Using Multi-Timbral Instruments and Key Commands in Logic 9

Q: How do I apply a multi-timbral software instrument in Logic?

A: The new Logic Project Template v1.1 has been updated to include a multi-timbral setup in the Environment. The MIDI Channel of a Software Instrument channel strip has been set to All (to enable multi-channel operation) while a Multi-Instrument object has also been cabled to that Software Instrument channel strip, for multi-track access (via Logic's External MIDI tracks) to the multiple parts/channels of the assigned instrument plug-in.

The Logic Environment shows a Multi-Instrument object (bottom) connected to the Software Instrument 255 channel strip. With a multi-timbral instrument plug-in (e.g. Kontakt 4) inserted, Instrument 255 would be set to All MIDI Channels (in the left parameter box) for multi-channel operation.

However, due to the "Omni" (i.e. all) MIDI channel setting of the Software Instrument channel strip, any volume or panning changes on each channel will also cause the instrument channel strip to change its overall volume and pan accordingly. A multi-output instrument should then be used to provide independent volume and pan control - in the mixer, just click on the '+' button (below the solo button) to add Aux channel strips for accessing the additional outputs (automatically assigned) of the plug-in instrument.

The '+' and '-' buttons (in Inst 255) add and remove Aux channel strips to access the multiple outputs of the instrument plug-in. Meanwhile, the External MIDI tracks (on the right) are used to access the multiple parts of the multi-timbral instrument.

Q: I upgraded my Logic Pro 8 to Logic Pro 9. Are the key commands in Logic 8 and Logic 9 the same?

A: No, the Logic 9 key commands have been further streamlined for better consistency and to accommodate new features. However, upgrading from Logic 8 does not reset your key commands to those of Logic 9 (the existing Logic 8 key commands are retained).

To switch to the Logic 9 key commands, click on:

1. Preferences > Key Commands (Option K)

2. Options > Presets > U.S.

The U.S. Key Command Preset is different from Initialize All Key Commands, whereby it (U.S. preset) conforms to the Key Commands used in Apple's official Logic 101 book (Apple Pro Training Series: Logic Pro 9 and Logic Express 9 by David Nahmani).

Q: In Pro Tools, the Playback Cursor returns to the starting point when stopped (Insertion Follows Playback button deselected). Can Logic's playback do the same too?

A: Yes, Logic's playback controls can be customized to enhance workflow. For example, the Logic Pro 9 Preferences v2.0 download contains several additional Key Commands to complement the standard Spacebar (Play or Stop) shortcut:

• Command Spacebar (Play or Stop and Go to Last Locate Position)*

* Logic's playback will now behave like Pro Tools as described above. However, this keyboard shortcut is also used for the Show Spotlight Search Field and would have to be disabled (via the following) to avoid conflict:

Mac OS X v10.6 (Snow Leopard): System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Spotlight

Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard): System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard Shortcuts > Spotlight

This will also enable the same shortcut to be used to toggle the record button in Pro Tools.

• Option Spacebar (Stop or Play From Last Position)

The Command Spacebar shortcut for Show Spotlight Search Field (in System Preferences) should be disabled or changed, to avoid conflict with the same Pro Tools or Logic (customized) key command.

Other existing and new Key Commands (in the Logic Pro 9 Preferences v2.0 download) that may be useful include:

• Shift Enter (Play from Selection)

(Shift Fn Return for laptops)

• > / < (Forward / Rewind)

• Option > / < (Forward / Rewind by Transient)

(Logic's equivalent to Pro Tools' Tab To Transients shortcut)

• Option Control → / ← (Zoom Horizontal In / Out)

• Option Control ↓ / ↑ (Zoom Vertical In / Out)

• R (Record), C (Cycle Mode), S (Solo Mode), K (Metronome Click), M (Mute), Control S (Track Solo), Control M (Track Mute), G (Global Tracks), Esc (Tool Menu), I (Inspector), Control Z (Auto Track Zoom), A (Track Automation), Command F (Flex View)

• various Editor, Lists and Media pane toggles:

X (Mixer), P (Piano Roll), N (Score), E (Event), Option M (Marker), T (Tempo), U (Signature), B (Bin), O (Loops), Option L (Library), F (Browser)

For a complete list of Logic Key Commands, go to:

Preferences > Key Commands (Option K)

Logic's Key Commands list can be easily customized (add/change/delete) via the Learn and Delete buttons on the right.

Q: The Help files in Logic 9 are very slow. Is there any way to speed up this sluggish response?

A: The sluggish HTML Help files in Logic 9 (and in other Logic Studio applications) can be substituted with the PDF version of the same user manuals. These PDF files are far more responsive and can be downloaded via the Logic Studio Resources webpage at:

http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/resources

The Logic Pro 9 User Manual is one of many PDF manuals for Logic Studio that is available for download from Apple's website.

Q: Some of the factory presets from Logic 8 and Logic 7 have been altered or are no longer found in Logic 9. Do you still have those old presets?

A: The older Logic presets can be found in the Logic 6-8 Settings download, which contains Channel Strip Settings, Plug-In Settings and Sampler Instruments copied from previous versions of Logic, e.g. the original version of Eighties Metal (Channel Strip Setting from Logic 8) and In Yo Face (Guitar Amp Pro Plug-In Setting from Logic 7).

Q: Whenever Logic starts, a bouncing folder icon named CoreMIDIServer.framework appears in my Dock. What is it and how can I get rid of it?

A: The CoreMIDIServer.framework icon bounces in the Dock whenever Logic (or other non-Pro Tools MIDI applications) is launched. It is caused by the DigiDioMidiDriver.plugin installed by Pro Tools 8.0.3, which is for use with the Digi 002 and 003 family interfaces.

The CoreMIDIServer.framework icon that appears in the Dock is caused by *Digidesign's MIDI driver.

* Digidesign is now known as Avid.

However, this bouncing CoreMIDIServer icon has been resolved in Pro Tools 8.0.4 and does not appear anymore in the Dock. To ensure maximum compatibility, users are advised to upgrade to Pro Tools 8.0.4 (instead of deleting the MIDI driver).

Q: After typing-in new parameter values, plug-ins in WaveBurner 1.6 still revert back to their previous values (i.e. typed, plug-in parameter values do not stick). Can this problem be fixed?

A: Yes, simply upgrading WaveBurner 1.6 (CD mastering software in Logic Studio) to v1.6.1 will allow plug-in parameter values to be typed-in and retained. In addition, the WaveBurner 1.6.1 update also includes bug fixes for inconsistent waveform display in the Mix Lane, WaveBurner hanging (freezing) when the Digidesign audio driver is selected, etc.

The WaveBurner 1.6.1 Update installer can be downloaded from:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL956

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Logic Pro 9 downloads:

Project Template v1.1

Preferences v2.0

Read Me (Template & Preferences Locations)

Logic 6-8 Settings

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Logic Studio and Logic Pro 9: Enhanced & Refined

Q: What is contained in the new Logic Studio?

A: The new Logic Studio comes in a physically smaller box (compared to the previous Logic Studio as the printed manuals are no longer included) but the software content has been increased to 9 DVDs, requiring a total of 47GB in hard disk space:

• 1 DVD (9GB) of applications and required content (Logic Pro 9, MainStage 2, Soundtrack Pro 3, Compressor 3.5, WaveBurner 1.6, other utility applications, etc.)

• 7 DVDs (38GB) of optional sound library content, some of which can be installed onto an external hard drive (Jam Pack collections, sound effects, surround music beds, EXS24 samples, impulse response files, etc.)

• 1 DVD of demo content

The smaller Logic Studio box now includes a set of 9 DVDs and 3 booklets (installation and exploration guides).

Q: Are there any changes to the new Logic Studio pricing?

A: The pricing structure for the new Logic Studio (containing Logic Pro 9) remains the same as the previous Logic Studio (with Logic Pro 8):

• Logic Studio Full Version: US$499

• Upgrade from an earlier Logic Studio/Logic Pro: US$199

• Upgrade from Logic Express: US$299

Meanwhile, the pricing for Logic Express 9 also remains the same as before:

• Logic Express 9 Full Version: US$199

• Upgrade from an earlier Logic Express: US$99

Q: What are the new features in Logic Pro 9?

A: On the surface, Logic Pro 9 looks and feels very similar to Logic Pro 8. Although there are more than 200 new features and enhancements in the new Logic Studio, most of the changes in Logic Pro seem to have been made deeper down under the hood.

At first glance, the most visible changes in Logic Pro 9 include the:

• Bold white frame: Highlights the active area of the window (i.e. window area with key focus).

• Flex Time (via the Flex toolbar button): Logic's equivalent to Elastic Audio in Pro Tools and Audio Warp in Cubase. This feature allows different parts of an audio region to be time-stretched/compressed (without changing the pitch), e.g. to correct/tighten the timing of an audio recording.

• Notes area (via the Notes toolbar button): Provides both Project and Track Notes for comments.

A white frame surrounds the main Arrange area in the center, with Flex Editing applied on the selected track while the Notes area is on the right.

Further exploration in Logic Pro 9 will reveal more changes, and some of the more significant ones include:

• Varispeed: Varies the playback speed of the entire project (including Flex-disabled audio tracks). Acting much like a tempo control for audio recordings, Varispeed is my favorite new feature in Logic Pro 9, with 3 modes available for selection:

- Speed Only (i.e. no change in pitch)

- Varispeed (Speed and Pitch)

- Varispeed and MIDI (transposes non-drum MIDI notes to the nearest semitone to match the pitch-shifted audio tracks)

While Varispeed (Speed Only) has received highly encouraging feedback from my colleagues and myself, its parameter controls are hidden by default but can be easily displayed by customizing the Transport Bar.

The Varispeed controls in the Transport Bar turn orange when enabled.

• Click Zones: This is Logic’s equivalent to the Smart Tool in Pro Tools, but with an additional Loop tool. Enabling the Fade Tool Click Zones and the Marquee Tool Click Zones preferences will allow the mouse pointer to change into 5 different tools (Fade, Loop, Pointer, Marquee and Resize) when moving it vertically along the end border of an audio region.

• Amp Designer and Pedalboard: These are 2 effects plug-ins which have been specially developed for guitarists. The Amp Designer allows a mix and match of amp heads, EQs, reverbs, speaker cabinets and mics while the Pedalboard provides various types of stompboxes.

The Amp Designer (top) and Pedalboard (bottom) plug-in windows in Logic Pro 9.

• Drum Replacement/Doubling: Replaces or doubles problematic audio drum tracks with EXS24 samples triggered by MIDI notes. These trigger notes are automatically generated for transients above an adjustable threshold (with note velocities in proportion to the transient amplitudes) and are fully editable.

Drum Replacement/Doubling auto creates an EXS24 track with MIDI notes (in green region) to trigger samples for replacing/doubling the drum transients. Different Sampler Instruments can also be selected from the Library list on the right.

• Convert Regions to New Sampler Track: Assigns slices of an audio region to different notes of a new EXS24 instrument. These assigned notes will be automatically inserted into a MIDI region to trigger all slices for seamless playback. Alternatively, the audio slices can be resequenced or used for creative effects such as vocal stuttering.

Convert Regions to New Sampler Track auto creates an EXS24 track with ascending MIDI notes (in green region) to trigger every slice of the audio region (which is then muted) for seamless playback (or for further editing).

Instead of audio slices, an entire audio region can also be assigned to a note for real-time triggering.

• Chord Grids: The Chord Grid Library comes with more than 4,600 chords for use in the Score editor. Meanwhile, the Chord Grid Editor can be used to edit and add new chord grids to the library.

The Chord Grid Selector displays all the chords in the Chord Grid Library and can also playback the selected chord for preview.

• Duration Bars and Guides: The Duration Bars show MIDI note lengths in the Score editor and can be graphically edited while the Guides option displays the horizontal alignment of musical symbols (chord symbols, dynamic markings, etc.) to their assigned beat positions.

The selected note (highlighted in magenta color) has a shorter Duration Bar while the Guide for the A chord symbol (in the same measure) indicates a horizontal position offset.

• Jam Pack Voices: Consisting of 1,700 Apple Loops and numerous Channel Strip Settings and Sampler Instruments, this latest Jam Pack collection has now been included into the new Logic Studio library.

Many more new features and enhancements have been incorporated into Logic Pro 9 but they are just too numerous to list.

Q: Are there any changes in the new MainStage?

A: Yes, Logic Studio now contains MainStage 2, whereby some of the changes include:

• A streamlined user interface: Divided into the Patch List on the left, Channel Strips on the right, Workspace in the top center and Inspectors in the bottom center of the window.

The MainStage 2 user interface (in Edit Mode) consists of the Patch List on the left, Workspace at the top, Inspectors at the bottom and Channel Strips on the right.

• All plug-ins: Includes all previously unavailable high latency effects except surround plug-ins. E.g. Pitch Correction has now been made available for use in MainStage 2. The cumulative plug-in latency for each channel strip will also be displayed (in ms) above the name label.

• Playback and Loopback: These are 2 live performance plug-ins which are only applicable to MainStage 2 (not available in Logic Pro 9). Playback is an audio file player which can playback backing tracks while Loopback is a live loop recorder which can record and overdub audio signals to create loops spontaneously onstage.

The Playback (top) and Loopback (bottom) plug-in windows in MainStage 2.

• Screen Controls Palette: Contains a bigger selection of Screen Controls (when in Layout Mode).

The Screen Controls Palette contains a total of 60 Screen Controls.

Q: What are the changes made to the Logic Pro 9 Project Template and Preferences downloads?

A: The new Logic Project Template v1.0 has been updated for use in Logic Pro 9, with Varispeed controls added to the Transport Bar, Duration Bars and Guides enabled in the Score editor, etc.

Meanwhile, the new Logic Preferences v1.0 file has also been updated for Logic Pro 9, with Click Zones enabled, key command assignments for Forward and Rewind By Transient (Logic's equivalent to Tab To Transients in Pro Tools), etc.

As with previous Logic Project Templates and Preferences, downloading the files would require placement into the appropriate folders:

• Unzip the Logic template download and drag & drop the Project Templates folder (containing the Logic 9 template) into:

Users/your user account/Library/Application Support/Logic
 


• Drag & drop the Logic Preferences file into (replace the existing file):

Users/your user account/Library/Preferences

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Logic Pro 9 downloads:

Project Template v1.0

Preferences v1.0

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