Build a sound with Track Stacks

Step-by-step

1 Create new tracks

In a new, empty Logic project, click the Software Instrument box on the left of the New Track window, then enter 6 where it says ‘Number of tracks to create’. Click ‘Create’.

2 Create Track Stack

The six new tracks will appear already selected. From the Track menu, select the ‘Create Track Stack’ option to combine them into a single stack.

3 Choose type

There are two types of stack to choose from – Folder or Summing stacks. We need to combine the audio output of several synths into one, so we select ‘Summing Stack’.

4 Select first instrument

Click on the first track’s header and choose your first instrument by clicking on the ‘Instrument’ slot in the Channel Strip. We’re going for Logic’s ES2 synth here.

5 Find a sound

Browse through the synth’s presets to find a sound on which to base the new sound. We’re going for a big synth chord patch, so we’ve chosen ‘Synth Strings>trance Poly’.

6 Record in MIDI part

Select the main track and hit record. Play in a few MIDI notes, or alternatively, drop the Track Stacks.mid MIDI file from the Tutorial Files folder onto the main track.

7 Choose next instrument

Select the second track in the stack and choose a new instrument to occupy it. We’ve gone for Retro Synth for this one, loaded with the default preset.

8 Stack ‘em high

The sole MIDI region now plays both sounds merged together. Continue adding new instruments and sounds to your stack until you’ve created something stellar.

9 Blend and add fx

Use individual channel faders and pan controls to balance the elements in your new hybrid sound. Embellish the sound further by adding an overall effect such as a Stereo Delay.