Logic Pro 9

Audio and Music Production

Mark Cousins, Russ Hepworth-Sawyer

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781136114694
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Tecnologia e ingegneria
• Subtopic: Ingegneria acustica

First published in 2010. From initial track laying through to mixing, sound design, and mastering Mark Cousins and Russ Hepworth- Sawyer bring you Logic Pro 9. By Highlighting the relevant parts of each application they take you through every step of the music creation and production process giving you all the tips, tutorials and tricks that pros use to create perfect recordings. The book has full color screen shots illustrating the tools, functions and the new look of Logic Pro 9, and the companion website has audio samples and loops. Logic Pro 9 covers more than just the software it will help you make the most out of every recording session, and will Illuminate and inspire you creative and sonic endeavors.

In This Chapter

1.1 Introduction

1.2 A Brief History of Logic Pro 9

1.3 The Logical Advantage

Knowledgebases

Studio versus Express: The Many Flavors of Logic

Installing Logic Studio

1

The Logic Concept

1.1 Introduction

It’s hard to imagine a more complete system for music and audio production than Logic Pro 9: multitrack recording and editing, a full suite of virtual instruments and effects, and a seamless workflow that takes you from the beginning of your project right through to the delivery of the final production master. Yet, with such a complete system comes the daunting task of understanding how the elements of Logic Pro 9 knit together to produce a professional-sounding result. For example, where do you begin to start writing music or making a recording in Logic? What are the virtual instruments and plug-ins used by the professionals to create release-quality output? And how can you transform those poorly performed band recordings into a polished CD?

So, let’s be clear from the start: this book isn’t just another instruction manual for Logic Pro 9. Instead, we’ve taken a process-driven approach that appraises, understands, and explores the features of Logic Pro 9 in a way that matches the structure and order of the production process. We’ll do more than just technically describe the functions of Logic Pro 9; we’ll look at how the various elements of Logic Pro 9 relate to the demands of audio and music production. With all but a few exceptions, most of the chapters focus on a specific part of the production process – whether it’s initial track laying, sound design, or mastering your finished mixes to produce the final CD – highlighting the relevant parts of the application that guarantee a professional-sounding audio product. We’ll also look at techniques that go beyond the scope of the manual – practices like parallel compression, for example, that many engineers use and abuse on a daily basis.

If you’re starting off from scratch, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer size and complexity of an application like Logic Pro 9. However, it isn’t essential to understand the entirety of the application to start producing music. Get to know the components that are most relevant to your way of working and build from there – use plenty of presets, Apple Loops, and so on to get you kick started – and then enjoy the process of exploring each element that little bit further. Ultimately, Logic Pro 9 is a tool that will grow with your experience – a system that will surprise at every turn and open up new possibilities whenever you want to explore the software further. With this book, you’ll at least have a reference to aid you in that process, but don’t be afraid to experiment to find out how Logic Pro 9 best fits into your unique creative process!

Figure 1.1 Logic Pro 9 includes an impressive array of features, but understanding how they integrate into the production process might not be immediately apparent.

1.2 A Brief History of Logic Pro 9

Like the other “old-timers” of computer-based audio production – including Cubase and Pro Tools – Logic Pro 9 is an application with a rich and long heritage in the industry. Born from the ashes of C-Lab’s Notator and Creator in 1993, Notator Logic (as it was then called) was an attempt to create a visual, region-based production environment for MIDI sequencing. Building blocks, or regions of MIDI data – used to control hardware synthesizers and samplers – could be arranged on the computer screen, with a clear, visual representation of the structure of the arrangement. What was unique about Logic, though, was that the application was completely configurable – users could create virtual presentations of their studio, known as an environment, for example, or combine different editor windows in a completely configurable user interface.

Audio functionality was added to the application in 1994, with the release of version 1.7, allowing Logic users to combine both digital audio and MIDI data all in the same arrangement (although initially, only with expensive Digidesign audio hardware). Virtual instruments followed in 2000, making the system a complete production environment where a track could be composed, mixed, and mastered all in one computer, and arguably, without the need for any extra third-party software. Although revolutionary at the time, this method of production has now become the norm, with many musicians and engineers largely working entirely “in the box.”

Apple acquired the company that originally developed Logic – Emagic – in 2002, with its programming team joining Apple’s, and Logic Pro becoming part of Apple’s prized suite of media-based applications, including Final Cut Studio and Aperture 2. The partnership led to many of Logic Pro’s technologies migrating into other Apple applications – most notably with the introduction of GarageBand – as well as Apple making Logic Pro an increasingly more price-competitive option, with both the absorption of previously optional software components into the main application (like Space Designer, the EXS24 Sampler, and the ES2 synthesizer), and, with the release of Logic Studio, a halving of its retail price.

With the introduction of Logic Pro 8 and Logic’s current incarnation – Logic Pro 9 – Apple has made some big moves to make the application significantly easier to use and much more in line with the usability of its other media products. As a result, it’s never been a better time for new users to join the Logic Pro 9 fold – both with respect to its affordability and the significantly easier learning curve!

Knowledgebase 1

Studio versus Express: The Many Flavors of Logic

So as to match your precise production needs and available budget, Logic is available in two principal versions – Logic Studio and Logic Express. As you’d expect, Logic Studio is the more complete package, with a range of ancillary applications including MainStage 2, WaveBurner 1.6, Soundtrack Pro 3, and Compressor – as well as a wealth of sound content in the form of Apple Loops, EXS24 instruments, and so on. The main component, though, is the Logic Pro 9 application itself, which is the centerpiece of any music or audio production–based activity on the Mac. In effect, the additional applications build on Logic Pro 9’s core functionality – with MainStage 2, for example, allowing you to take Logic Pro 9’s instruments and effects on the road, while Soundtrack Pro 3 allows you to better integrate your work with professionals working in film and TV postproduction.

Logic Express 9, on the other hand, is a more cost-effective introduction to the world of music production in Logic. Although Logic Express 9 lacks the ancillary applications and full sound content of the complete Logic Studio, it does provide a feature set almost identical to that of Logic Pro 9. On the whole, the omitted features largely relate to professional applications – using time division multiplexing (TDM)/Digidesign Audio Engine (DAE), for example, distributed audio processing, or surround sound mixing. The list of available plug-ins, so important to “in the box” audio production, is almost identical, with the possible exception of a few instruments like Sculpture and the EVP88, alongside the Space Designer and Delay Designer audio plug-ins.

In writing this book, therefore, we concentrated on the main features and processes applicable to both Logic Studio and Logic Express 9 (henceforth referred to simply as “Logic”). Where appropriate, we have referred to some of Logic Studio’s extra features and components – like 5.1 surround sound mixing or WaveBurner – but in most cases, a Logic Express user will be able to achieve much of what this book details.

Figure 1.2 Logic Studio is a complete music production toolkit – with a range of applications and audio content.

Figure 1.3 Logic Express 9 omits the extra applications included in Logic Studio package, as well as presents a slimmed-down set of Apple Loops.

1.3 The Logical Advantage

Opinion and debate will always rage as to the “best” digital audio workstation, but there are a number of factors that give Logic Pro 9 the edge over alternative solutions. Certainly, if you’re trying to make a decision between different audio applications – all with such a compelling range of features – it’s well worth understanding some of their main overriding benefits, as well as seeing whether these align with your intended method of working.

Complete Integration with Apple Hardware and Software

Being part of Apple, you can guarantee that Logic Pro 9 will make optimal use of both Apple’s computing hardware and the operating system that ties it all together. For example, where other developers might lag behind certain OS updates, Logic Pro tends to be first off the block supporting major upgrades such as Snow Leopard. On top of this, Logic Pro has always stood out from the crowd in terms of its efficient use of DSP resources, suggesting a well-coded audio engine, as well as plenty of integrated components – for example, the EXS24 sampler or Space Designer reverb – that ensure a completely optimal use of your computer’s processor.

Exhaustive Range of Plug-Ins and Instruments

Logic Pro 9’s integral range of instruments and effects is easily the most comprehensive set available in any off-the-shelf DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). In addition to standard studio stalwarts such as compression, reverb, and equalization, Logic Pro 9 includes a number of contemporary effects and plenty of software instruments covering everything from vintage Hammond organs to cutting-edge component-modeling synthesizers. Ultimately, with such a diverse collection of tools, you can easily produce a professional, release-quality output without having to resort to additional third-party plug-ins and effects, although of course, there’s no reason why you can’t add these at a later point should you wish to do so. As the old saying goes, the only limit with Logic Pro 9 is your imagination….

Effective Combination of MIDI and Audio Editing

While some applications have strengths in a particular area (like MIDI or audio), Logic Pro 9 presents an effective hybrid solution for both MIDI-based composition and audio recording and editing, which probably explains why so many working composers operate completely within the realms of Logic Pro 9. Its flexibility also makes it possible to use Logic Pro 9 in a wide range of audio production environments including 5.1 and surround sound mixing, sound for film, and other multimedia applications.

Knowledgebase 2

Installing Logic Studio

The full version of Logic Studio is now a 47-GB installation, with a range of applications (including Logic Pro 9 itself) as well as six Jam Packs of Apple Loops and instruments. You’ll also need t...