Logic Audio FAQ

[last updated: May 18, 2003]

This is the Logic Audio FAQ, a list of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers, concerning the use of Emagic's Logic Audio. Creation of this FAQ was started in December 2002.

The FAQ is very much a work in progress, undertaken by a group of Logic-enthusiasts from the Logic Users Group, the most amazing source of information for all things Logic-related: visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/logic-users/. It is not finished and never will be -- there will always be new questions to ask and answer. If you have any suggestions that might improve this FAQ, or if you want to contribute in whichever way (write a section yourself, point out errors we made, suggest questions that should be answered in the FAQ, or whatever else), please send an email with your comments or suggestions to the "Logic FAQ" list: logic-faq@yahoogroups.com.

Note that even though these pages are currently hosted at the Omega Art website, they are not an Omega Art project, but a true collaboration of Logic users.

Offline reading

You can download the entire FAQ in one zip-archive (currently approx. 870 k), for your offline-reading pleasure.

Conventions

Where applicable, keyboard commands are written as "Mac [PC]". Example: "press Option [Ctrl] while choosing New from the File menu".

The chapters

The chapters of the FAQ are sorted in alphabetical order, except for chapters 1-4 which deal with more general issues. There are 2 tables of contents available: a Short Contents, which only sums up the chapter titles, and a Long Contents which sums up all individual questions as well. You'll find both below.

Short Contents

  1. A glossary of the terms used in this FAQ
  2. Yahoo Groups and useful links
  3. Getting started with Logic Audio
  4. Audio Objects - The Basics
  5. Arrange window
  6. Audio, both platforms
  7. Audio, Macintosh
  8. Audio, PC
  9. Automation: Object Based Automation (OBA)
  10. Automation: Track Based Automation (TBA)
  11. Editors (Matrix, Event, etc.)
  12. Effects, production and mixing
  13. Environment and Audio/Track Mixer
  14. Hardware issues
  15. Inserts, Sends, Busses and Aux objects
  16. MIDI
  17. Misc. Tips & Tricks
  18. Plug-ins: Emagic plug-ins
  19. Plug-ins: general
  20. Plug-ins: virtual instruments
  21. Score
  22. Sidechains
  23. Tempo issues
  24. Working with other applications or hardware

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Long Contents

  1. A glossary of the terms used in this FAQ

       
  2. Yahoo Groups and useful links
    1. Managing your LUG account
    2. Other Emagic related Yahoo Groups
    3. Logic and audio related links
    4. Online audio magazines
    5. Online sample sites
       
  3. Getting started with Logic Audio
    1. First things first: using MIDI, part 1
    2. Beyond the basics: using MIDI, part 2
    3. Getting started with audio
    4. Object based automation (OBA)
    5. VST effects and Virtual Instruments
       
  4. Audio Objects - The Basics
    1. Creating Audio Objects
    2. Environment layers and multiple copies of the same Audio Object?
    3. An overview of all Audio Objects
       
  5. Arrange window
    1. How do I move the SPL in 1/4 (1/8, etc) increments? Ditto for cutting sequences?
    2. Backing out of Folders (tip)
    3. When bringing Arrange to the front, I accidentally create a new automation node
    4. Having to click in the thin Arrange-ruler to reposition the SPL is bothering me
    5. Is there a quick way to assign Multi-Instruments or an environment object to an Arrange track?
    6. Is there a fast way to switch the record enabled status of tracks?
    7. How do I record (multiple) Audio and MIDI tracks simultaneously?
    8. How can I redo a recording from the exact same location automatically?
    9. Auto Punch-in (tip)
    10. A quick way to copy/move notes from one sequence to another (tip)
    11. How do I copy Extended Sequence Parameters to other sequences?
    12. How do I control the amount of groove/swing when quantising?
    13. What do the 'swing quantize' values like 16A-16F do?
    14. What does the Arrange tool do that looks like a '<' in a box?
    15. How do I make colored markers in the Arrange window?
    16. How do you close the Marker Window using a key command?
    17. Various tips concerning the use of Markers (tip)
    18. Using dummy sequences instead of Markers (tip)
    19. Flipping back & forth between Arrange and mixer in the same screenset (tip)
    20. Using a single Channel Strip in Arrange (tip)
    21. How do I mute all tracks assigned to the same Instrument?
    22. Spotting sequences/regions at exact SMPTE positions
    23. How do I 'nudge' Audio regions in the Arrange Window?
    24. How do I move regions by single tick?
    25. How do I align a specific 'peak' in an Audio region with e.g. the start of a measure?
    26. What does "Tie Objects by Position Change" do?
    27. How do I move a region so it "butts" with the next or previous region?
    28. Are there keycommands for selecting the tools?
    29. How do I use the keyboard instead of the mouse to change values?
    30. Folders: why and when would I use them?
    31. Naming tracks and Audio Objects (tip)
    32. 'Save as zoom' & 'Recall zoom' commands work unpredictably
    33. I seem to encounter a "Go To Bar" key command bug (Mac)
       
  6. Audio, both platforms
    1. How do I change <volumes, automation, whatever> while a bounce is in progress?
    2. Logic doesn't play the very start of my audio regions when I start playback
    3. Multitrack recording: different filenames for the audio files
    4. How do I get sensible names for newly recorded audio files?
    5. Individual folder per song, with recorded audio directed inside the folder
    6. How do I "collect" all used audio files into one folder?
    7. How do I move audio files to another location or harddisk?
    8. How do I copy all used audiofiles to whichever destination?
    9. How do I delete unused audio from both the song and harddisk?
    10. How do I remove the Audio Record path from my Autoload?
    11. Quantizing audio files and applying audio- or MIDI-grooves to them
    12. How do I quantize several audio recordings simultaneously?
    13. How to sync a live drum in 20 steps (audio quantizing)
    14. How do I divide an audio file into equal 1 bar (1 beat, etc.) regions?
    15. Audio regions overlap, and crossfades: how does this work?
    16. How do I create a crossfade between two audio regions?
    17. Re-using audio material from other songs (tip)
    18. Create separate audio files from regions to avoid destroying original recordings (tip)
    19. How can I do a "digital mixdown" (merging audio regions) without losing the original regions?
    20. I burned an audio file from an existing song on a CD, but it doesn't play back
    21. How do I record MIDI tracks as Audio?
    22. How do I replace "real" (audio) drums with MIDI-triggered samples?
    23. Why do I want to use 'Strip Silence'?
    24. What is a fast method of splitting up a file that contains multiple samples?
    25. How do I get rid of noise/spikes at the end of soundfiles?
    26. When punching-in, Logic glitches and audio pauses before recording starts
    27. When I hit 'record', Logic takes very long before it starts recording (PC)
    28. Why can't I record more than 5 minutes of audio?
    29. Why can't I record more than approx. 1 hr 11 mins of audio?
    30. How do I set-up record / playback / monitoring delay?
    31. What's the best way to record DAT audio into Logic?
    32. What's the difference between the three POW-r dithering algorithms?
       
  7. Audio, Macintosh
    1. Importing ProTools Sessions into Logic Audio Platinum
    2. LAMP, OSX, AudioWerk: there's no choice in the Audio Driver prefs for digital input
    3. DP Macs: make better use of both processors
    4. Using LAMP with Rebirth/Rewire
    5. Importing audio files in Logic for OSX
       
  8. Audio, PC
    1. How do I set the record delay and playback delay for MME drivers?
    2. CPU Too Slow Message
    3. I get messages "Disk or CPU too slow"
    4. LAW Digital Noise with Yamaha DSP Factory
       
  9. Automation: Object Based Automation (OBA)
    1. Object based automation (OBA): an overview
    2. Adjusting Hyperdraw delay causes audio to move as well
    3. Benefits of putting automation on a separate track (tip)
       
  10. Automation: Track Based Automation (TBA)
    1. What is Track Based Automation?
    2. How do I set up automation on an Arrange track?
    3. How do I select nodes on an automation track?
    4. How do I move or copy automation data on a single track?
    5. How do I move or copy automation data from one parameter to another?
    6. How do I move or copy automation data to another track?
    7. How do I loop a sequence that has automation data?
    8. How do I adjust the overall level of automation data on a track?
    9. How do I turn an effect on/off at specified places?
    10. How do I control automation with my synth's knobs?
    11. What can I use Automation Event Edit for?
    12. What can I use the Automation Folder for?
    13. Which automation keycommands are available?
    14. How do I quantize automation nodes?
    15. How do I set the automation mode of all tracks to Latch (Read, Write, etc)?
    16. How can I bounce a piece of audio, without bouncing (e.g.) volume and panning, which I want to keep editable?
    17. The "automation curve" tool isn't working
       
  11. Editors (Matrix, Event, etc.)
    1. Can you edit velocity only of notes via a MIDI keyboard?
    2. How do I set e.g. note-velocity for lots of notes to the same value?
    3. How do I 'nudge' a group of controller values by a small amount in the Hypereditor?
    4. How can I view multiple but not all sequences in the Matrix Editor?
    5. I'm viewing multiple sequences in Matrix: how do I return to a single sequence?
    6. How do I decrement/increment values when some selected values are at Min./Max.?
    7. How do I use the keyboard instead of the mouse to change values?
    8. The Sample Edit window scrolls too fast/slow
    9. How can I have the Sample Editor use a track other than no.1 for playback?
       
  12. Effects, production and mixing
    1. How do I create a backward reverb?
    2. How do I create a gated "rhythmic" pattern where e.g. a drum gates out a pad?
    3. Moving the kickdrum around to change the feel of a song (tip)
    4. How do I remove a lead vocal from a mix?
    5. How do I get an R2D2 effect? (Denoiser plug-in tip)
    6. How do I get that doubled vocals effect?
    7. How do you get that 'breathy' vocal sound on backing harmonies?
    8. What is 'splitband ducking', and how do I do it?
    9. What is ducking, gating, de-essing, voice-over, and how do I do it?
       
  13. Environment and Audio/Track Mixer
    1. Where can I find more Logic Environments?
    2. How do I copy the Audio Mixer with all plug-ins & settings to a new song?
    3. How do I capture all fader settings in a MIDI sequence?
    4. How do I add more busses to the Track Mixer?
    5. One- or two-click access to any track object in the mixer (tip)
    6. Several shortcuts in the Audio Mixer (tip)
    7. How do I resize ornaments?
    8. Using one or more Mapped Instruments for drums (tip)
    9. How do I mute individual notes? (pre Logic 5)
    10. How do I record the actual arpeggiated output of the Arpeggiator?
    11. How do I quantize the Arpeggiator's output?
    12. How do I use environment objects (Arp, Delay, etc) with softsynths?
    13. How do I access banks on my Yamaha TX81Z?
    14. What is a Meta Event?
    15. Setting Up Sysex Faders
    16. "Exponential" operation in transformers and the Transform window
    17. How do I import a new instrument or environment-layer into my Autoload?
    18. How do I assign the arpeggiator to one sub-instrument of a Multi-Instrument?
    19. How do I create a 'reset button' that sets e.g. all volumes to 0 dB?
    20. How do I create a button that resets e.g. volume on all MIDI channels?
    21. How do I create a fader to alter the tempo + or - some BPM?
    22. I have duplicates of subchannels of my Multi-Instrument in the instrument list.
    23. How do I use the Quicktime Musical Instruments?
    24. Can Sample Cell be used with Logic's native MIDI driver?
       
  14. Hardware issues
    1. Macintosh: general troubleshooting hints
    2. Logic 6 freezes in OSX (Mac)
    3. I get frequent Audio/ASIO overloads
    4. Soundcard recommendations
    5. Exchanging songs with Logicians who use a different audio driver
    6. I get pops and clicks (or crashes) with my UAD-1 card
    7. Digi001 crashes Logic (Mac)
    8. Getting 6042 errors (PCI Bus overload error) with the Digi 001 on Mac (tip)
    9. I get a message saying "Key Does not Respond". How can I correct this? (PC)
    10. The Logic serial key is not responding (PC)
    11. Still problems with Logic even now that I have removed and reinstalled it (PC)
    12. LAWP suddenly locks up (PC)
    13. Dongle kills COM port (PC)
    14. Where can I find Stealth serial adapters for G4?
    15. Is ASIO 2 sample sync supported with "xxx" hardware?
    16. IDE/ATA drives versus SCSI
    17. Adaptec and SCSI
    18. My shift key doesn't work, and I'm using the Wave PAZ plug-in (Mac)
    19. Button-assignment tip for Logitech users (applies to some other mice as well) (tip)
    20. Scroll Mouse and Logic (Mac)
    21. Spreading processor load on MP Macs
    22. How do I assign more RAM to Logic in OS 9? (Mac)
    23. Speeding up OSX a bit (tip)
       
  15. Inserts, Sends, Busses and Aux objects
    1. The difference between an Insert and a Send
    2. What's a bus?
    3. Which audio objects can use (virtual) busses for input and/or output?
    4. What is an Aux object?
    5. How do I create Aux objects?
    6. Auxes vs. Busses and Input Objects: when should you use which?
    7. Using Busses and Auxes simultaneously: potential problems and confusion
    8. Monitoring effects and/or destructively recording them
    9. How do I use Aux objects as side chain sources for side chain-capable plug-ins?
    10. How do I use Aux objects with multiple output instrument plug-ins?
       
  16. MIDI
    1. I don't understand how MIDI-routing and I/O in Logic works
    2. How do I filter specific MIDI events, so they don't reach the sequencer?
    3. How do I make a smoothly accelerating MIDI drum-roll?
    4. How do I get Bank Change Messages over 15?
    5. I removed OMS: how do I set up a MIDI studio in LAM without it ?
    6. Is it necessary to use OMS on a Mac?
    7. OMS quickstart
       
  17. Misc. Tips & Tricks
    1. How do I import preferences from Logic-OS9 into Logic-OSX?
    2. How do I backup my keycommands?
    3. Logic 6 OSX: Where's the Setup Assistant?
    4. Logic 6: Help file doesn't work
    5. Mac OSX, Logic 5 and 6 installed: Help files get confused
    6. How do I include text-notes (about e.g. mixer setting, etc) in my song?
    7. What are EDL and OMF?
    8. I want a big SMPTE display, but also want the normal transport controls
    9. How do I put lyrics in Logic songs?
    10. Unitor 8 MkII - How to setup click input to toggle record/stop in Logic with internal sync?
    11. How do I calculate the number of samples per beat?
    12. What's the use of the 'pause' function, as opposed to start/stop?
       
  18. Plug-ins: Emagic plug-ins
    1. General: How do I use the keyboard instead of the mouse to change values?
    2. General: What is a .pst extension? (PC)
    3. EVOC: Setting up and starting to use the EVOC 20
    4. ES1: where can I upload/download patches for the ES1?
    5. ES1: How does the sidechain feature in the ES1 work?
    6. EXS: How do I save my song-specific instruments without cluttering the instrument-list?
    7. EXS: How do I change a parameter in multiple zones simultaneously?
    8. EXS: How do I use my EXS24 multitimbrally?
    9. EXS: Where can/should I store my EXS instruments and their samples?
    10. EXS: Why does it take so long for my instruments to load?
    11. EXS: Mouse-controlling Cutoff and Resonance simultaneously on the EXS (tip)
    12. EXS: What's the benefit of the "32 bit float" option?
    13. EXS: How do I change ESX patches with MIDI commands?
    14. EXS: How do you merge different instruments into one in the EXS?
    15. EXS Mac: How do I access "Mixed Mode" sample CDs in the EXS?
    16. EXS: How do I use the EXS with multiple outs?
    17. EXS: Using REX files in the EXS (tip)
    18. EXS mk II: How do I crossfade between groups with a MIDI controller?
    19. EXS mk II: how do I let note-velocity control pitch variations?
    20. Fat-EQ: Do Fat-EQ bands take up CPU? And how does it compare to the channel strip EQ's?
       
  19. Plug-ins: general
    1. How do I copy plug-ins with their settings to another track?
    2. How do I change the order of inserted plug-ins without deleting and adding them again?
    3. LA6, Mac OSX: Logic does not load any plug-in settings
    4. How do I store plug-in settings in the song folder while keeping them visible in the plug-in presets menu?
    5. How do I load Cubase .fxp's effects-settings?
    6. What are the .fxb files for provided with many VST plugins?
    7. Midi control of VST plugins basics (old-style Object Based Automation)
    8. Which controller affects which plug-in parameter? (old-style Object Based Automation)
    9. How do I automate DX plugins?
    10. How do I insert a mono (stereo) plug-in on a stereo (mono) track?
    11. What is host sync?
    12. How do I mute a VST or VSTi?
    13. Logic 6: does "freeze" work with UAD1 effects? And with TDM?
    14. Logic 6, OS X: I'm confused about VST and Mac OSX
    15. How can I monitor effects and record them / monitor but not record them / etc?
    16. How do I apply effects to a portion of a take?
    17. How do I apply Logic/VST effects to external MIDI instruments?
    18. Using UAD-1 plug-ins in "live" mode
       
  20. Plug-ins: virtual instruments
    1. How do I use virtual instruments?
    2. How do I play multiple softsynths simultaneously?
    3. How do I set up a multi-timbral VSTi?
    4. How do I use Multi-channel outputs with softsynths that support them?
    5. How can I inc/dec patch numbers on VSTi's that don't have inc/dec switches?
    6. How do I insert a Program Change for a virtual instrument?
    7. How do I set up a virtual instrument with a MIDI arpeggiator/delay ?
    8. Mac: How do I use the Reaktor VSTi in Logic?
       
  21. Score
    1. How do I split notes between the treble and bass clef in a piano score?
       
  22. Sidechains
    1. What is a sidechain?
    2. What can I use a sidechain for?
    3. Which Logic plugins offer a sidechain input?
    4. Which sound-sources can be used as sidechain inputs?
    5. How do you use Auxes as input to a sidechain?
    6. How do you use Virtual Instruments as input to a sidechain?
    7. What is "ducking", "voice-over", "gating", "de-essing"?
    8. How do you use VST effects that are capable of being controlled by MIDI data?
    9. How do you route audio through the Emagic ES 1 synthesizer?
    10. The Emagic EVOC 20 and sidechains
    11. How do you mute the sidechain input signal?
    12. How do you control the amount of influence the sidechain has?
    13. Can a sidechain be controlled through MIDI instead of audio?
    14. Using sidechains to automate Auto Talk Back
    15. I use an Aux as sidechain, muted its volume, but still hear the Aux signal
       
  23. Tempo issues
    1. How do I reclock the tempo to match a piece of audio?
    2. ReClock tips and alternatives (tip)
    3. How do I use Tap Tempo?
    4. Using different tempi in one song, for e.g. live use with multiple songs merged into one song-file
    5. Are there any alternate Tempo Lists?
    6. How do I 'lock' a tempo change to a particular point in time?
    7. How do I append tempo maps for two or more files into a single file?
       
  24. Working with other applications or hardware
    1. Opening Mac songs on PC
    2. Opening PC songs on Mac
    3. How do I use SoundDiver and Logic at same time?
    4. Sounddiver does not see my synth
    5. Is it possible to network two Macs, so that I can authorize my new bootpartition for Sounddiver?
    6. How do I open Atari-Notator ".son" files in Logic?
    7. How do I export Recycle REX loops to Logic / the EXS24?
    8. Syncing ADAT with Logic using MTC or SMPTE (tip)
    9. Syncing Logic & Pro Tools
    10. Pro Tools to Logic, and Logic to Pro Tools
    11. Digital Performer to Logic
    12. Opcode Vision To Logic
    13. Logic-Mac and Ableton Live
    14. How do I make knobs on the Oxygen keyboard control the master level?
    15. OMF framerate troubles: when I exchange files, I am told that the framerate is off
    16. How can I make Logic follow MPC 2000 tempo changes?
    17. My DR-660 takes a few bars to sync to Logic
       

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FAQ authors

In last name alphabetical order: Mark Cahill, Sascha Frank, Michael Gerdau, Henrik Jensen, George Leger III, Hendrik Jan Veenstra

The authors would like to thank all the LUG members who have knowingly or unknowingly contributed to bits and pieces of this FAQ, either by asking the right questions, or by providing the answers. You're too numerous to mention, but you know who you are.

 

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