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How to Use Logic Pro

Logic Pro is a versatile audio recording and mixing program by Apple. It performs some of the same functions as Apple's GarageBand program, but while GarageBand caters to amateur musicians and hobbyists, Logic contains an advanced recording and editing environment, intended for advanced production techniques. With Logic Pro, you can record and mix entire albums just as you would in a fully equipped recording studio, but without the expense.

Things You'll Need

  • Instruments
  • Mixer
  • Audio interface
  • USB instrument cables
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open Logic Pro and select "File" and then "New" from the menu bar. The "File" menu appears at the top of the screen. If you have never used Logic before, a "New Project" window should open automatically, in which you case you can create your project by clicking the box that reads "Empty Project" in the center of the screen.

    • 2

      Connect your musical equipment to your computer. For instance, if you have a USB mixer, connect it to your USB port. If you have a USB audio interface (external sound card), connect it to your USB port, and connect your instruments and microphones to the interface. You can also connect instruments and mics directly to your Mac using specialized USB instrument cables available at music supply stores. If you cannot connect directly to your computer, just use the internal microphone to record.

    • 3

      Select "Logic Pro," "Preferences" and then "Audio" from your menu bar and click the "Device" pop-up list to access your audio preferences. Select any external equipment from the list. For example, if you connected a USB mixer, you should find the name of the mixer on the list. If your device does not appear on the list, locate the software driver CD that came with the device and install it.

    • 4

      Select "Track" from the menu at the top of the Logic window and click "New" in order to create an audio track. Create as many tracks as you need. Tracks allow you to layer your audio recordings. For example, you can record a simple drum beat on track 1, then record your voice on track 2 and guitars on track 3. When you create them, they look like horizontal bars on your screen.

    • 5

      Select any track in the left column to enable it for recording. When the track highlights, click the "Record" button (it appears as a circle) at the bottom of your screen to initiate a recording. When you finish recording, press the "Stop" button (it appears as a square). Do this for each track to create a single, multi-layered song or audio piece.

    • 6

      Click "Window" and click "Mixer" on your menu bar. A new window will appear with all of your tracks arranged vertically (as opposed to the horizontal arrangement on the main project window). On each track, you will see a series of boxes indicated by the word "Inserts." Click these boxes to choose effects for each track. For instance, you can add a "Distortion" effect to your guitar track, or a "Reverb" effect to your vocal track.

    • 7

      Click "File" and then click "Bounce" on your menu bar and enter a name for your audio project in the "Save As" box. Beneath the "Save As" box, choose an audio format for your project and then click "Bounce." This will export your project as a self-contained audio file.

Recording Music

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