Logic Pro X For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Book description

Spend less time learning and more time recording

Logic Pro X offers Mac users the tools and power they need to create recordings ready to share with the world. This book provides the know-how for navigating the interface, tweaking the settings, picking the sounds, and all the other tech tasks that get in the way of capturing the perfect take. 

Written by a Logic Pro X trainer who’s used the software to further his own music career, Logic Pro X For Dummies cuts back on the time needed to learn the software and allows for more time making amazing recordings.

  • Record live sound sources or built-in virtual instruments
  • Arrange your tracks to edit, mix, and master
  • Discover tips to speed the process and record on an iPad
  • Make sense of the latest software updates

A favorite among Logic Pro X beginners, this book is updated to reflect the ongoing changes added to enhance Logic Pro X’s recording power.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Foolish Assumptions
    3. Icons Used in This Book
    4. Beyond the Book
    5. Where to Go from Here
  3. Part 1: Leaping into Logic Pro X
    1. Chapter 1: Getting Logic Pro Up and Sprinting
      1. Embracing Logic Pro
      2. Transitioning from Other Software
      3. Creating with Logic Pro
      4. Connecting Your Logic Pro Studio
    2. Chapter 2: Examining Logic Pro Projects
      1. Starting Your Project
      2. Augmenting Your Project
      3. Customizing Your Project Settings
      4. Tidying Up Your Project
    3. Chapter 3: Exploring the Main Window and Tracks Area
      1. Navigating Logic Pro
      2. Taking Inventory of Your Track List
      3. Zooming Tracks
      4. Your Logic Pro Toolbox
      5. Keeping It Simple with Smart Controls
      6. Navigating with Key Commands
      7. Saving Workspaces with Screensets
    4. Chapter 4: Embracing Tracks and Regions
      1. Knowing Your Track Types
      2. Around the Global Tracks
      3. Sorting and Hiding Tracks
      4. Creating Options with Track Alternatives
      5. Knowing the Region Types
      6. Editing Regions
  4. Part 2: Digital Recording and Using Prerecorded Media
    1. Chapter 5: Introduction to Digital Audio and MIDI
      1. Understanding Digital Audio
      2. Connecting Your Audio Devices
      3. Understanding MIDI
      4. Connecting Your MIDI Devices
    2. Chapter 6: Recording Audio
      1. Preparing to Record Audio
      2. Recording Your First Audio Take
      3. Recording Multiple Takes in Cycle Mode
      4. Recording Multiple Inputs
      5. Punching In and Punching Out
      6. Recording with Smart Tempo
      7. Setting Up Multiple Monitor Mixes
    3. Chapter 7: Recording MIDI
      1. Preparing to Record MIDI
      2. Recording Your First MIDI Take
      3. Recording Multiple MIDI Takes in Cycle Mode
      4. Creating Tracks in Cycle Mode
      5. Overdubbing MIDI
      6. Recording Multiple MIDI Inputs
    4. Chapter 8: Adding Media to Your Project
      1. Adding Apple Loops to Your Project
      2. Adding Prerecorded Audio to Your Project
      3. Importing Video to Your Project
  5. Part 3: Making Music with Virtual Instruments
    1. Chapter 9: Making Beats with Drum and Percussion Software Instruments
      1. Playing with Your Virtual Drummer
      2. Creating Beats with Ultrabeat
      3. Designing Electronic Drums Kits with Drum Machine Designer
    2. Chapter 10: Playing Virtual Vintage Instruments
      1. Taking Stock of Vintage Instruments
      2. Spinning Your Tone Wheels with the Vintage B3
      3. Funking Up the Vintage Clav
      4. Getting the Tone of Tines with the Vintage Electric Piano
      5. Making Music with the Vintage Mellotron
      6. Fusing Four Synths with Retro Synth
    3. Chapter 11: Sound Design with Synths and Samplers
      1. Exploring the Logic Pro Synths
      2. Modeling Sounds Using Sculpture
      3. Sampling with the EXS24 Sampler
      4. Manipulating Samples with Alchemy
    4. Chapter 12: Conducting a Virtual Orchestra
      1. Building an Orchestral Template
      2. Performing Your Orchestra
      3. Playing with Studio Strings and Horns
      4. Traveling the World Instruments
  6. Part 4: Arranging and Editing Your Project
    1. Chapter 13: Arranging Your Music
      1. Working in the Tracks Area
      2. Showing Your Global Tracks
      3. Beat Mapping Your Arrangement
      4. Arranging Regions in the Tracks Area
      5. Creating Folder Tracks
      6. Using Groove Templates
    2. Chapter 14: Editing Audio Tracks
      1. Knowing Your Audio Editors
      2. Creating the Perfect Take with Quick Swipe Comping
      3. Time Traveling with Flex Time
      4. Tuning with Flex Pitch
      5. Editing Audio in the Audio File Editor
      6. Editing Tempo in the File Tempo Editor
    3. Chapter 15: Editing MIDI Tracks
      1. Knowing Your MIDI Editors
      2. Editing MIDI in the Piano Roll Editor
      3. Editing MIDI in the Step Editor
      4. Editing MIDI in the Score Editor
      5. Editing MIDI in the MIDI Transform Window
      6. Editing MIDI in the Event List Editor
      7. Editing Your MIDI Environment
  7. Part 5: Mixing, Mastering, and Sharing Your Music
    1. Chapter 16: Mixing Your Project
      1. Understanding Important Mixing Concepts
      2. Knowing Your Channel Strip Types
      3. Using Meters to Visualize Volume and Levels
      4. Adjusting Channel Strip Controls
      5. Taking Track Notes
    2. Chapter 17: Shaping Your Mix with Effects
      1. Adding Effects to Tracks
      2. Controlling Signal Flow
      3. Adjusting the EQ of Your Tracks
      4. Adding Depth with Reverb and Delay
      5. Adding or Removing Dynamics with Compression
    3. Chapter 18: Automating Your Mix
      1. Turning Your Mix Into a Performance with Automation
      2. Choosing Your Automation Mode
      3. Adding Automation to Your Tracks
      4. Recording Live Automation
    4. Chapter 19: Mastering Your Final Track
      1. Fine-Tuning EQ
      2. Adding Multiband Compression
      3. Turn It Up
    5. Chapter 20: Bouncing and Sharing Your Music
      1. Bouncing Your Project
      2. Creating Stems and Alternate Mixes
      3. Sharing Your Music
  8. Part 6: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Use an iPad with Logic Pro X
      1. Playing Keys
      2. Playing Guitar
      3. Playing Drums
      4. Editing Tracks and Your Arrangement
      5. Using Your iPad Mixing Console
      6. Recording Remotely
      7. Commanding Logic Pro
      8. Navigating Logic Pro
      9. Adding Tracks with GarageBand for iOS
      10. Importing iPad Audio
    2. Chapter 22: Ten Tips to Speed Your Workflow
      1. Keep Detailed Notes
      2. Use Key Commands
      3. Use Screensets
      4. Save Track Stack Patches and Channel Strip Settings
      5. Choose a Tool and Master It
      6. Choose a Tool and Ignore It
      7. Use the Fastest Way, Not the Right Way
      8. Establish a Troubleshooting Strategy
      9. Save and Back Up Frequently
      10. Don’t Lose Sight of the Music
  9. About the Author
  10. Advertisement Page
  11. Connect with Dummies
  12. Index
  13. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Logic Pro X For Dummies, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Graham English
  • Release date: September 2018
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781119506201