Arts >> Music >> Digital Music

How to Play Samples Using MIDI Logic Pro 7

Logic Pro is Apple’s premier digital audio program for the music professional and aspiring producer. The software allows you to record original music and then mix and master it using a complete digital multitracker, mixer, effects editors and customizable software synthesizers. In addition to all of this, Logic Pro 7 contains a library of prerecorded music loops, or samples, that you can add to your mix. Besides raw music samples, Logic offers MIDI samples, which work like regular loops except that you can edit them and alter the sounds.

Instructions

    • 1

      Open Logic Pro 7 by double-clicking the Logic icon in your “Applications” folder. When the loading process completes, create a new music project by clicking the “COMMAND” key and the “N” button simultaneously on your keyboard.

    • 2

      Click the “B” button on your keyboard to access a series of “Options” tabs in your main window (known as the “Arrange” window). The tabs will appear on the right side of your screen.

    • 3

      Click the “Loops” tab to access your Apple loops, arranged according to category. You should see a button for each classification, such as “Acoustic,” “Dry” and “Rock/Blues.” Click any one of these buttons to access a list of individual samples within that category.

    • 4

      Click any loop title to hear what it sounds like. Click it a second time to stop it. To the left of each loop is a symbol. The blue wave symbol represents raw audio loops that you cannot edit. The green music note symbol represents MIDI loops that you can customize. Add a MIDI loop to your mix by dragging the title with your mouse onto a blank instrument track. The instrument tracks are indicated in your left column by the letters “INST.” Drop the loop onto the empty horizontal space to the right of the track title.

    • 5

      Double-click your rectangular loop as it appears in the track. At the bottom of your screen, you will see each note indicated by a dot on the grid. To change the notes, simply drag any of the dots up or down with your mouse. Dragging a dot upward raises it to a higher note, and dragging it downward reduces it to a lower note.

    • 6

      Click the “Mixer” tab at the bottom of your window and locate your current track on the mixer (just look for the track number). When you find it, click and hold the “Input” button on the track; a pop-up menu will appear, with a list of your software synthesizers. Click any of these synthesizers to change the sound of your sample.

Digital Music

Related Categories