Getting Started

We are lucky to live during one of the most exciting periods in the music production industry. Just a few short years ago, you would need a studio filled with synthesizers, hardware effects processors, mixing consoles, and expensive multitrack tape machines to accomplish what you can now do in a small project-based environment with a computer, an audio interface, and the right software. It’s a good time to be a musician.

Apple Pro Training Series: Logic Pro 8: Beyond the Basics is intended to show experienced composers, arrangers, and producers how to enhance their skills by working with real projects in real-world scenarios. You’ll learn how to increase the efficiency of your production workflow, accelerate editing tasks, and create and manage multiple takes. You’ll work on refining your mixing techniques, manipulating tempo and pitch, creating notated parts and scores, mixing for surround sound, and scoring for video and film. You’ll discover powerful techniques for multitrack recording and explore the limitless potential of Logic’s audio instruments.

Whether you’re tweaking a song structure, applying effects processing, or editing audio and MIDI tracks, this book will give you the insider tips that will make your time with Logic Pro 8 more productive and more creative.

The Methodology

This book is written for those who already have a working knowledge of Logic Pro. (Beginning or less-experienced Logic users should read Apple Pro Training Series: Logic Pro 8 and Logic Express 8 by David Nahmani.) Composers, audio engineers, and music producers currently working with Logic Pro will have the most to gain from reading this book.

The book is divided into five sections:

1. Lesson 1 lays the foundation by helping you customize your Logic workflow. You’ll create an environment that will increase your efficiency on your own projects as well as on the exercises in the book.
2. Lessons 2 through 4 are designed to teach you how make the most of your production time. You’ll start by creating and organizing audio and MIDI tracks for a multitrack song project. Then you’ll use Logic’s pitch and tempo correction to fix problems in the recordings, and you’ll create Apple Loops for integration into your arrangement. Finally, you’ll discover how audio instruments bring a wealth of musical resources to your sessions.
3. In Lessons 5 through 7 you’ll shape your tracks into an arrangement. With Logic’s MIDI and audio editing tools, you can refine the sound and structure of your composition, correcting production problems and making the most of your best takes.
4. A composition is only as good as it sounds, which makes mixing and mastering your arrangement an essential part of the creative process. Lessons 8 through 10 guide you in taking your composition to the final level, using Logic Pro’s mixer, automation, and effects processing to bring the highest degree of production quality to your creative output.
5. For many projects, Logic Pro will be an all-inclusive working environment that takes composers and producers from musical idea to final recording. But there are times when you need to get your ideas on paper or when you’re using your musical skills to serve a visual image. In Lesson 11, you’ll create objects in the Environment to process MIDI data in all sorts of interesting ways. Lesson 12 shows you how to use Logic Pro’s extensive notation capabilities to create musical parts and scores. Lesson 13 provides a foundation for developing your surround sound mixing skills by using Logic’s extensive new surround support. In Lesson 14, you’ll explore Logic Pro’s power as a film and video scoring tool.

About the Apple Pro Training Series

Apple Pro Training Series: Logic Pro 8: Beyond the Basics is part of the official training series for Apple Pro applications developed by experts in the field. The lessons are designed to let you learn at your own pace. You’ll find that this book explores many advanced features and offers tips and techniques for using the latest version of Logic.

Although each lesson provides step-by-step instructions for creating a specific project, there’s room for exploration and experimentation. It is recommended that you follow the book from start to finish or at least complete the lessons in each part of the book in order. Each lesson concludes with a review section summarizing what you’ve covered.

System Requirements

Before beginning to use Apple Pro Training Series: Logic Pro 8: Beyond the Basics, you should have a working knowledge of your computer and its operating system. Make sure that you know how to use the mouse, navigate standard menus and commands, and also open, save, and close files. If you need to review these techniques, see the printed or online documentation included with your system.

These are the basic system requirements for Logic Pro 8:

• Macintosh computer with a 1.25 GHz or faster PowerPC G4 processor (PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, or Intel Xeon processors are highly recommended)

• Mac OS X v10.4.9 or later

• 1 GB of RAM (2 GB or more is highly recommended)

• QuickTime 7.2 or later

• DVD drive for software installation

• PCI Express, ExpressCard/34, USB, or FireWire-based multi-channel audio interface recommended

• Video display with 1024 × 768 pixel resolution (1280 × 800 or higher resolution is recommended)

• MIDI keyboard

• 5400 rpm hard drive (7200 rpm recommended) with at least 7 GB of available hard-disk space

Copying the Logic Lesson Files

The DVD-ROM provided with this book includes folders that contain the lesson files used in this course. Each lesson has its own folder. You must have a standard installation of Logic Pro 8 on your hard disk to perform the exercises in this book.

To install the Logic project files

1. Insert the APTS_Logic Pro 8: Beyond the Basics DVD into your DVD drive.
2. On your desktop, double-click the APTS_Logic 8_BTB icon to view the disk contents.
3. Drag the Logic 8_BTB_Files folder from the DVD to the Music folder on your hard disk.

About the Apple Pro Training Series

Apple Pro Training Series: Logic Pro 8: Beyond the Basics is both a self-paced learning tool and the official curriculum of the Apple Pro Training and Certification Program. Developed by experts in the field and certified by Apple, the series is used by Apple Authorized Training Centers worldwide and offers complete training in all Apple Pro products. The lessons are designed to let you learn at your own pace. Although each lesson provides step-by-step instructions for creating specific projects, there’s room for exploration and experimentation. Each lesson concludes with review questions and answers summarizing what you’ve learned, which can be used to help you prepare for the Apple Pro Certification Exam.

For a complete list of Apple Pro Training Series books, visit www.peachpit.com/applebooklet.

Apple Pro Certification Program

The Apple Pro Training and Certification Program is designed to keep you at the forefront of Apple’s digital media technology while giving you a competitive edge in today’s ever-changing job market. Whether you’re an editor, graphic designer, sound designer, special-effects artist, or teacher, these training tools are meant to help you expand your skills.

Upon completing the course material in this book, you can become a certified Apple Pro by taking the certification exam at an Apple Authorized Training Center. Successful certification as an Apple Pro gives you official recognition of your knowledge of Apple’s professional applications while allowing you to market yourself to employers and clients as a skilled, pro-level user of Apple products.

For those who prefer to learn in an instructor-led setting, Apple offers training courses at Apple Authorized Training Centers worldwide. These courses, which use the Apple Pro Training Series books as their curriculum, are taught by Apple Certified Trainers who balance concepts and lectures with hands-on labs and exercises. Apple Authorized Training Centers have been carefully selected and have met Apple’s highest standards in all areas, including facilities, instructors, course delivery, and infrastructure. The goal of the program is to offer Apple customers, from beginners to the most seasoned professionals, the highest-quality training experience.

To obtain more information or to find an Authorized Training Center near you, go to www.apple.com/software/pro/training.

Resources

Apple Pro Training Series: Logic Pro 8: Beyond the Basics is not intended as a comprehensive reference manual, nor does it replace the documentation that comes with the application. For more information about Apple Logic Pro 8, refer to these sources:

• Logic Pro 8 User Manual. Accessed through the Logic Pro 8 Help menu, the User Manual contains a complete description of all the features.

• Apple’s website: www.apple.com

• Peachpit’s website: As Logic Pro 8 is updated, Peachpit may choose to update lessons or post additional exercises as necessary on this book’s companion webpage. Please check www.peachpit.com/apts.logic.btb for revised lessons.