We will begin by explaining the Logic Pro windows, exploring its menus, and mastering its terminology so that we are clear on what we are discussing as we learn to use Logic Pro X.

The Main Window

Shockingly the main window you see when you open a new Logic Pro X project is called … wait for it … the Main Window!

You may hear some long-time Logic Pro users refer to it as the Arrange window because for many, many years that was indeed what the window was named.

Most of what you need to do in Logic Pro X can indeed be done in only this window, but as you will learn, there are other options. By default, Quick Help will be turned on and it is very helpful for beginners.

Figure 2.1 – Quick Help in the Main Window

You can toggle it on/off by clicking the question mark button in the top left of the Control bar, which is the light gray area running across the Graphical User Interface of the...

The Library has a collection of already created patches. A patch is a collection of plugins designed to help you achieve a certain sound. You can also create your own and save them to the library.

The Library's visible content is related to the kind of channel strip you choose in the Track List. If it's an Audio channel strip, you will see various kinds of FX plugins. If it is a Software Instrument channel strip, you will see Software Instrument and FX plugin combinations. If it's a Drummer channel strip, you will see drummers and drum kits:

1. Select the Audio track and see the choices.
2. Then select the Software Instrument track and notice that they change. If you select a patch in the Library, it will automatically load the plugins to the channel strip.
3. With the Software Instrument track selected in the Track List, select the Steinway Grand Piano patch and you will see that it loads Logic Pro X's Sampler software instrument...

There are three browsers that are included: the Project Browser, the Media Browser, and the All Files browser.

You open the Browser by clicking the icon in the Control bar or by pressing the letter F on your computer keyboard.

Note

Some of this may be a little over your head at this point but don't worry. You can always come back and review it later when you are more comfortable with Logic Pro, but since it is one of the main areas in Logic, I feel it is important to explain the Browser to you.

The Project Browser

The Project Browser shows you your project audio without the necessity of opening the Project Audio window:

Figure 2.7 – The Project Browser

In this window, it is easy to drag audio files into the workspace that are not in the workspace. Select Used or Unused to see which are in the workspace and which are not, or delete those you are not using.

The Media Browser

This browser provides you with...

The Loop Browser is where you will find a massive bunch of royalty-free Apple Loops that you may use in your musical projects. You probably have heard many of them already. If, for instance, you have heard Rihanna's big hit "Umbrella," you have heard Apple Loops on a commercial recording.

Apple loops have the virtue of adapting to any tempo or key. There are Audio loops, Software Instrument loops, Drummer loops, and 10.5 Pattern loops.

You can open the Loop Browser by clicking on the button that looks like a loop on the right-hand side of the Control bar, but heck, why not just press the letter O?

Logic defaults to a tempo of 120 beats per minute (bpm) and the key of C major. Loops are categorized by Instruments, Genre, Descriptors, and even Moods. You won't see Moods in the default Button view but if you click on the icon next to it, it changes to Column view, and then you do. You can also tag some as Favorites. You can...

You have now been introduced to the three main areas of the main window. The Control bar and Toolbar are important for your workflow, and you can customize them greatly. You have learned about the Library and its Channel Strip settings. Hopefully, you enjoyed choosing Apple loops from the Loop Browser. As you now know, the Snap setting and Left-click and Command-click tool choices are critical to what you are trying to accomplish in the workspace. Changing the key in Logic Pro X can be done in the Signature List and Transposing regions, in the Region Inspector.

In Chapter 3, Recording Audio, we will become familiar with considerations for preparing for recording audio. You will explore the many workflow choices to record audio in Logic Pro X and the advantages of each. You will learn how to then improve a recording by adding takes and punching in and out automatically or manually. Also, you will learn the value of having alternative versions of a project and saving a project...