the playhead did not catch the beginning of the note in the Piano Roll.

Lock imported OMF Audio to SMPTE Position

This can be very useful when changing tempo but you do not want to affect the timing of imported OMF files. Select the files you do not want to move or change, right click an choose "Lock SMPTE Position"

Lock_SMPTE_Position.png

Channel EQ

The Channel EQ got a really nice face lift in Logic X (I hope they would re-design all their plug-ins)

Logic X Channel EQ

Have you ever noticed how easily and quickly your audio gets thin when you start applying EQ. Most EQ changes the phase of the audio signal. Try using Linear Phase EQ

Logic X Linear Phase EQ

The nice thing about this is that all settings remains the same when you switch EQ. Please note, Linear Phase EQ is only useful in mastering and mixing and not for tracking because it introduces latency.

Mid-Side Processing with Channel EQ

Channel EQ MS

Better accuracy with Channel EQ

By checking the oversampling check-box I have noticed an improvement in sound quality with Channel EQ. The manual states that it becomes more accurate. In my mind, it just sounds better.

channel-eq-oversampling.png

Compressor

The compressor GUI got updated in Logic Pro 10.1.1, read the whole article about compression here

Compressor-CatchThePeaks.png

The old Compressor

Hidden features in Logic Pro X old compressor (only for versions older than 10.1.1). By clicking the little triangle at the bottom you get access to very useful features like targeting a specific frequency range, parallel compression and distortion.

LogicProX_Compressor_SidechainFreq1.png

Usage: First, set Activity to "Listen" to find the frequency and then set it to "On".

LogicProX_Compressor_SidechainFreq2.png

"Output Mix" enables the Compressor to "On".

Compressor Emulations

It would be nice if Apple would tell us more what compressors they are emulating but here is some ideas.

LogicProX_Compressor_Emulations.png

www.askaudiomag.com/articles/exploring-logic-pro-xs-compressor-circuit-types

Different Delays

Tape Emulation

The Tape Delay plug-in can be used to simulate tape saturation.

LogicProX_Tape_Saturation_Emu.png

Turn off "Sync" and set "Delay" time to zero.

Reverb

Sound Designer

Drag and drop IR (impulse response) files (wav or sdir) directly in SD window

SD-ir-sweep-stairwell.png.png

To deconvolve recorded sweep, change mode from "Editor" to "Controls" (parametric mode), look for "Decode IR"

Switch mode to "Editor"

33ce93ebf1de85dcfd1fc5dd514baf37.png

Look for "Decode IR"

DSpaceDesigner-Deconvolve.png

Work flow - Deconvolve IR

Deconvolve directly in Space Designer

Read more about it in creating your own IR

Impulse Response Utility

A great program for generating impulse response files "IR Utility" is located (hidden) under the little triangle next to IR Sample

Hidden_ImpulseResponsUtility.jpg

Create a new Stereo Project

Set inputs and check levels with "Test Tone" (be mindful of your ears and gears)

Estimate how long the reverb tail will be, preferably longer than you need, can be trimmed later. Press the record buttons [R] and record the sweep

Logic_Impulse_Response_Utility01.png

Deconvolve, listen, trim and save as preset

Yamaha-EMP100-Preset1-IR.png

Read more about creating your own IR

Enable ReWire

To enable ReWire you first have to go to preferences and change the ReWire behavior

enable-rewire-logic-pro-x-00.png

Default is set to off.

enable-rewire-logic-pro-x-01.png

Next, go to the channel mixer and create a new Aux track

enable-rewire-logic-pro-x-02.png

Under input, select whatever you want to ReWire

enable-rewire-logic-pro-x-03.png

CPU Usage

Try spreading plug-ins over several channels and auxes instead of putting everything in one strip. This is how Logic allocates CPU threads usage. For instance, do not put all instruments in one Kontakt 5. It is better to use multiple channel strips to reduce CPU load.

Issues – CPU & GPU on older Macs

GPU and fan noise

My main workstation has been a MacBook Pro 17-inch late 2011. Lately the computer fans are spinning so fast and becomes so loud that it makes it impossible to record with the computer close to a microphone. I did not have this issue before. The reason is that many plugins now utilizes the processing power of the GPU. The problem with this in my MacBook Pro is that the GPU and the CPU are located very close to each other on the mother board. When the graphic acceleration kicks in it becomes very hot in this area, sometimes up to 95°C.

MacBookPro-17-inch-CPU-GPU-1696px.jpg

The solution is to make a very clean session without any plugins that utilizes the accelerated GPU (many plugins do). Below is an example of a 96 kHz session with minimal amount of plugins.

LPX-minimal-load-01.png

CPU load

LPX-minimal-load-02.png

CPU and GPU load. Notice that the system uses the internal Intel HD instead of the AMD chip

LPX-minimal-load-03.png

Sensors. Even though the fans are spinning they are barley audible

LPX-minimal-load-04.png

...

Tips and Links

Resources

If you want to learn more about Logic Pro, go look for sflogicninja (David Earl). He is, in my opinion, the best human resource, expert and tutor on the web.

www.youtube.com/user/SFLogicNinja

or go look for his videos at Pyramind:
www.youtube.com/user/Pyratube

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