MusicRadar

Logic Pro 8 is the main application in the Logic Studio bundle.

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Apple’s Logic Pro 8 is certainly a much more accessible beast than the versions that preceded it, but this isn’t to say that all of its most useful features are immediately obvious.

Fortunately for you, there’s no need to go searching for all the new stuff – MusicRadar is on hand to reveal some of the improvements that you might have missed…

1. Before you flatten a comp, you can at any time change the takes used. Look at a folded Comp Track and you’ll see marker lines showing the edits. Right-click between them and you’ll get a drop-down menu of all the available takes solely for that section. Simply select the section you want to swap for the currently active one.

2. To make use of a standard plug-in on a surround signal, Logic uses a multi-mono architecture. This system has an assignable grouping option within the plug-in so you can process channels either together or individually. Start with a surround channel and load a multi-mono plug, then open the Configuration option in the title bar to set grouping.

3. Logic now has a Junction tool for adjusting the crossover point between audio parts. However, you’ll find it only works when the two blocks are butted together with no gaps. If they’re not already like this, try using the ‘Tie objects by length change’ option in the Object menu, then position the Junction tool at the top of the join.

4. By default, the Inspector includes basic region info and the twin faders. However, you might be wondering how to find the in-depth Parameters box previously available as a floating window. Go to the Arrange page View menu and check the Extended region parameters option to make it visible in the Inspector.

5. Tracks now have a full-on setup window of their own. Head for the Configure track header option in the View menu. Here you can choose how tracks are named and which buttons are visible.

6. Drawing curved automation in Logic has always required the automation tool, which also doubled as the select tool, requiring you to switch functions in the toolbar. Now these two tools each get their own cursor. In the Tools menu, choose either Automation Select or Automation Curve.

7. To make the most of the new workspace, it’s worth learning a few of the new shortcuts, particularly those for opening and closing the various editors. Start with X for the Mixer, I for the Inspector and O for the Loop Browser. Also note that edit window scaling is retained.

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